General Application Regulations 2007 to 2016

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, 2007 to 2016 introduce several European Directives all together. They all deal with specific topics and issue

The purpose of these regulations is to revise and amalgamate a number of existing regulations into one comprehensive set of regulations.

These operate in conjunction with the 2005 Act. The Regulations give effect to a wide range of EU Directives and include the following parts:

Part 2- Workplace and Use of Work Equipment
Chapter 1- Workplace
Chapter 2 - Use of Work Equipment
Chapter 3 - Personal Protective Equipment
Chapter 4- Manual Handling of Loads
Chapter 5 - Display Screen Equipment

Part 3 - Electricity

Part 4- Work at heights

Part 5- Physical Agents
Chapter 1 Control of Noise at Work
Chapter 2 - Control of Vibration at Work

Part 6 - Sensitive Risk Groups
Chapter 1- Protection of Children and Young Persons
Chapter 2- Protection of Pregnant, Post Natal and Breastfeeding Employees
Chapter 3 - Night Work and Shift Work

Part 7- Safety Signs and First aid
Chapter 1 - Safety Signs at Places of Work
Chapter 2 - First- Aid

Part 8 - Explosive Atmosphere at Places of Work

Part 9 - Control of Artificial Radiation at Work

Part 10 - Pressure Systems

Part 11- Woodworking Machines

Part 12 - Abrasive Wheels

Part 13- Abrasive Blasting of Surfaces

Various schedules append these regulations and these must be viewed as part of the regulation and are legally enforceable.

Pregnant Employees

22/05/2017 - Once notified that an employee is pregnant, employers must complete a specific risk assessment of that employee's tasks and consider the various aspects that might affect the pregnancy. In addition, the regulations also provide for situations where the task presents a risk to the pregnancy and Health and Safety Leave.

Work Equipment (General Equipment)

09/05/2017 - All tasks and operations will, to some extent, involve using work equipment. These provisions cover the minimum standards to be in place for all types and uses of work equipment as well as specific provisions relating to machinery and access to moving parts.

Explosive Atmospheres

02/05/2017 - Explosive atmospheres can be created in a number of circumstances, such as using solvents, generating dust, etc, and not just large dangerous substance processing. Where there is a potential for an explosive atmosphere, depending on the level of risk, an employer must introduce certain control measures, including, in some cases, an emergency plan.

Vibration

02/05/2017 - There is recognition that several conditions are linked to long term exposure to vibration. This relates to conditions effecting the hands, arms and in some cases the whole body. Where employee exposure to handtools, hand held equipment, rider operated equipment, etc, exceeds certain limits, then an employer must introduce practical measures to reduce the risk.

Work Equipment (Lifting Equipment and Lifting Operations)

02/05/2017 - Where an employer uses equipment for lifting operations they must ensure that the equipment and accessories are suitable and that the operation itself is planned, organised and supervised. The provisions laid out in this part of the regulations cover all lifting operations of goods and certain operations involving the lifting of people. Where the latter is the case, the regulations must be read in conjunction with the Work at Height Provisions.

Electrical Equipment (General)

01/05/2017 - Employers must ensure that all electrical equipment meets the standards provided for in these regulations. Given the specialised nature of working with electrical appliances and sources, these regulations are often thought of as only applying to high-voltage equipment and electrical engineers. However, they apply to all electrical equipment used in the workplace including kettles or microwave ovens that may have been provided.

Display Screen Equipment (DSE/VDUs)

18/04/2017 - When certain conditions are met, if employees use display screen equipment (computers, ect) then employers are obliged to make certain provisions available and to ensure that workstations meet minimum standards.

Work at Height

07/04/2017 - As part of the systematic risk assessments, the employer must look at the work that employees are required to undertake and determine where work is undertaken "at height". The scope of "at height" will mean that operations from usuing a ladder to using a foot stool to access a file come under the requirements of this legislation.

Night Work and Shift Work

03/04/2017 - Certain hazards and risks are specifically associated with employees who work night work shift patterns. These regulations establish the need to conduct a risk assessment and health surviellance

Noise

03/04/2017 - Where workplace noise levels exceed certain limits, an employer is obliged to meet certain standards. These regulations cover all workplaces and the source of the noise isn't relevant: if employee's exposure exceeds the prescribed limits, an employer must reduce the risk.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

06/03/2017 - Many employers provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for their employees. However, these regulations insist that certain steps are taken to ensure that the employer has done all it can to reduce the risk by other means and that where PPE is in use that the employer ensures it meets the applicable standards.

Manual Handling

03/03/2017 - Where a task requires employees to move objects by bodily force and it involves a risk of injury, then employers are obliged to ensure that certain provisions are in place and that these activities meet the standards of these regulations.

Workplace Provisions

09/02/2017 - The workplace provisions prescribe minimum standards to what employers must have in place for the workplace. These duties are large in scope and cover many aspects of buildings and premises. In many cases, the provisions prescribe absolute minimum standards that must be achieved in all workplaces.

FAQs on new 2016 regulations on reporting workplace accidents

26/10/2016 - The new Reporting of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations come into force on November 1st 2016. They will form Part 14 of the Safety Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2016 (SI 370). The following are some frequently asked questions in relation to the new regulations.

Safety Signs and Signals

06/05/2016 - In certain circumstances an employer is required to implement a system of signange to warn and notify employees of existing hazards. These regulations look at the main types of signs, their use and specific provisions on their nature and design. In addition, some operations require the use of standardised hand and other signals.

Work Equipment (Mobile Work Equipment)

11/03/2016 - Along with the provisions for general work equipment, there are also specific provisions for using mobile work equipment in the workplace. While most of the provisions relate to self-propelled work equipment such as forklift trucks, these duties can range from delivery vans to pallet trucks and trolleys.

Protection of Young Persons

05/03/2016 - The regulations require employers to complete a specific risk assessment in the event that they employer young persons in the workplace. It also requires that an employer consider specific control measures in order to protect the young person from the hazards present, in some cases over and above the level of control in place for other employees.

First Aid

25/11/2013 - The General Application Regulation require employers to ensure that there are adequate first aid provisions for their employees respective of the risks the work and tasks present. This document overviews the main aspects of the legislative duties.