Health and safety

Health and safety advice for small businesses

Health and safety basics

• Your responsibilities as an employer
  As an employer you have a responsibility to keep your employees and customers safe whilst they're on your premises or using your products and services. Responsibilities differ depending on the sector you work in, but this is a list of the basic obligations every employer needs to meet.
  
  
  
• Managing risks in the workplace
  A risk assessment helps you to protect your workers, customers and your business, by identifying the areas of safety you need to address. It can also help you comply with the law.
  
  
  
• Reporting accidents
  Under RIDDOR legislation, all employers, the self-employed and anyone in charge of premises must report certain workplace incidents to the Health and Safety Executive.

Health and safety legislation

• Construction regulations
  If you are carrying out a construction project at your premises you need to comply with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, which may include notifying the Health and Safety Executive.
  
  
  
• Corporate Manslaughter Act
  This Act makes it a criminal offence where business owners can be found guilty as a result of serious management failures resulting in a gross breach of a duty of care.
  
  
  
• REACH
  If you manufacture or import chemicals, find out what you need to do to comply with the REACH Regulations 2007.
  
  
  
• Managing asbestos
  Find out what your responsibilities as a business owner are to protect your employees and the public from asbestos containing materials.