Most small business do not see Health and Safety as high on their list of priorities, they use excuses such as we don’t have time to worry about Health and Safety in our workplace or we don’t know what to do or we’ve never had an accident in all the years we have been trading so we are ok!
The Consequences of Breaching Health and Safety Regulations however can be severe! For starters it’s a criminal offence and can result in the Company, or an individual manager, being prosecuted by the appropriate Health and Safety enforcement authority – and if found guilty being fined or imprisoned.
However, follow these 3 simple steps and Health and Safety compliance need not be seen as a burden…
Step 1- Answer the following questions
-Do you employ 5 or more people?
-Do you own, lease or rent a commercial property?
-Are you and your employees aware of their Health & Safety Obligations?
If the answer to question 1 is yes, then you need by law to have a written Health & Safety Policy and documented Risk Assessments.
If the answer to question 2 is yes, then you need by law to have a suitable & sufficient Fire Risk Assessment carried out on the property.
If the answer to question 3 is no, then you need to follow step 2
Step 2 – Seek some help and advice
You do not need to work your way through the minefield that is Health and Safety Law alone. There is plenty of help and advice out there to help you. Pay a visit to the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk where you will find lots of free guides, advice and information to help you.
As an employer, you must use someone competent to help you meet your health and safety duties and they should have the skills, knowledge and experience to manage health and safety. There are a lot of companies out there offering support and advice so choose wisely and shop around to make sure you are getting a package that is right for you & your business and not just a generic off the shelf pack!
The better your consultant knows you & your company the more bespoke support and advise they can offer!
Step 3 – Invest in some basic training
Health and Safety training does not have to be expensive, complex or time consuming. There are a lot of online courses training available.
Examples include; in the construction industry courses such as Asbestos Awareness, Manual Handling and Working at Height give a good basic knowledge; in an office environment your staff need Display Screen Awareness (DSE) Training; if you have a property then some form of Fire Marshall , Fire training is needed!
If you’d like to know more and are interested in getting some support, advice or online training then fell free to get in touch with either Kim or Andrew via our website Invicta Safety or call us on 01233 226477.