Page 37 - Automobile Mechanical and Electrical Systems Automotive Technology Vehicle Maintenance and Repair (Vehicle Maintenance Repr Nv2) by Tom Denton

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22 Automobile mechanical and electrical systems

Table 1.5 UK regulations and laws
Health and Safety Executive The HSE is the national independent watchdog for work-related health, safety and illness
(HSE) in the UK. It is an independent regulator and acts in the public interest to reduce work-
related death and serious injury across Great Britain’s workplaces. Other countries have
similar organizations
Health and Safety at Work etc. HASAW, also referred to as HASAW, HASAWA or HSW, is the primary piece of legislation
Act 1974 (HASAW) covering occupational health and safety in the UK. The HSE is responsible for enforcing
the Act and a number of other Acts and Statutory Instruments relevant to the working
environment
Control of Substances This law requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health, such as
Hazardous to Health (COSHH) solvents

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases RIDDOR place a legal duty on employers, self-employed people and people in control
and Dangerous Occurrences of premises to report work-related deaths, major injuries or over-three-day injuries, work
Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) related diseases and dangerous occurrences (near-miss accidents)
Provision and Use of Work In general terms, PUWER requires that equipment provided for use at work is:
Equipment Regulations 1998 ● suitable for the intended use
(PUWER) ● safe for use, maintained in a safe condition and, in certain circumstances, inspected to
ensure this remains the case
● used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training
● accompanied by suitable safety measures, e.g. protective devices, markings, warnings
Lifting Operations and Lifting In general, LOLER requires that any lifting equipment used at work for lifting or lowering
Equipment Regulations 1998 loads is:
(LOLER) ● strong and stable enough for particular use and marked to indicate safe working loads
● positioned and installed to minimize any risks
● used safely, i.e. the work is planned, organized and performed by competent people
● subject to ongoing thorough examination and, where appropriate, inspection by
competent people
Health and safety audit Monitoring provides the information to let you or your employer review activities and
decide how to improve performance. Audits, by company staff or outsiders, complement
monitoring activities by looking to see whether your company policy, organization and

systems are actually achieving the right results
Risk management and A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm
assessment to people. This is done so that you and your company can decide whether you have taken
enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Workers and others have a right
to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures. It is a
legal requirement to assess the risks in the workplace, so you or your employer must put
plans in place to control risks. How to assess the risks in your workplace:
● Identify the hazards.
● Decide who might be harmed and how.
● Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
● Record your fi ndings and implement them.
● Review your assessment and update if necessary.

Personal protective equipment PPE is defi ned in the Regulations as ‘all equipment (including clothing affording protection
(PPE) against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which
protects him against one or more risks to his health or safety’, e.g. safety helmets, gloves,
eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses. Hearing
protection and respiratory protective equipment provided for most work situations are not
covered by these Regulations because other regulations apply to them. However, these
items need to be compatible with any other PPE provided