Health and Safety

Work Health and Safety Practitioner

Work Health and Safety Practitioner

Introduction

Work health and safety system is a brilliant and advance system today that helps in reducing the number of injuries or accidents, maintaining control of risks in the workplace, which will be reflected in secure facilities and their quality staff as they comply with regulations and legislation. Occupational health is a major ethical concern and one of the challenges of sustainable development. For example, according to a survey in United Kingdom produced in 2010, one-third of UK people neglected their well-being for the benefit of their work and struggle to juggle the various aspects of their life (work, family, friends and studies), especially those between the age of 30 and 50. (Beach, 2008,10-24). Moreover, in a socio-economic push for ever greater productivity, 70 percent of assets believe that their condition has worsened at work, especially in regards to the level of stress (52%), and the workload (49%) published in 2010. Yet the Europeans consider that 60% look after their welfare would be "important", whereas 24% even as it "essential”. (Phelps, 2002 ,29). Day by day this system is getting more popularity, and, its significance is attracting the organization's attention towards it. It helps organizations to provide better working conditions, attain healthy and secure environment, increases competitiveness and reduces operating cost. The concept of precarious workforce has got a lot of value these days. It includes a number of various employment areas including self employed, contractors, sub-contractors, labour hire, franchisers, suppliers, casual and part-time employees to list a few that form a large portion of the total workforce. So, in this way, the issue of Occupational Health and Safety Management carries a vital value from the employee's perspective. The value of precarious workforce is quite high in this topic. It includes a number of various employment areas including self-employed, contractors, sub-contractors, labour hire, franchisers, suppliers, casual and part-time employees to list a few. All the aspects related to this issue will be discussed in detail.

What health and safety law requires

The basis of British health and safety law is the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The Act set out the general duties which employers have towards employees and members of the public, and employees have to themselves and to each other. (Pashler, 2009, 105-119). These duties are qualified in the Act by the principle of 'so far as is reasonably practicable'. In other words, an employer does not have to take measures to avoid or reduce the risk if they are technically impossible or if the time, trouble or cost of the measures would be grossly disproportionate to the risk. The law requires a good management and common sense will lead the employers to look at different risk and take appropriate measures to handle these issues. (Pajares ,2002, 273-298) The Management of Health and Safety Regulation 1999, makes it more clear about what the employees are supposed to do in order to manage safety and health under ...