health and safety legislation

• • Health and safety legislation requires businesses to operate in a way that protects the physical and mental wellbeing of its employees and contractors as well as its customers
• Legislation covers areas including

  • The provision of adequate breaks and rest periods
  • Temperature and noise levels
  • The provision of safety equipment
  • Hygienic, safe and sanitary conditions
  • Preventing stress
• • Serious health and safety breaches can lead to fines or investigation by the Health and Safety Executive and in some cases can lead to prosecution
• health and safety at work 1974 states that employees must ensure that working machines are safe