Health and safety starts with understanding how people could be harmed by your business activities and taking sensible steps to control those risks. Employers are responsible for protecting employees and others affected by their work, so far as reasonably practicable.
Assess the risks and act on them
Look at the work people actually do, the equipment they use and the environment around them. Decide who could be affected and what precautions are needed. Put those precautions into practice and review them when working arrangements change.
The assessment should suit the activity. A straightforward office and a workplace handling dangerous substances need different levels of detail.
Make responsibilities clear
Arrange competent help with health and safety, and make sure staff know how to raise concerns. Consult employees or their representatives about changes affecting safety, new equipment, training and the arrangements for managing risks.
Keep the records and written policy required for your circumstances. The HSE’s guidance for small businesses explains the requirements and provides a practical starting point.
Cover the everyday essentials
Your arrangements should address the risks relevant to your workplace, including:
- Safe premises, equipment and systems of work.
- Suitable information, instruction, training and supervision.
- Safe handling, storage and use of materials.
- Welfare facilities, first aid and emergency procedures.
- Manual handling and exposure to harmful substances.
- Electrical, fire, noise and other hazards.
- Protective equipment where other controls do not adequately manage the risk.
Maintain equipment and check that agreed procedures are followed. Where businesses share premises, co-operate on risks that affect each other.
Keep safety under review
New tasks, machinery or ways of working can introduce different risks. Review the arrangements with the people doing the work, and check whether health surveillance or reporting of incidents is required.
A checklist cannot cover every workplace. Use the HSE guidance and competent specialist advice to establish what applies to yours.