Health and safety site

Health and safety made simple has been developed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and business organisations and is aimed at making things easier for low risk small and medium-sized enterprises.

It is also amied at educing the number of workplace deaths and injuries, where in the East of England 20 people were killed last year. Local prosecutions include cases where a factory worker’s arm was cut to the bone in Dunstable. A heavy goods driver has his jaw smashed by a lorry door in Ampthill. Employers had failed to take steps to protect workers.

The website takes users through the process step-by-step, explaining what to do and how to do it. It is hoped that red tape will be reduced.

Cheryl Smart MBE, Chief Executive of Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce said: “Health and Safety issues can be a minefield for businesses and this new website should ease the burden for employers and help them to get it right. Failing to understand and implement stringent health and safety procedures can cause an enormous amount of heartache for both employers and their employees. Not only can it be extremely costly in financial terms, it can create long term damage to the reputation of a company.

“A good company is one that ensures its staff are protected from the day to day dangers in the workplace. There is no excuse, the advice, support and help is out there to operate good practice and this website has been designed to do just that.” Visit www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety