ABSTRACT
Health and safety legislation obliges you to take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do. You also have a responsibility to co-operate, as necessary, to ensure satisfactory safety standards. If you comply with the requirements for safety and something goes wrong, then your employer will be held to account. If you fail to comply, you may lose any claim for compensation for injury and could even be prosecuted as an individual. What you must do is:
follow the safety requirements and any instructions you are given, especially in relation to emergencies (e.g. know the location of fire exits)
ask for further information if you need it and report accidents (or a near miss!), and any dangerous situations or defects in safety arrangements
do not interfere with or misuse safety systems or equipment, or engage in horseplay that could be dangerous
work within the limits of your competence, which means a knowledge of best practice and an awareness of the limitations of one’s own experience and knowledge.
