Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

p) Emergency routes and exits – Regulation 40
A suffi cient number of suitable emergency routes and 
exits shall be provided to enable any person to reach a 
place of safety quickly in the event of danger.
An emergency route or exit (or as appropriate traffi c 
route) provided must:
➤
lead as directly as possible to an identifi ed safe area
➤
be kept clear and free from obstruction and, where 
necessary, provided with emergency lighting so that 
such emergency route or exit may be used at any 
time
➤
be indicated by suitable signs.
q) Fire detection and fi re-fi ghting – Regulation 41
Where necessary duty holders must provide suitable and 
suffi cient:
➤
fi re-fi ghting equipment; and
➤
fi re detection and alarm systems; 
which shall be suitably located.
The equipment must be examined and tested at 
suitable intervals, properly maintained and suitably indicated 
by signs. If non-automatic must be easily accessible.
Every person at work on a construction site shall, 
sfarp, be instructed in the correct use of any fi re-fi ghting 
equipment which it may be necessary for them to use. 
Where a work activity may give rise to a particular risk 
of fi re, a person shall not carry out such work unless 
suitably instructed.
r) Fresh air – Regulation 42
Steps must be taken to ensure, sfarp, that every place 
of work or approach has suffi cient fresh or purifi ed air 
to ensure that the place or approach is safe and without 
risks to health. Any plant used for the provision of fresh, 
must include, where necessary, an effective device to 
give visible or audible warning of any failure of the plant.
Temperature and weather protection – Regulation 43
Steps must be taken to ensure, sfarp, that during work-
ing hours the temperature at any place of work indoors 
is reasonable having regard to it’s purpose.
Every place of work outdoors must, where necessary, 
sfarp, and having regard to the purpose for which 
that place is used and any protective clothing or work 
equipment provided, be so arranged that it provides 
protection from adverse weather.