Everything you need to know about workplace safety

In the workplace, it is the employer's responsibility to ensure that occupational safety of its employees. The aim is to put in place the information, prevention, training and protection measures needed to deal with the various risks involved in each activity. workstation. Failure to comply with this legal obligation may render the employer civilly and/or criminally liable. However, employees are also bound by certain rules. Here's everything you need to know about safety at work.

What is workplace safety?

Visit health and safety at work are two key concepts in employee protection. In fact, any professional activity generates risks for workers (physical, psychosocial), which is why it is the employer's duty to comply with certain regulations and measures laid down by the French government. Labour Code. The aim is to reduce existing risks as much as possible in order to protect employees from potential risks. accidents at work as well as long-term illnesses (ALD). In addition, every effort must be made to protect the physical and moral health of workers by guaranteeing optimal working conditions. In the event of failure to comply safety obligationIn such cases, the employer may pay damages to the employee concerned and/or be liable to certain criminal penalties.

What are the employer's and employee's obligations?

Employer's obligations

In accordance with Article L.4121-2 of the Labor Codecompany managers are required to :

identify and assess occupational risks and record them in a DUERP (Document unique d'évaluation des risques professionnels)
create a health, safety and working conditions committee (CHSCT) in charge of drawing up, implementing and enforcing the company's safety plan (for companies with over 50 employees)
provide incentives to improve working conditions, with the aim of avoiding, limiting and combating risks at source.

The latter involves initiatives such as :

collective protection measures (installation of signage, securing passages and areas at risk) ;
technical monitoring of the most appropriate safety equipment and measures for the risk environment (safety when working at height, safety on construction sites, safety on SEVESO sites, etc.);
individual protection measures (obligation to wear PPE, employee training);
regular maintenance of hazardous equipment and replacement if necessary

Employee obligations

As for the employee, he or she is required to apply the recommendations and safety rules issued by the employer :

respect the company's traffic zones ;
follow the instructions issued for each area or workstation;
comply with work equipment operating instructions;
use the personal protective equipment provided (gloves, helmets, overalls, etc.)
attend mandatory training courses and obtain information on product use conditions, specific protective measures, etc.
know evacuation instructions and emergency exits in the event of fire.

Why is wearing PPE essential to safety in the workplace?

As a reminder, the collective protective equipment (EPC) are technical devices that isolate a hazard from people potentially exposed to it. When the EPCs are not sufficient to ensure the safety of employees at work, the personal protective equipment (PPE) enable individuals to be protected against one or more risks (French Labor Code, article R.233-83-3). Appropriate PPE enhances employee protection and makes it possible to limit or eliminate the impact of risks to which they may be exposed: risks of cutting, crushing, burning, etc. Ask us for advice, Rostaing will come to you to assess your employees' needs by carrying out a precise job audit. However, the choice of PPE is not a matter of chance, and must be the subject of a risk assessment. Of course, particular attention must be paid to safety standards which govern protective equipment, particularly gloves.

Find out more about our protective glovesvisit our 2022 catalog. Would you like to place an order or become a ROSTAING dealer? Tell us about it on commercial@rostaing.fr If you have any further questions about our products and services, please do not hesitate to contact one of our product engineers: product@rostaing.fr