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Eduqas Level 1/2 Hospitality and Catering (5409) · Spec 1.3.1

Health and safety laws

Read the notes, then try the questions. Each one is marked the moment you press Check, and shows the right answer and why.

Key ideas

  • The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA) is the main law. The employer must provide a safe workplace, safe equipment and training. Employees must take reasonable care of themselves and others and follow procedures. It also protects customers and visitors.
  • COSHH 2002 controls hazardous substances such as cleaning chemicals. Try a safer product first. Label and store chemicals safely, train staff, provide protective equipment and keep safety data sheets.
  • Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992: first avoid hazardous lifting if possible, then assess the load, use trolleys and train staff. There is no fixed legal weight limit.
  • PPE at Work Regulations 1992: the employer must provide protective clothing free of charge, and staff must wear and look after it. PPE is a last resort, so the employer still has to control the risk in other ways.
  • RIDDOR 2013: the employer reports serious injuries, some diseases and dangerous occurrences to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Minor injuries go in the accident book.

Key terms

HASAWA
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The main health and safety law.
COSHH
Controls hazardous substances, such as cleaning chemicals.
PPE
Personal protective equipment, such as gloves, aprons and safety shoes.
RIDDOR
Rules on reporting serious injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences.
HSE
The Health and Safety Executive. It receives RIDDOR reports.
Manual handling
Lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling loads by hand.

Common mistakes

  • Mixing up the laws. COSHH is about chemicals, not food hygiene.
  • Thinking only the employer has duties. Employees have duties too.
  • Thinking a small cut must be reported under RIDDOR. It goes in the accident book.
  • Thinking the law sets a 25 kg limit on lifting. It sets no fixed weight.
  • Thinking PPE means the employer can stop controlling the risk. PPE is a last resort.

Exam tip

For a law question, give the name of the law and one duty that matches the kitchen situation: bleach and oven cleaner point to COSHH, heavy crates point to manual handling.

Free practice questions

7 questions, 13 marks. Answer, then press Check. The marking guide explains how the marks are worked out. Nothing is saved.

  1. Question 1 · Multiple choice[1 mark]

    Which law sets the main health and safety duties of employers and employees at work?

  2. Question 2 · True or false[1 mark]

    True or false: COSHH is the law about keeping food hygienic in the kitchen.

  3. Question 3 · Fill the gaps[1 mark]

    COSHH controls exposure to ___ substances, such as cleaning chemicals.

    Word bank: hazardous · noisy · hygienic · frozen

  4. Question 4 · Fill the gaps[1 mark]

    The first step under the Manual Handling Regulations is to ___ hazardous lifting where possible.

    Word bank: avoid · record · reduce · assess

  5. Question 5 · Multiple choice[1 mark]

    Which statement about protective clothing for cooks is correct?

  6. Question 6 · Matching[4 marks]

    Match each law to what it mainly covers.

  7. Question 7 · Sort into groups[4 marks]

    Sort each task into the law that mainly applies.

    Storing dishwasher powder

    Using bleach on worktops

    Pushing a loaded trolley

    Carrying sacks of flour