Health and Safety

Employers have legal obligations to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. As an employee, you have rights, and you have responsibilities for your own wellbeing and that of your colleagues. This article explains what these responsibilities are, and how you can meet them.

Your rights
Your rights as an employee to work in a safe and healthy environment are given to you by law, and generally can't be changed or removed by your employer. The most important rights are:

+ as far as possible, to have any risks to your health and safety properly controlled
+ to be provided, free of charge, with any personal protective and safety equipment
+ if you have reasonable concerns about your safety, to stop work and leave your work
  area, without being disciplined
+ to tell your employer about any health and safety concerns you have
+ to get in touch with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or your local
  authority if your employer won't listen to your concerns, without being disciplined
+ to have rest breaks during the working day, to have time off from work during
  the working week, and to have annual paid holiday

Are you an employer needing health and safety advice for your business?
Visit our Employer Advice section for more information on health and safety.