Workplace inspections help prevent incidents, injuries and illnesses. Through an examination of the workplace, they help to identify and record hazards. HSE are currently carrying out inspections across the country where a Health and Safety Inspector may visit your organisation and examine the arrangements you have in place for assessing and controlling risks. This may include:
Noise
Many employees in Great Britain are exposed to noise levels at work that may be harmful. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (Noise Regulations 2005) require employers to prevent or reduce risks to Health and Safety from exposure to noise at work. These include:
- Taking action to reduce the noise exposure that produces those risks
- Providing employees with hearing protection if you cannot reduce the noise exposure enough by using other methods
- Making sure legal limits on noise exposure are not exceeded
- Providing your employees with information, instruction and training
- Carrying out health surveillance where there is a risk to health.
Dust
Dust can be a problem in almost any industry. The hazards of dusts like silica and wood are well recognised, and HSE produces specific guidance for these dusts, but there are many more substances that generate dusts which are hazardous to health. Exposure to all such dusts needs to be prevented or, where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled. Some simple checks may help in identifying whether a problem exists in your organisation:
- Is the material you are using naturally dusty?
- Does the work you do create dust by mechanical or other means?
- Is dust liable to be disturbed in your place of work?
Hazardous Substances
Every year, thousands of workers are made ill by hazardous substances, contracting illnesses such as asthma, cancer and skin disease such as dermatitis. Hazardous substances can take many forms and include chemicals, products containing chemicals, fumes, dusts, vapours, mists and more.
There is a legal requirement for organisations to carry out specific COSHH Risk Assessments of activities that involve the use of hazardous substances and chemicals.
What are the consequences of doing nothing?
The penalties of not complying with Workplace Health and Safety law can be very serious and may include:
- Company finesFee’s for intervention (average fee for intervention is around £1015.00)
- Individual fines and imprisonment;
- Publicity of prosecutions leading to loss of orders and damage to reputation.
How can we help?
As one of the leading workplace Health and Safety consultants covering the Midlands, North West and West Yorkshire areas we offer a range of services which can help you assess and control Health and Safety risks within your organisation. The compliance services we offer include:
- Health and Safety audits and inspections
- Risk assessments
- Noise monitoring and assessments
- Workplace exposure monitoring
- Fire risk assessments
- Legionella risk assessments
- Health and Safety training courses
- Asbestos surveys and inspections
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