If a business is to avoid lawsuits, it must know what is required of it in terms of workplace safety and compensation. The measures that must be taken to ensure a work environment is safe vary from industries - construction, etc. will have many more regulations while a small office will have simpler checks to do to meet the safety standard of that region. Below is a sampling of various requirements from a few government mandated workplace safety legislation:
- UK Health & Safety Executive1wokrplace temperatures should be reasonable - it is recommended that they not fall below 17 degress celcius (13 if the job includes physical labour)
- bosses must perform a first-aid assessment and have first-aid kits and at least one person certified for first aid in-office
- a record must be kept of the location and condition of materials in the building containing asbetos, with removal as soon as possible
- no-one below the age of 16 is permitted to work in a factory or on a construction site except for short-term work experience ro training
- OHSA (Occupational Health & Safety Act, Ontario, Canada)2
- in a workplace with more than 20 people, there must be a Joint Health & Safety Committee consisting of at least one worker and one member of the management team
- minimum temperature of 18 degreen celcius advised
- no smoking in enclosed workplaces
- guardrails must have a middle bar and be no less than 97cm above the substance they are guarding
- WHS (Workplace Health & Safety, Australia)3
- workers must not be exposed to more than 8 hours of heavy noise
- confined spaces must be tested by a trained professional for adequate oxygen levels, lack of flammable gases and biohazards before entry
- recommends a comfortable working temperature of 20 degrees celcius
- for workplaces with more than 10 people, or more than 2 of one gender, separate sex bathrooms must be available
​If the standards are adhered to and fair compensation is given as per that region's legislation and an injured worker's contract, the buisness can protect itself from harmful lawsuits.
References:
1. Health & Safety Executive. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/index.htm. [Last Accessed 9/5/2014].
2. Ontario Ministry of Labour. Health & Safety. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/. [Last Accessed 8/5/2014].
3. Australian Government (2008). [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/pages/default. [Last Accessed 9/5/2014].
© BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com March 28, 2024, 12:10 pm ad1c9bdddf