FAQs Archive - SS Safety

Q: Is it a legal requirement to have a Workplace Mental Health Policy?

Although it is not a legal requirement to have a Workplace Mental Health Policy in place it is essential that you take care of your employees’ mental health and having a document which looks at the necessary requirements and risks is a good way of doing that. Creating a happy working environment helps to protect staff and maintain office productivity. A third of all working days lost due to illness or injury in the workplace are caused by stress, anxiety or depression. Figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show it is one of the highest contributors for sick days in the UK. References: Sick days from stress - Daily Mail HSE Statistics for Working days lost in Great Britain Work-related stress, anxiety or depression statistics in Great Britain, 2021

Q: What are COVID-19 Safe Offices?

As more and more people opt to benefit from the flexibility of working from home it is essential employees manage health and safety correctly. Whether an employee works from home or in the office it is the employer’s responsibility to make sure that they have a suitable working environment. This can be difficult when you don’t have full control over the area used. Training is one of the most important tools in helping to support staff who work in a home office. Check staff understand the importance of a good working environment and are aware of measures that can be put in place to prevent injury such as ergonomic chairs, wrist rests and glare free screens.

Q: What are my legal requirements for health and safety?

Under the 1 974 Health and Safety Act every employer has a duty of care to look after staff in their workplace whether that is a manufacturing site or office environment. The legislation covers both employees’ physical safety and mental health. This means that you are legally obliged to do everything reasonably practicable to care for your staff’s mental and physical wellbeing . For employers with 5 or more employees, policies and risk assessments should be documented to show how you have achieved and maintained this level of care.

Q: What fire safety training and advice should my employees have?

It is important that all staff are trained to understand fire safety procedures so that when on site they are aware of fire risks, ways to prevent them and what to do in case a fire occurs. It is also a legal requirement to have adequate fire marshal coverage on site at all times . This means that a proportion of staff will need to be fully trained Fire Marshals to carry out regular checks, update procedures, support fire drills and evacuations, provide firefighters with layouts and relevant information regarding the building as well as staff headcounts. The number of trained Fire Marshals depends on the size and complexity of a site but it is important that adequate cover is always maintained. For more information please contact SS Safety Ltd

Q: Do I need regular fire safety inspections?

Regular fire safety checks are a mandatory part of any business and are grouped in to daily, weekly and monthly activities which check procedures are working and compliance is met. This means that regular checks on equipment, layout, storage of materials and training are essential. Fire drills should also be carried out at least once a year and more frequently in the case of complex building structures. On top of the regular in-house Fire Marshal duties a full annual assessment is recommended. Although not mandatory an annual fire risk assessment is seen as best practise as it looks across all the procedures, the building, fire doors, layout, evacuation routes, fire extinguishers and compliance to make sure that nothing is missed. As it is an employer’s duty to demonstrate compliance is met it is essential that regular inspections are carried out and accurate records kept demonstrating compliance.

Q: Do I need to ensure my working environment complies with regulations?

Fire safety compliance is a must for any business. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 it is an employer’s duty to make sure that a business is compliant with all fire safety regulations. Failure to do so will invalidate your insurance, right off any claim and could result in prosecution. To do this you must demonstrate compliance with the regulations and that a competent person, someone with adequate training to implement measures, carries out any of the preventative and protective measures set out in the Fire Safety Order.

Q: What are the legal requirements for health & safety training?

Workplace health and safety is a vital part of any business. U nder the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 it is a legal requirement to make sure that you provide the necessary information and training to, as practicably possible, ensure the health and safety of employees at work.

Q: Should I consult with employees when creating or changing safe working procedures?

It is a legal requirement to consult with the workforce when creating or changing safe working procedures. Individuals who do the task day in day out are often the ones who can identify impractical procedures, unidentified hazards or more effective solutions. Consultation is also more likely to result in a working environment committed to following safety procedure.