Don't ignore health and safety in the pursuit of growth

Whether your business is a new start up or an established SME, it is imperative to ensure you have the right health and safety practises in place. With sanctions for breaches including fines, imprisonment and disqualification, Health and Safety is too important for businesses to ignore.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation covering work-related health and safety in the United Kingdom. It sets out an employer’s responsibilities for health and safety at work. You have a ‘duty of care’ to look after your employees' health, safety and welfare while they are at work. There are a number of things that employers must do to protect their staff. These include:

• Start with a risk assessment to spot possible health and safety hazards.
• For businesses employing five or more people, there must also be an official record of what the assessment finds and a formal health and safety policy.
• Appoint a capable member of staff with health and safety responsibilities.
• Ensure that plant and machinery is safe to use, and that safe working practices are set up and followed.
• Make sure that all materials are handled, stored and used safely.
• Make sure that ventilation, temperature, lighting, and toilet, washing and rest facilities all meet health, safety and welfare requirements.
• Provide protective clothing or equipment free of charge if risks can’t be removed or adequately controlled by any other means.
• Ensure that the right warning signs are provided and looked after.
• Report certain accidents, injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences to either the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or the local authority, depending on the type of business.

Employees also have responsibilities for their own health and safety at work and they can refuse to do something that isn’t safe, without being threatened with disciplinary action. Health and Safety and much more is covered in our free LEAP Human Resources Essentials seminars. Why not get in touch to see how we can help you grow and recruit new staff.

Find out more

Boost Business Lancashire offers the Lancashire LEAP programme for start-ups and business under three years old - including HR Essentials seminars. To apply for a place on the programme, complete our online form or call 0800 488 0057.

Author

Rona McFall, Enterprise and Employment Manager, Regenerate Pennine Lancashire.