Whilst ethically speaking every person has a duty to go about their lives in a way which protects the health and safety of others it is only really in working situations that this duty takes on a legal obligation as well as a moral one. The Health and Safety Executive is the ruling body for all matters relating to the health and safety of the public at large and have set regulations as to how businesses, employees and owners of public spaces should go about protecting the public. These regulations are linked to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which work towards “securing the health, safety and welfare of persons at work”.
Training
The government, along with many private training and education providers, provides health and safety training for businesses and corporations at all levels and of all sizes. The specific training involves and the certification awarded is very much dependent upon the nature of the business in question and many providers tailor their training towards one vocation, such as public sector, catering and retail and those who work with dangerous or toxic chemicals. Courses can take the form of either classroom tuition or on the job training of identifying potential hazards and then taking steps to minimise the danger.
The Health and Safety Executive gives clear and strict guidance on who is qualified to provide any training and what areas they should cover. They also provide direction for employers and employees on their responsibilities under the law, what they should be taught, in what quantities and how often.
Criticisms
There has been, of late, a great deal of criticism levied towards the Health and Safety Regulations and specifically against the people who are seen as somewhat over-zealous in promoting and adhering to them. Whilst the original Health and Safety law calls for common sense in enforcing it’s regulations it did not account for today’s accident claiming culture and it is thought by some that a change in the law is required; either to bring the HASAW Act up to date or to place stricter limitations on the ease with which legal action can be brought.
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