An introduction to health and safety - Health and safety in small businesses
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An introduction
to health and safety
Health and safety in small businesses
ADVISING SMALL BUSINESSES
What you should know about – where to get more information
It’s your business
but we can help you look after it!
Competitive small businesses, (less than 50 employees), are vital to
the Northern Ireland economy. Current statistics suggest that 98%
of all businesses in Northern Ireland employ fewer than 50
people and 89% employ fewer than 10 people. One of the
main risks to the success of the small business is failing to
manage health and safety in the workplace.
The fatal accident rate in businesses with fewer than 50 workers is
around twice that of larger companies and it is estimated that work-related
injuries, ill-health and non-injury accidents cost the Northern Ireland
economy £250 million per year.
Implementing health and safety measures doesn’t have to be
expensive, time consuming or complicated, in fact, safer and more
efficient working practices can often save money but, more
importantly, they can help to save lives.
This booklet shows you the kind of things which cause the
more common accidents and harm to people’s health. It lets you
see what applies to your work activities, and tells you how you can get
more help and information.
This is especially important if you are in charge of work activities,
for example you are an employer, because you have legal
responsibilities.
introduction | 1
Ten questions and
answers for everyone
What is health and What do inspectors certificate. See the free
safety all about? actually do? leaflet, Employer’s Liability
(Defective Equipment and
Preventing people from They visit workplaces to Compulsory Insurance)
being harmed by work or check that people are (Northern Ireland) Order
becoming ill by taking the sticking to the rules. They 1972 - A guide for
right precautions - and investigate some accidents employers, available from
providing a satisfactory and complaints but mainly HSENI, Ladas Drive, Belfast.
working environment. they help you to understand
what you need to do. They Do I need to display
Why are there health enforce only when any posters?
and safety laws? something is seriously
wrong. Yes, if you employ anyone
Because health and safety you need to display the
at work is so important, Do I have to contact “Health and Safety Law in
there are rules which an inspector to get Northern Ireland” poster.
require all of us not to put Alternatively you can
information? provide your employees
ourselves or others in
danger. The law is also with individual copies of the
No. HSENI operates a same information in a
there to protect the public confidential advisory
from workplace dangers. leaflet called Health and
service for small Safety Law: What you need
businesses called Health to know. These are
Do health and safety and Safety Works Northern available to buy from HSE
laws apply to me? Ireland (HSWNI). You can Books. See page 3 for
contact HSWNI by: more details.
Yes. To all businesses, how- telephone 0300 020 0030
ever small; also to the self- (local rate),
employed and to fax 028 9034 7490, Do I have to report
employees. textphone 028 9054 6896, injuries at work?
email hswni@detini.gov.uk
Who enforces health or go online at Yes, and other incidents.
and safety law? www.healthandsafetywor For information on which
ksni.gov.uk ones and who should
Inspectors from the Health Alternatively you can write to report them, see page 20.
and Safety Executive for HSWNI,
Northern Ireland (HSENI) or Longbridge House, Do I need to register
your local district council. 16-24 Waring Street, my business?
For example: Belfast BT1 2DX.
G HSENI at factories, farms The need to register your
and building sites; Do I need to have business is currently being
G local district council in employers’ liability revised. For more
offices, shops, hotels compulsory information please see the
and catering, and leisure HSWNI website,
insurance? www.healthandsafetywor
activities.
ksni.gov.uk
It’s the law if you employ
anyone – and you must
display a valid copy of your
It’s your business – so look after it!
2 | introduction
How to use this booklet–
how each section works
List of topics No matter where you work, this booklet
summarises the key common areas of risk
Managing health and safety
at work and tells you how you can find out
Slips, trips and falls more to ensure that work is made safe.
Asbestos On each page, you will see the sections
Hazardous substances
headed like this:
he main text gives you How and where you
Falls from a height
T a brief introduction to
the subject.
can get more help
Musculoskeletal disorders This section is a selection of
publications which will give
Does this concern me?
Display screen equipment you more detailed information
This section gives you some and guidance on the subject,
Noise pointers to whether the and how to order them.*
subject is relevant to your
At the bottom of each page
Vibration business.
you will find HSWNI’s Internet
address, and also HSWNI’s
Electricity What law applies? telephone and textphone
This section gives you the numbers and e-mail address
Work equipment and
main rules which apply in which you can contact us at if
machinery
addition to the general duties you need more information.
in the Health and Safety at
Maintenance and building At the back of the book
Work (NI) Order, 1978.
work is a section on health and
safety policy statements and
Workplace transport a section on risk assessments.
Pressure systems
The words ‘hazard’ and ‘risk’ are used throughout
Fire and explosion
this booklet. Hazard means anything that can
Radiation cause harm (eg chemicals, electricity, working
Stress
from ladders, etc). Risk is the chance, high or
low, that someone will be harmed by the hazard.
First aid and accident
reporting * HSE Books will accept orders for single copies of up to 25 assorted
free publications. You should allow 10 working days for delivery.
managing health and safety | 3
Have you got health and
safety under control?
anaging health and
M safety is little different
from managing any other
your workplace by defining
who does what; and when
and how they do it. On
aspect of your business. You pages 21-31 of this booklet
need to do a risk assessment is an example of a health
to find out about the risks in and safety policy statement
your workplace, put sensible that you can fill in and keep
measures in place to control at your workplace.
Does this them, and make sure they
stay controlled.
Remember, keep it simple
and actually put it into
concern me? practice.
A risk assessment is nothing
Did you know all employers more than a careful
and self-employed people examination of what, in your What law applies?
have to assess risks at work? work, could cause harm to
people. Risk assessment I Management of Health and
Did you know employers should be a practical Safety at Work Regulations
with five or more employees exercise, aimed at getting (Northern Ireland) 2000 (as
should have a written health the right controls in place – amended)
and safety policy? keep it simple and put the
results into practice. Pages I Health and Safety
32-33 of this booklet gives (Consultation with Employees)
Did you know employers you step-by-step guidance Regulations (Northern Ireland)
with five or more employees on how to assess health 1996
have to record the significant and safety risks with a
findings of their risk minimum of fuss. I Safety Representatives
assessment? Your health and safety policy and Safety Committees
clearly sets out how you Regulations (Northern Ireland)
Did you know employers manage health and safety in 1979
have a duty to involve their
employees or their employees’ How and where you can get more help
safety representatives on
health and safety matters? Risk Assessment Simplified Health and Safety Law in
FREE from HSWNI Northern Ireland poster
Did you know employers Standard £7.50
have to provide free health Protect your profit: health and ISBN 978 0 7176 6354 5
and safety training or safety pays Semi-rigid £12.01
protective equipment for FREE from HSWNI ISBN 978 0 7176 6355 2
employees where it is Pocket card £5.00
needed? Consulting employees on (available in packs of 25)
health and safety: A guide to ISBN 978 0 7176 6356 9
the law INDG232(rev1) All available from HSE Books
FREE (available in packs of 15
ISBN 978 0 7176 1615 2 £3.50) Also see “Health and safety
from HSE Books policy statement” and “Your
risk assessment” sections at
the back of this booklet.
