Understanding Health and Safety in the Business Workplace Assignment (GC01267)
Contents
Introduction.
P1 Explain the legal requirements and regulations for ensuring the health, safety, and security of those employed in the business.
M1- Assess the implications of health, safety, and security legislation and regulations for a business role in a workplace environment
P2 Describe the requirements for a healthy and safe workplace, as applied to the physical environment and equipment used in B&M Retail
Physical Environment
P3 Explain the roles and responsibilities for health and safety of key personnel in B&M Retail
M2- Analyse the roles and responsibilities for health and safety of key personnel in a selected workplace
P4 Plan a risk assessment for a selected administrative work environment
M3- Conduct a detailed risk assessment of a selected workplace.
Conclusion.
References.
Introduction
This assignment presents the discussion of the health and safety of the employees in B&M Retail in the UK. B&M Retail is a European Retail Value S.A. (also known as B&M Bargains and the larger B&M Homestore) was formed in 1978 and is now one of the leading variety retailers in the United Kingdom, employing over 28,000 staff. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. The retailer has experienced encouraging revenue growth and a store increase of more than 2400% over an eight-year period up to 2016 (B&M Retail, 2019). This assignment focuses on four key tasks.
The first task of this assignment explains the legal requirements and regulations for ensuring the health, safety, and security of those employed in the business. The second task describes the requirements for a healthy and safe workplace, as applied to the physical environment and equipment used in B&M Retail. The third task explains the roles and responsibilities for the health and safety of key personnel in B&M Retail. Finally, the fourth task plans a risk assessment for B&M Retail’s administrative work environment.
P1 Explain the legal requirements and regulations for ensuring the health, safety, and security of those employed in the business
I am employed as the Health and Safety assistant at B&M Retail. B&M Retail has applied its health and safety regulations effectively however, now staffs have more rights and responsibilities. Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety procedures are followed in the workplace.
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation governing workplace health and safety in Great Britain. The implementation of these regulations does not have to be a daunting, time consuming, or costly affair. Follow our guide to workplace health and safety legislation in the UK for a summary of the key policies and procedures and understand what you need to do to keep your work environment healthy, safe and compliant (Waddoups, 2014). As a brief overview, the HASAWA 1974 requires that workplaces provide adequate training of staff to ensure healt
h and safety procedures are understood; provide adequate welfare provisions for staff at work; provide a safe working environment that is properly maintained and where operations within it are conducted safely and provide the suitable provision of relevant information, instruction, and supervision.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994
The occupational use of non-materials is regulated under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). It includes finding out what the health hazards are, deciding how to prevent harm to health, providing control measures to reduce harm to health, making sure they are used; keeping all control measures in good working order, providing information, instruction, and training for employees and others and providing monitoring and health surveillance in appropriate cases (Waddoups, 2014). Most businesses use substances or products that are mixtures of substances. Some processes create substances. These could cause harm to employees, contractors, and other people. Sometimes substances are easily recognized as harmful. In the case of B&M Retail, the manager always maintains the regulations related with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994.
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995
The premises and people in charge should keep records of work-related accidents which cause death; work-related accidents which cause certain serious injuries; diagnosed cases of certain industrial diseases and certain ‘dangerous occurrences (Waddoups, 2014). This should be done as it is a legal requirement. The report informs the enforcing authorities about deaths, injuries, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences, so they can identify where and how risks arise, and whether they need to be investigated. Any accidents/incidents that take place in the firm, a member of staff should keep records of them all as this is important for the safety of everyone and it is a legal requirement. In the case of B&M Retail, the manager always maintains the regulations related to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.
Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
This regulation is put in place to reduce harm by requiring the assessment of all potential risks and the creation of action plans for emergencies. The regulation puts a duty on the employers to assess all risks for all of their workers (Waddoups, 2014). Employers must complete and review risk assessments at set times and make modifications to safety standards if there are any significant changes in working practices or equipment. The high management of the college must make sure they have all the appropriate health and safety equipment available within the firm.
hey must also make sure the equipment is checked and replaced if needed; this includes fire exit signs, fire alarms, and fire extinguishers, etc. They must ensure they have trained staff to deal with the health and safety and that they understand it. The college must record all incidents/accidents that occur and put safety measures in place. The operational department of B&M Retail maintains the regulations related to the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
M1- Assess the implications of health, safety, and security legislation and regulations for a business role in a workplace environment
If the Health and Safety Law at Work Act was not put into place at B&M Retail in the science department, it would be an extremely dangerous and injury-prone department. B&M Retail wouldn’t be able to identify any potential hazards and they would be hard to observe. This would mean the whole school along with the science department would be extremely unsafe and there is a huge risk of B&M Retail harming herself along with her students. It could cause injuries that could get B&M Retail sued. This is because it is illegal to not follow the Health and Safety Law at Work Act. If the Health and Safety Law at Work Act wasn’t applied in B&M Retail classroom, the classrooms would not be effectively checked and examined for any hazards which could cause a problem because there would be a lot of accidents happening and it would be an unsafe classroom which would disobey the Health and Safety Law.
The Health and Safety Law at Work Act is extremely important as it is said to be the most important piece of legalization because it is an enabling act which means any other legalization can be added to it without the Health and Safety at Work Act has to change itself. It aims to protect people, like Mrs. Berman whilst they’re at work by ensuring all explosives are transported, stored, and handled safely which will avoid accidents such as burns, falling objects, chemicals blowing up, eye problems, etc.
The act also states that if there are more than 5 people in the business, they must have a written Health and Safety policy which includes 3 parts to ensure all staff is aware of the aims and objectives of the law, what needs to be achieved for the Health and Safety to be followed out, who is responsible for the Health and Safety in the school and the science department alone and the necessary procedures and methods for relevant laws affecting the business. If Mrs. Berman didn’t follow the Health and Safety at Work Act, it is considered a criminal offense as well as creating accidents and injuries for other staff and students and B&M Retail could get sued and could go to prison for not performing this law correctly……………….