Practical tips

Health and safety is a very serious business not only to comply with the law but to avoid the immediate and hidden costs of work related illness and accidents. Don’t put off until tomorrow the actions you should be taking today. These include:

• removing items from the work area such as cables and other loose items, which can cause tripping and slipping accidents
• repairing torn carpets and broken edges on staircases to avoid the risk of serious falls
• making sure that workstations are stable, they don’t give off a reflective glare and there is suitable seating, hand and foot-rests so that staff maintain good posture whilst working
• insisting that staff take regular breaks, particularly if working for long stretches at a VDU screen
• undertaking regular fire drills and ensuring first aid training is regularly updated
• keeping the first aid box(es) fully stocked and readily available
• setting up a system to regularly check all electrical appliances and fire extinguishers
• ensuring that staff know of the potential risks of doing certain tasks and check that they are fit to undertake those tasks or know how to do them safely
• establishing how effective your actions have been by looking at sickness absence trends.

Further information can be found on specific health and safety hazards and best practice by contacting the HSE InfoLine on 08701 545500, email hseinformationservices@natbrit.com or looking on their website www.hse.gov.uk.