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Why Steve...'Mac's'??? Is it raining where you are then

Mike

Aww shucks, ya sussed it

Mike

The downside is slips and trips in my industry, hence a phone call during the last snow to ask me to investigate. Took all of 10 minutes mind, twas the ice and no grit on it...strange they needed me to tell em that

Mike

You know Steve, in the majority of cases it is no-where near the degree of complexity many consultants and general scare-mongers would have you believe. I'm generalising but specifically making reference to an average 'lo-risk' industry such as clerical or generally office based (although there are still considerations).

In the case of a small or medium sized business there are areas to consider. Firstly registration (starting right at the beginning here). Since 6 April 2009, registration requirements were abolished meaning that businesses are no longer required to register with their local authority or with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). This includes businesses that were previously required to register, such as shops, offices, factories and certain railway premises.

Of course there are still some exceptions such as; food and catering, these businesses must continue to meet food standards registration requirements, which local authorities enforce.

Other examples of businesses that may still be required to register or require a licence to operate - include those operating in high-risk industries and any that use dangerous or explosive materials in the course of any working activities. Firework production is one such example.

So, moving on then. Does the business employ more than four persons including any directors and other paid staff? Well if this is the case you move into a different category and yes some basic commitment becomes necessary.

In no particular order;

Employer liability insurance. In place for any employees not just more than four. Displayed in the office or by intranet.

Create a written health & Safety statement of intent with an orgaisation and arrangements section. Signed by the most senior person and copies provided to staff. A handbook is ideal for this. Ref; HSWA 1974 sect 2 sub section 3.

Identify all the hazards that staff will encounter at work or during their work activities. This then is what is known as 'risk-assessment.' This does not mean you should find every hazard and RA it, quite the reverse really. Example 1: You have a trailing lead from the back wall, running through the office area and across the public one as well. So this is a hazard and carries a risk (note the difference between 'H & R.') One should then consider a hierarchal approach. How best to deal with this lead? OK then loads of warning signs? Cover it with a fit for purpose sheathing? paint it bright yellow and black? No, actually none of these.

Forget all about consequence v likelihood, and should it be a qualitative or quantitative assessment of the risk, documenting the control measures, making certain everyone is aware of the potential risk. Ignore all of this and sit back to engage grey matter. Come out of the zone and think. far better if we can eliminate the hazard and any RA.

By spending a small amount of time that cable could either be run round the walls at ground level, or perhaps it has always been done like that and you have had extra sockets fitted. Maybe

Steve

Firstly apologies for inserting in the wrong place. Senior moment and all that. Thank you for the response. I have been surfing since posting on this subject as I am keen to get the darned phone to ring and feel I will be satisfied if I have done all that I really can.

Your response was just what i wanted and I thank you.

Mike

Steve

You have raised some excellent points. One of the great problems with health & safety law is it is by its very nature very descriptive, or at least a large chunk is and through interpretation one gives a guiding light to a client. Ask to qualified practitioners the same question though and you will likely receive two differing answers. Again it is the interpretation thing.

Brussels in their wisdom fought long and hard a while back for UK based H&S to drop the;

'So far as is reasonably practicable." They wanted to see more 'absolutes,' thanks goodness for now it stays so that the law courts can decide if 'what was done was enough, or reasonable, or sufficient.'

Yes indeed, I hear it far too often that XYZ consultants wish to take your money to advise you about the CM Act. This Act carries no fear to companies already showing a commitment to workplace H&S. End of.

I heard of a tale recently where ea consultant had advised his client that he could face a severe custodial sentence if prosecuted under said corporate manslaughter act. err, catch up Mr Consultant muppet, it is in the title so a bit of a give-away there. he might have mentioned the HSWA which would have been relevant, but why use scare tactics? Far better to take a positive and proactive approach, get it all done and dusted and carry on running the business.

There is so much confusion in the business market place regarding H&S, indeed, it is a vast area and can be considered complex at times, far better to get the roots of commitment right in the first place than have me advising te board what this fatality means to them and just how much it is likely to cost them.

