Policy on Health and Safety D1 HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY D1.1 The Statutory Framework In the UK, health and safety legislation has a long history, but modern health and safety law was established in 1974 with the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA 1974). The Act created the administrative and enforcement mechanisms which, broadly, remain in force today. More recent UK legislation has been influenced by European Directives such as the Working Time Regulations 1998 and Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) 1992. European legislation is concerned with risk assessment and emphasises the need for information, consultation and worker involvement. Two major bodies are concerned with health and safety: · Health and Safety Commission (HSC) - overviews legislation and policy development; and · Health and Safety Executive (HSE) - day-to-day management and enforcement. D1.2 Policy Statement The policy of NSF(Scotland) is to achieve and maintain the highest standard of safety and health at work for its staff and NSF(Scotland) accepts the need to eliminate accidents, dangerous occurrences and hazards, so far as is reasonably practicable, particularly by the following methods: a) making the working environment as safe as possible - by safeguarding equipment, employing competent people, maintaining good housekeeping and safe methods of work; b) combating such hazards as cannot be completely eliminated by operating appropriate accident/incident procedures and by providing adequate First Aid facilities; c) ensuring that there is adequate safety training and that managers exercise their special responsibilities for safe working; d) requiring the active involvement of all workers to promote health and safety at work; e) considering actual and potential risks to staff and service users; and f) taking steps to monitor health and safety issues in all NSF(Scotland) projects. D1.3 Responsibility Management responsibility for implementing Health and Safety Policy rests with the Chairman of the Board, who delegates authority for executing these matters to the Chief Executive and through him/her to Project Managers. Individual projects have responsibility for forming Health and Safety Policy, as per HSE guidelines (see Appendix D1.3). Appropriate training will be provided by NSF(Scotland). Staff are responsible for working in accordance with the Health and Safety Policy set out for their project/area of work and for communicating issues which may be of relevance in policy development and risk assessment. NSF(Scotland) recognises the rights of workers to be fully consulted and informed on Health and Safety matters.