Health and Safety

Abstract

Health and Safety has been the responsibility of owners and occupiers of buildings for a very long time, but now the regulations are becoming increasingly onerous with both corporate and personal penalties for breach of the regulations reaching significant proportions. It is often thought that individuals in the workplace are largely responsible for their own safety, but the defence of liability of the individual for their actions is far from conclusive; there is a responsibility on the employer to take adequate measures to prevent accidents and injury. The logic behind Health and Safety legislation is to prevent accidents and so the prime responsibility lies with those who create the risk or allow it to continue.