Health And Safety Legislation Of 1914: A Case Study

The purpose of this essay is to examine health and safety legislation. The essay will focus on four main points. Three of these points are as follows; Health and safety legislation of the past, health and safety legislation currently enforced and possible health and safety legislation of the future. The final point of the essay will be to look at the fact that a high standard of health and safety is currently required and whether the legislation has gone too far.
The first example of health and safety legislation came about in the industrial age of the 19th century. The first factory inspectors were appointed under the provisions of the Factories Act 1833. Initially their main duty was to prevent injury and overworking in child textile workers.
The introduction of the Quarries Act 1894 extended the powers of the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872 to give inspectors the power to enforce provisions of notifying accidents, undertake prosecutions and make special rules. This lead to the establishment of the Quarry Inspectorate.
This Act introduced comprehensive health protection and safeguards for agricultural workers and for children who may come into contact with agricultural machinery, equipment or vehicles. It prohibited the lifting of excessive weights, outlined the general provisions that must be made for sanitary conveniences and washing facilities and stipulated requirements for first aid provision. The Act also laid down requirements for the notification and investigation of accidents and diseases. It was instrumental in appointing a number of inspectors with the powers to enter agricultural premises and enforce the
An article from 2009 in the Guardian suggested that children would now have to wear goggles whilst handling blu-tack at school to stop them rubbing it into their eyes. Furthermore, windows in classrooms could be opened to further than 6 inches to avoid pupils falling out of them. A poll of 585 teachers found almost half – 44.3% – believe health and safety regulations now restrict pupils' education. Some 46.5% said rules were constraining children's personal growth.
Judith Hackitt, chair of the Health and Safety Executive described the health and safety examples as "frankly ridiculous" and said that "Children cannot be wrapped in cotton wool," and that "Risk is part of growing up and our children need to learn how to manage risks in the real world."

Having established that health and safety regulations have been taken to extreme measures, what does the future look like? There are a number of foreseeable factors that will impact on health, wellbeing and engagement in the workplace over the coming