European Campaign for Safety and Health at Work (October 20-24)

Not only is it your responsibility, as an employer, to have risk management procedures in place, says the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF), but you’re liable – not your chosen risk assessor  –  if the advice they give is not up to scratch.

‘Risk assessments are obliged by law to be carried out by ‘competent’ people and it’s often difficult – especially for the smaller business with limited resources – to identify that competence,’ says Geoff Hooke, Secretary General of the BSIF, the safety industry’s leading Trade Body, commenting at the time of the European Campaign for Safety and Health at Work that, this year, is focusing on risk assessment.

‘The law doesn’t prosecute the person who gives the advice but the one who runs the business,’ says Geoff. ‘Without a tangible standard to measure the advisor's competence, it is no wonder that mistakes occur. With more than 200 people killed at work, and over 150,000 injured in 2004/5 because of a failure to manage risk, it is an issue that UK business cannot afford to ignore.

‘If you go to an accountant, they will be a member of one of three of four regulatory bodies and, if they are engaged by third parties, they are obliged to be accredited. With safety, it’s unfortunately not quite so easy and begs the question whether individuals and organisations carrying out health and safety risk assessments should be similarly accredited,’ says Geoff.

Need more information to carry out your own company’s risk assessment or to find the correct safety products or workwear? As the lead association for the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) regulations in the UK (as designated by BERR), the BSIF (and its members) can help. Please call 01745 585600 or go to www.bsif.co.uk

Risk assessment: an easy guide
Accidents and ill health can ruin lives – and affect your business too – if output is lost, machinery is damaged or you have to go to court.
You are legally required to assess the risks in your workplace and put a plan in place to control the risks.
A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm.
Employees have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures.
A risk assessment is an important step in protecting your workers and your business, as well as complying with the law. It helps you focus on the risks that really matter in your workplace – the risks with the potential to cause real harm.
In many instances, straightforward measures can readily control risks – for example ensuring spillages are cleaned up promptly so people do not slip, or cupboard drawers are kept closed to ensure people do not trip. For most, that means simple, cheap and effective measures to ensure your most valuable asset – your workforce – is protected.
The law does not expect you to eliminate all risk, but you are required to protect people as far as is ‘reasonably practicable’.