The health and safety executive has a 10 point list for what businesses must do when getting started with health and safety. This list applies to nearly every business.

The key points the list tells you to do are:

• The business must have a 'health and safety policy'.
• Businesses must have risk assessments.
• There must be competent help available where necessary.
• The basic welfare of the employees must be looked after.
• Relevant training must be available.
• Business owners must consult with their employees.

Section 1. Health and safety policy

A health and safety policy is the most important aspect. It is the place where your business' health and safety begins, as it gives you all the key elements needed to manage your business' health and safety effectively.

If a company has 5 or more employees, a health and safety policy becomes a legal requirement. However, having a written health and safety policy is not limited to companies of this size, as any company can benefit from a policy.

Further benefits of having a policy are:

• It can help reduce insurance premiums.
• It can help your business get on approved supplier lists.
• It shows your customers that you take health and safety seriously.
• Having a policy is good practice.

Section 2. Risk assessments

All businesses must carry out risk assessments. Why is this?

This is because employers should take the necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees. Risk assessments help to prevent accidents and are also a legal requirement. Many European Directives relating to safety and health at work require an assessment of risk.

As with a health and safety policy, it is also good practice. Even without a legal requirement to perform an assessment, it is good practice to do so as it allows effective measures to be taken to protect workers' health.  

More about risk assessments from health and safety wise

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

The law says you must appoint someone competent to help you meet your health and safety duties. There are several way in which you can do this.

You can either:

• Do it yourself.
• Appoint a member of staff in charge of your health and safety.
• Use an external service outside your business.

Please note: A competent person must have knowledge by way of training, qualifications and/or experience of health and safety.

There are legal requirements for businesses to make provisions to meet basic welfare needs for their employees.

Examples of these are:

• Provision of changing facilities.
• Availability of drinking water.
• Provision of toilet facilities.
• Provision of eating facilities.

For further information please visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/business/welfare.htm

With respect to training, health and safety laws state that employees must be trained and clearly instructed in their duties. Also, employers and host companies must ensure contractors are properly trained to work safely.

Some examples of training requirements are:

• Training for new starters.
• Training for young people.
• Training and advice for when a job changes.
• Instruction and training before operating unfamiliar equipment.
• Training when there are changes in processes.

It is a legal requirement for employers to consult their workers on health and safety.

If you have a health and safety policy, you should give each of your employees a copy so:

• They will be able to see how the company follows its health and safety duties.
• They will be encouraged to discuss concerns with their employer should the need arise.
• It will allow them to have influence over health and safety in their workplace.