Managing Safety for your Employees

Many businesses assume Health & Safety means red tape and complex rules and regulations but we are here to dispell that myth.

Health & Safety in the workplace is all about applying common sense and we work with businesses to make sure they are meeting their legal obligations through practical, cost effective solutions that can be easily managed on an ongoing basis.

Our Advisors work with you to ensure you meet the legal requirements as an Employer and can provide both telephone and on site support as required.

What are the minimum requirements?

• As an employer you must appoint someone competent to help you meet your Health & Safety responsibilities. A competent person is someone that possesses the right level of skills, knowledge and experience to manage Health & Safety.

• If you have 5 or more employees you must have a written policy which describes how you will manage Health & Safety in your business. This will detail who does what, when and how and is your commitment to your staff, suppliers and customers that you recognise the importance of safety in the workplace, it must of course be used and reviewed regularly.

• You must manage the health & safety risks in your business and to do this you must identify the hazards present in either the type of work you undertake or the premises and surroundings your employees operate in. This is called risk assessment and is aimed at identifying sensible measures to control the risks in the workplace. Risk assessments should be documented and where areas of improvement are identified an appropriate action plan put in place to address these.

• You have to consult all your employees on health & safety, this need not be complicated it is simply about talking about the health & safety in the work they do, explain how risks are controlled and how you will provide information and training. You must also listen to any concerns or issues that your employees raise relating to their safety.

• You are responsible for ensuring everyone that works for you know how to work safely and manage the risks they may encounter. This includes contractors and self employed people that work for you not just employees. Providing training for all employees on a regular basis is an essential aspect of keeping your employees aware and alert to safety in the workplace.

• You must protect the health & safety of anyone in the workplace which includes people with disabilities and providing adequate welfare facilities for your employees. Welfare facilities mean you must have toilets and handbasins with soap and towels or hand dryer, drinking water, a place to store clothing and change and somewhere to eat meals. A healthy work environment means you should have adequate ventilation, a reasonable working temperature, lighting suitable for the work being carried out, enough room and space for workstations and seating, and a clean workspace with waste containers.

• You must have First Aid arrangement in your workplace

• You must report and record certain injuries, incidents and cases of work related disease.

• You must display the Health & Safety Law poster

• You must display your Employers Liability Insurance Certificate