Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

3.
Issues requiring attention
a) Management of health and safety
Many of the observed weaknesses result from a poor management system which could be improved if the tech-
nicians and administrator were given specifi c health and safety duties and, if necessary, relevant training of up to 
half a day duration. At least one member of staff should be trained in fi rst aid at a cost of £200 approx.
In particular, the dangerous electrical equipment (20 and 25), the inappropriately guarded machines (22 and 23), 
the PPE problems (11 and 24) and the need to check that all equipment is switched of at the end of the day 
(35) can be addressed by assigning specifi c health and safety duties to staff. Supervisors also need to be more 
proactive in ensuring that benches are kept tidy (11, 15, 19 and 21) and trainees adhere to health and safety rules 
(15 and 24). COSHH assessments may need to be revised (19).
Many observations indicate that risk assessments, if they have been made, are no longer valid and need to be 
reviewed urgently.
Finally, the MHSWR require a specifi c risk assessment to be made for persons under the age of 18 years (1).
The total cost of these recommendations will be between £200 and £500.
The health and safety committee must assess the quality and contents of the induction course given to train-
ees because of the large number of hazards found.
b) Fire precautions
The Fire Regs. require that fi re risk assessments, fi re fi ghting arrangements, fi re information and fi re training be 
provided at the workshops. Therefore, there is an urgent need to install ‘Fire Exit’ signs (2), fi re drills (4) and two 
fi re extinguishers in the machine shop (25). This last point should have been noted by the extinguisher service 
contractor.
The emergency fi re exit door should remain unobstructed at all times and unlocked whenever the building is in 
use (3). Security could be improved by fi tting an alarm system which is activated whenever the door is opened or 
by the use of a quick release mechanism.
The total cost of all these improvements should not exceed £300.
The 
fi re risk assessment must be reviewed.
c) The machine shop
There are serious concerns regarding the guarding of the jig saw and the circular saw (22 and 23). The operation 
of these machines 
must
cease immediately until they are properly guarded. The local exhaust ventilation (LEV) 
system must be examined and maintained on a regular basis with records being kept as required by PUWER and 

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