Health and safety for small business checklist

As a small business owner there are a number of procedures and rules you must abide by when it comes to Health and Safety.

For instance when it comes to Health and Safety in your workplace do you know who is responsible?   

As the employer you have a duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of your employees and other people who might be affected by your business activity.  All employers must do whatever is reasonably practicable to achieve this.

So what are the work health and safety responsibilities for a small business?

All small businesses should provide a safe place of work, ensuring any work equipment and machinery are safe and fit for purpose.

In addition, work health and safety regulations require business owners to regularly assess the workplace layout and provide safe systems of work.

Depending on your type of business industry these obligations may vary.

There are several reasons for adhering to health and safety regulations in the workplace however, the three most important are:

1. Prevent Illness and Injury, Even Death.

2. Fewer Illnesses and Injuries Increase Productivity.

3. Manage Public Relations and Liability.

The law states that every business must have its own policy for managing health and safety at work.

A health and safety policy sets out a general approach to health and safety and as an employer it will help you manage health and safety in your business.

It should clearly include who is responsible for the ‘what, when and how’

• Appoint a competent person. Choose who will help you manage health and safety in your business.

• Prepare a health and safety policy.

• Prepare and conduct any relevant risk assessments.

• Consult your workers with finding.

• Provide information and training (equipment and also general H&S).

• Have the right workplace facilities.

• Include appropriate First Aid facilities.

• Display a HSE law poster.

What steps do I take if there is an accident at work?

Employers are required to record all accidents that take place in the workplace.

This reporting will help you to investigate potential risks and prevent incidents reoccurring.

The accident record needs to include the following points:

• the date, time and place of the accident

• details of those involved including the injured person’s name and job title

• a brief description of the nature of the event

• what treatment was given and details of what happened afterwards i.e. did the injured person go to hospital or were they sent home?

• the name of the first aider or the person who dealt with the incident

• a signature from both parties.

In the UK it’s important that you also also adhere to something called RIDDOR.

RIDDOR stands for Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations which were put into place in 2013.

Under RIDDOR you must report any incident to the Health and Safety Executive which results in:

• an employee being away from work or unable to perform their normal work duties for more than seven consecutive days (not counting the day of the accident)

• a death

• fracture of a major bone

• injury to members of the public or people who are not at work, and who are taken from the scene of the accident to hospital for treatment to that injury.

What if I don’t follow the above guidelines?

There are many consequences of non-compliance to health and safety in the workplace.

By failing to comply with health and safety regulations such as not providing adequate health and safety training you not only heighten the risk of illness and injury to your staff, but you also risk facing a criminal prosecution, or even corporate manslaughter.

This can have both a financial and negative reputation impact on your business.

Although the cost of getting things wrong can be high, the steps to take in order to maintain compliancy doesn’t need to be over complicated nor time consuming.

The effort far outweighs the risk but doing nothing is not an option.  

Takeaway Health and Safety for Small Business checklist:

Although the legal requirement can vary depending on the number of people in the workplace it is good practice to have the following in place for all small businesses.

Remember that accidents and injuries are not planned so having the necessary things in place beforehand can really help and doesn’t have to be expensive.

1. Fire Risk Assessment for your commercial premises →

2. Fire extinguishers where required →

3. Health and safety awareness training for all staff →

4. HSE health and safety poster →

5. Health and safety policy →

6. Accident book →

7. First aid kit →

8. Safety signs if required →

9. Risk assessments for any specific equipment or tasks →

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