An economic downturn following the COVID-19 pandemic is widely reported in the news. Plus, there's an understandable anxiety amongst many about going back to the workplace. As a result, lots of small businesses are concerned about how they will return to more 'normal' operations. The Government has released anticipated timelines allowing businesses to make plans for the coming months. Many business owners may not automatically think about consulting with a H&S professional to support their planning. However, it’s times like these when H&S can demonstrate a…
What can you do when your employees can't work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic? Keep reading to find out. Millions of people are transitioning to homeworking and battling with IT systems and collaboration apps. We're also getting used to this new routine of remote working. But for many managers and employees, switching to homeworking is simply not an option. Perhaps you work in the manufacturing, transportation or food sector? Carrying out work to provide the nation with valuable services and resources throughout the COVID-19…
Please note: this article was correct at the time of writing, however take a look at our most recent blogs for the most up-to-date articles surrounding this topic. Vast swathes of the working population are now working on laptops from home. In some cases, multiple family members, working for different companies, are sharing the same kitchen table. The current Public Health crisis has resulted in many businesses implementing or reviewing Business Continuity Plans. As part of this, businesses have had to consider a mass move…
Business owners and senior executives need to be aware they face potential personal criminal liability if the organisation commits an offence due to their act or default. All senior executives have a duty to be as proactive on this, as with other matters, as someone in their position ought reasonably to be. With the current and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many employers are working hard to keep up-to-date, and are ensuring they understand the impacts on their business. There will be many business challenges to consider…
While most of us agree that snow is picturesque, adverse weather conditions can have a catastrophic effect on businesses that do not have contingency plans in place. Consequently, at this time of year it's important to ensure you've completed a risk assessment for winter weather to protect your employees, customers, and the public-at-large. What does the law have to say around cold weather? The HSE’s Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) L24 for the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (ACOP 12 paragraph 116) explicitly refers…
What can you possibly do in an office around Christmas that puts life and limb at risk? The answer you’re searching for is hanging up decorations around the office. Many people don’t consider the risks attached to readying the workspace for festive fun. Trips/slips or falls, electrical incidents and manual handling/lifting are the top three causes of accidents at work. Therefore, we've created a short guide to decorating the office safely and spotting the risks that are right in front of your eyes. Hanging decorations…
Summer holiday season has been and gone and it's time to ask yourself a question. Were my holidaying employees really taking a break from work? If they obsessively checked their work emails and regularly took calls; is it just a healthy love of the job, or is it a work addiction? The medical community recognise work addiction as a real mental health condition. People with a work addiction are likely to engage in compulsive working - which can be hard to spot in a culture…
Fire Door Safety Week runs 23 - 29 September this year. It's all about raising awareness on the importance of fire doors. So, we thought we'd give you some handy hints on how to make sure your fire doors are up-to-scratch. Why are fire doors important? Fire doors play a crucial role in restricting the spread of fire and smoke. Buildings are compartmentalised to delay the spread of fire from one area to another. These compartments are usually linked by fire doors to allow the flow…
Working at height led to the deaths of 40 people in the last year, compared to 35 the year before. According to recent HSE fatality statistics, it’s the number one cause of work-related deaths in the UK. It raises the question, are employers doing enough to protect workers? Time for more severe sentencing? This month saw the verdict from a fall from height case, following an accident in December 2016. Samuel Goemans of Cedar Ridge Construction Limited fell from a tower scaffold and suffered life-changing…
If you’re a business owner, manager or HR professional you’ll be interested in the recently updated data on the risk you face from health & safety factors. The latest data for 2019 ranks every area of the country for the health & safety risk faced by businesses. Business risk is a different slant on health & safety. But it matters because, in 2016, the Government changed the sentencing guidelines for prosecuting health & safety breaches. As a result, businesses, business owners, directors and employees are…