Reducing health and safety risks
This section provides practical guidance on combating hazards that you have identified in your general and fire safety The process of looking at what hazards may be present when doing a certain activity, or in a certain area, and the steps which can be taken to eliminate or reduce those dangers.. Actually taking action after doing a The process of looking at what hazards may be present when doing a certain activity, or in a certain area, and the steps which can be taken to eliminate or reduce those dangers. is an important part of your health and safety obligations. When trying to reduce or remove risks, you must do what is reasonable in the circumstances. This section covers ways to deal with common risks, but you will also need to think about whether there is more you can do in your particular circumstances.
Deciding what action to take
- 1.My risk assessment has identified a problem. How do I decide what I can do about it?
- 2.Do I have to spend a lot of money to fix health and safety issues?
- 3.Can I charge employees for any health and safety equipment that they use?
- 4.Do I have to do everything I can think of to fix health and safety issues?
Slips and trips
Work environment
Fire risks
- 12.Do I have to do anything to reduce the risk of fire?
- 13.What facilities and equipment must I provide to reduce the risk of fire?
- 14.What staff training can I provide to reduce the risk of fire?
- 15.What housekeeping steps can I take to reduce the risk of fire?
- 16.What maintenance steps can I take to reduce the risk of fire?
- 17.What security measures can I take to reduce the risk of fire?
Electrical testing
- 18.Do I have to get regular portable appliance tests (PAT)?
- 19.Can I inspect electrical appliances myself rather than having an electrician do it?
- 20.How do I inspect electrical appliances myself?
- 21.How often should I inspect electrical appliances?
- 22.How often should I get a portable appliance test (PAT)?
Screens, workstations and eye health
Manual handling
- 27.How can I reduce the risks posed by manual handling?
- 28.How do I assess the dangers posed by manual handling?
- 29.What action can I take to reduce the dangers of manual handling?
- 30.What is the proper technique for staff who are manually lifting?
- 31.Is there a weight limit on how much I can ask staff to lift?
- 32.What are the HSE's suggested weight limits for women to lift?
- 33.What are the HSE's suggested weight limits for men to lift?
- 34.Must I label heavy items with their weight to comply with the law?
Working at height
Working with chemicals
Risk of violence to staff
Staff mental health
Driving and overseas travel for work
- 44.How can I protect staff from the risks of driving?
- 45.What precautions can I take about driver safety?
- 46.What precautions can I take about vehicle safety?
- 47.What precautions can I take about journey planning?
- 48.Do I have to protect staff during their commutes to work?
- 49.How can I protect the health and safety of staff who travel abroad for work?
- 50.Do I need an international health and safety policy?
- 51.What health and safety planning should I do before staff trips abroad?
- 52.Do I need to advise staff about vaccinations before travel abroad for work?
- 53.What communication arrangements should I make before staff trips abroad?
- 54.What personal security arrangements should I make for staff travelling abroad?
- 55.What crisis management arrangements should I make for staff travelling abroad?
Risks to pregnant women and new mothers
- 56.How do I deal with risks when I am notified that a staff member is pregnant or a new mother?
- 57.Can I change an employee's role to protect her health and safety during pregnancy?
- 58.Can a pregnant employee or new mother refuse to change roles for her health and safety?
- 59.Can I suspend a pregnant employee for her own safety?
- 60.Do I have to provide special rest facilities for pregnant or breastfeeding employees or new mothers?
- 61.Do I have to give breastfeeding employees a place to express milk?
- 62.Can I refuse to serve a pregnant customer on health and safety grounds?
Risks to employees under 18
Risks to disabled staff
Risks to lone workers and homeworkers
Pregnancy - health and safety letter
This letter sets out the reasonable adjustments you intend to make to protect the health and safety of your pregnant staff member. As soon as a member of staff has informed you that she is pregnant, you must make reasonable adjustments necessary to avoid any risks identified in your health and safety risk assessment. For example, you may need to adjust her hours or working conditions, or even offer suitable alternative work (if this is available), if her current role cannot be adapted appropriately. This letter confirms these adjustments in writing. If you identify significant health and safety concerns, it is recommended that you meet with the employee to discuss how you will deal with these. The letter includes arrangements for such a meeting if required.
£10 + VAT
Fire safety risk assessment
This fire safety risk assessment forms a vital part of your health and safety compliance if you have any kind of business premises. It is important to take fire safety seriously and carry out regular risk assessments at your business premises focusing on it. This fire safety risk assessment template makes compliance easy. It covers the most common fire safety hazards that you might find in your business premises. It includes suggested actions that you can take to help reduce the risks that those hazards pose or even remove them altogether. Every workplace is different, so this fire safety risk assessment also contains space for you to fill in any fire hazards specific to your type of business premises or systems of work.
£25 + VAT
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