Health And Safety At Work Act 1974

**Earl** · 10-09-2006, 13:19

What a load of crap.

Health and Safety in the workplace is by and large a complete waste of time and money. As a professional I consider myself to be my own health and safety representative, my top priority is to return home with all my fingers and toes. I find the whole concept patronising.

**Time Meddler** · 10-09-2006, 14:19

The problem is, though, that not everyone is as professional as you Mr M. We see bad practice every day and sometimes it leads to avoidable accidents. For instance, people are dealing with 11kv electrical systems, and if the procedures are not followed properly then it is an accident waiting to happen.

**Earl** · 10-09-2006, 14:46

But surely the answer is to find better staff, rather than nanny idiots?

**Time Meddler** · 10-09-2006, 14:57

Originally Posted by Mr Morningstarr*

But surely the answer is to find better staff, rather than nanny idiots?

If it was that easy then I'd agree. However, if you take the contract I am working on. They needed to find literally hundreds of short term workers to do the job. The chances are that a fair amount of them are of the type that do not take health and safety seriously because it is not possible to get exactly the staff you want at such short notice. Also, I just think it is human nature t maek mistakes, cut corners or whatever, to make your job easier. Most people just do not think - you only have to look at what goes on on the roads to see that at least 50% of people do not think about what they are doing. If they did, then the Act would not have been necessary.

**Earl** · 10-09-2006, 15:21

Yes, I agree with what you are saying in part. People do need protecting.

But why spend time and money on Health and safety issues when it could be in the employees initial training? In most manufacturing or skilled trade there is going to be an aspect of danger involved, but as a skilled professional they should be able to do their job safely.

To use driving as an example again, you pass your test then you are allowed out on the road. No one is there to hold your hand, you are expected to drive lawfully. If you are caught not doing you are punished accordingly.
Perhaps the Health And Safety At Work Act 1974 should make employees responsible for themselves or punishable by law?

**Time Meddler** · 10-09-2006, 15:47

Originally Posted by Mr Morningstarr*

Yes, I agree with what you are saying in part. People do need protecting.

But why spend time and money on Health and safety issues when it could be in the employees initial training? In most manufacturing or skilled trade there is going to be an aspect of danger involved, but as a skilled professional they should be able to do their job safely.

To use driving as an example again, you pass your test then you are allowed out on the road. No one is there to hold your hand, you are expected to drive lawfully. If you are caught not doing you are punished accordingly.
Perhaps the Health And Safety At Work Act 1974 should make employees responsible for themselves or punishable by law?

Yes, I agree with what you are saying. In fact, I thought the Act did make employees responsible for themselves. At my workplaces there are signs saying "You are looking at the person responsible for your health and safety." stuck on the mirror in the toilets.

But even on the roads there are rules that have to be followed and I have always seen the Act as something similar. But certainly, better training is a must.

**Earl** · 10-09-2006, 18:03

The HASAW Act sets out responsibilities, but the buck stops with the employer.

The employees responsibilities include things like "report hazards".

They should make it so the employee has a much larger responsibility, but the employer must comply. The need for the act arose from employers cutting corners to save money. As usual the law makers took it too far and now employees are wrapped in cotton wool, production time sacrificed for unneccesary health and safety policies.