Small Business Help

Controlling danger at work is no different from any other task - you need to recognise problems, know enough about them, decide what to do and act on the solutions.

Getting Started

Listed below is some help and advice on actions small businesses must take to meet health and safety law.

There are 10 key things which you must do:

• Decide what could cause harm to people and how to take precautions. This is your risk assessment. See the booklet Introduction to Health and Safety for a ready-made self-assessment form.
• Decide how you are going to manage health and safety in your business. If you have 5 or more employees you need to write this down. This is your health and safety policy. See the booklet as above for a self-assessment form.
• If you employ anyone you need Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance and you must display the certificate in your workplace.
• You must provide free health and safety training for your workers so they know what hazards and risks they may face and how to deal with them.
• You must have competent advice to help you meet your health and safety duties. This can be provided by workers from your business, external advisers or a combination of these.
• You need to provide toilets, washing facilities and drinking water for all your employees, including those with disabilities. These are basic health, safety and welfare needs.
• You must consult employees on health and safety matters.
• If you have employees you must display the health and safety law poster or provide workers with a leaflet with the same information.
• If you are an employer, self-employed or in control of work premises, by law you must report some work-related accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences.

Health and safety does not have to be expensive, time consuming or complicated. Download our free Small Business Advice Pack for further information.