Website | www.healthandsafetyworksni.gov.uk
4 | slips, trips and falls
What are the chances
of slipping or tripping
at work?
he most common cause injuries is over £500 million
T of injuries at work is the
slip or trip. Resulting falls can
a year, and insurance only
covers a small part of this.
be serious. They happen in Effective solutions are often
all kinds of businesses, but simple, cheap and lead to
sectors such as food and other benefits.
catering report higher than
Does this average numbers. It’s a
What law applies?
concern me? particularly important subject
if members of the public use I Workplace (Health, Safety and
Do you have floors which your premises. The estimated
Welfare) Regulations
are, or can become, slippery, cost to employers of all these
(Northern Ireland) 1993
eg when wet?
Does spillage or
contamination occur and
is it dealt with quickly?
Do people use unlit areas
such as paths or yards in
the dark?
Might temporary work such
as maintenance or alterations
take place? It could introduce
slipping and tripping hazards
such as trailing cables.
How and where you can get more help
Do you use floor cleaning Preventing slips and trips at Slips and trips: Guidance for
materials anywhere? Are the work INDG225(rev1) the food processing industry
right methods and materials FREE (available in packs of 15 HSG156
being used? ISBN 978 0 7176 2760 8 £3.50) ISBN 978 0 7176 0832 4 £9.75
from HSE Books from HSE Books
Workplace health, safety and Slips and trips: Guidance for
welfare INDG244(rev2) employers on identifying
FREE (available in packs of 15 hazards and controlling risks
ISBN 978 0 7176 6277 7 £3.50) HSG155
from HSE Books ISBN 978 0 7176 1145 4 £7.50
from HSE Books
HSWNI Phone | 0300 020 0030 E-mail | hswni@detini.gov.uk Textphone | 028 9054 6896
asbestos | 5
Do you work with,
or come into contact
with, asbestos?
sbestos is the largest Asbestos can be found in
A single cause of work-
related fatal disease and ill
buildings built from 1950 to
1985 in many forms. It may
health in Great Britain. Almost also be found in some vehicle
all asbestos-related deaths brake pads and clutch linings.
and ill health are from More details about managing
exposures several decades asbestos can be found at:
Does this ago, but if you work with www.hseni.gov.uk/dutytomanage
concern me? asbestos, or come into
contact with it during repair
Do you know whether there and maintenance work, you What law applies?
is asbestos in your premises? are at risk. You should avoid
It is often found in roofs working with asbestos if I The Control of Asbestos
and exterior walls, boilers, possible, but if not you must Regulations (Northern Ireland)
vessels and pipework, do it safely. 2007 (as amended)
ceilings, interior walls and
panels, flooring materials, air How and where you can get more help
handling systems, domestic
appliances, brake/clutch For guidance on matters FREE (available in priced packs of 10
relating to working with ISBN 978 0 7176 6375 0)
linings, fire blankets, etc. from HSE Books
asbestos contact HSENI’s
Asbestos Advisory Service Work with materials containing
Does your work involve asbestos L143
Phone: 0800 0320 121
maintenance and repair or e-mail: ISBN 978 0 7176 6206 7 £13.50
of premises? You might asbestos@detini.gov.uk from HSE Books
disturb asbestos while Asbestos essentials: A task
doing routine work. • Asbestos, the facts
• Asbestos toolkit manual for the building,
• Asbestos- Duty to manage maintenance and allied trades on
Do you know what the • Are you responsible for a non-licensed asbestos work
hidden killer? HSG210
rules are about removing
ISBN 978 0 7176 6263 0 £12.95
asbestos? In most cases, • Protect yourself against the
from HSE Books
you will need to use a hidden killer-working safely
if asbestos is present A comprehensive guide to
contractor licensed by HSENI managing asbestos in premises
FREE and available from HSWNI
to work with asbestos. HSG227
The management of asbestos ISBN 978 0 7176 2381 5 £12.50
in non-domestic premises: from HSE Books
Would you know how to find Regulation 4 of the Control of
someone licensed to do this Asbestos Regulations 2006 Introduction to asbestos essentials:
work? L127 Comprehensive guidance on
ISBN 978 0 7176 6209 8 £9.50 working with asbestos in the
from HSE Books building maintenance and allied
Do you know whether there
is asbestos in any of the A short guide to managing trades HSG213
materials you work with? asbestos in premises INDG ISBN 978 0 7176 1901 6 £12.50
223(rev4) from HSE Books
Website | www.healthandsafetyworksni.gov.uk
6 | hazardous substances
Do you work with
hazardous substances?
housands of people are ‘safe handling and use of
T exposed to all kinds of
hazardous substances at work.
substances’ section of the
Health and Safety Policy on
These can include chemicals page 26.
that people make or work with
directly, and also dust, fume What law applies?
and bacteria which can be
Does this present in the workplace. I Control of Substances
concern me? Exposure can happen by Hazardous to Health
breathing them in, contact with Regulations (Northern
Do you use chemicals at the skin, splashing them into Ireland) 2003 (as amended)
work (including cleaning the eyes or swallowing them. If I The Chemicals (Hazard
materials)? exposure is not prevented or
Information and Packaging
properly controlled, it can cause
for Supply) Regulations
Do you know suppliers of serious illness, including
(Northern Ireland) 2009
hazardous substances have cancer, asthma and dermatitis,
to provide information to and sometimes even death. I Control of Lead at Work
users, including safety data See also section on ‘Fire and Regulations (Northern
sheets and proper labelling? explosion’ on page 17 and the Ireland) 2003
Is there dust and fume
present in your workplace?
How and where you can get more help
HSWNI can help identify publications relevant to you.
