Medium Size Businesses

Prevention is better than cure and that starts with good risk management.

When you are still a small business you don't need formalised systems and procedures to keep the business running effectively. Communication is easier in a small team and issues can be addressed quickly and simply. As a medium sized business that approach works less effectively. You may have several sites or a workforce that you can't fit into one meeting room. You need systems to effectively manage your business.

You may have started to formalise your HR procedures or develop a quality assurance system. You should be doing the same for health, safety and fire; ensuring that you have policies and risk assessments in place and suitable training programmes.

Perhaps you're looking to tender for work from the public sector? If this is the case, you will need to develop effective systems for your company health and safety and fire safety. Sah Sen can help you develop and implement these systems.

As a medium size business, you are more likely to get a visit from an enforcement officer. They are there to provide advice and guidance but if your systems fall short, they do have the power to take action to remedy this. If that does happen, formal enforcement action is made public knowledge which can have a negative effect on your business.

'Competent person'

Both health and safety, and fire legislation requires your business to have a 'competent person'. 'Competency' is about training and experience. If you ask someone to take on health and safety at your business - are they competent? Have they had sufficient experience of your type of business to be able to identify all the risks and understand what law applies and what doesn't? Just as importantly, do they have time to do the job? Sah Sen can act as your competent person or provide health and safety support in areas where you may not have the expertise. Contact me to discuss your business needs.

Money down the drain?

Any good business is looking to reduce waste and increase profits. You wouldn't throw over £2000 down the drain, and yet if you are not managing health and safety that's exactly what you are doing.

There are various studies on the cost of accidents. One of these shows that an accident which leads to a few days off work will cost the company at least £2097 (this will obviously be significantly higher if it is a serious accident and there is an investigation and prosecution). These are all uninsured costs and insurance premiums will only go up if you have an accident.

Even a simple a first aid accident (a cut needing a plaster) can cost as much as £33 (lost production time for the injured person and the first aider, the cost of the plaster etc.).

Work related ill-health generally costs twice as much as an accident. What's your current absence rate? Have you got anyone off on long-term sick? If you can't answer this question or want to make improvements, then contact me today.