Health & Safety – Policies & Procedures

Review - Create - Develop - Maintain

Trust & Confidence

 

First off we would like to assure you that all enquiries are dealt with in confidence, we are professional and experienced in dealing with sensitive issues. We are aware that the very mention of health and safety can initiate a defensive stance from some individuals and businesses. Our team understand this and value the confidential nature of helping you approach the subject with positive intent and our professional support irrespective of the size of your business.

 

“We have worked with Positive Venture for 8 years and continue to do so.
They are extremely professional, very reliable and have produced outstanding results.
Their support and training develops our staff individually and cleverly builds lasting connections to bring our staff together. 
The outcome leaves our staff feeling more confident, knowledgeable and capable to perform their job roles
(Instructing, rescue training and operational procedures, customer service and, health and safety) to the highest of standards.
Thank you.”
Gary Dyer
General Manager
Foxlake Adventures
SQA Approved Centre Logo2015/16 Thistle Award logo2017/18 Thistle Award logoThistle 5 Star award logo
 

 

Whatever your challenges are, whether you are a film company looking to position your team into a high-risk setting, a factory running a busy production line, a school or a brand new start-up we are here to help you.

 

Rationale

 

There are many moral, financial and legal reasons for having effective and robust health and safety policies and procedures in place.

The management of health and safety does not have to be convoluted or heavily time-consuming. A series of practical systems and procedures brought together into a policy will help to protect you, your employees and your business.

As an employer or self-employed person, you have a duty to ensure so far as reasonably practicable the health, safety and wellbeing of yourself and all employees. It is also the duty of both employers and the self-employed to ensure so far as reasonably practicable that persons not in their employment who may be affected are not exposed to harm.

The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) requires ‘every employer to prepare and as often as may be appropriate revise a written statement of general policy with respect to the health and safety at work of his employees and the organisation and arrangements for the time being in force for carrying out that policy, and bring the statement and any revision of it to the notice of all employees’.

The Employer’s Health and Safety Policy Statements (Exception) Regulations (1975) exempts employers who employ four or fewer employees from the requirement to write the policy, not the requirement to have a policy, we would advise having a written policy whatever the size of your business. The number of employees relates to the ‘undertaking’ and not an ‘establishment’.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) requires employers to make appropriate arrangements for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of their preventative and protective measures.

Complying with the law – This statement comes directly from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) ‘No one has to have been harmed for an offence to be committed under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) – there only has to be a risk of harm. The most important thing is what you actually do to manage and control the risks in the workplace. Paperwork alone does not prove that you’re complying with the law’.

Health and Safety Assistance – Employers are required to appoint a competent person or persons to assist in undertaking the measures necessary to comply with the requirements of legislation. The number of persons appointed and the associated resources must be appropriate for size and hazard profile of the organisation/business.

 

 

 

Benefits of Good Health and Safety

 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states the following:

Addressing health and safety should not be seen as a regulatory burden, it offers significant opportunities.

Benefits can include:

  • reduced costs
  • reduced risks
  • lower employee absence and turnover rates
  • fewer accidents
  • lessened threat of legal action
  • improved standing among suppliers and partners
  • better reputation for corporate responsibility among investors, customers and communities
  • increased productivity, because employees are healthier, happier and better motivated

 

Health and Safety statistics

 

To view recent statistics from the Health and Safety Executive click here

 

We are here to help you

The branches of law and compliance associated with health and safety at work can appear complex and daunting to achieve. We are here to guide you through, dispelling the myths, misconceptions and avoiding unnecessary paperwork whilst providing real-world solutions.

We support you and your business to achieve:

  • Suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks and the associated control measures
  • Preventative and protective measures appropriate to the size and nature of the undertaking
  • Co-Operation and Co-ordination (where 2 or more employers or self-employed workers share the same workplace)
  • Understanding the powers of inspectors of the statutory provision
  • General duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 of
      • employers to their employees
      • employers and self-employed to persons other than their employees
      • persons concerned with premises to persons other than their employees
      • designers, manufacturers, importers, or suppliers as regards articles and substances for use at work
      • employees at work

 

“Legendary work as always Dave!
You are such a rock and so amazing to work with.
You make my job v. simple!
Thank you”
                                               Bear Grylls