So, how do you establish where you are at with your own business and your Health & Safety programme?
The legal point of view
Business owners are legally obliged to consider the health and safety of themselves, their employees, and anyone else affected by their work and the way they do it.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states that employers must:
- Identify risks at work and possible precautions.
- Identify the person responsible for carrying out the precautions.
- Provide a means of carrying out their health and safety policy and establish a procedure for reporting accidents.
- Identify relevant legal standards that apply in each part of the workplace.
- Have a written statement of general policy (if they have five or more employees) with respect to health and safety at work.
Audits can highlights key areas specific to your industry and by following the advice, guidance and actions plan created by your consultant, you will be able to put policies, procedures, risk assessments and training programmes in place, all of which will get you to where you need to be, you will be legally compliant.
Online Management systems can also help to keep all your current documents in one place, accessible from any PC, so you always have your finger on the pulse of your business and can have complete peace of mind.
Your employees will benefit from a safer work environment, safe in the knowledge that you, as a business, are addressing your roles and responsibilities, this, in turn, improves site morale and can aid productivity and revenue within your business.
By Phillip Barker, Moorepay