Unit 4a
Health and safety within organizations
Introduction
Most labs follow and abide by many rules and regulations assisted by the government to ensure safety within
the workplace for scientists and safety within school environments for students, teachers and technicians. I've
investigated two different facilities, challenging them on their health and safety regulations, how chemicals are
kept in order, how one must protect themselves in labs, disposing of radioactive material etc.The first facility I
looked into (via video tour of the lab)was Virtus Respiratory Research, VRR is a contract research
organization, specialised in clinical and pre-clinical research, as well as human virus challenge studies for proof
and concept and proof of mechanism clinical trials. They research studies in respiratory infections and airway
diseases, to help develop new drugs into clinics for treatment of respiratory viral infections and acute attacks
of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease[1]. The second facility that I looked into was the (insert
department) science department, discussing with technicians how order is kept within school surrounded with
pupils and other staff members.
Regulations that must be followed, required by law
Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 (HSWA)
The principal act of health and safety legislation that describes the duty of all employers and employees to
operate in a safe and controlled way. Its general duties include, attitude employers have towards employees and
members of the public, employees have to themselves and to each other and certain self-employed have
towards themselves and others [2]
.
Electricity at Work Regulations, 1989
All electrical equipment must be tested to make sure it is safe for employees to use. They place duties on
employers, employees and self-employed to prevent danger. Duty holders must have some sort of electrical
systems constructed in a way to steer clear of danger, uphold the electrical systems necessary to prevent danger
and also carry out work on electrical systems carried out in a way that prevents danger. Some electrical
equipment is used in hazardous environments, so they must also be constructed and protected to prevent it
becoming dangerous eg, extreme weather, temperature and corrosive conditions[3]
Manual Handling Operations Regulations, 1992
Employees are trained, guided and supported to make the correct choice when moving objects in the workplace.
The guidance explains how to avoid, assess and reduce the risk of injury from manual handling[4]. The
regulations set out a system of measures to reduce the risks of manual handling. First, avoid hazardous handling
operations so far as is reasonably practicable; second, assess any hazardous manual handling operations that
cannot be avoided; and third, reduce the risk of injury so far as is reasonably practicable. Employees have
[5]
duties to take reasonable care of their own health and safety measures and that of others who may be affected .
Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations, 2015
The authorities must be notified if dangerous chemicals are being transported. The purpose of these regulations
is to lay rules down for the prevention of major accidents involving hazardous substances, and to limit as far as
possible the danger for human health and the environment of such accidents, with the overall objective of
providing a high level of protection in a consistent and effective manner[6].
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (PPE), 1992
All employees must be provided with any protective clothing or safety equipment needed to carry out their
work. They include, safety helmets, ear protection, high visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety harness,
thermal, weather and waterproof clothing, respiratory protective equipment. These regulations place duties on
, employees, PPE must be worn and used in accordance with instructions provided to them, Employees must
make sure that PPE is returned to the provided accommodation after use, PPE should be returned to the
appropriate storage unit after use, unless the employee takes their PPE home, for example footwear or clothing,
Must be visually examined before use, Any loss or obvious defect must be immediately reported to their line
manager, Employees must take reasonable care of any PPE provided to them and not carry out any maintenance
unless trained and authorised[7].
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, 1999
Employers need to assess all the risks and hazards associated with a workplace and make sure it is as safe as
possible for the employees. They also need to make sure all the staff are trained, informed and prepared for any
risks or hazards they may encounter. Employers with five or more employees must record any significant
findings. The general duties that are required to follow are, Employers are required to appoint at least one
experienced person to oversee, supervise and assist in all matters of health and safety complying with
legislation, employees must be provided with all necessary safety information in an understandable format etc.
Employees must report any health and safety concerns, dangerous circumstances as well as incidents and
accidents, use equipment in line with training etc[8].
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR),2013
All accidents must be recorded and reported appropriately. Employers have a legal requirement to report all
incidents regardless of aptitude. Recording all reportable accidents, illnesses, dangerous occurrences, work
related deaths and specific injuries lasting more than seven days, Keeping all records in a file, eg. accident book
(This is very important as for example somes cuts are now infected, you would look back at this long and see
what it is that could have affected this cut, insurance companies will need to see these records)[9].
Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulation, 1994
Dangerous chemicals must be correctly labelled and packaged by suppliers, who must also provide safety data
sheets for them. The container used for containing hazardous chemicals must have an appropriate pictogram
(image) with an orange background and a symbol letter on the outside to identify the hazard of that specific
chemical. When handling these chemicals there will be a material safety data sheet on the chemicals which
include Hazards that the chemicals may pose to human health and to the environment, including information on
the toxicology of the chemical, it will provide information on what actions you must take in a case of spillage
etc[10].
Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations, 1989
Health and safety information must be displayed where all employees can see. The aim of these regulations is
to increase employees’ awareness of safety and welfare at work, do this by requiring employers to provide
employees with posters/leaflets approved by HSE which contain information about all of the above[11]. This
method of information helps with quick intake of what one must know when working with chemicals or around
other people.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), 2002
The risks and hazards associated with chemical compounds must be assessed by employers and appropriate
precautions taken. Usually you employers can prevent or reduce workers’ exposure to hazardous substances by
finding out what the health hazards are; deciding how to prevent harm to reduce health risk; providing control
measures to reduce harm; keeping all control measures in good working order etc[12].
