HEALTH AND SAFETY Citation and commencement 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations 1989 and shall come into force on 18th October 1989. Interpretation and application 2 1 In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires– “the 1974” Act means the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; “the approved poster” and “the approved leaflet” have the meanings assigned by regulation 3; “employment medical advisory service” means the employment medical advisory service referred to in section 55 of the 1974 Act; “ship” has the meaning assigned to it by section 742 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 . 2 Any reference in these Regulations to the enforcing authority for premises is a reference to the enforcing authority which has responsibility for the enforcement of section 2 of the 1974 Act in relation to the main activity carried on in those premises. 3 Any reference in these Regulations to– a a numbered regulation is a reference to the regulation so numbered in these Regulations; b a numbered paragraph is a reference to the paragraph so numbered in the regulation in which the reference appears. 4 These Regulations shall have effect for the purpose of providing information to employees relating to health, safety and welfare but they shall not apply in relation to the master and crew of a sea going ship. Meaning of and revisions to the approved poster and leaflet 3 1 In these Regulations “the approved poster” or “the approved leaflet” means, respectively, a poster or leaflet in the form approved and published for the purposes of these Regulations by the Health and Safety Executive, as revised from time to time in accordance with paragraph (2). 2 The Health and Safety Executive may approve a revision (in whole or in part) to the form of poster or leaflet; and where it does so it shall publish the revised form of poster or leaflet and issue a notice in writing specifying the date the revision was approved. 3 Such a revision shall not take effect until five years after the date of its approval, but during that time the employer may use the approved poster or the approved leaflet incorporating that revision for the purposes of regulation 4(1). Provision of poster or leaflet 4 1 An employer shall, in relation to each of his employees– a ensure that the approved poster is kept displayed in a readable condition– i at a place which is reasonably accessible to the employee while he is at work, and ii in such a position in that place as to be easily seen and read by that employee; or b give to the employee the approved leaflet. 2 An employer shall be treated as having complied with paragraph (1)(b) from the date these Regulations come into force or the date the employee commences employment with him (if later) if he gives to the employee the approved leaflet as soon as is reasonably practicable after that date. 3 Where the form of poster or leaflet is revised pursuant to regulation 3(2), then on or before the date the revision takes effect– a an employer relying on compliance with paragraph (1)(a) shall ensure that the approved poster displayed is the one as revised; b an employer relying on compliance with paragraph (1)(b) shall either give to the employees concerned fresh approved leaflets (as so revised) or bring the revision to their notice in writing. Provision of further information 5 1 An employer relying on compliance with regulation 4(1)(a) shall, subject to paragraph (2), ensure that the following information is clearly and indelibly written on the poster in the appropriate space– a the name of the enforcing authority for the premises where the poster is displayed and the address of the office of that authority for the area in which those premises are situated; and b the address of the office of the employment medical advisory service for the area in which those premises are situated ; or c (c) information as to how any of his employees may obtain the information referred to in (a) and (b) above. 2 Where there is a change in any of the matters referred to in paragraph (1) it shall be sufficient compliance with that paragraph for the corresponding amendment to the poster to be made within six months from the date thereof. 3 An employer who gives to his employee a leaflet pursuant to regulation 4(1)(b) shall give with the leaflet a written notice containing– a the name of the enforcing authority for the premises where the employee works, and the address of the office of that authority for the area in which those premises are situated; and b the address of the office of the employment medical advisory service for the area in which those premises are situated ; or c (c) information as to how any of his employees may obtain the information referred to in (a) and (b) above. 4 Where the employee works in more than one location he shall, for the purposes of paragraph (3), be treated as working at the premises from which his work is administered, and if his work is administered from two or more premises, the employer may choose any one of them for the purpose of complying with that paragraph. 5 Where an employer relies on compliance with regulation 4(1)(b) and there is a change in any of the matters referred to in paragraph (3) the employer shall within six months of the date thereof give to the employee a written notice specifying the change. Exemption certificates 6 1 Subject to paragraph (2) the Health and Safety Executive may, by a certificate in writing, exempt any person or class of persons from all or any of the requirements imposed by these Regulations and any such exemption may be granted subject to conditions and to a limit of time and may be revoked in writing at any time. 2 The Executive shall not grant any such exemption unless, having regard to the circumstances of the case, and in particular to– a the conditions if any, which it proposes to attach to the exemption; and b any other requirements imposed by or under any enactment which apply to the case; it is satisfied that the health, safety and welfare of persons who are likely to be affected by the exemption will not be prejudiced in consequence of it. Defence 7 In any proceedings for an offence for a contravention of these Regulations it shall be a defence for the accused to prove that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of that offence. Repeals, revocations and modifications 8 1 The enactments specified in column 1 of Part I of the Schedule to these Regulations are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the corresponding entries in column 2 thereof. 2 The instruments specified in column 1 of Part II of the Schedule to these Regulations are hereby revoked to the extent specified in the corresponding entries in column 3 thereof. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Signed by order of the Secretary of State. Patrick Nicholls Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Employment 18th April 1989