Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Part 1 covers health, safety and welfare in connec-
tion with work and the control of dangerous sub-
stances and emissions into the atmosphere
2. Part 2 covers the Employment Medical Advisory 
Service (EMAS)
3. Part 3 covers amendments to Building Regulations
4. Part 4 covers miscellaneous and general provisions.
Parts 2, 3 and 4 are not included in this summary.
15.3.1 General 
duties
The HSW Act places general duties on all those involved 
with work activities including employers, the self-
employed, persons in control of premises, employees 
and manufacturers and suppliers. These general duties 
are detailed in sections 2 to 9 and the penalties for 
breaching the requirements are detailed in section 33.
15.3.2 Section 2 – Duty of the employer to their 
employees
2 (1) General duty
The employer is required to ensure, so far as is 
reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at 
work of their employees.
2 (2) Specifi c duties
Employers are required to:
a) Provide and maintain safe plant and systems of 
work
b) Ensure safety in the use, handling, storage and 
transport of articles and substances for use at work
c) Provide information, instruction, training and super-
vision as necessary to ensure employee safety
d) Provide and maintain a safe place of work with safe 
access and egress
e) Provide and maintain a safe and healthy working 
environment with adequate welfare facilities.
2 (3) Requirement to have a written policy
Where the employer normally employs fi ve or more 
employees, they must prepare a written statement 
covering their Policy for health and safety at work 
including the organisation and arrangements for Policy 
implementation. The Policy must be kept up to date, 
revised as necessary and brought to the attention of the 
employees.
In addition to the above duties, section 2 also covers 
the appointment of trade union safety representatives, 
consultation with these appointees and the establish-
ment of a safety committee to review the employer’s 
measures for ensuring the health and safety of their 
employees. The Safety Representatives and Safety 
Committees Regulations 1977 (SRSC Regs) expand 
these particular duties and the Health and Safety 
(Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 extend 
the duty to consult to non-union represented employees 
(see later summaries).