August 19, 2009The HSE has launched a campaign to show that risk assessments are not complicated, or tasks that can only be carried out by experts.
The Executive and partner organisations across the UK will be hosting events in early October and will focus on giving small and medium-sized companies the advice and tools they need to make risk assessments easier.
The events will be delivered in partnership with several organisations, including the Trades Union Congress, the Federation of Small Businesses, and the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health. They will feature a range of activities for companies during the European Week for Safety and Health at Work, which begins on 19 October.
Companies that attend the events will be shown an electronic template that combines the requirements of a health and safety policy, risk assessment and written record of health and safety arrangements, within a single document. Used along with the example risk assessments and a new example policy statement, the HSE hopes the event can help businesses meet their health and safety duties using minimum resource.
HSE chair Judith Hackitt said: “We’re delighted to be working with our social partners to promote risk assessments and show that they don’t involve reams and reams of paperwork.
“We want to help get the message to small and medium-sized companies that risk assessments needn’t be time-consuming, bureaucratic, or complicated. But they are essential to managing dangers in the workplace. We encourage a common-sense approach that is proportionate to the potential risks involved.”
The HSE is also encouraging firms to be proactive during the European Week for Safety and Health at Work. Information on how companies can get involved is available on the HSE website and any company that participates will receive a certificate in recognition.
