HEALTH & SAFETY NEWSLETTER JUNE 2004

CHANGES TO THE SIX PACK REGULATIONS

As you know the so called "six pack" regs of 1992 add to the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act and make clearer what employers are required to do to comply with the '74 act. In the recent past they have been variously amended, strengthened by new requirements for employers.

The headline changes are:

Management of Health & Safety at Work Regs 1999.

The additional requirement for employers to:

• prepare risk assessments for new and expectant mothers and for women of childbearing age even before they become pregnant
  prepare fire risk assessments that refer to the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997
  prepare risk assessments so that young employees will be protected from risks arising from their lack of experience or awareness.

Workplace (Health & Safety & Welfare) Regs 1992
Amended by the Health & Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002 (HSMAR)

Account must be taken of disabled persons at work in terms of doors, passageways, stairs, showers, washbasins, lavatories and workstations; rest rooms and rest areas must have adequate provision.

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regs 1998

PUWER '92 is revoked and re-enacted as PUWER 98 containing new guidance on woodworking machinery. Information, instruction, training and supervision have to be provided regarding risk of injury from dangerous machinery.

Although teachers have no responsibilities as employees under PUWER it remains a requirement to ensure that staff and pupils wear appropriate protective equipment under HASAW 74.

Manual Handling Operations Regs 1992

Now specifies factors that must be taken into account in deciding if there is a risk of injury especially the individual's capabilities whether they are pregnant or have particular disabilities or conditions which affect their abilities.

[NB the lifting and handling of loads, whether objects or pupils, is not a professional duty for teachers. You should not become involved in lifting, handling and carrying heavy loads, whether this involves carrying large quantities of books without assistance between classrooms on a daily basis, or the less frequent carrying of heavy boxes of equipment or furniture. Fuller advice available from the NUT website Health & Safety Section including handling of pupils by teachers in special schools, Restraint and child protection]

Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
Amended by HSMAR to require that:

Any workstation that may be used by operators or users must meet the requirements set out in these regulations.

• the NUT would argue this should also apply to pupils and students' workstations
• Eyesight tests must be provided.
  Temperatures in ICT suites must be 'reasonably comfortable'

Also, in 2003, HSE published new guidance relating to laptop use, homeworking and software that monitors rest pauses.

Personal Protective Equipment Regs 1992

Amended by HSMAR to ensure that personal protective equipment is appropriate for the risks involved and takes account of the ergonomic requirements of the user.

• the NUT would argue this applies equally to pupils and students e.g. proper sized gloves for glue gun use in K. Stages 1, 2 and 3.
  child sized eye protection equipment in practical lessons. These requirements should be specified by those teachers who order such equipment.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OR ALL OF THE ABOVE CALL:
John Carmichael BANUT Health & Safety Adviser
0121.442.2031
email: banut@btclick.com