Health and Safety at Work act 1974

Section 2 of the health and safety at work act 1974 puts on employers a general duty of care to their employees.

It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable the health and safety and welfare of all of his employees.

(2) Without predudice to the generality of an employers duty under the preceding sub section, the matters to which that duty extends include in particular

(a) the provision and maintenance of plant and systems at work that are, so far as reasonably practicable, safe and without risk to health...

Employers also have general duties to other than their employees as described in section 3(1)

Duties of Employees at Work

It shall be the duty of every employee while at work:-

1. to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work, and

2. as regards any duty or requirement imposed on his employer or any other person by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions to co-operate with him so far as is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with.

The Health and Safety Act at work is all embracing, requiring all those concerned with an undertaking to do all that is reasonable to ensure the health and saffety not only of persons directly employed, but other persons who may be associated with work undertaken by the business.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 Statutory Instrument No 635.

The purpose of the Electricity at Work regulations 1989 is to prevent death or injury to anyone from electrical cause as a result of, or in connection with, work activities.

The regulations impose duties upon employers, self employed persons and employees while at work. Regulation 4 is quoted below :

Systems, work activities and protective equipment

1) All systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, danger.

(2) As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger.

(3) Every work activity, including operation, use and maintenance of a system and work near a system, shall be carried out in such a manner as not to give rise, so far as is reasonably practicable, to danger.

(4) Any equipment provided under these Regulations for the purpose of protecting persons at work on or near electrical equipment shall be suitable for the use for which it is provided, be maintained in a condition suitable for that use, and be properly used.

The electricity at work regulations apply to all electrical equipment from battery hand held lamps to 400KV transmission lines.