>> In Work or Training >> Guide to Rights & Responsibilities >> Health and Safety

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 makes employers responsible for the health, safety and welfare of their workforce and anyone else who comes into contact with the work place. The law also means you must take responsibility for the safety of yourself and other people.

Health and Safety at work is everyone's responsibility. This includes you.

Your employer has to:

• Make sure you work in a safe, warm, well-lit place.
  
• Train you in safety at work.
  
• Provide you with protective clothing and equipment, eg safety boots, or guards on machines to ensure you are not injured.

If your employer has five or more people working for the company, they must:

• Have a policy that lists the rules in place to make sure that you will be able to work safely.
• Tell you about the policy.
• Produce an assessment of the risks to your health and safety.
• Tell you the results of the assessment.
  

You must:

• Follow ALL safety rules
• Make sure you use tools and clothing provided for your safety.
• Not mess about or wrongly use any safety tools or clothing.
• Only use machinery, tools and other dangerous things once you've been trained AND told you can use them.
• Always tell someone about any safety things that are broken, faulty or dangerous.
• Don't play practical jokes at work, especially if it is near machines or uses tools and safety clothing.

You can get advice from:

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
www.hse.gov.uk
T: 0845 345 0055

Kirklees Environmental Services
T: 01484 226400

Calderdale Environmental Health Service
T: 01422 392373

The Young Worker website for advice on your first few days at work and work experience
www.young-worker.co.uk

Pay & Employment rights Service
www.pers.org.uk