Don't Ignore Any Part of your Health & Safety Risk Assessment

Undoubtedly, we have seen extensive changes within the industry over the past few years, this will no doubt continue and it is a clear case of keeping up with the changes otherwise catch-up will be tough and probably costly, but whatever the challenges and whatever the changes there is one area of the business that you definitely cannot afford to take your eye off the ball or look to catch-up, that is your health and safety risk assessment.

This is one area of your business that you need to put under the microscope, if you need expert advice, but it; the cost is insignificant compared with the penalties as a result of missing or overlooking something.  It is not always what you see or say, it maybe is what you do not see or say.  The law is tightening, life is much tougher for employers, fines are heavier and jail more likely where death is a result of something you missed or just didn't recognise, ignorance will not be accepted as a plea of innocence.

Fines and jail are not the only resulting harsh facts of life; it will prove devastating to the employer and their family, the victim's family and the employer's staff.  Such tragic incidents can be a life changing experience, for some it will affect every day of their lives for a long, long time.

The Health and Safety Executive have the advantage of reverse burden of proof therefore it is up to the accused to prove their innocence.  Since the change at the beginning of 2009 the prosecution success rate is close to a 100% with the single percentage loss probably down to self-employed fatalities.

The days of leaving employees to use their own initiative are long gone; its more a case of never let an employee do anything without your expressed permission.  An employer in today's environment walks a very thin line unfortunately, but the fact remains its up to you the employer to remain diligent at all times regardless of the cost, failure is far more costly.

Gary Satchwell

21.9.09