Top 5 Health & Safety Fails

Does your business fall for any of the Health & Safety fails we have highlighted?

Avoidable Slips, Trips and Falls

From construction sites to office settings, slips trips and falls are common in every single workplace. The HSE reports that Slips Trips and Falls are associated with more fatal and major injuries than any other kind. So how can you minimise accidents of this kind?

• Risk Assessments – a legal requirement for every workplace. The idea of risk assessments is to identify the hazards which may occur during work activity
• Keep walkways clear – the majority of trips are caused by obstructions in walkways
• Housekeeping – Ensure all work areas are kept clear, the less there is lying around, the less chance there is of slipping or tripping over it!

Failing to Report an Accident

Do you know the difference between an accident which needs to be recorded in an accident book and one which needs to be reported via the RIDDOR process? You should report an accident to the Health & Safety Executive for any incident which results in:

• Specified injuries to workers
• Hospital treatment to any non worker
• Death of any person
• Dangerous occurrences

Fire Safety Breaches

Almost every type of premises is covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order. This means the occupier has direct responsibility to ensure suitable fire policies and procedures are in place and comply with legislation. You will need to have in place

• Fire Risk Assessments
• Fire Safety advice documents
• Fire Safety evacuation plans
• and provide drills and training for all Fire Safety equipment.

Failing to comply with COSHH

Do your employees work with substances which could be harmful to their health? The Health & Safety Executive have strict COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) regulations meaning each substance which has a risk of being harmful must be assessed carefully in order to avoid illness or injury. Our top tips for COSHH compliance are:

• Avoid using a hazardous substance if you think there is a non hazardous replacement
• If exposure cannot be prevented, you’ll need to use careful control measures like PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), exhaust ventilation and hygiene procedures
• Risk Assess – COSHH assessments are required by law.

Lack of Communication

It’s no good putting Health & Safety measures in place and not communicating them to your employees. You need to inform, communicate and educate! Have you got the right signage? Do you have training procedures for your staff? Do you provide staff handbooks?

Why not take a look at our FAQs on Health & Safety, to see if your business is suffering similar issues our clients were facing.