Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Capabilities, training and cooperation
The responsible person must ensure that adequate 
training is provided when people are fi rst employed or 
exposed to new or increased risks. This may occur with 
new equipment, changes of responsibilities, new tech-
nologies, new systems of work and new substances 
used. The training has to be done in working hours and 
repeated periodically as appropriate.
Where two or more responsible persons share duties 
or premises they are required to coordinate their activity 

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Introduction to Health and Safety at Work
204
and co-operate with each other, including keeping each 
other informed of risks.
Duties of employees
These are covered in Chapter 17 and are similar to 
requirements under the HSW Act. Employees must take 
care of themselves and other relevant persons. They 
must co-operate with the employer and inform them of 
any situation which they would reasonably consider to 
present a serious and immediate danger, or a shortcom-
ing in the protection arrangements.
13.2.4 PART 3 enforcement
Enforcing authorities
The fi re and rescue authority in the area local to the 
premises is normally the enforcing authority. However, 
in standalone construction sites, premises which require 
a Nuclear license, and where a ship is under repair, the 
HSE are the enforcing authority, except for the general 
means of escape and fi re emergency procedures under 
CDM2007.
Fire and Rescue Authorities offi cers appointed under 
the RRFSO have similar powers to those under the HSW 
Act. These include the power to enter premises, make 
inquiries, require information, require facilities and 
assistance, take samples, require an article or substance 
to be dismantled or subjected to a process or test and 
the power to issue enforcement notices.
In addition to fi re safety legislation, health and safety 
at work legislation also covers the elimination or minimiza-
tion of fi re risks. As well as the particular and main general 
duties under the HSW Act, fi re risks are also covered by 
specifi c rules, such as for dangerous substances and 
explosive atmospheres, work equipment, electricity and 
other hazards. Thus, environmental health offi cers or 
HSE inspectors may enforce health and safety standards 
for the assessment and removal or control of process 
related fi re risks, where it is necessary, for the protection 
of workers and others.