Health and well-being at work
Resource summary
This factsheet was last updated in September 2011.
The law on health and safety at work
There are a vast number of different statutes governing safety issues, but health and safety is not only governed by legislation. Under what is known as ‘common law’ all employers have a duty of care imposed on them to protect their employees. There is also a term implied into all employment contracts requiring employers to take care of their employees’ health and safety. For example, employers must:
- provide a safe place of work
- provide a safe system of work
- provide adequate plant and equipment
- recruit competent and safety conscious staff.
If an employer fails to take reasonable care in any of these areas, an employee may have a number of claims, including the ability to resign and claim constructive unfair dismissal and a personal injury claim in appropriate cases.
Employees, too, have responsibilities and should work with their employer to develop a safe place of work.
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