Frequently Asked Questions
Clear, practical answers to common health, safety and fire compliance questions, alongside insight into how we work and support our clients.
As an employer or duty holder, you are legally required to protect the health, safety and welfare of your employees and anyone else who may be affected by your activities. This includes identifying risks, putting suitable controls in place, providing information and training, and reviewing arrangements to ensure they remain effective. The exact requirements depend on your business, activities and risk profile.
Yes. If you employ five or more people, the law requires you to have a written health and safety policy. Even if you have fewer than five employees, having a clear policy is considered best practice and is often expected by clients, insurers and accrediting bodies.
Penalties can include enforcement notices, unlimited fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment. Beyond legal action, non-compliance can also result in reputational damage, loss of contracts, increased insurance premiums and disruption to your business operations.
Employers and duty holders hold the primary legal responsibility for health and safety. Employees also have responsibilities to take reasonable care of themselves and others, and to follow training and procedures provided. However, responsibility cannot be delegated away from the employer.
The law requires employers to provide adequate information, instruction and training relevant to the risks present in the workplace. This includes induction training, role-specific training, refresher training and additional training for managers and supervisors who have safety responsibilities.
CDM Regulations apply to all construction projects, regardless of size or duration. Duties vary depending on whether the project is notifiable and on the roles involved, such as client, principal designer or principal contractor. Early understanding of CDM responsibilities is critical to staying compliant.
A suitable and sufficient risk assessment identifies hazards, evaluates who may be harmed and how, and sets out appropriate control measures. It should be proportionate to the level of risk, documented where required, and communicated to those affected. Generic templates rarely work without proper review and tailoring.
A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm (such as machinery, chemicals or working at height). A risk is the likelihood and severity of harm occurring from that hazard, taking into account existing control measures.
Risk assessments should be reviewed regularly and whenever there is a significant change, such as new equipment, new processes, incidents, or changes in legislation. Annual review is common, but higher-risk environments may require more frequent review.
All workplace accidents should be recorded in an accident book. Certain serious injuries, illnesses, dangerous occurrences and fatalities must be reported to the enforcing authority under RIDDOR within specific timescales. Failing to report when required is a criminal offence.
A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury or damage but had the potential to do so. Reporting near misses helps identify weaknesses in systems before someone is harmed and is a key part of proactive accident prevention.
Yes. Most non-domestic premises are legally required to have a fire risk assessment. It must be kept up to date and reviewed regularly, particularly if there are changes to the building, occupancy, layout or use of the premises.
You are responsible for identifying fire risks, implementing appropriate control measures, maintaining fire safety systems, ensuring safe evacuation arrangements, and providing fire safety information and training to staff. Responsibility cannot be passed to employees or contractors.
Fire drills should typically be carried out at least once a year, although higher-risk environments or care settings may require them more frequently. Drills should be recorded and used to identify any issues with evacuation procedures.
Yes. Staff must receive fire safety training relevant to their role, including evacuation procedures and fire prevention measures. Training should be refreshed regularly and whenever there are changes to the workplace, procedures or staffing arrangements.
COSHH stands for "Control of Substances Hazardous to Health". COSHH applies to most businesses that use, store or generate substances that could harm health, including chemicals, fumes, dusts, vapours, biological agents and cleaning products. If hazardous substances are present, a COSHH assessment is legally required to identify risks and put appropriate controls in place.
A competent person is someone with sufficient training, experience, knowledge and authority to help an organisation meet its health and safety duties. Many businesses appoint an external competent person to provide professional advice and ongoing compliance support.