Why thousands of companies across the UK hire health & safety consultants

Almost every business will eventually reach a point where it requires help with the management of its health and safety procedures. This may be due to the expansion of the company, which has made its health and safety issues more complex, or because this expansion has resulted in the triggering of legislative requirements. For other businesses, it may be the case that the company’s management team simply doesn’t have the time, knowledge or the resources to implement and monitor these procedures by themselves. In these types of situations, it’s common for companies to hire health and safety consultants.
Health and safety consultants offer their expert skills and knowledge, so as to create and promote a safe working environment, thus ensuring that occupational risks are kept to a minimum. No business is too large or small to benefit from this type of service; from agencies to multinational corporations, safety has to be a top priority in order for any organisation to thrive. Health and safety consultants often work in conjunction with company directors, employers, employers and even trade unions.
Consultants are responsible for ensuring that policies and procedures are followed, and that all legislation relating to health and safety is adhered to by everyone in the workplace. They can create policies which are tailored to specific work environments, and will help with their implementation, monitoring and review. This service helps to minimise occupational injuries, accidents and health problems, and can also reduce operational losses. If you are considering hiring a consultant, make sure that they are fully accredited by the IOSH.
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Who should carry out fire risk assessments – employees or professional consultants?

From a legal perspective, anyone who is deemed to be ‘competent’ has the authority to carry out fire risk assessments within the workplace. This means that technically, any employer or employee can be assigned this task. However, not everyone will necessarily be capable of handling this responsibility, as in order to be competent, they must have sufficient experience, knowledge and training.
The problem here is that employers, not realising how crucial competency is in relation to fire risk assessments, unwittingly place this burden on managers or employees, without considering whether that person has the skills, knowledge or even the time to meet the demands of such assessments. This can lead to the endangerment of other employees, if the designated person fails to properly identify and assess fire hazards. Furthermore, if this failure results in an injury or accident, the legal ramifications would be extremely serious for the company.
As such, unless an employer is willing to invest a great deal of time and money in training an employee and providing them with the information they would need to carry out this task correctly, it is best left to a professional consultant, particularly when you consider that the money and resources used to train an employee would be far greater than the costs associated with hiring a consultant.
Consultants who specialise in fire risk assessments follow the guidelines issued by the Fire and Rescue Services, the HSE and HM Government – these include how to identify fire hazards and persons at risk, how to evaluate these risks, record all findings, and monitor and review risk-reduction procedures they implement. As these consultants have years of experience in such matters, they’re likely to be able to carry out this work far more efficiently, and to a much higher standard, than even a well-trained employee would be able to.
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Why fire risk assessments are essential for businesses

Fire poses a risk to all companies, no matter how large or small they happen to be; each year in the UK, lives are threatened, premises are damaged and the ability of businesses to survive is compromised by fires breaking out. This is why fire risk assessments, carried out by trained professionals, are so important. Whether your business premises are within old or new buildings, there are an untold number of ways in which a fire might begin. These potential hazards, which could ignite a fire, can easily go undetected if specialist risk assessments are not carried out.
A fire risk assessment will identify such hazards and based on this information, steps can be taken to reduce or eliminate the risk of a fire occurring as a result of them. The assessment will also identify any members of staff who are particularly at risk, and take measures to keep them safe.
Fire is of course, a threat to both life and limb, but it can also cause an enormous amount of disruption and damage to a business, and make it difficult for a company to continue to operate afterwards, due to the financial and reputational repercussions. Aside from the obvious risk which fire will pose to the health and safety of employees, business owners who choose to forego a fire risk assessment may face company and individual fines, imprisonment if they are found to be responsible, publicity of prosecution and director disqualification, should a fire break out on their premises.
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How health and safety services can benefit your business

In order for a business to operate legally and safely, it is vital that its health and safety management practices are comprehensive, and include health and safety training for employees, emergency procedures and risk assessments. Whilst a good health and safety system ensures that the employees remain safe and the business operational, health and safety services also have a number of other key benefits, which we will discuss in further detail here.
Numerous studies have shown that staff members who work in occupational environments where it is clear that the health and safety of employees is a top priority deliver more in terms of output and motivation. This is primarily due the fact that employees that have their health and safety concerns addressed promptly and efficiently are less likely to take sick leave as a result of injury or illness; however employees also tend to work more productively when they know that their welfare is important to their employer.
Ensuring that health and safety services are used by your business can also enhance its reputation with clients, investors and fellow business owners. The Health and Safety Executive takes enforcement of workplace policies very seriously, and therefore there are severe repercussions for business owners who fail to comply, including potential litigation and fines.
Investors, clients and other company owners who find that a business owner is making a genuine effort to keep their employees safe will view that business in a far better light than one that they can see is flippant about the health and safety of their staff members. As such, business owners who prioritise health and safety will be more likely to garner opportunities for their enterprise, through having an enhanced reputation.
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A quick guide to fire risk assessments in the workplace

Every year in the UK, workplace fires cause serious, and often fatal, injuries to employees. They also cost employers millions of pounds in the form of compensation claims, repairs to damaged premises and loss of custom.
As a result of legislation changes in 2006, the Fire Safety Order came into being and from this point onwards, fire certificates were no longer issued. As a result, UK employers today are expected to carry out what are known as ‘fire risk assessments’, which involve a series of steps, aimed at reducing the likelihood of fires, and any subsequent injuries and damage to property. The first step this type of assessment is the identification of fire hazards; namely, any items which could potentially cause a fire, such as kitchen appliances or flammable materials.
It must then be determined which people in the workplace are most at risk; this could be disabled employees, or those who work next to an identified hazard. The hazards then need to be examined, so that the risk they pose can either be eliminated, or at the very least, reduced. This step is essential and examples of it might include ensuring that fire extinguishers are placed close to the hazard, or replacing flammable materials with flame-retardant ones.
After this, the person responsible for carrying out the fire risk assessment should then take note of all of the information they have gathered, and take appropriate action. For businesses with five employees or more for instance, it is a legal requirement to provide those working on the premises with fire safety training, and to have an emergency plan prepared in the event of a fire. Lastly, fire risk assessments need to be reviewed periodically, and revised if circumstances change.
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The many roles which health and safety services play in the workplace

When examining the accumulated annual costs of work-place hazards, absenteeism and employee illness, most employers in the UK would agree that health and safety services are essential. But what exactly is it that these healthy and safety companies do? Well, although it varies slightly from one company to another, there are some fundamental services which every business of this nature will provide.
Workplace inspections are a key component of virtually all health and safety services. Regular inspection by trained H&S officers will ensure that the workplace complies with procedures, policies and legislation. The company offering this service might provide physical inspections, or they may help by managing the monitoring process.
This type of company might also carry out the preparation of a customised health and safety policy for a particular workplace, which is structured in such a way that it fits in with how the business operates. This policy would typically offer guidance on the day-to-day reduction or elimination of hazards, and would also specify the names of those responsible for these tasks.
Companies offering health and safety services will often carry out audits of office environments too, helping to identify both immediate and hidden hazards, which may pose a risk to employees. As part of the audit, they may recommend a course of action, such as the removal of a hazard, or a training seminar for employees. Other commonly-provided services include fire risk assessments, asbestos management as well as accident investigations and reports, all of which when combined, form a thorough defence against hazards which could have a detrimental effect on a business.
For further details about Health and safety services and fire risk assessments Please visit the website.