Introduction
The re-enacted Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 came into force on the 29th December 1999 and replaced the 1992 Regulations. These new Regulations will clarify some changes in UK health and safety law to implement European Directive 89/391/EEC. The framework of the directive is principally concerned with risk assessment, management, health surveillance, use of competent assistance, provision of information and training for employees. (See Also: Schedule 1). The regulations also consolidate earlier amendments to the 1992 regulations concerning young persons, new and expectant mothers.

The Regulations fundamentally require all employers and the self-employed to carry out 2 distinct functions:

  • Firstly to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to employees or other persons that may be affected by their undertaking, and eliminate or reduce the risks to the lowest level reasonably possible.
  • Secondly these regulations also require that where there are FIVE or more employees the significant findings of risk assessments be recorded

In many areas there is now specific legislation to clarify what must be assessed, for example visual display equipment, work equipment and manual handling. Where there are no specific regulations covering particular tasks etc. then the generality of these Regulations and the 1974 Act shall apply.

As all ready stated the Regulations require employers to carry out risk assessments. Information on why, when and how to carry out a risk assessment, and what has to be risk assessed especially in some specific areas can be found on the Knowles2000 web site, www.knowles2000.co.uk.

Section Index