Codes of Practice in Health & Safety

Regulations in health and safety legislation are often supplemented by codes of practice that give practical guidance to companies or individuals on compliance with the law. Codes of practice are issued by official bodies or professional associations.

Types

• Codes of practice are added to a range of health and safety regulations concerning varied issues such as first aid, bullying, hazardous materials, construction, electrical standards, water control, and so on. They can indicate rules on protective clothing, access to restricted areas, proper use of tools and materials or even suitability of people working in certain areas.

Function

• The code of practice offers practical examples and advice on how to comply with laws and regulations in real life. They are written specifically for a profession or workplace and define employers' obligation toward the health and safety of their employees.

Legal Aspect

• Failure to respect code of practice in health and safety is not an offense but if an employer faces prosecution after an issue or an accident, and it is proved that the code of practice has been disregarded, a court can look upon the failure to comply as evidence of guilt.