Making the workplace a safer place for all

Know your rights and your responsibilities

As a  worker or an employer you should be aware of what your health and safety rights and responsibilities are at work.

As a worker, you should feel able to raise concerns through appropriate channels.

As an employer, you should have access to the support you need to help you operate within the law and support your workforce.

Many organisations can help you understand your health and safety rights and responsibilities.

Working together we can ensure our workplaces are safe.

Help for you as a worker

If you are worried about any communicable disease (including flu, coronavirus or norovirus) or any other health or wellbeing concerns at work and want to learn more about your health and safety rights, these organisations can help.

Welsh Government

The Welsh Government has information on what you should expect of your employer:

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and your local authority

Health and safety legislation in Wales is enforced by HSE or one of the 22 Local Authorities depending on the main activity carried out at any particular premises. To check which you need to contact, see the list of enforcing authorities.

If you have concerns about health and safety at work or see something in a workplace that you think is breaking health and safety law and is likely to cause serious harm, you can report it. Before you get in touch, it may be possible to put some problems right by speaking to the person in charge, your employer or your union or employee representative.

If it is HSE you need, the quickest way to report a problem is to use the online form. If you can't use the form, you can phone 0300 003 1647.

Read further advice from HSE on  health and safety at work  and  information on undertaking and updating risk assessments,  and guidance on the requirement to involve workers in the process.

 

Wales TUC

Your trade union is there to help if you are worried about health and safety at work. Speak to them if you have any concerns, and they’ll advise you on how they can be addressed and what your rights are.

If you’re not currently a trade union member and are not sure which union you should join, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) union finder tool will help you to pick the right one. The best way to ensure worker safety is to have union health and safety representative (H&S rep) in each workplace.

Workplaces that have union H&S reps and joint safety committees have half the serious injury rate of those without. Union H&S reps also have legal rights to carry out certain functions in the workplace, like raising a safety concern on behalf of colleagues with their employer. Find out more about H&S reps and how to become one on the TUC’s website.

Read further advice from Wales TUC on TUC health and safety in the workplace.

Help for you as an employer

Welsh Government

The Welsh Government has information on how to keep your workplace secure:

 

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and your local authority

HSE and local authorities are responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation in Wales. Together they ensure that duty holders manage the health and safety of their workforce and those affected by their work.

HSE is responsible for enforcing health and safety in some types of workplaces, and local authorities have responsibility for others. To check which you need to contact see the list of enforcing authorities.

Both the HSE and local authorities proactively support businesses in the management of health and safety risks including the provision of advice, guidance and support. You can find out what should be done to keep your workplace safe and healthy by topic or industry.

Read further advice from HSE on information on undertaking and updating risk assessments, and guidance on the requirement to involve workers in the process.

 

CBI

As the voice of business in Wales, the CBI provides a wide range information, advice and dedicated resources to help businesses of all sizes and sectors manage and better understand their responsibilities in protecting the health and safety of both staff and customers

Read further advice from CBI on health and safety issues.

Chambers Wales

Chambers Wales provides support to businesses in need, informs and connects them with solutions to help navigate the short and long term challenges of operating in a challenging economic climate.  

The dedicated membership team offer solutions tailored to your business and you can access resources from Chambers Wales by visiting the website.

FSB

FSB members can access free legal advice and support which includes support on how to ensure health and safety compliance.

Business owners can also access a suite of resources and information on coronavirus and how it impacts your business on the COVID-19 hub.

Public Health Wales (PHW)

PHW has developed a range of resources to support employers in delivering fair work for health, well-being and equity, including information on Healthy Working Wales which offers , health advisor support, training events, workshops, information and guidance.