From Lawpack's Health & Safety at Work Essentials.
Every working day, there are on average two deaths and 690 reported non-fatal injuries to workers. Absenteeism is costing employers £13 billion a year and small companies, where the absence of one or two employees can make a huge difference, are the hardest hit.
With the cost of absenteeism rising, insurers are becoming more averse to granting employer's liability insurance to companies with a poor, or no, health and safety record. Many companies, therefore, are being forced out of business, unable to trade without insurance cover or because of soaring premiums.
As a result, it's in your best interest, as an employer, to follow health and safety law and ensure that your workplace is safe. However, be warned that the law is extremely strict so you must follow the regulations precisely. Here's an outline of what you have to do:
- Carry out a risk assessment. Identify hazards, evaluate the extent of the risks to your employees and take appropriate action. You must also carry out a further assessment after an accident has occurred.
- Record your health and safety arrangements. Include planning, organisation, control and monitoring and undertake a review of the 'protective and preventative measures' in place. You must appoint a competent assistant (or more than one if you feel it's necessary) to help you with these tasks.
- Employ competent people. You mustn't employ children of under school-leaving age, unless their employment is part of an authorised scheme.
- Arrange contacts with external services. Have numbers of first aid assistance and emergency medical care for when injuries arise.
- Provide comprehensive health and safety information to all your employees. Include any temporary employees. Inform them of the health and safety risks (which were identified by the risk assessments you've made), the preventative and protective measures in place and tell them the name of your competent assistant. Be aware of communication issues such as language differences.
- Make safety arrangements for the employees of other companies on site. Provide appropriate instructions and information.
- Provide safety training. Train employees on induction, or upon transfer to a new job or area, or when new equipment is introduced. Keep training records as evidence of this.
- Ensure that your employees notify you of any health and safety shortcomings.
- Investigate an accident. If an accident occurs, record the findings of your investigation.
- Keep records. Log all the above action you have taken.
Law stated as at 1 September, 2006