smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning businesses that they need to carry out regular reviews to ensure their safety provisions are up to date, particularly if they change their processes or machinery, as this may require a new risk assessment. The reminder comes in the wake of a large fine imposed on a manufacturer that had breached Section 2 of the Health and Safety Act 1974 - the employer’s general duty to ensure, as far as possible, the health and safety of its employees.

From your first day in business, you need to comply with health and safety regulations. No matter what size your business is, the law requires you to look after the health and safety of your employees, yourself and anyone associated with your business, such as visitors or passers-by. Various pieces of legislation also concern the self-employed, young people doing work experience, mobile workers, home workers and agency workers.

This factsheet explains the main steps you must take to ensure your business complies with health and safety regulations.

To purchase the factsheet, click here.