Do you have any water
systems which could be COSHH (NI). A brief guide to asthma. Leaflet INDG95
colonised by legionella? the Regulations HSENI 02 08 (rev2)
FREE from HSENI FREE (available in packs of 15
Do you work with animals or ISBN 978 0 7176 0914 7 £3.50)
their products? These may COSHH essentials: Easy from HSE Books
steps to control chemicals.
cause skin or respiratory
FREE internet version available Health risk management – a
sensitisation or be infected
at: www.coshh-essentials.org.uk practical guide for managers
with bacteria or viruses.
in small and medium sized
Preventing contact dermatitis
enterprises HSG137
at work INDG233 (rev 1)
ISBN 978 0 7176 0905 5 £6.50
FREE (available in packs of 15
from HSE Books
ISBN 978 0 7176 6183 1 £3.50)
from HSE Books
Respiratory sensitisers and
COSHH: Breathe freely –
An employers’ leaflet on
preventing occupational
HSWNI Phone | 0300 020 0030 E-mail | hswni@detini.gov.uk Textphone | 028 9054 6896
falls from a height | 7
Do you perform work
at height and if so is it
done safely?
alls from height at work
F account for around 60
deaths and just under 4000
major injuries each year. One
of the main causes is falls
from ladders. To help prevent
falls from height, make sure
Does this you consider the risks to all
concern me? your workers, the work is
planned, organised and
Do you carry out simple carried out by competent
maintenance or cleaning people and you follow the
tasks that require working hierarchy for managing risks.
where you could hurt Make sure workers are
yourself if you fell? properly trained and
supervised, have the right
Can you avoid the need to equipment and know how to
work at height? For example, use it safely.
could the work be done
using long-handled tools or What law applies?
by bringing it down to
ground level? I The Work at Height
Regulations (Northern
Do you have the most Ireland) 2005 (as amended)
appropriate equipment for
I Provision and Use of Work
the job? It may often be safer
Equipment Regulations
to use a tower scaffold or
(Northern Ireland) 1999
mobile elevating work
platform than a ladder.
How and where you can get more help
Is the equipment you have
The Work at Height Top tips for ladder and
well maintained and do your Regulations 2005 (as stepladder safety INDG 405
employees know how to use amended): A brief guide FREE (available in priced packs of 25
it safely? INDG401 (rev 1) ISBN 0 7176 6127 X)
FREE (available in packs of 10 from HSE Books
ISBN 978 0 7176 6231 9 £3.50)
from HSE Books A toolbox talk on leaning
ladder and stepladder safety
Safe use of ladders and INDG 403
stepladders: An employers’ FREE (available in priced packs of 5
guide INDG402 ISBN 0 7176 6106 7)
FREE (available in packs of 5 from HSE Books
ISBN 978 0 7176 6105 3 £3.50)
from HSE Books
Website | www.healthandsafetyworksni.gov.uk
8 | musculoskeletal disorders
Do you suffer
from sprains, strains
and pains?
anual handling is pains, which may initially be
M transporting or
supporting loads by hand
temporary, but if such work
is not properly managed, and
or using bodily force. Many the early symptoms are not
people hurt their back, arms, recognised and treated, can
hands or feet lifting everyday progress to a chronic and
loads, not just when the load disabling disorder. Cumulative
Does this is too heavy. 22% of all injuries damage can build up over time
concern me? reported to HSENI in 2008/09 causing pain and discomfort in
were the result of manual people’s backs, arms, hands
Does your work include handling. These can result in and legs. Most cases can be
strenuous lifting, carrying, those injured taking an avoided by providing suitable
pushing, pulling, reaching average of 11 working days lifting equipment that is regularly
or repetitive handling? off each year. maintained, together with
relevant training on both manual
‘Upper limbs’ refers to the
Do you have repetitive finger, handling and using the equip-
neck, shoulders, arms, wrists,
hand or arm movements ment safely (see page 13 ‘Work
hands and fingers. Upper
which are frequent, forceful equipment and machinery’).
limb disorders (sometimes
or awkward?
called repetitive strain injury
(RSI)) can happen in almost
What law applies?
Does your work involve
any workplace where people
twisting, squeezing, I Manual Handling Operations
do repetitive, or forceful
hammering or pounding? Regulations (Northern Ireland)
manual activities in awkward
1992
postures, for prolonged
periods of time. These can I Management of Health and
cause muscular aches and Safety at Work Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2000
(as amended)
How and where you can get more help
Aching arms (or RSI) in small Upper limb disorders in the
businesses INDG171(rev1) workplace HSG60
FREE (available in packs of 15 ISBN 978 0 7176 1978 8 £9.50
ISBN 978 0 7176 2600 7 £3.50) from HSE Books
from HSE Books
Getting to grips with manual
Manual handling assessment handling: A short guide
charts INDG383 INDG143(rev2)
FREE (available in packs of 10 FREE (available in packs of 10
ISBN 978 0 7176 2741 7 £3.50) ISBN 978 0 7176 2828 5 £3.50)
from HSE Books from HSE Books
HSWNI Phone | 0300 020 0030 E-mail | hswni@detini.gov.uk Textphone | 028 9054 6896display screen equipment | 9
Do you use computers
or other display screen
equipment?
sing a computer or other from display screen work.
U kinds of display screen
equipment (visual display
Work with a screen does
not cause eye damage,
units) can give rise to back but many users experience
problems, repetitive strain temporary eye strain or
injury, or other musculo- stress. This can lead to
skeletal disorders. These reduced work efficiency or
Does this health problems may taking time off work.
concern me? become serious if no action
is taken. They can be caused What law applies?
Is there regular use of by poor design of work-
display screens as a stations (and associated I Health and Safety (Display
significant part of the work? equipment such as chairs), Screen Equipment)
insufficient space, lack of Regulations (Northern
Does anyone use a training or not taking breaks Ireland) 1992
keyboard, mouse or other
input device?
Are people complaining of
discomfort, aches and pains?
How and where you can get more help
The law on VDUs. An easy Working with VDUs
guide: Making sure your INDG36(rev3)
office complies with the FREE (available in packs of 10
Health and Safety (Display ISBN 978 0 7176 6222 7 £3.50)
Screen Equipment) from HSE Books
Regulations 1992 (as
amended in 2002) HSG90
ISBN 978 0 7176 2602 1 £8.50
from HSE Books
Website | www.healthandsafetyworksni.gov.uk10 | noise
Is your workplace
noisy?
igh levels of noise at group, or when the rest of
H work can cause hearing
damage. A little damage
their family complains they
have the television on too
happens every time it is loud. Deafness can make
noisy, gradually adding up to people feel isolated from their
serious harm. Young people family, friends and colleagues.
can be damaged as easily as
Does this the old. Sufferers often first
What law applies?
concern me? start to notice hearing loss
when they cannot keep up I The Control of Noise at
Are there times when the with conversations in a
Work Regulations (Northern
workplace is so noisy that
Ireland) 2006
people have to shout to each
other at normal speaking
distance to make themselves
heard? If so, there is likely to
be a danger to hearing.
