398 Chapter 14Employment (2): Discrimination and health and safety
around buildings are safe. They also aim to conserve energy and cater for the needs of
disabled people.
The Building Regulations 2000 set out the circumstances in which building controls apply
as well as the procedures which must be followed. They also regulate individual aspects of
building design and construction. Approved documents deal with matters such as structure,
fire safety, resistance to passage of sound, ventilation, hygiene, glazing and drainage.
The Health and Safety Executive issues guidance on workplace fire safety. This guidance
deals with matters such as alarms, fire doors, use of suitable materials, access for fire engines
and stability of buildings when exposed to fire.Ergonomics
The Health and Safety Executive has reported that musculoskeletal disorders affect over
a million workers and that repetitive strain injury costs £3 billion a year. Employers can be
liable in the tort of negligence, if they satisfy the requirements of that tort. (See Chapter 8
and the section on common law health and safety set out earlier in this chapter.) Employers
can also be liable criminally if they breach one of the ‘six pack’ Regulations considered
earlier in this chapter.
The Health and Safety Executive has conducted research into ergonomic risks in over
20 specific situations. The HSE has produced reports on matters such as occupational noise
exposure, manual handling, disorders in fruit pickers and injuries caused by deboning meat.Pest control
The Biocidal Products Regulations 2001, as amended, regulate the marketing and use of
biocidal products. Such products contain at least one active substance which kills or controls
living organisms. These products are used extensively, for example to control rats and fungi
which attack wood. Further details of the Regulations can be obtained from the Health and
Safety Executive’s website: http://www.hse.gov.uk.
Certain animals introduced into the wild, often to control other animals which were
perceived to be pests, have got out of control and caused much harm. The Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981 prohibits the release into the wild of any animal not native to the
United Kingdom. It also prohibits the release of certain other animals, plants and algae
which are listed in the Act. The Plant Protection Products Regulations 1995 regulate the use
of pesticides and chemicals in agriculture.Food hygiene
The Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 require all food businesses to train their staff
on hygiene matters, identify and control food hazards and audit their hygiene procedures.
A hazard analysis and critical control points system should be put in place to identify and
control food hazards.Essential points
n The Equality Act 2010 outlaws direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, victimisa-
tion or harassment on the protected characteristics of age; disability; gender reassignment;
marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex;
and sexual orientation.
n The Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000
outlaw discrimination against part-time workers.