Frequently Asked Questions

  1. When do we need a Health and Safety Policy?
  2. How many employees can we have before we must do risk assessments?
  3. What first aid cover do we need?
  4. Can we still use ladders in our workplace?
  5. Why do we need a competent person for health and safety?
  6. We're only an office do we need to bother with safety?
  7. Should our company be registered with the Health and Safety Executive?
  8. Do we have to test portable electrical equipment annually?
  9. Can our drivers still use hand-held mobile phones whilst driving company vehicles?
  10. Do we have to provide a filter screen for all our computers?

Safety Line provides a source of practical and understandable health and safety advice.  We not only deal with difficult complex problems but also provide friendly responses to those day-to-day safety issues as well.  Here are just a few of the typical queries we are asked on a regular basis.

1. When do we need a Health and Safety Policy?

An employer of five or more people must have a written Health and Safety Policy.  They must prepare a written policy with three sections called Statement of Intent, Organisational Structure and Company Arrangements for health and safety at work.  It must be revised annually and kept up-to-date to ensure changes in the workplace and legislation are taken into account.  It must also be brought to the attention of all employees.

2. How many employees can we have before we must do risk assessments?

Employers must carry out an assessment of the risks in their workplace no matter how many staff they have, as they have a legal duty to provide a safe working environment for their employees and other persons.  However, if they employ five or more staff they will need to record any significant findings in writing.

The majority of companies will already have been carrying out risk assessments even if they do not know it!  A common sense approach to preventing dangerous actions is a risk assessment.

3. What first aid cover do we need?

The type of first aid cover your company requires depends upon the following items:

Basically you carry out a risk assessment and then determine what cover is required.

As a minimum every workplace should have an Appointed Person who can take charge of an emergency situation and call for medical help if required; and a first aid box correctly and fully stocked.

4. Can we still use ladders in our workplace?

The simple answer is yes in certain circumstances.  The Working at Height Regulations 2005 have not banned the use of ladders, indeed ladders and step ladders may be the only practical means of access in some circumstances.  However, the Regulations do require that the company assess the nature of the task at height and determine what is the safest type of access equipment.  Using ladders because you did in the past is not a valid reason.

5. Why do we need a competent person for health and safety?

One reason is that it is a legal requirement under section 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.  The regulations require that a company has access to a competent source of advice which can help them in achieving and maintaining a safe workplace.  The Competent Person can be a trained employee or an external consultancy.  Many companies have a combination of the two.

Another reason is that the competent person will have the knowledge, experience and skills to identify unsafe work practices and hazards, and provide a company with suitably appropriate control measures.

6. We're only an office do we need to bother with safety?

Of course you must "bother" with safety.  All companies have a legal duty to provide a safe working environment for their staff and others.  By not bothering the likelihood of your staff having an accident may increase, along with your company gaining a bad reputation and breaking the law.

7. Should our company be registered with the Health and Safety Executive?

All companies need to register with the appropriate enforcing authority but which one depends upon the type of work your company carries out.

The Health and Safety Executive enforces Health and Safety law in the following organisations:

The Local Authority Environmental Health Office enforces Health and Safety law in the following organisations:

8. Do we have to test portable electrical equipment annually?

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 states that portable electrical equipment should only be used for the purpose for which it was designed and intended, and in the appropriate environment.

The level of testing frequency is a matter of judgement and should be based on a risk assessment.  The risk assessment should take into account the type of equipment; where it is being used; for what purpose; and the age/ condition of the equipment.  Not all equipment will therefore need to be tested annually.

If in doubt refer to the Health and Safety Executive guidance, or the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) Wiring Regulations who provide information on recommended test cycles.

9. Can our drivers still use hand-held mobile phones whilst driving company vehicles?

The simple answer is no.  No driver should use a hand-held mobile phone whilst a car is in motion or the car engine is turned on.  If you require your drivers to use mobile phones whilst driving the company should fit hands-free devices in all company vehicles.  Company drivers should then be instructed in how to operate them safely, and to only use a hands-free mobile phone whilst driving when it is safe to do so.

10. Do we have to provide a filter screen for all our computers?

A company is required to carry out an individual display screen equipment (DSE) assessment on each person who uses a computer as part of their work.  The assessment will determine whether glare or reflections on the monitor can be initially solved by other control measures, (changing lighting, providing window blinds) as providing a monitor filter screen is a last resort.

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Safety Shield Ltd
Shelley House, 2 Station Road, Fiskerton, Notts, NG25 0UG
Tel: 01636 830305 or 0115 940 0744
E-mail: enquiries@safety-shield.co.uk
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