Industry News » Health & Safety in Small Businesses
07-12-2006
Small businesses are required to fulfill many of the same health & safety obligations as their much larger cousins. The following is taken from an article published in the Winter 2006 edition of Bottom Line, the quarterly newsletter for small businesses produced by Moore and Smalley; Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors.
Every year there are around 1.6 million workplace injuries in the UK, and more than a staggering 25 million working days lost because of accidents and ill-health.
Health and safety failures currently cost Britain's employers up to £6.5 billion every year - and it is often the small to medium sized enterprises that pay the highest price.
But more worryingly, according to First Business Support's John Malley, is the complete lack of awareness and understanding of health and safety legislation by many small businesses.
Today, every business with five staff or more must have a written health and safety policy, which must be reviewed on a regular basis.
Businesses must also carry out risk assessments, covering everything from fire, first aid and chemicals to all machinery, lifting operations and workplace transportation, to name just a few. Risk assessments must also be carried out in offices to consider slips, trips and falls and for all those working with computer screens.
Finally, businesses must also be registered, depending on the nature of their business, with either their local Environmental Health department or the Health and Safety Executive.
John Malley explains: "We have known enforcement officers say that a Health and Safety policy not reviewed annually is out of date and issued formal written requirements for improvements to be made within 21 days. Basically, every employer with five or more staff needs to be aware of the law and how it impacts on them."
Firms that breach health and safety legislation can face unlimited fines and up to two years in prison.
The key legislation that companies need to be up-to-date with is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1999.
However, one of the burning issues of the moment is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which came into force on October 1, 2006.
The reforms, which are aimed at rationalising and simplifying the legislation, mean that in most cases fire certificates will no longer be issued by the fire authority.
Basically, the responsibilities of employers have been increased and they need to look at all the people fire could effect other than their employees, from visitors, contractors and passers-by to fire-fighters safety, as well as the business continuity of their neighbours.
John Malley added: "Employers are great at what they do, but health and safety is often overlooked because it is not their primary concern. However, businesses really need to be aware of the law, how it affects them and how they can comply with it to avoid falling foul of the law - and that is when expert health and safety advice can help guide them through the minefield."
SG World has a range of Step Through Guide, Risk Assessment and Health & Safety CD's that take you step by step through your requirements.
They provide all necessary guidance and best practice, help you to manage actions and reviews, allow you to build your own compliance manuals, report on 'gaps' in your system and integrate with existing documents / systems.
- Fire Safety Management - will assist you to comply with the new Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- Health and Safety Management - is a comprehensive electronic manual with extensive information on all aspects of health and safety to help you develop your own health and safety policy.
- Display Screen Equipment Training - will assist you to comply with your obligations concerning users of computer screens and other display screen equipment.