Who is Responsible for Health & Safety in the Workplace?
- Croner
- 16 hours ago
- 10 min read
Employers often get confused around what exactly their health and safety responsibilities are. It is important to understand that avoidable accidents and incidents in the workplace can not only be devastating to the well-being and morale of your workforce, but they can also result in costly financial penalties and even costlier reputational damage. In fact, serious and preventable accidents constitute a breach in your legal obligations to protect your workers.
Employers are legally responsible for workplace safety and must appoint a competent person (with training, skills, and experience) to manage it daily, although liability stays with the employer. Employers must ensure safety through risk assessments, clear signage, proper PPE, staff training, and open communication. Maintain competence at all levels via ongoing development.
That's why it’s absolutely essential that you know your health and safety responsibilities. To help, we've put together a guide covering these legal responsibilities, who should be responsible for health and safety in your workplace, and which credentials this competent person should have.
Who is your health and safety competent person
As we’ve briefly mentioned, employers are responsible for workplace safety. As an employer, it is your duty to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of your staff. However, employers typically need to assign a competent, responsible individual the task of ensuring this duty is carried out from day to day. Whilst some worksites come with greater risks than others, even the safest workplaces need all staff to assist in managing potential hazards in the workplace.
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