Step 1. Who needs to know about your (new) business
The Council or the Health and Safety Executive need to know about your business so that they can offer advice, provide information and ensure you maintain health and safety standards.
Not sure or you want more information or advice? See website below:
Contact us (contact details are at the bottom of the screen)
Step 2. Take out Employer's Liability Compulsory Insurance
Employer's Liability Compulsory Insurance covers you against claims from employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their work.
Not sure or you want more information or advice? See : www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse40.pdf
The law says you must appoint competent assistance to help you meet your health & safety duties. This does not have to be an external consultant, it could be a trade body, chamber of commerce expert etc.
Not sure or you want more information or advice? See : www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg420.pdf
Step 4. Write your Health and Safety Policy
Your health and safety policy sets out the arrangements you have put in place for managing health and safety in your business. It is a unique document that says who does what, when and how.
Not sure or you want more information or advice? See: www.hse.gov.uk/business
Step 5. Assess the risks your business creates
Decide what could harm people (the hazards) and what precautions to take (the controls). This is your risk assessment. You must act on the findings of your risk assessment, by putting sensible controls in place to prevent accidents and ill health and making sure they are followed.
Not sure or you want more information or advice? See: www.hse.gov.uk/risk/fivesteps.htm(What are risk assessments?) http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/casestudies/index.htm (Example risk assessments)
Step 6. Provide basic welfare facilities
You must provide a safe and healthy environment for all your employees. This includes toilets, washing facilities and drinking water, and appropriate lighting and temperature.
Not sure or you want more information or advice? See: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg293.pdf
Step 7. Provide free health and safety training and supervision
Everyone who works for you, including self-employed people, need to know how to work safely and without risks to health. So you need to train them and supervise their work.
Not sure or you want more information or advice? See : www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg345.pdf(General training guidance) www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg364.pdf(Work Experience or Young Persons)
Step 8. Consult with your workers
Consultation means discussing health and safety with your workers allowing them to raise concerns and influence decisions.
Not sure or you want more information or advice? See: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg232.pdf
Step 9. Display the Health and Safety Law Poster
This is required by law. The poster includes basic health and safety information and lets people know who is responsible for health and safety in your workplace. Or you can give workers a leaflet. Not sure or you want more information or advice? See : http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/lawposter.htm
Step 10. Understand RIDDOR reporting procedures
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR), require you to report work-related accidents, diseases and near-miss incidents. Make sure you know how to report, even if you never need to.
Not sure or you want more information or advice? See website below: www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/guidance.htm (Information and Guidance) https://extranet.hse.gov.uk/lfserver/external/F2508IE (How to report an accident)
Step 11. Keep up to date
You can follow the news in your sector through emails, podcasts and texts to your mobile by subscribing through the Health and Safety Executive website.
Step 12. Diarise some time
Ensure you give yourself enough time regularly each month to walk the floor, talk to staff, identify hazards, address failures in controls, etc. If you think this is costly on your time – consider how much time and money will be spent if you have the misfortune to have a serious accident.
