Page1of10HealthandSafetyExecutiveHealthandsafetymadesimpleThebasicsforyourbusinessHowcanthisguidehelpyou?Ifyouthinkhealthandsafetyhastobecomplicated–itdoesn’t.Thisguidewillmakeiteasierforyoutocomplywiththelawandmanagehealthandsafetyinyourbusiness.Formanybusinesses,allthat’srequiredisabasicseriesoftasks.Theguidewilltakeyouthroughthestepsandhelpyoumakesureyouhavedonewhatyouneedto–andnomore.Whoisthisguidefor?Thisguideisforemployersandthosewhowantsomebasicinformationonwhattheymustdotomakesuretheirbusinessescomplywithhealthandsafetylaw.Ingeneral,thelawsapplytoallbusinesses,nomatterhowsmall.Asanemployer,oraself-employedperson,youareresponsibleforhealthandsafetyinyourbusiness.Youneedtotaketherightprecautionstoreducetherisksofworkplacedangersandprovideasafeworkingenvironment.HowtheguidecanhelpyouTherearehealthandsafetylawstoprotectyou,youremployeesandthepublicfromworkplacedangers.Thisguidemakeslifeeasierforyoubyprovidingthebasicinformationonwhatyouneedtodoinoneplace.Itwillhelpyougetstartedinmanaginghealthandsafetyinyourbusiness.Forsomeworkactivitiestheremaybeextrathingsyouneedtodotomakesureyouarecomplyingwiththelaw.Stopcheck!Thisguideincludes‘Stopcheck!’boxes–theytellyouwhenyoumayneedtotakeextrastepsandprovidesignpoststomoredetailedguidanceandindustry-specificadvice.Healthandsafetymadesimple:ThebasicsforyourbusinessPage2of10HealthandSafetyExecutiveHealthandSafetyExecutiveDecidewhowillhelpyouwithyourdutiesAsanemployer,youmustappointsomeonecompetenttohelpyoumeetyourhealthandsafetyduties.Acompetentpersonissomeonewiththenecessaryskills,knowledgeandexperiencetomanagehealthandsafety.Youcouldappoint(oneoracombinationof):yourself;■■oneormoreofyourworkers;■■someonefromoutsideyourbusiness.■■Youprobablymanagemostaspectsofyourbusinessyourself,orwiththehelpofyourstaff.Butifyouarenotconfidentofyourabilitytomanageallhealthandsafetyin-house,youmayneedsomeexternalhelporadvice.Decidingwhathelpyouneedisveryimportant.Unlessyouareclearaboutwhatyouwant,youprobablywon’tgetthehelpyouneed.Usethewebsitelinksbelowtohelpyouasktherightquestions:Getcompetentadvice(www.hse.gov.uk/business/competent-advice.htm)■■HSEleaflet:■■Gettingspecialisthelpwithhealthandsafety(www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg420.pdf)WriteahealthandsafetypolicyforyourbusinessDescribinghowyouwillmanagehealthandsafetyinyourbusinesswillletyourstaffandothersknowaboutyourcommitmenttohealthandsafety.Thiswillbeyourhealthandsafetypolicy.Itshouldclearlysaywhodoeswhat,whenandhow.Ifyouhavefiveormoreemployees,youmusthaveawrittenpolicy.Healthandsafetymadesimple:ThebasicsforyourbusinessPage3of10HealthandSafetyExecutiveThepolicydoesnotneedtobecomplicatedortime-consuming.Tohelpyou,wehavecreatedatemplatethatyoucandownloadandcomplete.Thetemplatealsoincludesasectionforyourriskassessmentsothatyoucanrecordeverythinginonedocument.Youcanfinditonline(www.hse.gov.uk/risk/risk-assessment-and-policy-template.doc).Wealsoprovideanexamplehealthandsafetypolicytogiveyouanideaofwhattoincludewhenwritingyourown.Youcanfinditonline(www.hse.gov.uk/risk/health-and-safety-policy-example.doc).Apolicywillonlybeeffectiveifyouandyourstafffollowitandreviewitregularly.ManagetherisksinyourbusinessYoumustmanagethehealthandsafetyrisksinyourworkplace.Todothisyouneedtothinkaboutwhat,inyourbusiness,mightcauseharmtopeopleanddecidewhetheryouaredoingenoughtopreventthatharm.Thisiskn...
