All employers are required by law to control health & safety risks and managing risks is not only about legislation. Effective health & safety contributes to corporate social responsibility and can bring real business benefits too. It doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated, but it does need planning and leadership. Good health & safety makes good business sense. It protects your workforce from the suffering caused by accidents & ill health. It also helps you maintain your good reputation, retain personnel, boost productivity and avoid the costs of accidents and ill health.
Employers are responsible for protecting the health & safety of their staff and other people such as customers and members of the public who may be affected by their work. The law says you must appoint someone competent to help you meet your health & safety duties. You can appoint one or a combination of yourself, one or more of your workers or someone from outside your business.
You must assess the risks to your employees while they are at work and to any other people who may be affected by the way you conduct your business. This is so that you can identify the measures needed to be taken to comply with health & safety law which includes training and the provision of information.
Health and safety isn’t something you can slash and burn to cut costs. Do this and you will almost certainly end up falling into serious trouble both legally and financially.
Jim Slater
HEALTH & SAFETY
