A Guide for Managers

A Guide for Managers
Fire Service Guide
Volume 2

Section 1
Health and Safety Law and the
Legal Responsibilities of
Fire Service Managers

The Health And Safety At Work etc Act 1974 (HASWA)

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HASWA) provides the basic framework for health and safety legislation in Great Britain.

This framework has been made more explicit by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992. These are summarised briefly later in this Section.

Objectives

The HASWA begins by setting out the following health and safety objectives:

to secure and improve standards of health, safety and welfare of people at work;
to protect the health and safety of others who are affected by the activities of people at work;
to control the keeping and use of explosive or highly flammable or otherwise dangerous substances; and
to control the emission into the atmosphere of noxious or dangerous substances.

Achievement of Objectives

To achieve these broad objectives the HASWA creates a framework of obligations and control measures, backed up by sanctions of criminal law.

General Duties

In general terms the duties imposed by the HASWA are for:

employers to safeguard the health and safety and welfare of their employees, and the safety of others affected by their undertakings;
controllers of premises to prevent harmful emissions; and
designers, manufacturers, importers, suppliers and installers to ensure the safety of articles supplied for use at work.

Although some parts of the HASWA apply to Northern Ireland the principle legislation which applies there is the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order 1978.

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