Elite Executives Health & Safety Club
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. Why do I need to subscribe to your Heath & Safety Club

A. If you are a small to medium enterprise it will be cost effective to have a named advisor who can give you all your advice on Health and Safety issues.  This allows you to concentrate on your business.

Q. Will you visit our premises or just be on the other end of the phone?

A. We will come and visit you to understand your business and to listen to your requirements.  From there it is up to you how we get involved.  We can provide telephone advice only or can help with the day to day management of your Health and Safety if required.

Q. How else can this promote my business?

A. An excellent Health and Safety record is vital in today's business.  It increases your company profile by showing commitment to Health and Safety.  We can help you towards achieving any safety awards or audits.

Q. Can you help with my training needs?

A. Yes, we can assist you to set up a training program for all personnel (in house or external).  This is tailored to your needs, and we will help you to monitor its effectiveness.

Q. What about the cost?

A. As a small to medium enterprise, yes, cost is a factor to consider.  But historical fact shows that a Pro Active approach to Health and Safety outweighs the cost of a re active approach following an event.  Click here to read some case studies following accidents within companies (some of these companies did not survive following the event)    

Q. Why do we need a Health and Safety Policy?

A. By law, you must have a Health and Safety policy in writing if you employ 5 or more people. It also helps you to promote a Pro-Active attitude to Health and Safety and not a Reactive response following an accident.  This is a Cost Effective attitude and helps you ensure your workforce are working in the safest environment possible.

Q. Will your policy cover all industries?

A. Yes, our team of Safety Advisers writes professional policies for a wide range of industries.

Q. Will the policy that is written for us be specific to our company?

A. Yes, we will contact you and arrange an informal meeting. This will allow us to gather information regarding your company so we can produce your policy allowing you to concentrate on your expertise in your business.

Q. How do we use the policy? - Back to top

A. The Health and Safety Policy is the basis of how you arrange your safe systems of work.  You must read your policy and bring it to the attention of your workforce. The safety statement, which is part of your policy will be displayed within your workplace and be available for all to see.

Q. What are the legal requirements to carry out risk assessments?

A. Regulation 3 of the Management of Heath & Safety at Work Act 1999 states:  Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of his employees or persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him or his undertaking.  It is a principal feature of all modern protective legislation.

Q. How often are they carried out?

A. Risk assessments are carried out at least once.  This enables you to identify all the major hazards in your workplace, introduce control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk, and allow your employees to work in the safest possible work environment - this is the overall objective of a risk assessment.  The regulations require a regular review to be carried out. Reviews may be for alterations in the workplace, processes, personnel, incidents or accidents, etc.

Q. How long do they take?

A. This varies on the complexity and type of the assessment.  We can complete the assessments for you on an agreed timescale or can assist you to carry out the assessment in house.

Q. How will the assessment be documented?                           

A.  The assessment can be formatted to your own design or to an agreed format.  We can also present it as a computer database for ease of searching, prioritising actions, producing reports, etc.

Case History - Back to top

1. Accident to worker on Pipe Bender. Ring finger of left hand crushed and amputated. Management failings in training and supervision of operators, failure to carry out statutory risk assessments, failings in communication between management, supervisors and workers.

Fined £13,500

2. Accident to a tanker driver who suffered serious head injuries following a fall from the top of his tanker whilst offloading at the gantry. Section 3 HSWA 1974 -

Fined £7,000

3. Breach of Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations involving unguarded lathe, metal cutting circular saw and bandsaws. Breach of HSWA Section 2: maintenance, risk assessments, training and supervision.

Fined £5,800

4. Breach of Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations. The operative suffered serious injuries to 3 fingers in a paddle mixer. He put his hand through the outlet point underneath the mixer to clear a blockage, whilst the machine was still in motion. There was access through the guard arrangement into the path of the rotating paddles. £2500 fine plus £438 costs awarded, to be paid in full within 28 days.

Fined £3,000 to be paid in full within 28 days

5. Failing to ensure the safety of an employee who became trapped between the arm of a skip hoist and the side of a grinding machine during cleaning activities.

Fined £4,750

6. Injured person lost ends of middle and index fingers of left hand on chain and sprocket drive of a roller belt conveyor system. A guard had been fitted but was worn away by the action of the chain rubbing on the guard. There was no guard inspection system.

Fined £8,200

7. Employee injured whilst using table saw; company did not report accident. Reasons for prosecution: failure to report accident, failure to ensure employees received adequate training.

Fined £12,000

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