Is Your Company Meeting These Health And Safety Requirements?

Health and safety should always be a priority as a business. Even if it seems like the risk is small, an injury or accident could ruin your reputation and lead to expensive fines and lawsuits. There are a few health and safety measures that are required by law. Are you meeting these health and safety measures? Let’s take a look at some of the most important safety requirements.

Do you have a health and safety policy?

If you don’t have a health and safety policy, this could be one of the first things to prioritise. This is a document that outlines your commitment to health and safety, identifying responsibilities and procedures for all employees. There are many HR and employment services that can help you write a tailored health and safety policy document. This should be handed to every new employee you recruit and tweaked when necessary. 

Are you carrying out risk assessments?

Regular risk assessments can help to identify hazards so that you can make sure you’re taking steps to mitigate them. In your workplace, it could be important to consider fire risk assessments, as well as considering dangers like trip hazards or poor air quality. If you take on new jobs at different sites, carrying out a risk assessment for each new site could be necessary before you begin work. 

Are you displaying the health and safety law poster? 

Every workplace must display the health and safety law poster or hand out health and safety leaflets to each employee. This poster outlines necessary information regarding rights and responsibilities. You can find this online to print off. 

Are you supplying adequate PPE?

Supplying personal protective equipment (PPE) for certain hazardous tasks could be essential. Types of PPE include safety gloves, face masks, hard hats, safety goggles and ear defenders (obviously not every business will need these). Make sure to invest in high-quality, well-fitted PPE. 

Do you have a workplace first aid kit?

In case somebody gets injured, it’s necessary to have a first aid kit on site. This needs to be easily accessible in an emergency and kept stocked up. This site outlines some of the contents to put in your workplace first aid kit. 

Do you have an appointed first aider?

Did you know that if there are five or more employees in your workplace, you need to have a trained first aider on site? This could be you, the employer, or one of your employees. To make sure that someone on site is always first aid trained, it could be worth paying multiple staff members to go on a first aid training course.

Are you reporting accidents and injuries to HSE?

All accidents and injuries at work involving your employees must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). If you fail to do so and it is found out that you didn’t report an injury, you could face a nasty fine. Keep a logbook and report all injuries within 15 days. 

So, Is Your Company Meeting These Health And Safety Requirements?

This might seem like many requirements to keep on top of, but many are quite simple to manage once you’ve implemented them. Working with health and safety advisors could be worthwhile in advising you on all the requirements specific to your industry.