The boxes by the exit
Nadia is a new data analyst. Her team shares a small office. Old boxes of printed survey sheets are stacked in front of the only fire exit. Nobody has moved them for weeks.
Nobody has been hurt yet. Is anyone in trouble? The law says the employer already is.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | the person or company that pays the staff | |
| Hazard | something that can cause harm | boxes in front of a fire exit |
| Risk | the chance that a hazard causes harm | |
| Risk assessment | a check of a place or job to find hazards and cut the risk | |
| Welfare | basic needs at work, such as toilets, water and a rest area | |
| Supervision | a more senior person watching over work and helping | |
| Act | a law made by Parliament |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can say what an employer must do under the Health and Safety at Work Act. I can give an example for a data office.
Starter: hazard or risk?
Have a go
Starter: hazard or risk?
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
One Act covers every workplace
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the main UK law on safety at work. It covers offices, shops, schools and factories, not only building sites.
The employer has the main duties. Staff also have duties: they take care of themselves and others, and they follow the training they are given.
Four key points for the employer
| Duty | In a team that works with data |
|---|---|
| Provide a safe working environment | Clear exits, safe plugs, enough light, a room that is not too hot |
| Make sure staff are properly trained | Show a new analyst the fire plan and how to set up a desk on day one |
| Provide adequate welfare | Toilets, clean drinking water, a place to rest and wash hands |
| Provide information, instruction and supervision | Signs, written steps, and a senior colleague checking a new starter |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check
Have a go
Check
4 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.