Health and Safety information
Risk Assessments
The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) states that employers must carry out, regularly monitor and review their risk assessments. This applies to equestrian businesses ranging from small livery yards to large racing yards. As an employer, or a self-employed person, you are responsible for health and safety in your business.
A risk assessment identifies all possible hazards (something that has the potential to cause harm) and allows you to put necessary controls in place to reduce the likelihood of someone getting injured on your premises. This can range from grooms, jockeys, farriers or people just visiting your yard. Ideally risk assessments should be carried out by a competent person who has the necessary skills, experience and qualifications to conduct the work.
Equine Yards require risk assessments in a number of regulatory areas. These are listed in the 'General' Section below.
COSHH Assessments
The law that requires employers to adequately control exposure to substances that are hazardous to health. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) risk assessments are used to identify health hazards and provide ways to reduce harm to health (for example, the wearing of personal protective equipment such as goggles and gloves to prevent skin irritation). Cheval Safety produces detailed COSHH assessments in line with HSE guidance and reviews the Workplace Exposure Limits.
Examples of where you may require a COSHH assessment could be for items such as batteries (used for electric fencing), surgical spirit, petrol and veterinary products.
Health and Safety Policy
Every business must have a policy for managing health and safety. The Health and Safety Policy will set out your approach to managing health and safety within your facility. It will also contain information on your roles and responsibilities as the business owner, but also those of your employees. It clearly identifies the What, When and How of managing safety at your yard.
General
Some of applicable Legislation and Regulations for meeting Health and Safety Law are listed below. All of which are likely to be applicable to equine facilities.
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
- Noise Assessments - Noise at Work Regulations 2004
- Fire Risk Assessments - Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regulation 3) and Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005
- Manual Handling Regulations 1992
- General Risk Assessments - Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regulation 3)
- Workplace and Lifting Equipment - Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998