Health and Safety Legislation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Health and Safety Legislation - Research Paper Example Regardless of the number of employees, all industrial operations have to be monitored by appropriate strategies and procedures. Nature of work is a significant factor that determines the range of health and safety measures required in the industry. Whenever high-risk factors are identified, an employer has to seek the advice and permit of the responsible manager regarding the required precautions. This permit to work practice is mandatory when an employee gets into an unusual and risky job. Besides permit to work, there are some more obligatory safety measures such as isolation, monitoring equipment and protective clothing and equipment that may control or prevent risks in the workplace. According to Hughese & Ferrett (2005 p.82), the permit to work procedure is a specialized type of safe system of work for ensuring that potentially very dangerous work is done safely. In fact, this is written consent from a responsible person which ensures that adequate precautions have been taken to avoid or control risk. The authorized individual usually considers certain factors before issuing a permit like the nature of work, equipment involved in the work, the ability of the authorized worker, and if he needs training, possible hazards and the steps taken to overtake them (Hughese & Ferrett p.83). Most of the industrial accidents are the result of negligence and paucity of awareness about the risk factors and safety measures. Industrial operations require a permit when there is a chance of any of the following or similar risks; mechanical or natural toxic, electric shock, fall from a height, radiation, suffocation, chemical exposure, explosion, inflammable substances etc. Howeve r, according to the Guidelines on Permit to Work Systems (Jan.1993), simply a permit does not reduce risk; instead, it is an essential part of a system which determines how that work can be carried out safely.