Are noisy powered tools or
machinery in use for at least
part of the day?
Are there noisy bangs from
hammering, explosive or
impact tools, or guns?
Are there areas where noise
could interfere with warning How and where you can get more help
and danger signals?
Controlling noise at work. Sound advice. Control of
The Control of Noise at Work noise at work in music and
Regulations 2005 L108 entertainment HSG260
ISBN 978 0 7176 6164 0 £13.95 ISBN 978 0 7176 6307 1 £14.50
from HSE Books from HSE Books
Noise at work: Guidance for Protect your hearing or lose it!
employers on the Control of Pocket card INDG363(rev 1)
Noise at Work Regulations FREE (available in packs of 25
2005 INDG362 (rev1) ISBN 978 0 7176 6166 4 £3.50)
FREE (available in packs of 10 from HSE Books
ISBN 978 0 7176 6165 7 £3.50)
from HSE Books Noise toolbox talk pack
ISBN 978 0 7176 2998 5 £10.00
from HSE Books
HSWNI Phone | 0300 020 0030 E-mail | hswni@detini.gov.uk Textphone | 028 9054 6896vibration | 11
Are you exposed
to vibration?
ibration from work with passing through the seat into
V powered hand-held tools,
equipment or processes can
the driver’s body through the
buttocks – known as whole-
damage the hands and arms body vibration. Whole-body
of users causing ‘hand-arm vibration can also be
vibration syndrome’. This is a caused by standing on the
painful, irreversible condition platform of a vehicle or
Does this which includes ‘vibration machine, so vibration
concern me? white finger’ and the effects passes into the operator
can be impaired blood through their feet.
Does anyone work with circulation, damage to the
hand-held and hand-guided nerves and muscles, and
tools and machines such as loss of ability to grip properly.
What law applies?
concrete breakers and Back pain can be caused by
I The Control of Vibration at
vibrating compactor plates or aggravated by vibration
Work Regulations (Northern
and workpieces such as from a vehicle or machine
Ireland) 2005
castings which are held
against powered machinery
such as pedestal grinders?
How and where you can get more help
Hand-arm vibration. The Whole-body vibration. The
Does anyone doing this work Control of Vibration at Work Control of Vibration at Work
get tingling or numbness in Regulations 2005. Guidance Regulations 2005. Guidance
the fingers or hands? on Regulations L140 on Regulations L141
ISBN 978 0 7176 6125 1 £13.95 ISBN 978 0 7176 6126 8 £10.95
Does anyone often drive from HSE Books from HSE Books
off-road machinery such as
Control the risks from hand- Control back-pain risks from
tractors, dumper trucks or
arm vibration: Advice for whole-body vibration: Advice
excavators or unsuspended employers on the Control of for employers on the Control
vehicles such as fork-lift Vibration at Work Regulations of Vibration at Work
trucks? 2005 INDG175(rev2) Regulations 2005
FREE (available in packs of 10 INDG242(rev1)
ISBN 978 0 7176 6117 6 £3.50) FREE (available in packs of 10
from HSE Books ISBN 978 0 7176 6119 0 £3.50)
from HSE Books
Hand-arm vibration: Advice for
employees Pocket card Drive away bad backs: Advice
INDG296(rev1) for mobile machine operators
FREE (available in packs of 25 and drivers Pocket card
ISBN 978 0 7176 6118 3 £3.50) INDG404
from HSE Books FREE (available in packs of 25
ISBN 978 0 7176 6120 6 £3.50)
from HSE Books
Website | www.healthandsafetyworksni.gov.uk12 | electricity
How safe is electricity
in your workplace?
lectricity can kill. Most the only ones at risk. Poor
E deaths are caused by
contact with overhead or
electrical installations and faulty
electrical appliances can lead
underground power cables. to fires which can also result
Even non-fatal shocks can in death or injury to others.
cause severe and permanent
injury. Shocks from faulty What law applies?
Does this equipment may lead to falls
concern me? from ladders, scaffolds or I Electricity at Work
other work platforms. Those Regulations (Northern
Does anyone do electrical using electricity may not be Ireland) 1991
work in your business?
Only those with appropriate
technical knowledge and
experience should be
allowed to do this.
Is your electrical equipment
in good working order?
Do you choose equipment
that is suitable for its working
environment, eg waterproof
or dustproof?
Do you dig in the street,
pavement or near buildings?
Knowing the proper
precautions for avoiding
underground cables is
How and where you can get more help
essential. Avoidance of danger from ISBN 978 0 7176 2164 4 £7.95
overhead electric power lines from HSE Books
Do you work near or under GS6 Avoiding danger from under-
overhead powerlines? There ISBN 978 0 7176 1348 9 £5.00
ground services HSG47
are essential safety from HSE Books
ISBN 978 0 7176 1744 9 £7.50
precautions to follow. from HSE Books
Memorandum of guidance on
the Electricity at work
Regulations 1989 HSR25 Electrical safety and you
ISBN 978 0 7176 6228 9 £11.95
INDG231
FREE (available in packs of 15
from HSE Books
ISBN 978 0 7176 1207 9 £3.50)
Electricity at work. Safe from HSE Books
working practices HSG85
HSWNI
HSWNIPhone
| 0300
| 0300
020 0030 e-mailE-mail
020 0030 | hswni@detini.gov.uk HSWNI
| hswni@detini.gov.uk Textphone
Web | www.hswni.gov.uk
| 028 9054 6896work
Display
equipment
screen
andequipment
machinery || 13
Do you know how to
select and use your
work equipment?
ork equipment covers an happen all the time – many
W enormous range
spanning process machinery,
serious, some fatal. See ‘safe
plant and equipment’ section
machine tools, office of the Health and Safety Policy
machines, lifting equipment, on page 25 of this booklet.
hand tools, ladders and
pressure washers. Important
Does this points include: selecting the What law applies?
