For many businesses the management of health and safety issues and keeping up with the multitude of regulations can seem like an overwhelming task.
For some companies the answer is to ignore it and convince themselves that it does not apply to them.
What are your legal responsibilities?
According to Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, all employers have a duty to ensure that – so far as is reasonably practicable – the health, safety and welfare of all employees is looked after.
The Act also requires that employers of five or more employees have a written statement of their health and safety policy and that this is, along with any revisions, communicated to the workforce.
It is also important to carry out a Risk Assessments. Three reasons why…
1. Financial reasons: There is considerable evidence, that effective safety and health management in the workplace contributes to business success. Accidents and ill-health inflict significant costs, often hidden and underestimated.
2. Legal reasons: Carrying out a risk assessment and implementing what you have written down are not only central to any safety and health management system, they are required by law.
3. Moral and ethical reasons: The process of carrying out a risk assessment and implementing what you have written down will help to prevent injuries and ill-health at work. Employers are ethically bound to do all they can to ensure that their employees do not suffer illness, a serious accident or death.
Risk assessments are good for business!
So don’t put it off any longer and get started on your risk assessment today.
Contact us if you require advice…
