Common health and safety hazards

Slips and trips:  Slipping or tripping is one of the most frequent causes of injury in the work place, and probably one of the most avoidable.  The most common reasons why these accidents occur are: wet walkways, floor surfaces that are in disrepair, weather hazards (ice, rain, snow) and inappropriate footwear.  Slips and trips can be easily avoided through good housekeeping (cleaning spills immediately, clearing debris, covering cables etc…), having appropriate flooring (recoating or replacing floors, installing mats, pressure-sensitive abrasive strips or abrasive-filled paint-on coating) and through staff education.  Electrical Checks:  Faulty electrical equipment is the cause of many injuries each year, which are easily preventable.  Health and safety law states that electrical equipment must be well-maintained in order to prevent danger. The type and frequency of these checks and the maintenance needed depends on the equipment and where it is used, as well as the results of previous checks.  It is important that you get someone who is suitably trained to carry out these checks and that you check with the Health and Safety Executive to find out how often checks are required.  Keeping the noise down:  According to the HSE approximately one million employees are exposed to noise levels that could damage their hearing each year.  Employers are legally required to make sure that they have assessed and identified measures to safeguard the hearing of their staff. Getting the word out:  Make sure that your staff is aware of the rules and that they receive the appropriate health and safety training to reduce the risk of hazards occurring.Computers:  It is a legal requirement that employees who are engaged in work that requires screen-based tasks are given periodical breaks and variations in activity.  Breaks must also allow users to vary their posture. Exercise routines, which include blinking, stretching and focusing eyes on distant objects can be helpful and could be covered in training programmes.First Aid: The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 states that employers need to provide ‘adequate and appropriate’ first-aid equipment, facilities and training so that the injured or ill can receive immediate help. What is ‘adequate and appropriate’ depends on the conditions of the workplace and it is important to undertake a thorough assessment of first-aid needs.  For example, make sure that you have the correct number of staff trained in first aid and ensure that their training is up to date.  One of the commonest mistakes is not regularly replenishing the first aid box after use and it is a good idea to make sure that it is checked regularly and to replace those items as soon as possible.  It is also a good idea to keep an up-to-date list of the health requirements of your employees so that you can provide the appropriate training to their colleagues in the event of ill health. For example, staff working closely with an employee suffering from epilepsy could receive the appropriate training on how to deal with an attack.To help keep their skills up to date, it is recommended that your staff trained in first-aid undertake annual refresher training. Health and safety does not have to be costly or time consuming. Small businesses often reap the benefits of implementing health and safety laws. Most companies see a reduction in operating costs, for example lower insurance premiums. Reducing the number of sick days lost and better retention of staff can often occur when you put health and safety laws at the heart of your business.