Health and Safety in the Workplace Made Simple
1. Appoint a competent person
Employers are required by law to choose a competent person or persons to assist them in carrying out their health and safety obligations.
What a competent person does
They should be able to identify hazards in your company and assist you in setting up reasonable safeguards to safeguard employees and other people from harm.
Qualifications and training
Although it can be beneficial, formal education and training are not often prerequisites for someone to hold a position.
Who you can appoint
You could choose from the following to appoint:
– yourself
– one of your employees,
– someone outsider of your company
Managing health and safety is typically simple, and you can complete it on your own or with assistance from your staff. You are the expert on the dangers present in your workplace.
Use a competent employee instead of a competent outsider if that individual is already on staff at your company.
the use of a consultant or advisor
You can seek assistance from a consultant or adviser if your company or organisation lacks the capacity to manage health and safety internally, for instance, if it’s huge, complex, or high risk. But keep in mind that it will still be your legal responsibility as the employer to manage health and safety.
2. Consult your workers
On matters of health and safety, you must consult with every employee. By paying attention to them and interacting with them, you can:
Occupational health and safety, how hazards are managed, and the most effective techniques for informing and educating
Employees can voice concerns and have an impact on decisions about how to manage health and safety through consultation, which is a two-way process.
The greatest people to understand workplace risks are frequently your employees. Making decisions with them in mind demonstrates your concern for their wellbeing. In a small company, you might decide to speak with your employees directly. A health and safety representative designated by your employees or by a trade union may consult with larger companies. You cannot select the representative on behalf of the employer.
3. First aid in work
Employees who become ill or are wounded at work must receive urgent assistance, according to employers.
Every workplace is subject to the law, as are independent contractors.
You must possess:
– a first aid kit that is well stocked
– a designated person or individuals who are in charge of first aid arrangements
– details regarding first aid arrangements for all staff
4. The Law
Workplace health and safety are subject to both civil and criminal legislation. They are not equivalent.
As an employer, it is your responsibility to prevent harm or illness at work for both your employees and other people.
If you fail to:
– you may face criminal charges from a regulator like the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or a local council.
– the aggrieved party may file a civil lawsuit against you for damages.
The HSE and municipal governments are not in charge of enforcing civil law or establishing guidelines for how civil disputes should be handled.
5. Prepare a health and safety policy
According to the legislation, every company needs to have a health and safety management plan.
Your basic approach to health and safety is outlined in a health and safety policy. It details the way in which you, as the employer, will oversee health and safety in your workplace. It must express precisely who, when, and how to complete each task.
You must document your policy in writing if you have five or more employees. You are not required to record anything if you employ fewer than five people, but it is a good idea.
The policy and any updates must be communicated to your staff members.
6. Provide information and training
You must ensure that all of your employees know how to work safely and without endangering their health. Contractors and independent contractors are included in this.
You must provide your employees with sufficient training, clear directions, and information. Include staff members who require special training, such as new hires, those changing roles or taking on more duties, young employees, and health and safety advocates.
7. Display the health and safety law poster
If you have any employees, you must:
– display the health and safety law poster where your employees can clearly see it
– provide each employee a pamphlet corresponding to the health and safety law.
The poster outlines what employees and their bosses should do and explains British health and safety legislation.
Any employee safety representatives or health and safety contacts can have their information added.
8. Report accidents and illness
You are required by law to notify HSE of specific workplace injuries, near-misses, and incidents of work-related illness. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, or RIDDOR, govern this obligation.
Our RIDDOR pages outline what has to be reported as well as the reporting process.
Keep records
According to social security regulation, employers with more than 10 employees are required to maintain an accident book. Either purchase one from HSE Books or enter the information into your own record-keeping system.
To better assess and manage risk in your workplace, keeping records of events enables you to see trends in accidents and injuries.
Additionally, records can be useful when interacting with your insurance provider.
Make sure to keep records private and secure in order to protect people’s private information.
9. Risk Assessment
You have a legal obligation as an employer to safeguard both your staff members and other people.
The bare minimum required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations of 1999 is:
– identify the potential threats to health or safety in your company (hazards)
– take steps to eliminate the hazard or, if this is not possible, control the risk
– decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously (the risk).
One step in the process of reducing risks in your organisation is risk assessment.
10. Have the right workplace facilities
All employees, including those with disabilities, must have access to welfare facilities and work in a safe, healthy atmosphere.
You must possess:
– welfare amenities, such as the appropriate amount of restrooms and sinks, access to water, and areas where people can rest and eat meals
– a favourable work environment a spotless work environment with ideal lighting, ventilation, a comfortable working temperature, and adequate space and seating
– a safe work environment includes well-maintained equipment, clear floors and traffic paths, and windows that are simple to open and clean.
11. Get insurance for your business
You’ll likely require employers’ liability insurance if your company employs people.
Employees have the right to compensation from you if they are hurt on the job or are ill as a result of working for you. Your ability to pay compensation will be aided by your employer’s liability insurance.
To read a more indepth version of this, go to https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/index.htm