concern me? right equipment for the job,
making sure equipment is safe I Provision and Use of Work
Do you use ladders or other to use and keeping it safe Equipment Regulations
equipment for working at through regular maintenance, (Northern Ireland) 1999
heights? For example, it may inspection and, if appropriate, I Lifting Operations and Lifting
often be safer to use an thorough examination, training
Equipment Regulations
access tower or mobile employees to use equipment
(Northern Ireland) 1999
elevating work platform than safely and following
a ladder. manufacturers’ or suppliers’ I The Supply of Machinery
instructions. Accidents (Safety) Regulations 2008
Do you have machinery of involving work equipment
any kind? You need to guard
the parts that could cause
injury; have the right controls,
How and where you can get more help
especially for starting and Simple guide to the Provision Buying new machinery
stopping; clean, or clear and Use of Work Equipment INDG271
blockages in a safe way; and Regulations INDG291 FREE (available in packs of 15
carry out preventive checks, FREE (available in packs of 15 ISBN 978 0 7176 1559 9 £3.50)
maintenance and inspection. ISBN 978 0 7176 2429 4 £3.50) from HSE Books
from HSE Books
Are hand tools used in your Using work equipment safely
Thorough examination of
workplace, eg screwdrivers, INDG229(rev1)
lifting equipment INDG422
knives, hand saws, meat FREE (available in packs of 10
FREE (available in packs of 15
cleavers, hammers? ISBN 978 0 7176 2389 1 £3.50)
ISBN 978 0 7176 6305 7 £3.50)
from HSE Books
from HSE Books
Do you have lifting
Safe use of ladders and
equipment such as pulley Safe use of work equipment. stepladders: An employers’
blocks, cranes, and lift Provision and Use of Work guide INDG402
trucks? Most lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 FREE (available in packs of 5
equipment will require L22 ISBN 978 0 7176 6105 3 £3.50)
regular thorough examination ISBN 978 0 7176 6295 1 £11.95 from HSE Books
by a competent person. from HSE Books
Website| |0300
HSWNI e-mail | hswni@detini.gov.uk
www.healthandsafetyworksni.gov.uk
020 0030 HSWNI Web | www.hswni.gov.uk14 | maintenance and building work
What maintenance
and building work
takes place?
What law applies?
t’s easy to overlook these
I activities because they
happen now and again, I The Construction (Design and
and it’s often a contractor Management) Regulations
or service agency doing (Northern Ireland) 2007
the work. Sometimes people I Lifting Operations and Lifting
are in places where no one Equipment Regulations (Northern
Does this normally goes, eg the roof or Ireland) 1999
concern me? electrical switchboard. They
I Provision and Use of Work
may be fault finding, trying
Equipment Regulations (Northern
Did you know that if you are to repair something quickly – Ireland) 1999
the person responsible for often outside the routine.
your business, you are also Not surprisingly there are I Confined Spaces Regulations
responsible for contractors, many accidents. Falls from (Northern Ireland) 1999
service engineers, etc who heights, eg ladders, are the
do work for you? most common cause of
I The Work at Height Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2005
serious injury.
(as amended)
Does anyone ever have to
work on the roof, at a height
or on fragile materials?
How and where you can get more help
Managing health & safety in Managing contractors: A
Does anyone have to fault
construction: Construction guide for employers HSG159
find and repair machinery
(Design and Management) ISBN 978 0 7176 1196 6 £8.50
or equipment when it
Regulations 2007 L144 from HSE Books
breaks down?
ISBN 978 0 7176 6223 4 £15.00
from HSE Books Health and safety in
Is there a tank, pit, silo or
construction HSG150
similar confined space into The absolutely essential
ISBN 978 0 7176 6317 0 £10.95
which someone might go – health and safety toolkit for the
from HSE Books
and would you know if they smaller construction contractor
did? HSENI 02 09
The Work at Height
FREE from HSENI
Regulations 2005 (as
Have you found out whether amended): A brief guide
Health and safety in roof work
there is any asbestos* in INDG401 (rev1)
HSG33
your buildings or plant which FREE (available in packs of 10
ISBN 978 0 7176 6250 0 £12.95
could be disturbed during ISBN 978 0 7176 6231 9 £3.50)
from HSE Books
maintenance or alterations? from HSE Books
*
Also see page 5 on ‘Asbestos’
HSWNI Phone | 0300 020 0030 E-mail | hswni@detini.gov.uk Textphone | 028 9054 6896workplace transport | 15
What are the risks
from transport
in your workplace?
very year about 70 people vehicles over-turning are the
E are killed and about 2500
seriously injured in accidents
most common causes.
Vehicles operating in the
involving vehicles at the workplace include cars and
workplace. Being struck or vans, lift trucks, heavy goods
run over by moving vehicles, vehicles, dumpers, specialised
falling from vehicles, or vehicles or plant. Often there
Does this is significantly more danger
concern me? from vehicles in the workplace
than on the public highway
Do you have vehicles in since the operating
operation at your workplace? conditions are different.
If so, what kinds of vehicles
are they?
What law applies?
Are pedestrians separated
from vehicle movements as I Workplace (Health, Safety
much as possible? and Welfare) Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 1993
Are traffic routes suitable for
I Provision and Use of Work
the vehicles which have to
Equipment Regulations
use them? Are they clearly
(Northern Ireland) 1999
marked?
I Lifting Operations and
Do you know who is allowed Lifting Equipment
to drive or operate the Regulations (Northern
vehicles? They should be Ireland) 1999
trained and competent.
Are loading and unloading How and where you can get more help
operations carried out safely?
Workplace transport safety: Safety in working with lift
Do you actively control An employers’ guide trucks HSG6
driving behaviour? HSG136 ISBN 978 0 7176 1781 4 £6.50
ISBN 978 0 7176 6154 1 £11.50 from HSE Books
Are all vehicles properly from HSE Books
maintained? Is your lift truck being used
Workplace transport safety: safely? HSENI 02 04
An overview INDG199(rev1) FREE from HSENI
FREE (available in packs of 5
ISBN 978 0 7176 2821 6 £3.50)
from HSE Books
Website | www.healthandsafetyworksni.gov.uk16 | pressure systems
Do you know
the risks associated
with pressure systems?
ressure cookers, boilers, people, and serious damage
P steam heating systems,
gas cylinders and air
to property, if the contents are
released unintentionally. There
compressors are common are about 150 incidents of this
examples of equipment and kind every year. They mainly
systems containing a fluid happen when equipment fails
under pressure. They can through poor design, incorrect
Does this cause death or injury to filling or maintenance or
concern me? when the method of work is
unsafe, or someone makes
Do you have any pressure an operating mistake.
systems or equipment in
your business that contain What law applies?
a fluid under pressure?
I Pressure Systems
Do you know that most Safety Regulations
pressure systems have to (Northern Ireland) 2004
be designed, installed,
I The Carriage of Dangerous
maintained and periodically
Goods and Use of
examined so as to prevent
Transportable Pressure
danger?
