In a world where businesses, both large and small, are competing across a wide range of sectors, an increasingly-influential issue has become that of health and safety and more specifically, properly risk assessing your business.
Health and safety has been rapidly driven up the business agenda because of both the impetus of legislation and directors and managers requiring improvements in their working environments which will ultimately lead to higher workforce productivity.
Managers should be constantly striving to exceed all moral obligations that staff responsibility brings. They must also remain abreast of any relevant and current legislation regardless of the pressure a change in climate can have on their business.
For most companies the risk assessment is an ideal way of identifying potential hazards and putting plans and control measures in place to reduce risk and prevent accidents. This is especially important for hire companies. Many hirers will have one or multiple depots and each site needs to be carefully managed with health and safety the number one priority.
So what is a risk assessment?
Risk assessing involves a careful examination of what work activities or elements of the workplace could potentially harm people and/or their working environment, and whether you have taken the necessary precautions to reduce risk and prevent harm. Employees, employers and visitors have the right to be protected from harm in the workplace caused by a failure to put reasonable and documented control measures in place.
The key to a successful risk assessment is not to overcomplicate the process, as the risks involved with certain work will likely be well-known amongst staff. It is important however, irrespective of your company’s size, that you carry out risk assessments and regularly up date them whilst maintaining a focus on health and safety.
Hirers will no doubt already be well aware of the moral and legal responsibilities they have towards their staff when it comes to health and safety. But are employees aware of their obligations?
Richard Carter, technical services manager at HAE, said: “Risk assessment is crucial and the need for employers to embrace health and safety continually goes without saying, but staff also need to be kept up-to-date with any changes in working practices prior to implementation and are monitored when they are in operation.
“Health and safety training is important as well as communicating with staff what is expected from them. Every individual in an organisation has the right to work safely, but must also contribute to minimising risks and taking appropriate precautions whenever they are carrying out their duties.
“HAE provide a health and safety accreditation - Safe-HIRE – which our members can sign up to and is a recognised by the HSE. This scheme encourages hirers to establish a clear safety driven process across all areas of their business.”
If a company is a Safe-HIRE member, they are a company who achieve higher than average levels and standards of safety throughout their business. The accreditation also offers existing and potential customers the peace of mind that the hirer they are using puts their safety at the top of its agenda.
Richard said: “When customers, local authorities or specialised industries are looking for that level of value added from a hire company their requirements often exceed the norm – this may be in levels of health and safety awareness or potential risks on site, transporting of goods or through the application of tools.”
Employers can often be daunted by the idea of carrying out a risk assessment or approaching the idea of health and safety training, because they are seen as being complex or very time consuming. However, by taking the time to look into both areas you could ultimately save time, money and even lives. If you follow the help and guidelines that are available, such as Safe-HIRE which is accessible to all of our members, the whole process becomes achievable and cost effective.
By dealing with the basic first principles, employers can have ‘peace of mind’ that they are operating a safety conscious business and employees have the security of knowing that they are working in a safe environment.
Due to the nature of the hire industry safety needs to be kept at the forefront of people’s minds. By carrying out regular safety checks and perhaps even nominating someone to look after the business’s safety procedures, you are taking the appropriate steps as an employer.
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