The interaction between the location, temperature, building system, construction techniques, pollutant sources, and building occupants will determine the indoor environment in any building and consequently your health and safety at work. The following four fundamentals are involved in the development of indoor air quality and health and safety at work:

• Source: there is a source of contamination or discomfort indoors, outdoors, or within the mechanical systems of the building
  
• HVAC: the HVAC system is not able to manage active air contaminants and ensure thermal comfort
  
• Pathways: one or more pollutant pathways connect the pollutant source to the occupants and a driving force exists to move pollutants along the pathway(s)
  
• Occupants: building occupants are present

The Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974 is the basis of British health and safety law. The responsibilities that businesses have toward their workforce and members of the public are qualified in the Health and Safety at Work Act by the standard of “so far as is reasonably practicable.” To put it simply, health and safety is about preventing harm to people.

For many workplaces, despite accepted principles, health and safety is not too complex and needs only a little time. Companies have been dealing with health and safety for a number of years now because of the variety of regulations that exist. Fire safety is covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which replaced the Fire Precautions Act 1971 in October 2006.

Objectives of the Health and Safety at Work Act

The Health and Safety at Work Act seeks to:

• Secure the health, safety and welfare of persons at work
  
• Protect other persons such as customers, service providers, etc. against risks to health and safety arising out of or in connection with the activities of people at work
  
• Controlling the keeping and use of explosive or highly flammable or otherwise dangerous substances, and generally preventing the unlawful acquisition, possession and use of such substances, and
  
• Controlling the emission into the atmosphere of noxious or offensive substances from premises of any class

Health And Safety And Workers’ Rights

All workers, whether they are permanent staff, agency or contractors, need to be aware of issues that affect their health and safety at work. All workers must become more aware of the health and safety issues affecting them, and their responsibilities, so they can play their part in improving health and safety in the workplace. As a worker, you should know that:

• All employees have a right to work in places where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled
  
• Workers are entitled to become a member and be represented by a trade union

Many parts of the health and safety law are rooted in the principle of reducing the probability of someone being harmed. Health and Safety Law is a specific section of criminal law in the UK, and is enforced by the local authority. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act itself requires employers to ensure the safety of people who are not employees.

The general safety precautions that are put into place for staff and volunteers will generally ensure that the Duty of Care (where employers take reasonable care for people’s safety) is fulfilled. One of the largest issues for many workplaces is deciding who will be responsible for health and safety at work. One person could take on some aspects of health and safety in some situations, such as testing the fire alarm and keeping paperwork up-to-date. However, all members of staff and volunteers are responsible for their own health and safety and the safety of others through their own actions and omissions.

The best plans for health and safety at work engage each level of the organisation, instilling a safety culture that decreases accidents for the workforce and improves the bottom line for managers. When health and safety are part of the organisation and a way of life, everyone wins. An effective health and safety programme makes all the difference in preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace.