Principles of Halth and Safety
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NEBOSH National Diploma | Unit A CONTENTS Element Title Page A7 Principles of Health and Safety Law INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................... 7-2 SOURCES AND TYPES OF LAW ......................................................................................................................... 7-3 STATUTE LAW............................................................................................................................................................ 7-3 COMMON LAW ........................................................................................................................................................... 7-4 CRIMINAL LAW........................................................................................................................................................... 7-5 CIVIL LAW ................................................................................................................................................................ 7-5 BURDEN OF PROOF ..................................................................................................................................................... 7-6 LAW OF CONTRACT ..................................................................................................................................................... 7-6 EMPLOYMENT LAW IN RELATION TO HEALTH AND SAFETY...................................................................................................... 7-9 DISCRIMINATION...................................................................................................................................................... 7-13 REVISION QUESTIONS................................................................................................................................................ 7-21 ABSOLUTE AND QUALIFIED DUTIES.............................................................................................................. 7-22 THE CONCEPT OF ABSOLUTE AND QUALIFIED DUTIES ......................................................................................................... 7-22 DEFINITION OF TERMS............................................................................................................................................... 7-22 REVISION QUESTION ................................................................................................................................................. 7-24 ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ................................................................................................................... 7-25 INFLUENCE AND ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION REGARDING UK HEALTH AND SAFETY LEGISLATION............................................... 7-25 COMPOSITION AND ROLES OF THE MAIN INSTITUTIONS ...................................................................................................... 7-26 INSTRUMENTS IN EU LAW ........................................................................................................................................... 7-30 DIRECTIVES ............................................................................................................................................................ 7-30 THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE ............................................................................................................................... 7-35 REVISION QUESTIONS................................................................................................................................................ 7-37 UK LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK...................................................................................................................... 7-38 STATUS AND PROCEDURE FOR MAKING UK ACTS OF PARLIAMENT, REGULATIONS AND ORDERS ...................................................... 7-38 USE OF SOCIO-TECHNICAL COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS IN THE ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY CHANGE .7-41 REVISION QUESTIONS................................................................................................................................................ 7-43 STRUCTURE OF THE COURTS ......................................................................................................................... 7-44 FUNCTIONS, JURISDICTION AND POWERS OF THE COURTS AND TRIBUNALS ............................................................................. 7-44 BASIC PROCEDURES FOR PROSECUTIONS AND CIVIL ACTIONS............................................................................................... 7-50 PROCEDURES OF EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS IN MATTERS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY....................................................................... 7-53 RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ACCUSED PARTIES AND WITNESSES................................................................................... 7-55 THE APPEALS SYSTEM ................................................................................................................................................ 7-56 REVISION QUESTIONS................................................................................................................................................ 7-57 ENFORCEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY LAW............................................................................................... 7-58 AUTHORITIES EMPOWERED TO ENFORCE HEALTH AND SAFETY LEGISLATION ............................................................................ 7-58 DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN ENFORCING AUTHORITIES ..................................................................................... 7-58 POWERS OF ENFORCING AUTHORITIES AND THEIR INSPECTORS ............................................................................................ 7-60 OBLIGATIONS OF ENFORCING OFFICERS ......................................................................................................................... 7-62 OFFENCES AND MAXIMUM PENALTIES UNDER THE LAW ....................................................................................................... 7-63 OPTIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTION ............................................................................................................................ 7-64 IMPLICATIONS OF SECTIONS 36 AND 37 OF HSWA AND MHSW REGULATION 21 ....................................................................... 7-68 APPLICATION OF MANSLAUGHTER AND CORPORATE MANSLAUGHTER TO WORK-RELATED INCIDENTS............................................... 7-71 REVISION QUESTIONS................................................................................................................................................ 7-76 SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................................... 7-77 NEBOSH National Diploma - Unit A | Managing Health and Safety NEBOSH National Diploma | Unit A Element A7 | Principles of Health and Safety Law Learning Outcomes On completion of this element, you should be able to: Describe the sources and types of law in force in the UK relevant to health and safety. Explain the concept of absolute and qualified duties in relation to health and safety legislation. Outline the influence and role of the European Union on UK health and safety legislation. Describe the status and procedure for the creation of UK Acts and Regulations. Describe the structure and functions of courts and related institutions in the UK. Describe the responsibilities and powers of enforcing agencies and officers and explain the range of options related to enforcement action, their implications and appeal procedures. Unit 7: © RRC Training Element A7 | Principles of Health and Safety Law 7-1 NEBOSH National Diploma - Unit A | Managing Health and Safety INTRODUCTION This element must be studied in conjunction with the online RRC Health and Safety Law and Case Law Guide, where you will find details of cases and Acts and Regulations mentioned in the course material - log in to RRC’s support website at www.rrc.co.uk to access this important resource. You should note that the Diploma syllabus contains references to recommended prior learning (RPL). These are highlighted in blue and red in the NEBOSH Diploma Guide. In most cases, RPL will have been covered in a suitable lower level course such as the NEBOSH National General Certificate (Unit NGC1 and Unit NGC2). It is important for you to remember that RPL material is examinable, and has indeed featured in examinations, so you are expected to be familiar with it. In accordance with NEBOSH guidelines, and to reduce wholesale and unnecessary duplication, some RPL content may not be repeated in the RRC Diploma course notes, although some aspects may be developed further. To facilitate revision of RPL material, you are provided with an electronic copy of the RRC Unit NGC1 and Unit NGC2 course notes. Please note that the recommended minimum hours of study for each element do not include recommended prior learning. RPL content relating to this Element may be found in Element 1 of Unit NGC1. 7-2 Element A7 | Principles of Health and Safety Law © RRC Training NEBOSH National Diploma - Unit A | Managing Health and Safety SOURCES AND TYPES OF LAW Law is a collection of rules designed to regulate and control the conduct of citizens, laid down by those in authority and enforced by its officials. Our present-day