The Facts
According to HSE, in 2020/21, 1.7 million workers suffered from work-related ill-health. Let that stat sink in for a minute!
Health and safety is the law and is applicable to all businesses, regardless of size or industry. Whether your business is office-based, or employees work on a construction site, there are measures every employer must take to prevent injury or illness in the workplace.
How to Minimise Risks
A risk assessment should be conducted by someone competent, and this should highlight potential hazards and what measures have been put in place to mitigate the risk. It would help if you also considered the following:
- Issue personal protective equipment (PPE) where necessary.
- Provide welfare facilities such as first aid and washing facilities.
- Ensure the relevant training is provided to employees e.g., safe lifting techniques.
- Inspect and maintain any company vehicles.
Common Injuries and How to Prevent Them
Slips and trips: These are some of the most common causes of injury as they can happen in all kinds of businesses. Remember, as a company you have a duty of care for anyone at your premises, whether that is staff, customers, or any other stakeholders. With this in mind, you may want to think twice about leaving that spilled coffee on the floor! And when required, always ensure you put up a ‘wet floor’ sign to alert others of the hazard. Other slips and trips could be things like cables or wires on the floor that could cause a trip. Assess risks and eliminate them where possible!
Working from heights: This is one of the biggest causes of fatalities and injuries in the workplace, with falls from ladders being the most common. How to best prevent such accidents from happening? Ensure workers are adequately trained and supervised. Having the right equipment and knowing how to use it could be quite literally lifesaving.
Musculoskeletal disorders: Manual handling causes over a third of all workplace injuries. This can result in pain and injuries to arms, legs, and joints, and repetitive strain injuries of various sorts. Manual handling can involve transporting or supporting heavy loads by hand or using bodily force. Without sufficient training on how to handle or lift properly, it is easy for employees to become injured, and unfortunately, the damage can be long-term. Avoid excessive work rates and offer training – these are just some ways you can prevent musculoskeletal disorders.
Become Safer with ISO 45001
ISO 45001 is the internationally recognised standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. The ISO is an independent, non-governmental organisation that publishes the standards. Standards exist to ensure better health and safety processes, more eco-friendly practices, and more.
So, what can ISO 45001 offer your business? Asides from having a bespoke management system that improves your current health and safety procedures, you will benefit from:
- Compliance with health and safety legislation
- Avoid costly fines from non-compliance
- Addressed business risks and opportunities
- Improved individual safety as well as organisational
- Reduced insurance premiums
- Improved wellbeing of employees: attract and retain talent
- Increased trust with stakeholders
- New business and the ability to qualify for tenders
- A competitive advantage
Getting Started with ISO 45001
Are you in need of support when it comes to health and safety management?
Candy Management Consultants are a friendly team of experts within the ISO and Health and Safety industries. We serve clients nationwide and make sure all our services are provided promptly and have an 100% success rate.
If you want to prevent health and safety accidents, and meet stakeholder requirements, implement ISO 45001 into your company and receive the benefits.
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