Equipment Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2010
Are you aware that as an
employer or self-employed
person, it’s your job to
choose a competent person
to carry out examinations of
the pressure systems?
How and where you can get more help
Pressure systems safety and ISBN 978 0 7176 1767 8 £7.50
you INDG261(rev1) from HSE Books
FREE (available in packs of 15
Written schemes of
ISBN 978 0 7176 1562 9 £3.50)
examination INDG178(rev1)
from HSE Books
FREE (available in packs of 15
Safety of pressure systems, ISBN 978 0 7176 2269 6 £3.50)
Pressure Systems Safety from HSE Books
Regulations 2000. Approved
Code of Practice L122
HSWNI Phone | 0300 020 0030 E-mail | hswni@detini.gov.uk Textphone | 028 9054 6896fire and explosion | 17
Do you know
how to prevent fire
or explosion?
ach year many people start, fuel, air and a source of
E suffer burns caused by
the flammable materials they
ignition are needed. Controlling
these can prevent fires.
work with. The wide variety of
flammable substances found If you would like information
in the workplace ranges from on fire exits, alarms, or
the obvious, eg heating fuel, extinguishers, contact the
petrol, paint thinners and Northern Ireland Fire &
Does this welding gases to the less Rescue Service (NIFRS) at
concern me? obvious, eg packaging www.nifrs.org
materials, dusts from wood,
Do you keep or use flour and sugar. For a fire to What law applies?
flammable substances?
I Dangerous Substances
Do you use or store gas in and Explosive Atmospheres
cylinders (eg propane)? A Regulations (Northern
small amount of released gas Ireland) 2003
can fill a large area with a
I Fire and Rescue Services
potentially explosive mixture.
(Northern Ireland) Order 2006
Do you work with flammable I Fire Safety Regulations
dusts? They can explode. (Northern Ireland) 2010
Do you work with plastic How and where you can get more help
foams or polyester wadding?
Managing fire safety in the Safe working with flammable
Some types will ignite easily, workplace substances INDG227
burn fiercely and give off FREE from HSWNI FREE (available in packs of 15
dense black smoke. ISBN 978 0 7176 1154 6 £3.50)
Safe use of petrol in garages from HSE Books
Do you spray flammable INDG331
paints? Vapours are heavier FREE (available in packs of 10 Dispensing petrol: Assessing
than air and collect at low ISBN 978 0 7176 1836 1 £3.50) and controlling the risk of fire
level. from HSE Books and explosion at sites where
petrol is stored and
Fire and explosion. How safe is dispensed as a fuel HSG146
Do you know the dangers of your workplace? A short guide ISBN 978 0 7176 1048 8 £7.50
putting flammable liquids on to the Dangerous Substances from HSE Books
fires to make them burn and Explosive Atmospheres
more intensely? Regulations INDG370 Safe use and handling of
FREE (available in packs of 5 flammable liquids HSG140
Do you use oxygen, eg in ISBN 978 0 7176 2589 5 £3.50) ISBN 978 0 7176 0967 3 £8.50
cylinders, for welding? from HSE Books from HSE Books
Website | www.healthandsafetyworksni.gov.uk18 | radiation
Do you know
where harmful
radiation occurs?
arious kinds of radiation, G medical equipment,
V both ionising and non-
ionising, may affect us.
eg X-ray sets.
Excess doses of ionising
Non-ionising radiation: radiation can cause burns,
G UV radiation (eg from the sickness and can have other
sun) can damage the skin adverse health effects.
and lead to skin cancer;
Does this G lasers can cause burns
concern me? and damage the eye.
What law applies?
Do people in your business Ionising radiation: I Ionising Radiations Regulations
spend a lot of time working G naturally occurring radon (Northern Ireland) 2000
outdoors? gas from the ground; I Management of Health and
G radiography or thickness
Safety at Work Regulations
Do you have equipment measuring gauges;
(Northern Ireland) 2000 (as
which gives off ultra-violet
amended)
radiation eg for curing
plastics or inks?
How and where you can get more help
Do you work with lasers?
Controlling the radiation safety The regulatory requirements
of display laser installations for medical exposure to
Is your business in an area
INDG224 ionising radiation: An
where levels of radon are
FREE from HSE Books employers overview HSG223
higher than average?
ISBN 978 0 7176 2134 7 £6.50
Keep your top on: Health risks
from HSE Books
Are any radioactive sources from working in the sun
used in your business INDG147(rev1) Working safely with ionising
brought in by a specialist FREE (available in packs of 20 radiation: Guidance for
contractor, or do you ISBN 978 0 7176 1578 0 £3.50) expectant and breastfeeding
transport them? from HSE Books mothers INDG334
FREE from HSE Books
Sun protection: Advice for
Is X-ray equipment used?
employers of outdoor workers Work with ionising radiation:
INDG337 Ionising Radiations Regulations
FREE (available in packs of 20 1999. Approved Code of
ISBN 978 0 7176 1982 5 £3.50) Practice and Guidance L121
from HSE Books ISBN 978 0 7176 1746 3 £20.00
from HSE Books
HSWNI Phone | 0300 020 0030 E-mail | hswni@detini.gov.uk Textphone | 028 9054 6896stress | 19
Are you feeling stressed
by your work?
any people argue about lack of control over the way
M the definition and some-
times even the existence of
you do your work, work over-
load (or underload), lack of
‘stress’. However, research support from your managers,
has shown that whatever you conflicting or ambiguous
choose to call it, there is a roles, poor relationships with
clear link between poor work colleagues (including
Does this organisation and subsequent bullying), or poor management
concern me? ill health. HSE has chosen to of organisational change.
use the word stress and define
Do you have a high staff it as ‘the adverse reaction Benefits to tackling stress in
turnover, low productivity people have to excessive your organisation can include
or low morale? Have you pressure or other types of increased productivity and
noticed bullying, changes demand placed on them.’ efficiency, lower staff turnover
in behaviour, staff working and sickness absence, and
late or increased sickness Stress at work can be tackled increased morale.
absence? in the same way as any other
risk to health – by identifying What law applies?
