ARE YOU AN EMPLOYER BREAKING THE LAW?

All employees have a legal responsibility to look after the health & safety of everyone affected by their work activities and this means complying with a number of laws and regulations:

If you employ 5 or more people you must have a written statement of your health & safety policy to comply with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

Employers have a legal obligation to carry out a risk assessment of their work activities and to implement the control measures.

A competent person must be appointed to meet the legal requirements of the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT COMPLY?

In the case of an accident you would be paid a visit by a Health & Safety Executive (HSE) or an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) and they have the power to:

• Enter your premises
• Issue a prohibition notice that prevents you from continuing your activities.
• Commence legal proceedings against its owners or directors.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF DOING NOTHING?

Insurance companies may not be required to pay employer liability negligence claims, if you have not performed a work activity risk assessment and/or you do not have a written health & Safety policy.

With the growth of 'No win no fee' legal companies you are now more than likely to be facing:

• Negligence claims - Unlimited
• Legal costs & time.
• HSE Fines - £20k and/or 6 months imprisonment per offence.
• Production disruption.

An employee falling from a stepladder cost one company £27,635 in fines and a folk lift truck accident cost a well-known supermarket £425,000.