Employer’s Responsibilities
Employers have responsibilities for the health and safety of their employees. They are also responsible for any visitors to their premises such as customers, suppliers and the general public.
(1) Proper Ventilation - Effective and suitable provision shall be made to ensure that every enclosed workplace is ventilated by a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air to prevent heat stress or cold stress and certain airborne diseases that thrive in certain temperatures.
(2) Proper Lighting - Every workplace shall have suitable and sufficient lighting and sufficient emergency lighting to prevent eyestrain and to enable people to work and move about safely.
(3) Cleanliness and waste materials - Every workplace and the furniture, furnishings and fittings therein shall be kept sufficiently clean. The surfaces of the floors, walls and ceilings of all workplaces inside buildings shall be capable of being kept sufficiently clean to prevent the build up allergy causing dust and mold and the spreading of harmful germs and bacteria. So far as reasonably practicable, waste materials shall not be allowed to accumulate in a workplace except in suitable receptacles.
(4) Room dimensions and space - Every room where persons work shall have sufficient floor area, height and unoccupied space for purposes of health, safety and welfare and to allow people to move around with ease.
(5) Workstations and seating – Every workstation should be suitable for the people using them for work. People should be able to leave workstation swiftly in an emergency. If work must be done sitting, seats that are suitable for the employees should be provided so that they can have adequate support for the back. An adjustable chair would allow employees to make legroom space if necessary.
(6) Proper Floor covering - Every floor in a workplace and the surface of every traffic route in a workplace shall be of a construction such that the floor or surface of the traffic route is suitable for the purpose for which it is used. Floors should have proper coverings and drainage (if necessary) and should not be uneven as to prevent slip and fall accidents. If surfaces are uneven handrails should be provided for support
(7) Sanitary conveniences and washing facilities – Every workplace should have suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences and washing facilities provided are readily accessible places. They and the rooms containing them should be kept clean and be adequately ventilated and well lit. Washing facilities should have hot and cold running water, soap, clean towels or other means of cleaning or drying.
(8) Regular Fire Safety Inspections -Regular inspections are required to ensure the continued functioning of the active and passive fire safety measures in a building and to detect dangerous practices. The following should be monitored by regular inspection.
i. Stairways and Exit Doors: Stairways and final exit doors must never be obstructed, and all exit doors must be capable of being opened easily and immediately from the inside while the building is occupied
Fire Resisting Doors: Fire doors are provided in a building in order to contain smoke and fire gases. Fire doors must be kept closed when not in use.
Active fire precautions systems installed in the building require regular checking and maintenance to ensure their continued operation and availability. Visual checks are required for most types of systems on a frequent basis with full operational check by a trained person required once every year. Maintenance and servicing is required for:
a. Fire Alarm Systems. Emergency Lighting Systems. Fire Extinguisher Hose Reels.
b. Fire Hydrants.
Employee’s Responsibilities
Employees too have an active role to play in creating a safe and healthy workplace and comply with all applicable safety and health rules.
1. set up workstation correctly
2. if possible avoid wearing jewellery or loose clothing if operating machinery
3. if you have long hair or wear a headscarf, make sure it’s tucked out of the way (it could get caught in machinery)
4. to take reasonable care not to put other people – fellow employees and members of the public – at risk by what you do or don’t do in the course of your work
5. to co-operate with your employer, making sure you get proper training and you understand and follow the company’s health and safety policies
6. not to interfere with or misuse any safety signs, notices or equipment that’s been provided for your health, safety or welfare
7. to report any injuries, strains or illnesses you suffer as a result of doing your job (your employer may need to change the way you work)
8. to tell your employer if something happens that might affect your ability to work (eg becoming pregnant or suffering an injury). Because your employer has a legal responsibility for your health and safety, they may need to suspend you while they find a solution to the problem, but you will normally be paid if this happens
9. if you drive or operate machinery, to tell your employer if you take medication that makes you drowsy – they should temporarily move you to another job if they have one for you to do.
