Well, where to start with your health and safety?! It can be a beast to sort out but worry not! Here’s where you need to start to get your business legally compliant, fast.
If you just want to hand it all over and get it back when it’s done, click here
Where to Start with Health and Safety: Step 1
Get a health and safety policy. If you employ less than 5, this policy statement will be fine for you. If you employ over five, you need a full policy document.
Step 2
Method statement is a technical name for a set of instructions. Imagine you are telling an apprentice how to do a job, step by step. Write this down and you’ve prepared your method statement! All you need to do now is write on the site name and address, the date of the works and who you are working for to make it site specific.
Step 3
Risk assessments next. Write a list of all the tasks you do. They will need risk assessing so you can specify what controls need to be in place to reduce the risk to your employees. There is a mini training session on how to do a risk assessment here.
Step 4
All employees and subcontractors who are carrying out the work of your business, need to have a level of competency. Evidence of their qualifications is required. If they have CSCS cards, these are fine. Copy them and add them to the back of your method statement and risk assessment. You will also be asked for a training matrix when clients are assessing your competency as a business. This is the one I use.
Still on track? You’re doing great! You’ve gone from scratching your head wondering where to start with Health and Safety to being two steps away from being able to submit site specific RAMS
Step 5
Specialist risk assessments next. If you use chemicals or produce dust, you’ll need CoSHH assessments. If you work off the ground, you’ll need work at height risk assessments and everyone needs PPE assessments. These tell employees exactly what PPE they must wear and when.
Step 6
If the job is a refurb job in a building constructed before the year 2000 then everyone working in it will need to have asbestos awareness training. Don’t panic, it’s a cheap, short online course and you can even do a free module!
Do you feel better now about Where to Start with Health and Safety?
If you have any questions, find me on LinkedIn and I’ll be happy to answer. I’m on there every day, so just send me a message. I’ve also got a guide to doing your own health and safety that you can download for free.
However, I would love to help you by doing your health and safety paperwork for you. I have many retained clients who simply send me their client questionnaires to fill in and request site specific RAMS when they need them. There’s more info here
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