Framework of Health,

Safety and Fire Law

Dr. Mahmoud M. Nassar

Palestine Polytechnic University
Spring – 2025/2026
Overview

This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the legal framework governing health, safety, and fire law in workplace environments.

Health and Safety Legislation Issues Key General Regulations

Key provisions from the primary health and safety at work Management requirements, consultation procedures, and safety
legislation framework signs/notices standards

Notification Proceedings New Business Checklist

Required notifications for new premises and business

Health and safety checklist for starting a new business operation
establishment procedures

Workers' Rights Under Health and Safety Law

Comprehensive overview of employee protections, consultation rights, and safety representative functions under applicable legal frameworks

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Legal Framework

Why Health and Safety Law Exists

Who Must Comply

Because health and safety at work is so important, All Businesses

there are rules which require all of us not to put Regardless of size

ourselves or others in danger. Self-Employed People

Individual contractors

These rules are also there to protect the public from Employees
danger when they visit a place of work. All workers

Public Protection
The rules apply to all businesses, however small, to self-
Visitors to workplaces
employed people and to employees.

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Two Basic Types of Law

1. Criminal Law

Rules laid down by government which are imposed on its

people for the protection of everyone.
Health and Safety Law
Breaking criminal law is an offence or crime and if
prosecuted the person may get a fine or imprisonment.
• Health and safety law is criminal law.

• People who breach the law are guilty

Two Sources of Criminal Law of a crime.

A Common Law • They would be prosecuted by an

Based on previous court judgments made by judges inspector or lawyer working for a
Statute Law government department.
B
Based on acts and regulations made by Parliament

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Civil Law

2. Civil Law

Civil law concerns disputes between people and

companies.

Health and Safety Context

A person sues another individual or company to put
right a civil wrong, normally by getting monetary
compensation. In health and safety, a person who is
injured would sue a company or
employer to get compensation for the
injury.
Two Sources of Civil Law

A Common Law Civil proceedings focus on compensation rather than

criminal punishment.
B Statute Law

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Health and Safety Law Principles

Compliance Approach

Although there is a large amount of criminal health

and safety law, there is no need for people at work to
Legal Framework
know it in detail.

The legal framework is set out in:

Instead, in the same way that the Highway Code
regulates road users, people need to know what to
Labor Law
do to comply with the law at work.
Primary legislation establishing fundamental duties

Regulations Issued Under the Act

Preventing injury and ill health at work

Detailed guidance on specific aspects of health and safety
Ensuring adequate welfare facilities are provided

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What the HSW Act Requires

Who Is Protected

All Employees Trainees

Part-Timers Temporary Staff

Core Obligation

Employers and self-employed Contractors Visitors

must secure, so far as is
reasonably practicable,
Homeworkers Public
health, safety and welfare at
work.
Product Users

Applies to anyone affected by what the

organization does or fails to do.
Scope: Applies to all work activities and to people in control of
premises.

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Basic Actions Required - Part 1

1 Health, Safety and Welfare

Ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees and
others who may be affected, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Employer Duties Training, Information and Supervision

2
Provide adequate training, information, instruction and supervision to
employees.
To comply with the HSW Act and its
basic regulations, employers must take
Information for Non-Employees
these fundamental actions. 3
Provide information and instruction to non-employees who may be
affected by work activities.

All requirements must be met so far as is

reasonably practicable. Safe Plant & Equipment Safe Substance Handling

Provide and maintain safe plant Ensure safe handling, storage

and equipment and use of substances

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Basic Actions Required - Part 2

Written Health and Safety Policy

5
Have a written, up-to-date health and safety policy (for five
employees or more).

Documentation & Protection Employers Liability Insurance Certificate

6
Display a current certificate as required by Employers Liability
(Compulsory Insurance) Act if anyone is employed.

Essential documentation requirements

and protective measures for workplace Risk Assessments
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safety compliance. Carry out risk assessments and, if five or more people are employed,
the significant results must be recorded. Includes special assessments
for young people (under 18) and new or nursing mothers.

