Help and Advice from NATFHE : Health & Safety

We hope this page will help you find the answers to the queries you may have, and help create a healthier and safer working environment for lecturers.

More detailed advice and regular newsletters are available for safety reps in the Health & Safety Toolkit located in the Branch Resources Section.

In this section:
Introduction
Your rights at work
Health and safety links

INTRODUCTION

Your local safety representative at departmental, site, college or university level should be your first port of call for any health or safety query or problem. Elected by the union locally, they have the knowledge and are part of the local procedures to deal with health and safety.

Some of the union's regions have set up safety reps information exchange groups, where reps can share information, develop policy and provide mutual support on health and safety matters.

NATFHE has representatives on workplace health and safety committees - joint union-management committees set up under the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations. Many branches also have safety reps committees, made up of union members only.

A number of NATFHE branches have set up health and safety pages on their own branch websites .

YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
The Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) is the main legislation covering your health and safety rights at work. The Act puts a general duty on employers to ensure the safety, health and welfare of their employees. Under the Act, employers have to consult with employees about health and safety arrangements and prepare a written safety policy. Employers also have to recognise and allow safety reps and safety committees to function, if requested by recognised trade unions.

Health and safety regulations
Detailed regulations specify the employer's particular obligations under the HSWA. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 set these out. Approved Codes of Practice give practical guidance to employers on how to comply with the law. Like the Highway Code, these are not law, but breach of them can be presented as evidence in court.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992
These regulations oblige employers to carry out risk assessments to prevent accidents in the workplace.