(school) Science department
When speaking to one of the head technicians of the department, Ms Buckley spoke on how they carry many
risk assessments including methods of transportation, personal, equipment, microbiology etc. The way in which
Health and safety within organizations
Introduction
Most labs follow and abide by many rules and regulations assisted by the government to ensure safety within
the workplace for scientists and safety within school environments for students, teachers and technicians. I've
investigated two different facilities, challenging them on their health and safety regulations, how chemicals are
kept in order, how one must protect themselves in labs, disposing of radioactive material etc.The first facility I
looked into (via video tour of the lab)was Virtus Respiratory Research, VRR is a contract research
organization, specialised in clinical and pre-clinical research, as well as human virus challenge studies for proof
and concept and proof of mechanism clinical trials. They research studies in respiratory infections and airway
diseases, to help develop new drugs into clinics for treatment of respiratory viral infections and acute attacks
of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease[1]. The second facility that I looked into was the (insert
department) science department, discussing with technicians how order is kept within school surrounded with
pupils and other staff members.
Regulations that must be followed, required by law
Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 (HSWA)
The principal act of health and safety legislation that describes the duty of all employers and employees to
operate in a safe and controlled way. Its general duties include, attitude employers have towards employees and
members of the public, employees have to themselves and to each other and certain self-employed have
towards themselves and others [2]
.
Electricity at Work Regulations, 1989
All electrical equipment must be tested to make sure it is safe for employees to use. They place duties on
employers, employees and self-employed to prevent danger. Duty holders must have some sort of electrical
systems constructed in a way to steer clear of danger, uphold the electrical systems necessary to prevent danger
and also carry out work on electrical systems carried out in a way that prevents danger. Some electrical
equipment is used in hazardous environments, so they must also be constructed and protected to prevent it
becoming dangerous eg, extreme weather, temperature and corrosive conditions[3]
Manual Handling Operations Regulations, 1992
Employees are trained, guided and supported to make the correct choice when moving objects in the workplace.
The guidance explains how to avoid, assess and reduce the risk of injury from manual handling[4]. The
regulations set out a system of measures to reduce the risks of manual handling. First, avoid hazardous handling
operations so far as is reasonably practicable; second, assess any hazardous manual handling operations that
cannot be avoided; and third, reduce the risk of injury so far as is reasonably practicable. Employees have
[5]
duties to take reasonable care of their own health and safety measures and that of others who may be affected .
Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations, 2015
The authorities must be notified if dangerous chemicals are being transported. The purpose of these regulations
is to lay rules down for the prevention of major accidents involving hazardous substances, and to limit as far as
possible the danger for human health and the environment of such accidents, with the overall objective of
providing a high level of protection in a consistent and effective manner[6].
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (PPE), 1992
All employees must be provided with any protective clothing or safety equipment needed to carry out their
work. They include, safety helmets, ear protection, high visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety harness,
thermal, weather and waterproof clothing, respiratory protective equipment. These regulations place duties on
, employees, PPE must be worn and used in accordance with instructions provided to them, Employees must
make sure that PPE is returned to the provided accommodation after use, PPE should be returned to the
appropriate storage unit after use, unless the employee takes their PPE home, for example footwear or clothing,
Must be visually examined before use, Any loss or obvious defect must be immediately reported to their line
manager, Employees must take reasonable care of any PPE provided to them and not carry out any maintenance
unless trained and authorised[7].
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, 1999
Employers need to assess all the risks and hazards associated with a workplace and make sure it is as safe as
possible for the employees. They also need to make sure all the staff are trained, informed and prepared for any
risks or hazards they may encounter. Employers with five or more employees must record any significant
findings. The general duties that are required to follow are, Employers are required to appoint at least one
experienced person to oversee, supervise and assist in all matters of health and safety complying with
legislation, employees must be provided with all necessary safety information in an understandable format etc.
Employees must report any health and safety concerns, dangerous circumstances as well as incidents and
accidents, use equipment in line with training etc[8].
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR),2013
All accidents must be recorded and reported appropriately. Employers have a legal requirement to report all
incidents regardless of aptitude. Recording all reportable accidents, illnesses, dangerous occurrences, work
related deaths and specific injuries lasting more than seven days, Keeping all records in a file, eg. accident book
(This is very important as for example somes cuts are now infected, you would look back at this long and see
what it is that could have affected this cut, insurance companies will need to see these records)[9].
Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulation, 1994
Dangerous chemicals must be correctly labelled and packaged by suppliers, who must also provide safety data
sheets for them. The container used for containing hazardous chemicals must have an appropriate pictogram
(image) with an orange background and a symbol letter on the outside to identify the hazard of that specific
chemical. When handling these chemicals there will be a material safety data sheet on the chemicals which
include Hazards that the chemicals may pose to human health and to the environment, including information on
the toxicology of the chemical, it will provide information on what actions you must take in a case of spillage
etc[10].
Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations, 1989
Health and safety information must be displayed where all employees can see. The aim of these regulations is
to increase employees’ awareness of safety and welfare at work, do this by requiring employers to provide
employees with posters/leaflets approved by HSE which contain information about all of the above[11]. This
method of information helps with quick intake of what one must know when working with chemicals or around
other people.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), 2002
The risks and hazards associated with chemical compounds must be assessed by employers and appropriate
precautions taken. Usually you employers can prevent or reduce workers’ exposure to hazardous substances by
finding out what the health hazards are; deciding how to prevent harm to reduce health risk; providing control
measures to reduce harm; keeping all control measures in good working order etc[12].
(school) Science department
When speaking to one of the head technicians of the department, Ms Buckley spoke on how they carry many
risk assessments including methods of transportation, personal, equipment, microbiology etc. The way in which
