Britain’s small businesses could face crippling rises in employer liability insurance premiums due to recently introduced health and safety regulations, warns Bibby Financial Services.

Changes to the Health and Social Care Act, which came into effect in April 2005, give the NHS the power to recoup treatment costs from firms that have been proved negligent in the case of employee accidents in the workplace. Bibby Financial Services has developed the following tips to help offset rising insurance premiums:

If you have employees in an office or shop, you need to register with your local council. If you have a factory, you must register with the Health and Safety Executive.

Whether you are an employer or work alone, you are legally required to assess the risks in your workplace. Carrying out a risk assessment is the first step in minimising the cost of health and safety by ensuring that the correct preventative measures are in place.

Review your risk assessment annually and amend your assessment when circumstances change (e.g. when you buy a new piece of equipment). Remember to record the outcome of your risk assessment and any corrective action taken.

If you employ more than five people, you must have a written health and safety policy and make sure that it is brought to the attention of all your employees. The policy should include your general approach to safety, any people you appoint to look after health and safety matters and any specific health and safety procedures and emergency instructions you have in place.

Ensure that you provide appropriate health and safety training for all employees. Include health and safety training as part of an employee’s induction and always monitor their behaviour to ensure that procedures are being followed.

You have a legal obligation to provide enough clean, working toilets, drinking water, clean working areas, comfortable temperatures, adequate lighting, space, ventilation and an appropriate rest area.

You must have suitable first aid facilities and under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) you are required to report serious injuries, diseases and dangerous incidents. All businesses must have an accident book that records the date and details of each accident, including the name of the injured person and what action was taken.

(19/5/05)