All workers have the right to work in environments where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled. Health and safety is about preventing people from being harmed by work or becoming ill by taking the right precautions – and providing a satisfactory working environment.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 covers workers, employers, self – employed, agency workers, contractors and the public.
Employers: must register the workplace with HSE or the Local Council Environmental Health Department and show in a visible place the Certificate of Employers’ Liability Insurance.
Workers have the duty:
- to take care of their own health and safety
- to co-operate with employers and colleagues and follow safety instructions. Find out more about your rights and duties.
UK health and safety law protects migrant workers, however they are employed, and whatever their immigration status.
You are entitled to receive at least the minimum wage per hour – £6.08, for aged 21 and over, and a payslip as proof of work. It is not enough to have a verbal agreement to prove your employment in the United Kingdom. Good employers will pay the London Living Wage of £8.03 minimum per hour.
Basic rights of employees or self – employed (legal or illegal workers) regarding health and safety are the following:
- The employer should explain to you – in a way you can understand – how the risks are controlled in the work place and who is responsible for this;
- Free of charge, the employer should give you the health and safety training you need to do the job;
- Free of charge, the employer should provide the equipment and protective clothing you need to do the job and ensure it is properly looked after;
- To have access to toilets, washing facilities and drinking water;
- To have access to first – aid facilities;
- The employer should display in a visible place the current insurance certificate, that covers you in the case you get hurt at work or become ill through work;
- The employer should also report the accidents or injuries in the workplace to HSE;
- Tell to the employer, your supervisor, trade union representative or a health and safety representative if you think the work or inadequate precautions are putting anyone’s health and safety at serious risk.
You can report serious health and safety problems in the workplace using the phone number 03000031647 or you can do it online. See the following link (http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/workplace-complaints.htm)
You will be asked about the following details to register your complaint:
- your name, address and contact details;
- the name and address of the workplace or activity you are concerned about;
- a description of your concern, including who is at risk and why, if the risk is happening now, how long it is likely to go on for, how often it happens and when and where any incident occurred;
- details about what you have done to try and resolve the issue.
All these details are important to assess the case and to take health and safety actions.
Health and Safety information in London community languages
The Health and Safety Executive have translated a great deal of basic guidance on how to make your job safer into some widely spoken languages. You can click on the link here: HSE Language link
