Employees Health and Safety Responsibilities

Section 7(a) of the health and safety at work Act states that:

"It shall be the duty of every employee to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work."

The easiest method of creating a health and safety conscious work force is to lead by example. 

Point out to your employees that the building game is dangerous enough without workers being careless.

Discuss health and safety issues with them. They may have ideas of their own that can make for better working practices.

If you are going to use a sub-contractor for part of a job discuss their proposed working methods and ask them what safety precautions they intend to use. Discuss any health and safety issues their work may have on other workers on the site and decide on preventative measures before hand.

An example would be you have sub-contracted out the roofing part of a barn conversion. The hazards are falling debris or tools and the risks to other workers are being hit by falling debris. 

By agreeing a day they can do the work while no one else is on site would be the ideal solution as it eliminates all risk. 

If this were not practicable then agreeing other measures such as brick guards on scaffold, ensuring helmets are worn at all times at ground level, tool belts are worn by roof workers  would all help keep the hazards to a minimum. Just discussing  the hazards will help make both of you more aware of possible risks.