HEALTH SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

In order to protect your employees, your supply chain and the general public it is vital to ensure that potential risks associated with your business activities are identified, assessed and controlled.  A suitable management system can help you to manage these risks and health and safety in general.   Failure to have a suitable management system in place could result in the occurrence of accidents or incidents which in turn could have serious consequences for your organisation.  These consequences could include financial penalties, damage to your company’s reputation and even prosecution of Directors.

LEGISLATION

Health and safety legislation can seem vast and complicated, particularly as some of the legislation which applies to your organisation will depend upon the industry which you work in.

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in Great Britain.  This Act sets out the general duties which employers have towards employees and members of the public, and employees have to themselves and to each other.

All employers must also comply with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.  These Regulations require you to have, as a minimum, the following in place:

• A written health and safety policy (where you employ more than five people)
• A suitable and sufficient assessment of risks (these should be recorded in writing if you employ more than five people)
• Arrangements for preventive and protective measures which control the risks identified, in accordance with the hierarchy of control
• Access to competent health and safety advice
• Provision of information, instruction and training to employees with regards to risks in the workplace and the control mechanisms which are in place
• Adequate and appropriate supervision in place
• Methods to consult with employees about health and safety in the workplace