Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

17.22.10
Capabilities and training – 
Regulation 13
When giving tasks to employees, their capabilities with 
regard to health and safety must be taken into account.
Employees must be provided with adequate health 
and safety training:
➤
on 
recruitment
➤
on being exposed to new or increased risks
➤
on the introduction of new procedures, systems or 
technology. Training must be repeated periodically 
and take place in working hours (or while being paid).

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Summary of the main legal requirements
367
17.22.11 Duties on employees – Regulation 14
Equipment and materials must be used properly in 
accordance with instructions and training. Obligations on 
employees are extended to include certain requirements 
to report serious and immediate dangers and any short-
comings in the employer’s protection arrangements.
17.22.12
New or expectant mothers – 
Regulations 16, 17 and 18
Where work is of a kind that could present a risk to new 
or expectant mothers working there or their babies, the 
risk assessments must include an assessment of such 
risks. When the risks cannot be avoided the employer 
must alter a women’s working conditions or hours to 
avoid the risks; offer suitable alternative work; or sus-
pend from work on full pay. The woman must notify the 
employer in writing of her pregnancy, that she has given 
birth within the last six months or she is breastfeeding.
17.22.13 Young persons – Regulation 19
Employers must protect young persons at work from 
risks to their health and safety which are the result of lack 
of experience, or absence of awareness of existing or 
potential risks or because they have not yet fully matured. 
Young persons may not be employed in a variety of situ-
ations, which pose a signifi cant risk to their health and 
safety which are a consequence of the following factors:
➤
physical or psychological capacity
➤
pace of work
➤
temperature extremes, noise or vibration
➤
radiation
➤
compressed air and diving
➤
hazardous 
substances
➤
lack of training and experience.
The exception to this is young persons over school leav-
ing age:
➤
where the work is necessary for their training
➤
where they will be supervised by a competent person
➤
where the risk will be reduced to the lowest level 
that is reasonably practicable.
The risk assessment must take the following specifi c 
factors into account:
➤
the 
fi tting-out and layout of the workplace and the