Written policies and recorded assessments

Personal Protective Equipment
demonstrate legal compliance. 8
Provide necessary personal protective equipment, free of charge, to
employees.

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Basic Actions Required - Part 3

Health and Safety Law Poster

9
Display the current health and safety law poster or hand out the
equivalent leaflet to employees.

Notification of Injuries and Diseases

10
Notify certain types of injuries, occupational diseases and dangerous
Communication & Notification occurrences to the enforcing authorities or central Incident Contact
Centre.

Employer obligations for Employee Consultation

11
reporting, consultation, and Consult with employees either directly or through safety
workplace communication. representatives on anything which might affect their health and safety.
Set up a safety committee if required.

Essential reporting and consultation Premises Occupation Child Employment

12 13
requirements ensure legal compliance.
Notify occupation of premises Not employ children under
to your enforcing authority. school leaving age, except on
authorised work experience
schemes.

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Employee Responsibilities

Specific Employee Obligations

Understand Hazards and Follow Rules

Understand the hazards in their workplace and follow all safety rules and
procedures.

Core Duty
No Reckless Behavior

The employees' main responsibility Not behave in a stupid or reckless manner.

is to cooperate with their

employer in health and safety
Use Safety Equipment
arrangements.
Use safety equipment and wear protective clothing when required to do
so.

Take all reasonable care of their own health

and safety and that of others who may be No Interference Report Issues
affected by what they do.
Not intentionally interfere with or Report hazards, near misses and
misuse anything provided for accidents to a responsible
health and safety. person.

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Management Regulations

Key Areas Covered

Management Hazardous Substances

Health and safety management Safe handling and control measures
Management of Health systems

and Safety at Work

Regulations
Work Equipment Work at Height
Equipment safety requirements Falling prevention measures
These Regulations supplement
the requirements of the HSW
Act. Noise Many Other Subjects
Hearing protection standards Comprehensive coverage areas

Specify a range of management issues,

most of which must be carried out in all These regulations provide detailed guidance on
workplaces. particular aspects of health and safety, forming the
operational framework for workplace compliance.

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Risk Assessment

Who Must Be Protected

All Employees
Assess risks to all employees across the organization.

Core Requirement
Visiting Contractors
Every employer is required Risks to external contractors and service providers on site.
to make a suitable and
sufficient assessment of
Members of the Public
risks.
Assess risks to visitors and members of the public who might
be affected.
Assess risks to employees and to
other people who might be
affected by the business. Special Considerations
Risk assessments must take into account risks to new and
expectant mothers and young people where they are
employed.
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Principles of Prevention - Part 1

Avoid Risks
1
Eliminate hazards at the earliest possible opportunity.

Weigh Up Risks That Cannot Be Avoided

2
Evaluate unavoidable risks to determine appropriate control measures.
Prevention Framework

Combat Risks at Source

The following principles must 3
Address hazards at their origin rather than managing symptoms.
be adopted when putting any
preventative and protective
measures into practice. Adapt Work to the Individual
4
Consider workplace design, equipment choice, working and production
methods. Avoid monotonous work and predetermined work-rates that
These principles guide systematic risk affect health and safety.
reduction strategies.

Adapt to Technical Progress

5
Incorporate technological advancements to improve safety measures.
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15
Principles of Prevention - Part 2

6 Replace Dangerous by Non-Dangerous or Less Dangerous

Substitute hazardous materials, processes or equipment with safer

alternatives.

Think About the Whole Business

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Prevention Framework
Consider technology, work organization, working conditions, social
relationships, and working environment factors. Develop a strategy that
Continuing the systematic covers every aspect.

approach to risk prevention and

workplace safety. 8 Give Collective Protective Measures Priority

Prioritize collective protective measures over individual protective measures

for broader safety impact.

These principles complete the comprehensive

framework for protective measures.
Provide Understandable Instructions
9
Provide instructions and ensure they are all understandable to employees.