Do your employees seem the hazards, assessing who
happy to come into work? is at risk and the level of risk, I Management of Health and
deciding how to manage the Safety at Work Regulations
Are you aware that there are risk and putting the plans into (Northern Ireland) 2000 (as
individual differences in action. Hazards can include: amended)
vulnerability to stress and
that situations outside work
can also affect the ability
How and where you can get more help
to cope with excessive Managing the causes of Working together to reduce
pressure at work? work-related stress HSG218 stress at work: A guide for
ISBN 978 0 7176 6273 9 £10.95 employees MISC686
from HSE Books FREE (available in packs of 15
ISBN 978 0 7176 6122 0 £3.50)
Tackling stress: The from HSE Books
Management Standards
approach INDG406 Making the Stress Management
FREE (available in packs of 10 Standards work: How to apply
ISBN 978 0 7176 6140 4 £3.50) the Standards in your
from HSE Books workplace MISC714
FREE (available in packs of 15
ISBN 978 0 7176 6157 2 £3.50)
from HSE Books
Website | www.healthandsafetyworksni.gov.uk20 | first aid and accident reporting
What do you do
if there’s an accident
at work?
his booklet has been all Accidents should be reported
T about prevention. But
sometimes things do go
to your enforcing authority
within ten days of the
wrong. If someone has been incident. You should
hurt or fallen ill at work it’s complete an NI2508 form
important to take care of (available from HSENI or can
them straight away, and be downloaded from
make any dangerous www.hseni.gov.uk) or if you
conditions safe. are reporting to HSENI you
Does this can do this online at
concern me? First aid means treating www.hseni.gov.uk. Fatalities
or major injury accidents
minor injuries at work and
giving immediate attention to must be reported immediately
Do you have at least the
more serious casualties until (eg by telephone).
minimum first-aid provision at
your workplace? The medical help is available.
Through this initial See ‘accidents, first aid and
minimum would be a suitably
management of injury or work-related ill health’ section
stocked first-aid box, a illness suffered at work, lives of the Health and Safety
person appointed to take can be saved and minor Policy on page 29 of this
charge of first-aid injuries prevented from booklet.
arrangements and provide becoming major ones.
information to employees What law applies?
about first-aid arrangements. Reporting accidents and ill
health at work is a legal I Health and Safety (First Aid)
requirement. The enforcing Regulations (Northern
Do you know whether you authorities use the Ireland)1982
might need to provide more information to see the big
than the minimum? picture of where injuries, ill I Reporting of Injuries, Diseases
health and accidental losses and Dangerous Occurrences
Do you know which are occurring, and to advise Regulations (Northern Ireland)
accidents and ill health cases on preventive action. 1997
to report, including who
should do it, when and how? How and where you can get more help
Employers, the self-
employed and people in RIDDOR (NI )97 HSENI 01 09 First aid at work – Your Questions
control of work premises all FREE from HSENI answered INDG214(rev 1)
have duties. FREE (available in packs of 15
First aid at work – Approved ISBN 978 0717 66372 9 £3.50)
Do you know what accidents Code of Practice (Northern from HSE Books
cost – and that insurance Ireland)
ISBN 978 0 33 709475 0 £5.50 Further information can be
policies do not cover all the
available from The Stationery obtained from the Employment
costs?
Office, Arthur Street, Belfast Medical Advisory Service (EMAS)
by following their link on the HSENI
website, www.hseni.gov.uk
HSWNI Phone | 0300 020 0030 E-mail | hswni@detini.gov.uk Textphone | 028 9054 6896policy statement | 21
Health and safety
policy statement
Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order 1978
This is the Health and Safety Policy Statement of
(name of company)
Our statement of general policy is:
G to provide adequate control of the health and safety risks
arising from our work activities;
G to consult with our employees on matters affecting their health
and safety;
G to provide and maintain safe plant and equipment;
G to ensure safe handling and use of substances;
G to provide information, instruction and supervision for
employees;
G to ensure all employees are competent to do their tasks, and
to give them adequate training;
G to prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health;
G to maintain safe and healthy working conditions; and
G to review and revise this policy as necessary at regular
intervals.
Signed
(Employer)
Date Review date22 | responsibilities
Responsibilities
1 Overall and final responsibility for health and safety is that of
2 Day-to-day responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into
practice is delegated to
1 As the employer you have
overall responsibility for
health and safety.
2 You can delegate 3 To ensure health and safety standards are maintained/
responsibility for day-to-day improved, the following people have responsibility in the
tasks to someone else, eg a following areas
manager or supervisor. Make
Name Responsibility
sure they keep you informed
about health and safety
matters: they are still your
overall responsibility.
3 You can delegate
specific tasks to individuals
in your organisation, by
workplace area or by topic.
Responsibilities should be
clearly set so that if there
are any health and safety
concerns, they can be
reported to the right person
4 Employees also have
4 All employees have to:
legal responsibilities to take
G co-operate with supervisors and managers on health and
care of the health and safety
safety matters;
of themselves and others,
G not interfere with anything provided to safeguard their
and to co-operate with you to
health and safety;
help you comply with the law.
G take reasonable care of their own health and safety; and
G report all health and safety concerns to an appropriate
person (as detailed in this policy statement).responsibilities | 23
Health and safety
risks arising from our
work activities
G Risk assessments will be undertaken by
G The findings of the risk assessments will be reported to
Write down your arrange-
ments for doing your risk
assessment here. You can
use a photocopy of the blank G Action required to remove/control risks will be approved by
risk assessment template on
page 36 of this booklet to
record the findings of your
risk assessment or download
the form from the HSWNI G
website.
will be responsible for ensuring the action required
is implemented.
G
will check that the implemented actions have
removed/reduced the risks.
G Assessments will be reviewed every
or when the work activity changes, whichever is soonest.24 | arrangements
Consultation
with employees
G Employee representative(s) are
You must consult your
employees. If you recognise
a union and there is a
union-appointed safety
representative, you must
consult them on matters
affecting the employees
they represent. If you do not
have trade unions, you must
consult employees either
directly or through an elected
representative.
G Consultation with employees is provided byarrangements | 25
Safe plant
and equipment
G
will be responsible for identifying all equipment/plant
You will need to ensure needing maintenance.
that all plant and equipment
that requires maintenance G
is identified, that the
maintenance is done and
that new or secondhand
plant and equipment meets will be responsible for ensuring effective maintenance
health and safety standards procedures are drawn up.
before you buy it.
G
will be responsible for ensuring that all identified
maintenance is implemented.
G Any problems found with plant/equipment should be
reported to
G
will check that new plant and equipment meets health
and safety standards before it is purchased.26 | arrangements
Safe handling
and use of substances
G
will be responsible for identifying all substances which need
a COSHH assessment.
You must assess the risks
from all substances G
hazardous to health under
the Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health
Regulations (Northern will be responsible for undertaking COSHH assessments.
