Each country has its own legislation for ensuring the Health, Safety and Welfare of employees, visitors and the local community that could be affected by warehouse operations. The following consists of UK and EU legislation:
Health and Safety
A warehouse is a potentially dangerous place to work due to large vehicles, heavy loads, hazardous materials and people working at speed. Therefore a management team for a warehouse must minimise the risk of accident and injury.
Within the UK, employers are assisted in developing H&S policies through legislation originating from the UK parliament and the European Union (EU). The key piece of legislation that governs Health and Safety (H&S) in the UK is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASAWA, 1974).
In addition to the HASAWA there are a number of specific Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) and H&S regulations that underpin the principles of the HASAWA, These include:
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – This regulation encourages a proactive approach towards building a positive health and safety culture within an organisation
- The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 – This regulation focuses on preventing hazards arising from poor housekeeping
- The Provision and Use of Workplace Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) – This regulation places the responsibility on employers to ensure that the equipment provided for use in a warehouse complies with the regulations
- The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 – These regulations relate to all aspects of the movement of goods by hand
- The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 – This regulation determines best practice is adopted for employees that use visual display units (VDU) such as personal computers and laptops
- The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (PPE) 1998 – This regulation relates to the provision of PPE to employees where there are risks to their health and safety that cannot be controlled by other means
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) – This regulation places the responsibility on employers to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of workplace accidents causing more than seven days incapacity, specified injuries, fatality, accidents involving non-workers (i.e. members of the public), dangerous occurrences, occupational diseases and gas incidents
- The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) – which require employers to assess the risks to employees working with hazardous substances and to classify, package and provide information on the relevant substances
- Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 – Both of these regulations set out specific options and procedures for dealing with the storage and disposal of any waste materials
Along with the above regulations and legislation, there are a number of laws which ensure that workers are safe in the working environment which focus on:
- Working hours
- Recruitment and/or the selection of personnel
Some examples of these laws are as follows:
- The Working Time Directive 1998 (as amended 1 Aug 2003)
- Equality Act 2010
- Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
- Equal Pay Act 1970