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Effective Arrangements and Health Surveillance

Key Components

Planning Organization

Management Systems Systematic preparation for health and

safety activities
Clear structure
allocation
and responsibility

Procedures and
arrangements must be
devised and recorded for
effective safety Control Monitoring & Review
management. Implementation of safety measures Continuous assessment and
improvement

Ensure systematic approach to

health and safety through Health Surveillance
documented processes. Health surveillance of staff may be required, for example if
running night shift or using dangerous chemicals. The
Approved Code of Practice describes exactly what this is and
when needed.
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Competent Assistance and Emergency Procedures

Emergency Procedures
Competent Assistance
Procedures must be established for dealing with
Every employer must appoint competent person(s)
serious and imminent dangers.
to advise and assist in complying with the law.

Fire Evacuation
Personnel Options
Including fire evacuation plans and arrangements for other
May be employees or outside consultants
emergencies

Purpose
Competent Persons
Ensure all employers have access to health and safety expertise Appoint enough competent persons to evacuate premises quickly
in event of emergency

Requirements
Ensure competent persons have adequate information, time and Contact with external services should be established for
resources coordinated emergency response.

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Information, Co-operation and Training

Training Requirements Co-operation

Ensure employees are capable of Where two or more employers
dealing with health and safety tasks. share a workplace, each must co-
operate with other employers.
Information for Employees
On Recruitment
Provide staff with essential
information:
Provide initial health and safety training
Shared Workplace

Risk assessment results All employers operating in the same

Exposure to New Risks premises must co-operate on health
Risk controls in place
When new hazards are introduced and safety matters to ensure collective
Emergency procedures protection.

New Procedures Identity of appointed health and safety

assistants
Upon introduction of new systems or technology Co-operation Scope
Risks notified to the business by other
people
Information sharing, coordinated
safety measures, and joint emergency
Training must be repeated periodically
procedures.
and take place in working hours or while
being paid.

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Duties on Employees and Special Protections

Employee Duties Young Person Protection

Equipment and materials must be used properly in Higher Risk Factors
accordance with instructions and training.
Young people are more at risk because of their lack of
experience. They may not be aware of existing or potential risks.

New or Expectant Mothers

Where work could present risk to new or expectant mothers or
their babies, risk assessments must include an assessment of Employment Conditions
such risks.
Young persons can be employed in hazardous situations if:

Over school leaving age

Young Persons Necessary for their training

Employers must protect young persons at work from risks to their Supervised by competent person
health and safety.
Risk reduced to lowest practicable level

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Consultation and Safety Representatives

Employee Consultation Consultation Topics

You should consult employees about:
Consulting employees on health and
safety matters is very important to
Changes Affecting Health and Safety Competent Assistance
provide and maintain safe workplaces.
Any change which may Arrangements for getting
substantially affect their health competent assistance to satisfy
and safety at work health and safety laws

Legal Requirement

By law you must consult your employees on health

and safety matters. Risk Information Training Planning

Information about risks and The planning of health and safety

dangers which may arise from training
their work, and how they should
Consultation Meaning be controlled

Involves listening to and taking account of what

employees say before making health and safety
decisions. It is a lot more than just giving them New Technology
information. The health and safety consequences of introducing new technology

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Protection of Employees

Legal Protection Scope of Application

The law protects employees against being dismissed or other
action taken against them because they have taken part in Unionised Organizations
health and safety consultation. This section only applies to organizations that are unionised.
Most small businesses are not unionised.

As an Individual
Key Protection Areas
Employees can participate in consultation without fear of
retaliation Protected activities include:

Participating in health and safety consultation

Voting in safety representative elections

Election Participation
Standing as a candidate for safety representative
Includes taking part in electing a health and safety Serving as a safety representative
representative or being a candidate

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Safety Signs and Notices

Application Scope
Safety Signs and Signals Where They Apply
Apply to all workplaces and to all activities where people are
employed
Require employers to use and maintain a safety sign
where there is a significant risk to health and safety that
has not been avoided or controlled by other means. What They Exclude
Exclude signs used in connection with transport or the supply
and marketing of dangerous substances, products and
equipment
When Signs Are Required
When other controls like engineering controls or safe systems of Road Traffic Signs
work are insufficient, and where the use of a sign can help reduce
the risk Require the use of road traffic signs in workplaces to regulate
road traffic

