by Sarah Mellor | Aug 28, 2013 | Health & Safety
This month I want to explain to you why companies need risk assessments and the simple steps to writing one. Risk assessments are a simple technique used to identify what could injure people or cause ill health whilst undertaking work activities, existing controls that are already in place to prevent injury or ill health and if there are any further measures required.
Why does a company need risk assessments?
- They are key in ensuring your workers and your company is protected.
- It is a legal requirement for every employer and self-employed person to make an assessment of the health and safety risks arising out of their work. (The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999).
How do I undertake a risk assessment?
- Identify the hazards
- Decide who might be harmed and how
- Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
- Record your findings and implement them Note: You only need to record the assessment if you have 5 or more employees.
- Review your assessment and update if necessary
Remember a risk assessment is not about creating huge amounts of paperwork, but about identifying sensible measures to control the risks in your workplace. The law does not expect you to remove all risks, but to protect people by putting in place measures to control those risks.
If you would like assistance with your risk assessments then please feel free to contact us, without obligation.
by Sarah Mellor | Jul 31, 2013 | Health & Safety
The school holidays are here and the hot weather has finally arrived which means families want to get out and about to enjoy the weather, but they need to be extra vigilant around inland waters, such as rivers, lakes, lochs, quarries and reservoirs, which can be more dangerous than they appear.
According to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), there are about 260 accidental drowning deaths in inland waters each year- about 60 per cent of the total number of accidental water deaths.
Swimming is a big temptation, but there can be unseen hazards such as strong currents and underwater debris.
RoSPA has put together the following water safety tips:
- Swimming at properly-supervised sites, such as beaches, lidos or swimming pools, is the safest.
- If you choose to go to an unsupervised site, think through the hazards first and ensure you know what to do if something goes wrong.
- Remember water can be a lot colder than you are expecting so be careful if you jump in or go for a swim to cool off. Consider wearing a well-fitting wetsuit, which can keep you warm and offer some buoyancy in the water.
- Before you get into the water, consider how you are going to get out again e.g. are there steep banks that might make it difficult to get out?
- Be honest about your swimming ability.
- Remember that alcohol and swimming never mix.
- Parents and carers: discuss the hazards with your children and remind them that children should never swim alone at unsupervised locations.
Water may look safe, but remember it can be dangerous. You may swim well in a warm indoor pool, but that does not mean that you will be able to swim in cold water. Enjoy the hot weather and have fun in water, but be safe.
For more information contact us.
by Sarah Mellor | Jul 16, 2013 | Health & Safety
This month I want to explain to you why you need a Health & Safety Policy and what it should include. It does not need to be complicated or full of jargon. Just follow the three simple steps below:
Why do I need a Health & Safety Policy?
If you have five or more employees you must, by law, have a written health and safety policy.
What is a Health & Safety Policy?
A health and safety policy is a written statement, which is specific to your business and should be in three parts:
- A general policy (statement of intent) explaining what you have in place for protecting the health and safety of your employees at work.
- A section stating key individuals within your Company (or job titles), who have health and safety responsibilities and their responsibilities defined. In small businesses, it is often one person who will take responsibility for co-ordinating health and safety.
- Specific arrangements that you have within your Company ie: Fire, First Aid, Training, Accident Investigation etc should be documented.
What is a General Policy on Health & Safety?
This is a statement of your general aims with regard to your employee’s health and safety. (Most people refer to the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974).
What is the organisation for carrying out the Policy?
Overall responsibility for health and safety rests firmly with the highest management. However, ALL individuals within the workforce have to accept a certain duty for health and safety towards themselves and others who might be affected by their acts or omissions.
What are the arrangements for Health & Safety?
The arrangements section of your policy should outline how you will meet the commitment you have made in your statement of intent. It should describe the systems you have in place for complying with various regulations, which apply to your business.
And finally after you’ve done all of the hard work you must communicate you policy to all employees.
Hopefully, with the above simple steps, you can now revise your existing policy or write one from scratch. If you need any support or guidance then please get in touch.
by Sarah Mellor | Jun 21, 2013 | Health & Safety
Two-fifths of Britons sunburn on purpose to get ‘deeper’ tan
Two-fifths of people (40%) say they burn their skin in the sun on purpose to ‘deepen’ a tan, according to new research by Macmillan Cancer Support. This is despite the fact that getting a painful sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk of skin cancer (melanoma).
The number of people diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, in the UK is on the rise with around 35 people being diagnosed every day.
Judy Duddridge, 45, Cambridgeshire, skin cancer survivor, says:
‘I spent many years living in Dubai so I was always in and out of the sun with little protection. I was very unaware of the damage that too much sun and getting burnt could do. I thought I was just living my life normally. ‘My cancer was between my eyebrows and left me with a nasty scar and made me self-conscious. It’s so important to be sun aware, never to burn and always wear and top up with sunscreen.’
Skin Cancer Nurse Specialist on the Macmillan Support Line, says:
‘This new research shows that despite being aware of the health risks people are still burning themselves in the sun in order to get a tan. As we start to look forward to summer after one of the coldest winters yet, it is alarming that staying safe in the sun is not a priority for many people.’
Malignant melanoma can be just as fatal as some other cancers
‘Sunburn will cause serious damage to your skin which can lead to cancer. It is vital to protect your skin when out in the sun by using sun tan lotion, wearing sun protective clothing (including hats and sunglasses) or staying in the shade between the hours of 11am and 3pm.’
by Sarah Mellor | Apr 21, 2013 | Health & Safety
What does this mean?
The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is a landmark in law. For the first time, companies and organisations can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter as a result of serious management failures resulting in a gross breach of a duty of care.
Have there been many prosecutions?
Corporate manslaughter cases increased by 40% in 2012, with 63 charges brought in 2012 in comparison to 45 in 2011. Since 2009, 141 cases have been opened, with 56 prosecutions currently on-going. Despite the rise in numbers, there have only been three convictions since 2008.
Simon Joyston-Bechal, from legal firm Pinsent Masons, said:
‘’High-risk industries and companies cannot be reassured by the current lack of convictions for corporate manslaughter. The three convictions so far are just the tip of an iceberg. Corporate manslaughter cases are very complex and can take a long time to come to trial. We can now see from these figures that there are a rapidly growing number of cases in the pipeline’’.
He also warned that companies that cut health and safety expenditure to help survive the recession could leave themselves liable to prosecution in the event of an accident.
What must I do as an employer?
Companies and organisations that take their obligations under health and safety law seriously are not likely to be in breach of this legislation. However, companies should keep their health and safety management systems under review, in particular, the way in which their activities are managed or organised by senior management.
If you have any doubt over the robustness of your health and safety systems, then get in touch, without obligation, to discuss how Salopian Health & Safety Consultancy can assist you and give you peace of mind.
