Health and safety laws apply to nearly all businesses. If you’re an employer or self-employed you’re responsible for health and safety in your company.

Managing health and safety can be a bit challenging at first so let’s break it down into some basic steps you can follow to introduce health and safety in your business.

A legal requirement to write a policy is included in the Health and Safety at Work Act . This policy sets out your commitment and general approach to managing health and safety in the workplace. It should clearly say who does what, when, and how.

It is mandatory to share the policy and any possible changes to it with your employees.

All your employees need to know how to work safely and without risk to their health. High-quality, comprehensive training provides employees with a greater understanding of your organization’s processes and procedures. Proper training and supervision will give employees the knowledge and skills they need for their roles.

Keep in mind that employees with particular needs such as new recruits or people taking on extra responsibility need to be included and adapted to the training.

Employers must make sure employees get immediate help if taken ill or injured at work. This law applies to every workplace and to the self-employed.

What must you have?

- A stocked first aid kit.

- Select a persona or people to oversee first aid arrangements.

- Provide information for all employees telling them about first aid arrangements.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 , the minimum you must do is:

- identify what could cause injury or illness in your business (hazards).

- decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously.

- take action to eliminate the hazard or control the risk if this isn’t possible.

Assessing risks is just one part of the overall process used to control risks in your workplace.

You can find a H&S detailed guidance if your business is larger or of higher risk.

Find out when health and safety laws apply to self-employed .

You must consult your employees on health and safety. How can you do it?

- Talk to them about health and safety in general and the work they do.

- Explain how risks are controlled.

- Provide training and information about health and safety.

- Allow your employees to raise their concerns and influence your decisions on health and safety in your workplace.

In a small business, you can consult your workers one to one but in a larger one it may be better to consult through a representative that your employees or a trade union choose.

The law specifies you must report certain workplace injuries, near-misses, and cases of work-related disease to HSE. This duty is under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, known as RIDDOR.

These RIDDOR pages explain what must be reported and how to make a report .

In relation to keeping records, bear in mind:

- If you have more than 10 employees, you must keep an accident book.

- Keeping records of incidents helps you to identify patterns of accidents and injuries. This will help you manage risks in your workplace.

- Make sure you protect people's personal details by storing records privately in a secure place.

Employers must provide a working environment that's healthy and safe for everyone in the workplace.

You must have:

- Welfare facilities – the adecuate number of bathrooms, a designated area for drinking water, and somewhere to relax, rest and eat meals.

- A healthy working environment – a clean workplace with a reasonable working temperature, good lighting and ventilation, and the right amount of space and seating.

- A safe workplace – well-maintained equipment, no obstructions in floors, and windows that can be easily opened.

- A positive safety culture that will create stronger interpersonal relationships between management and employees. Learn more about this on our blog: How to create a positive safety culture in your workplace .

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