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Re: FREE Tap Water - Urban Myth
Posted By: (anonymous) 16/05/08 10:46 Source ID: 92d06f0d-7a8b5e5e
In Reply To: FREE Tap Water - Urban Myth Spike 15/05/08 16:25
It could, however be argued that Section 3 of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 applies here.
 | General duties of employers and self-employed to persons other than their employees. 3. (1) It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety. (2) It shall be the duty of every self-employed person to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that he and other persons (not being his employees) who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety (3) In such cases as may be prescribed, it shall be the duty of every employer and every self-employed person, in the prescribed circumstances and in the prescribed manner, to give to persons (not being his employees) who may be affected by the way in which he conducts his undertaking the prescribed information about such aspects of the way in which he conducts his undertaking as might affect their health or safety. |  |
It is a medically accepted fact that dehydration if hazardous to health. So any action that led to someone suffering dehydration (by venue management or promoter) could fall foul of these clauses.
Since many venues are poorly ventilated, making them extremely hot (causing sweating without any activity) and all promoters are promoting strenuous physical activity by members of the public - also likely to cause sweating, there is a strong argument that they should provide drinking water at no charge for members of the public, just as they are obliged to do so for their employees.
Just as with any statute law, it can only be interpreted by a court of law, laying down a precedent for such an interpretation, but does anyone here want to risk it?
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