Health and safety regulations in the United Kingdom
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In the United Kingdom there are many regulations relevant to health, safety and welfare at work. Many of these give effect to European Union directives.
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[edit] Regulations made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
Breach of the regulations is a crime, punishable on summary conviction with a fine of up to £400. If convicted on indictment in the Crown Court, an offender can be sentenced to an unlimited fine.[1] Either an individual or a corporation can be punished[2] and sentencing practice is published by the Sentencing Guidelines Council.[3]
Where a person suffers damage caused by a breach of a duty imposed by regulations, they have a cause of action in tort against the offender, except where the regulations state otherwise.[4]
[edit] The "six pack" regulations
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999[5]
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998[6]
- Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992[7]
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992[8]
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992[9]
- Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992[10]
[edit] Other
- Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002 (CHIPS) (gives effect to EU Directive 67/548/EEC)[11]
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002[12]
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995[13]
- Transport of Dangerous Goods (Safety Advisers) Regulations 1999[14]
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989[15]
- The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998[16]
[edit] REACH
These European Union regulations are "directly effective" on citizens and establishments in member states. They will come into operation on 1 June 2008 and the government of the United Kingdom must have established penalties for any breach by 1 December 2008.[17] A Statutory Instrument on Enforcement of REACH in the UK is planned for 8 November.[18]
[edit] References
- ^ Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, ss.33(1)(c), 33(3)
- ^ Interpretation Act 1978, s.5
- ^ (K) Miscellaneous offences - Health and Safety offences. Guideline Judgements Case Compendium. Sentencing Guidelines Council (2005). Retrieved on 2008-03-08.
- ^ Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, s.47
- ^ SI 1999/3242
- ^ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1998/19982306.htm
- ^ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1992/Uksi_19922793_en_1.htm
- ^ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1992/Uksi_19923004_en_1.htm
- ^ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1992/Uksi_19922966_en_1.htm
- ^ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1992/Uksi_19922792_en_1.htm
- ^ SI 2002/1689
- ^ SI 2002/2677
- ^ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19953163_en_1.htm
- ^ SI 1999/257
- ^ [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19890635_en_1.htm
- ^ [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1998/19982307.htm
- ^ Proposals for the UK enforcement of the EU 'REACH' chemicals regulation. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (13 March 2008). Retrieved on 2008-04-03.
- ^ Defra's statement of forthcoming legislation 2008. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (March 2008). Retrieved on 2008-04-03.
[edit] Bibliography
- [Various authors] (2007). Tolley's Health and Safety at Work Handbook 2008. London: Butterworths. ISBN 0754533182.
- Stranks, J. (2005). Health and Safety Law, 5th ed., London: Prentice Hall. ISBN 013197646X.
