Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

17.22.3 Principles of prevention – Regulation 4
The following principles must be adopted when imple-
menting any preventative and protective measures:
➤
avoiding 
risks
➤
evaluating the risks which cannot be avoided
➤
combating the risks at source
➤
adapting the work to the individual, especially as 
regards the design of workplaces, the choice of work 
equipment and the choice of working and produc-
tion methods, with a view, in particular, to alleviat-
ing monotonous work and work at a predetermined 
work-rate and to reducing their effect on health
➤
adapting to technical progress
➤
replacing the dangerous by the non-dangerous or 
the less dangerous
➤
developing a coherent overall prevention policy which 
covers technology, organization of work, working 
conditions, social relationships and the infl uence of 
factors relating to the working environment
➤
giving collective protective measures priority over 
individual protective measures
➤
giving appropriate instruction to employees.
17.22.4
Effective arrangements for health and 
safety – Regulation 5
Formal arrangements must be devised (and recorded) 
for effective planning, organization, control, monitoring 
and review of safety measures. This will involve an effect-
ive health and safety management system to implement 
the policy. Where there are fi ve or more employees the 
arrangements should be recorded.
Planning involves a systematic approach to risk 
assessment, the selection of appropriate risk controls 
and establishing priorities with performance standards.
Organization involves consultation and communi-
cation with employees; employee involvement in risk 
assessment; the provision of information and securing 
competence with suitable instruction and training. Control 
involves clarifying responsibilities and making sure people 
adequately fulfi l their responsibilities. It involves adequate 
and appropriate supervision.
Monitoring should include the measurement of how 
well the policy is being implemented and whether hazards 
are being controlled properly. It covers inspections of the 
workplace and management systems: the investigation 
of incidents and accidents to ascertain the underlying 
causes and affect a remedy.
Review is essential to look at the whole of the 
health and safety management system to ensure that 
it is effective and achieving the correct standard of risk 
control.