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The harsh reality is that if your company is found guilty of breaking health and safety legislation there is not only a two-year prison sentence for the director(s) responsible but also the unlimited maximum fine you can receive (on its own or as well as the prison sentence), and the cost of any compensation orders!

The working world has changed dramatically in response to the global pandemic of Covid 19. Suddenly workplaces became empty spaces, colleagues became distant images through laptop screens and our overall awareness of personal safety became on high alert.

Health and Safety in the workplace is that hot topic that constantly pops up in the media. Whether it’s mental health issues, injuries in unsafe working environments, or catastrophic accidents where whole buildings have gone up in smoke, health and safety is always being reviewed, scrutinised, and new legislation brought about on what feels like a weekly basis.

Safety should be the priority on any construction site, as every build is full of potential hazards. Fall-related injuries are particularly common, but the potential for problems is greatly reduced by following a robust health and safety strategy.
By identifying the hazards and implementing sensible and easy to understand procedures, your site and your employees will be far safer, and they’ll be able to work more efficiently.

Whatever the nature of your business, risk assessments are essential to keep your employees, visitors and workplace safe. It’s also a legal requirement for employers of five or more people. As such, this ensures your business is compliant with its statutory duty as stated in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
There are no specific rules as to how they should be carried out. However, there are established general principles to guide you through the procedure and bespoke digital solutions to streamline, document and monitor the process.

Before implementing health and safety procedures, you first need to assess exactly where the hazards lie. Every workplace has potential hazards, whatever the nature of your business. Some will be obvious and others less so, but you still need to hunt them out and take appropriate measures to manage them safely.

The specifics will be different for each business, but the four categories below broadly cover all eventualities

There’s no excuse for cutting corners when it comes to health and safety. And yet, without a comprehensive, cross-platform system that’s simple to use and straightforward to update, it’s all too easy for serious incidents to occur.
The consequences of non-compliance can be far-reaching indeed, and not just for the people involved in the incident itself. Workers, managers and senior directors may all be held accountable, depending on circumstances, and the future stability of your company could be seriously undermined.
Here’s the result of inadequate health and safety procedures.

Following health and safety protocols is essential for your business. It protects everyone, allows your business to operate efficiently and remain compliant, and it’s the law. However, health and safety protocols tend to focus primarily on physical procedures, whilst mental health issues often end up on the back burner.

With laws on health and safety standards constantly changing, employers must keep up with the latest developments. New technology is providing exciting solutions to keep your business safe and compliant, and it improves efficiency and costs.

Here are some of the main innovations that are transforming the workplace.