"Rubbish!" States the MD, it is what we have insurance for.

When I go on to explain this is restricted to the civil side and not the criminal side I see initially confused faces. if you could insure against a custodial sentence everyone would be doing it! In addition a recent client faced ruin, (no I didn't initially look after him, i was requested to advise on the probable outcome). When I pointed out no-one had ever read the t's n c'c that the underwriters had stated in one insurance policy it turned out the insurers refused to pay out or cover the civil liabilities because they had not followed the requirements of said policy!

There was nothing they could do but sit and wait ruin. I worked with one of the county's top H&S lawyers trying to pull every string for them. Sadly it was all to no avail. They closed the business shortly after, (I never got paid) and the MD and two other senior people classed as 'directing minds,' were hit with massive claims. Last I heard the criminal application was still going ahead but to what value it would be in terms of; 'public interest' I'm not certain. They may receive a

Right then a ramble coming on but I feel the friendliness within this forum may well come to my aid.

Sooo, I won't repeat my details but suffice it to say, redundancy followed by starting up in private practice =webbysite.

This I have done and it is a freebie through Heart costing me a whopping 33 for two years worth of domain name. Now comes the dense bit.

I hear many of you refer to 'meta-tags' SEO (search engine hoptimization) layouts, coverage, .com, .co.uk and so on.

I was just reading (can't contribute cos of me posting number) the 'wad e fink of me webbysite?' And some very interesting information from peeps that clearly know what they is chewing the fat over.

Mine right now is basic and probably way too much on the 'ome' page, but hey-ho, how else do you learn. I see software progs that you can make a site yourself with the see what you type style, which has to be a good ting.

I have only just been picked up by the faceless bots and now I can be seen when searched for. best results though have been through Clive's UK directories site, this is getting me consistently on the first page of Googly, and near the top on 'hevery-hoccasion' (been watching too much Larkrise to Candleford).

Whilst I try to get my bonce around what you say (and I appreciate the recommendation to 'PR for dummies) so much of it soars across the top. Google maps for instance, that seems to be at the top every time, above the yellow one and displays the names of competitors (not me yet, I did register a free one).

So what are these 'meta-tags?' (don't yell, I'm new to this) and where do they go, what information should be on a home page? Is it important (search wise I mean) oh so many questions...obvious I realise to others, but any help would be gratefully appreciated. Oh and what does it mean I can 'add a tag or a trackback to this thread???'

Mike

Anita, tis all you need right now. Public Liability. Shop around - the quotations will vary enormously. As time goes and you secure work in business or LA based, they may well ask that you have a minimum. This also varies and some will say 5 million pounds, others 10 - and an occasional bigger one, but that is for the future.

You don't need PI, just the PL and of course rightly so goods in transit and your tools for the job.

Good luck and I expect you are hoping for a good Spring/Summer?

Mike

Kevin

Personally I feel it is too early to tell. It is tottering (IMO). The line is so fine right now - but we have better weather to come (yep, makes a difference) and the property market - both domestic and commercial generally always enjoy decent growth in Spring/Summer times.

The construction market (of which I consult to) has still to witness those green shoots of recovery. Until it does property prices will continue to rise steadily (which is far better than rapid) and of course eventually demand will out-strip supply and we start all over again with a 'boon' period.

It never ceases to amaze me how fickle the markets are as a whole, and if we are to move forward some radical steps need to be taken not only by industry, but by banking institutions as well. One of the difficulties facing us right now is the amount of debt the country has, and until taxes start flowing through to HMG it becomes once again that old cliche of the 'chicken and the egg.'

No, again personally, I do not think (crystal ball not withstanding) that 2010 is the year that sees all troubles firmly behind us. There are still far too many issues 'teetering' right now, so it is that very technical term we all love so much that will play a large part over the next couple or three years.....'Fingers-crossed.'

Mike

Anita

look up the top on user control panel, click it then look on the L/H side and locate 'edit options,' scroll down until you see the box to unsubscribe from post notifications.

Mike