Dealing with red tape like health and safety compliance is often the last thing an SME wants to think about. Yet the cost of not doing so can be frightening. Accidents resulting from simple instances of non-compliance can result in huge penalty fines, while the corporate manslaughter act offers the prospect of a jail sentence to negligent directors. But SMEs don’t have to learn the lesson the hard way – if they achieve compliance through an effective health and safety policy.
“The main advantages of health and safety compliance are to ensure that your company meets its legal responsibilities,” says David Skews, CEO of health, safety and environment consultancy EDP. “However, compliance can also reduce your insurance costs, help with accident prevention, improve the working environment, and help to encourage your health and safety publicity.
“You will be able to demonstrate positively to your suppliers, customers and clients that health and safety is being developed within the organisation.”
SMEs have generally struggled with compliance, compared to large companies, and often the costs can be disproportionately higher.
“SMEs may not necessarily have the health and safety expertise in house that is afforded by larger organisations,” says Skews. “They are often less proficient in dealing with the complexities of regulations and unable to spread the cost of compliance like a larger scale organisation. “Consequently they may be slower to appreciate the potential costs of accidents and the benefits of health and safety interventions.”
However, health and safety compliance does not have to be as daunting as it may at first seem. There are now several ‘off-the-shelf’ packages available for SMEs, which reduce the red tape and are tailored to a small company’s needs.
One such service is HSEasy, recently introduced by EDP.
“The service focuses on health and safety services that are typically required by SMEs, and if there are additional risks specific to a business, those risks can be managed with help from an EDP consultant,” explains Skews.
HSEasy is divided in to five stages, which guide an SME through the development of its health and safety policy. The stages cover common risks including: display screen equipment; manual handling; electricity; fire safety; COSHH; plus plant and equipment. Guidance on legislation is provided, along with risk assessments, and sample forms.
Responsibilities for health and safety within the company are defined, and a standard agreed against which future safety performance can be benchmarked and improved. At an appropriate stage, an independent audit of the whole health and safety system is made to ensure it will comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and other relevant legislation.
“Establishing the health and safety policy is paramount – once that is in place, a company can begin to understand the responsibilities and arrangements that follow,” says Skews.
“HSEasy doesn’t cost a fortune – but it could save you one.”
* HSEasy is priced at three levels, depending on the size of the company. HS Easy 1 costs £990, HSEasy 2 costs £2490, and HS Easy 3 costs £4990. Further information is on the HSEasy website.
Subscribe to the Health, Safety and Environment Blog (www.healthsafetyenvironmentblog.co.uk) today
Visit the EDP Health Safety & Environment Consultants website for more information about outsourcing Health and Safety , Health and Safety Consultants, and health and safety training courses: www.edp-uk.com
Tags: Health and Safety, health and safety consultants, Health and Safety for SMES, Health and Safety in a box, health and safety training, HS Easy, outsourcing health and safety