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Safety Colours - Red

Red Safety Colour

Red is a safety colour and must be used for:

Prohibition Signs
Concerning dangerous behaviour (e.g., No Smoking sign). Must be
Additional Red Applications
round, with a black pictogram on a white background with red
edging and a red diagonal line (top left, bottom right) Fire-Fighting Equipment
Red colour used to identify and locate fire-fighting equipment

Danger Alarm
For stop, shutdown, emergency cutout devices, evacuate (e.g., Surface Marking
emergency stop button on equipment)
Red and white alternating stripes may be used for marking
surface areas to show obstacles or dangerous locations

Sign Design Requirements

Prohibition signs must be round with specific colour
pattern: black pictogram on white background with red
edging and diagonal red line from top left to bottom right

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Safety Colours - Yellow

Yellow (Amber) Safety Colour

Yellow or amber is a safety colour and must be used for:

Warning Signs
Concerning the need to be careful, take precautions, examine or Additional Yellow Applications
the like (e.g., hazard signs for flammable material, electrical
danger, etc.) Surface Marking
Yellow and black alternating stripes may be used for marking
surface areas to show obstacles or dangerous locations
Sign Shape Requirement
Warning signs must be triangular, with a black pictogram on a
yellow or amber background with black edging Traffic Routes
Yellow may be used in continuous lines showing traffic routes

Sign Design Requirements

Warning signs must be triangular with specific colour pattern:

black pictogram on yellow background with black edging

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Safety Colours - Blue

Blue Safety Colour

Blue is a safety colour and must be used for:
Sign Design Requirements
Mandatory Signs
Requiring specific behaviour or action Shape
Mandatory signs must be round

Common Examples
Safety Helmet Must Be Worn sign, Pedestrians Must Use This Colour Scheme
Route sign White pictogram on a blue background

Key Purpose
Blue signs indicate mandatory actions that must be
followed to ensure safety. They communicate
requirements rather than warnings or prohibitions.

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Safety Colours - Green

Green Safety Colour

Green is a safety colour and must be used for: Sign Design Requirements
Emergency Escape Signs Shape
Showing emergency doors, exits and routes Escape and first aid signs must be rectangular or square

First Aid Signs Colour Scheme

Showing location of first aid equipment and facilities White pictogram on a green background

No Danger Indication Area Coverage

For "no danger" or "return to normal" situations Green part must take up at least 50% of the area of the sign

Alternative Design
May use green pictogram on white background if green takes up
at least 50% and is more effective

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Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act

Guilt Standard

New Offence Organisational Guilt

An organisation will be guilty if the way in which its activities are

Organisational Conviction
managed or organised causes a death and amounts to a gross

New offence for convicting an organisation where a gross breach of a duty of care to the deceased.

failure in the way activities were managed or organised results

in a person's death.

Management Failures

Applies To
Courts will look at management systems and practices across the
All companies and other corporate bodies operating in the organisation. Juries will consider how the fatal activity was
country, in private, public and third sectors. managed or organised throughout the organisation.

Partnerships & Associations

Key Principle
Also applies to partnerships (and trade unions and employers' A substantial part of the failure within the organisation must have been at
associations) if they are an employer, as well as to government a senior level - people who make significant decisions about the
departments and police forces. organisation.

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Corporate Liability Standards

Senior Level Failure

Substantial Failure
Management Assessment A substantial part of the failure within the organisation must
have been at a senior level.

Management Systems

Courts will look at management systems and practices across Senior Level Definition
the organisation.
People who make significant decisions about the organisation
or substantial parts of it.

Activity Organisation

Juries will consider how the fatal activity was managed or

Includes Both
organised throughout the organisation.
Centralised headquarters functions as well as those in
operational management roles.
Safety Processes

Includes systems and processes for managing safety and how

New Guidance
these were operated in practice.
Leadership actions for directors and board members is being
developed jointly.

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