If you are an employer or employee it’s important that you and your colleagues follow the strict rules and regulations put in place by the UK government to keep everyone safe in their working environment. Health and safety rules and regulations are put in place and actioned to prevent hazards and accidents and must be followed in every workplace big or small.
Importance of Health and Safety
UK law states that all workplaces must take action and follow strict health and safety regulations , it’s not only legal but your workers have fundamental rights. The rules are there to be followed and should you as a company decide not to and someone becomes injured your workers have rights. No matter what industry you work in, the UK government has set a guideline and it must be followed to the highest standard.
Ways To Ensure Health and Safety Compliance
Risk Assessments and Identifying Risk
Risk assessment must be carried out every single day, sometime numerous times a day, these are in place to cover everyone’s backs. Risk assessments should be carried out for any new situation/task that could cause harm is required and it should also be followed/observed for any existing tasks that are carried out regularly. Machinery must be checked, checks for hazardous substances must be carried and much more, the list of risk assessments needed for the workplace is never ending. If risks are identified then they must be measures in place to erase the risk of accidents and injuries.
Training and Awareness
It’s important to give your employees full health and safety training, whether it’s handling equipment, identifying potential risks or educating them on emergency protocol. Most companies have their own system for employees to follow and carry out risk assessments more than 5 times a day, make sure none of your fire exits are blocked and all fire extinguishers work. The more knowledge your employees have the more productive they become in their practices on a daily basis.
Health and Safety Representatives
In the workplace a health and safety representative is usually appointed to ensure all regulations are being complied with. A representative is an important person as they mitigate between management and staff on how to maintain and keep the workplace safe and they can also act when health and safety is being breached as well.
What Happens If A Business Isn’t Compliant with UK Health and Safety Law?
If you’re not complying with the UK guidelines for Health and Safety then the consequences for your business could be detrimental. HSE (health and safety executive) can order an investigation should their finding have a negative outcome legal action could be taken and you could incur a hefty fine.
Getting Help With Your Health and Safety
Safetynet Scotland is always here should you need advice from an expert. We have years of experience and pride ourselves on helping businesses comply with current UK Health and Safety requirements. We can help with putting systems such as risk assessments, staff training and much more; ensuring full compliance with the law and helping to keep your employees safe in their working environment as well. For more information or to chat with a health and safety consultant, then be sure to get in touch with us today.