Ireland) 2003 (as amended)
(COSHH). These are your
COSHH assessments. Write G
down your arrangements for
doing your COSHH
assessments here.
will be responsible for ensuring that all actions identified in
the assessments are implemented.
G
will be responsible for ensuring that all relevant employees
are informed about the COSHH assessments.
G
will check that new substances can be used safely before
they are purchased.
G Assessments will be reviewed every
or when the work activity changes, whichever is soonest.arrangements | 27
Information, instruction
and supervision
G The Health and Safety Law in NI poster is displayed at/
leaflets are issued by
Write down where you G Health and safety advice is available from
display the Health and Safety
Law in NI poster, or where
the leaflets are available
G Supervision of young workers/trainees will be
from, where people can go
for health and safety advice
arranged/undertaken/monitored by
and what provision you
make for training young
workers or trainees.
G
is responsible for ensuring that our employees working at
locations under the control of other employers, are given
relevant health and safety information.28 | arrangements
Competency for tasks
and training
G Induction training will be provided for all employees by
G Job specific training will be provided by
All employees must be given
health and safety induction
training when they start work,
G Specific jobs requiring special training are
which should cover basics
such as first aid and fire
safety. There should also
be job specific health and
safety training. You also have
to provide training if risks
change, and refresher
training when skills are not
frequently used. Write down
your arrangements for training
here, including arrangements
for record keeping.
G Training records are kept at/by
G Training will be identified, arranged and monitored byarrangements | 29
Accidents, first aid and
work-related ill health
G Health surveillance is required for employees doing the
following jobs
Employees must receive
specialist health surveillance
for certain work. Your COSHH
assessments will identify G Health surveillance will be arranged by
where this specialist health
surveillance is needed. You
should note down your first
aid arrangements here.
G Health surveillance records will be kept by/at
Accident books are available
from The Stationery Office
(TSO), 16 Arthur Street, G The first aid box(es) is/are kept at
Belfast, BT1 4GD.
G The appointed person(s)/first aider(s) is/are
G All accidents and cases of work-related ill health are to be
recorded in the accident book. The book is kept by/at
G
is responsible for reporting accidents, diseases and
dangerous occurrences to the enforcing authority, (HSENI
or your district council depending upon where you work).30 | arrangements
Monitoring
G To check our working conditions, and ensure our safe
working practices are being followed, we will
You must be able to show
that you are monitoring
health and safety. You can
monitor health and safety
actively, eg doing spot check
visits, or reactively, eg
investigating any accidents
or ill health. Record your
procedures here.
G
is responsible for investigating accidents.
G
is responsible for investigating work-related causes of
sickness absences.
G
is responsible for acting on investigation findings to prevent
a recurrence.arrangements | 31
Emergency procedures –
fire and evacuation
G
is responsible for ensuring the fire risk assessment is
undertaken and implemented.
Record your emergency G Escape routes are checked by/every
procedures, how often they
are checked and who by.
G Fire extinguishers are maintained and checked by/every
If you have five or more
employees, or require a
licence or registration, you
must record the significant
findings of your fire risk G Alarms are tested by/every
assessment and any actions
you have taken to remove or
reduce the risk.
G Emergency evacuation will be tested every32 | risk assessment
Your risk assessment
Carrying out a risk
assessment can help you
protect your workers and
your business, as well as
help you work within the law.
It helps you focus on the risks
that really matter - the ones
that could possibly cause
real harm.
A risk assessment is simply a
careful examination of what in
your work could cause harm
to people, so that you can
decide whether you have
taken enough precautions or
if you should do more to
prevent harm. The law does
not expect you to get rid of all
risk, but you must protect
people as far as is
reasonably possible.
RISK ASSESSMENTS don’t have to be long and complex!
When thinking about your risk
assessment, remember:
When you are carrying out your risk assessment, it may be
G a hazard is anything that helpful to divide your business into different activities or areas
may cause harm, such as and deal with each of these separately. This will be less
chemicals, electricity, daunting than trying to carry out a risk assessment for the
working from ladders, an whole business. Follow the five steps on the next page.
open drawer;
G the risk is the chance,
high or low, that
somebody could be
harmed by these and
other hazards, together
with an indication of how
serious the harm could
be.
HSWNI Phone | 0300 020 0030 E-mail | hswni@detini.gov.uk Textphone | 028 9054 6896risk assessment | 33
Step 1 b: What further action do find that there are quite a lot
What are the hazards? you need to take? of improvements that you
First you need to work out If you have decided that could make, don’t try to do
how people could be there is more you could do to everything at once. Make a
harmed. When you work in a bring yourself up to standard, plan of action to deal with the
place everyday, it is easy to list the extra precautions you most important things first.
overlook some hazards. The need to take. When you are
risk assessment template on controlling risks, consider a: Who needs to carry out
pages 34-35 includes tips on each of the following the action?
how to spot the hazards that principles in order and You should make it clear who
matter. introduce all that apply: in the company is
G Try a less risky option. responsible for taking the
Step 2 G Prevent access to the lead on each action.
Decide who might be hazard.
harmed and how G Organise work to reduce b: When is the action
Identify groups of people who exposure to the hazard. needed by?
might be harmed and how G Provide safe systems of Make sure that you set a date
they might be harmed, for work and written by which the necessary work
example shelf stackers may procedures. is to be finished.
injure their back as they are G Provide training and
repeatedly lifting boxes. supervision. c: Done
G Issue personal protective As you carry out each action
Step 3 equipment. tick it off as ‘done’ on the risk
Evaluate the risks and assessment.
decide what precautions Step 4
to take Record your findings and Step 5
Once you have spotted the take action Review your risk
hazards, you then have to If you have five or more assessment and update
decide what to do about employees, you are required when needed
them. By law you must do by law to record the findings Very few workplaces stay the
everything that is reasonable of your risk assessment. You same, so it makes sense to
to protect people from harm. can use a photocopy of the review what you are doing
You need to answer the blank risk assessment regularly. Every year or so,
following questions: template on page 36 to do review where you are to
this. You can also download make sure you are still
a: What are you already a version of the template improving, or at least not
doing? from the HSWNI website. sliding back. Set a date for
Start by looking at what you Regardless of the size of your review and put it in your
are already doing and your business, it is good diary so you don’t forget it.
compare this with what is practice to record the
accepted as good practice. findings of your risk On pages 34-35 there are
assessment and share them more helpful tips for carrying
with your employees. out a risk assessment.
If, like many businesses, you
Website | www.healthandsafetyworksni.gov.ukYou can also read
