There is a lot to think about when it comes to setting up your first company. While you might be most concerned about making a profit and keeping up a good profile, it’s also important to think about your personnel and their wellbeing.
If you have employees working for you, it’s crucial that you take health and safety seriously. In this guide, we run you through the simple basics.
Training is a must
Providing employees with health and safety training is a must for any business owner. Unless your workers are kept up to speed on how they can protect themselves and others from danger, you could land yourself in some serious trouble.
In fact, you’re required under UK laws to provide your staff with clear, precise instructions and guidance when it comes to safety measures in the workplace. Whether your company is based in an office, a warehouse, a laboratory or any other environment, you simply can’t afford to skimp on your health and safety training.
It’s up to you how you get the necessary information across to your employees. You could conduct in-house sessions yourself. To ensure you’re fully knowledgeable on the subject, you could enrol yourself on a course beforehand.
For example, you could gain a qualification from the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health. You can obtain such certifications online from specialists course providers such as SHEilds. Alternatively, you could bring in an expert to carry out the training on your behalf.
Make sure you conduct risk assessments
Establishing and controlling the risks in your workplace is an important step for every business leader. You should take the time to identify what may cause harm to the people who come into contact with your company, from your employees to visiting customers and clients.
This is also known as a risk assessment. The process is made up of various steps, such as establishing risks and finding sensible ways to measure and control them. If your organisation has more than five employees, a risk assessment is a legal necessity. You should record your findings and update them on a regular basis.
Related: 5 Workplace Safety Tips for Small Businesses
Enlist help if you need it
Health and safety doesn’t have to be a complex matter. However, if you’re struggling to put the correct rules and regulations in place, there is help at hand. You can find a plethora of useful information online, and there are a variety of specialist companies you can enlist the help of should you need it.
As long as you’re aware of the basics of health and safety, you should find that you’re able to create a safe work environment for you and your employees to enjoy.