Monthly Archives: February 2018


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Tips to Help Make Sure Your Safety Procedures are Both Effective and Enforced

  1.  When developing and writing down safety procedures, ensure that they are clear and applicable to the task. Use the findings of your risk assessments as the basis for determining what controls are needed, how they should be implemented and when. Ensure that the correct planning and coordination of tasks takes place before any work starts.
  2. Check before work starts that all workers understand the safety procedures and what is required of them. Simple misunderstandings can have major repercussions when heavy or dangerous machinery is in use, for example.
  3. Regularly review your safe systems of work to check that they are still current and applicable. Also check all procedures after an accident or near miss, to see if changes need to be made to your processes.
  4. Make sure that all work is supervised by a competent person who has knowledge of the task and a clear understanding of the safety procedures to be followed.
  5. Give the right level of training to workers in relation to their roles and the tasks they need to perform. Check that contractors know about the safety procedures, too, and that they understand them.

Always ensure employees and contractors fully understand the companies policies and procedures.

Contact Walker Health and Safety Services for further advice.

 

Health and Safety Enforcement: Quick Facts

Responsibility for the enforcement of health and safety legislation is split between the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authority inspectors (eg environmental health officers).

The split is dependent on the main activity of the premises being inspected and is detailed in the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998.

Inspectors from the HSE and the local authority have the same powers of enforcement as detailed in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Employers should also be aware that they face enforcement by other inspectors, eg the Fire and Rescue Authority. They have similar, but not necessarily identical, powers.

  • The main enforcement bodies in health and safety are the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the relevant local authority. Other enforcers may include the fire authority.
  • Enforcement is primarily by means of workplace inspections, conducted by health and safety inspectors from the HSE or environmental health inspectors from the local authority.
  • Inspectors can enter premises at any reasonable time and do not need to make an appointment.
  • When inspecting a premises, an inspector may take photographs, ask questions, request to see records, take samples or remove items of equipment.
  • The powers of inspectors include the issue of enforcement notices, as well as the ultimate power to prosecute a company.
  • Enforcement is based upon the principles contained within the Cabinet Office Enforcement Concordat.
  • If an inspector considers prosecution may be appropriate, he must ensure the case passes the evidential and public interest tests laid down in the Code for Crown Prosecutors. Prosecution should only follow if both tests are satisfied.

Contact Walker Health and Safety Services Limited if you require advice.

 

Tips to Help Protect the Health and Safety of Visitors to Your Premises

Make sure you have the necessary systems in place to protect visitors and others to your premises.

Tips to Help Protect the Health and Safety of Visitors to Your Premises

  1. Walk your site regularly to determine where your hazards are, as part of your risk assessment process. Determine how those new to your premises could be hurt, be it from coming into contact with electricity, falling into pot holes or being in the path of workplace transport. Be sure to consider both indoor and outdoor risks.
  2. Think about the controls needed to prevent or reduce the risk. Cover up holes and gaps, and put signage up to warn of hazards. Use barriers to segregate pedestrians from vehicles, and ensure there are safe, designated walking routes to buildings from car parks.
  3. Communicate known risks by way of induction, or where appropriate, by verbal discussion.
  4. Ensure that visitors are accompanied at all times, and that they sign in and out so that you are aware of who is on the premises and when they subsequently leave.
  5. Ensure that any work undertaken by the visitor is properly supervised, and that you have identified any additional risks posed to others by the visitor’s work activities.

Contact Walker Health and Safety Services Limited for advice.