Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Parts
Department
Fitter
Service
Reception
Customer
Supplies payment
Figure 3.4
Typical supply chain.

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Organizing for health and safety
37
(c) 
Reduction in accidents
A closer relationship between client, designers, princi-
pal contractors, and suppliers of services and products 
can result not only in a safer fi nished product but, in 
construction, a safer method of erection. If more prod-
ucts are pre-assembled in ideal factory conditions and 
then fi xed in place on site it is often safer than utilizing 
a full assembly approach in poor weather conditions on 
temporary work platforms. Examples are made-up roof 
trusses and prefabricated doors and windows already 
fi tted to their frames.
3.9.3 Legislation
The HSW Act Section 6 places a duty on everyone in the 
supply chain, from the designer to the fi nal installer, of 
articles of plant or equipment for use at work or any art-
icle of fairground equipment to:
➤
ensure that the article will be safe and without risk to 
health at all time when it is being set, used, cleaned 
or maintained
➤
carry out any necessary testing and examination to 
ensure that it will be safe, and
➤
provide adequate information about its safe setting, 
use, cleaning, maintenance, dismantling and disposal.
There is an obligation on designers or manufacturers 
to do any research necessary to prove safety in use. 
Erectors or installers have special responsibilities to 
make sure, when handed over, that the plant or equip-
ment is safe to use.
Similar duties are placed on manufacturers and 
suppliers of substances for use at work to ensure that 
the substance is safe when properly used, handled, 
processed, stored or transported, to provide adequate 
information and do any necessary research, testing or 
examining.
Where articles or substances are imported, the sup-
pliers’ obligations outlined above attach to the importer, 
whether a separate importing business or the user 
personally.
Often items are obtained through hire purchase, 
leasing or other fi 
nancing arrangements with the 
ownership of the items being vested with the fi nancing 
organization. Where the fi nancing organization’s only 
function is to provide the money to pay for the goods, 
the supplier’s obligations do not attach to them.