Your responsibilities for health, safety and the environment

Here's how my business approaches health and safety issues

Phil Andrews is managing director of The Industry Exchange, a company that brings business people together - either at specialist events, via digital exchanges or as a network facilitator. Phil, who started the business in 2003, makes health and safety a priority because it helps protect his five employees - who he believes are his most valuable asset.

What I did

"I knew from day one that health and safety was important, but as a small and rapidly growing business I found it hard to find the time in the first six months to sit down and write a health and safety plan.

"One day we had a minor health and safety incident which made me realise just how important it was. My colleague and I were rushing to catch a plane when she tripped and sprained her ankle. As soon as we got back to the UK, I sorted out insurance to give us all full medical cover wherever we were and we sat down as a group to look at our health and safety issues."

"We talked through our working day - what we do, how we operate, how we get where we are going and then carried out a risk assessment of all these activities. The main issue was the organisation of the office, because we all spend a lot of time there.

"We ended up with a health and safety statement that we keep on the wall, which everyone has signed to show his or her commitment. It takes up one page of A4, and states things such as: "I will ensure the office environment is kept safe for myself and my colleagues', with sub-heads such as, 'responsible use of leads, wires and cables' and 'keeping the office rubbish free"."

"I think it is very important to get everyone's buy-in to a health and safety policy and make it clear it applies to everyone, including managers. I also believe in empowering everyone to take responsibility for health and safety so the most junior member of staff can reprimand the boss, if they see them doing something potentially dangerous.

"The health and safety of my staff is paramount. I make sure the work environment is comfortable by providing flat screen monitors, which take up less room on the desk, and ergonomic chairs. I would rather have a safe and comfortable working environment than save a few pounds." 

What I'd do differently

"I would have created a health and safety policy sooner. I know now that it is as important as any of the other things you have to concentrate on when starting up and shouldn't be pushed aside."

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Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• Comply with key health and safety rules
• Comply with key environmental rules
• Who ensures that health and safety and environmental law is being complied with?
• Do I need to license or register my business?
• Make sure your business is properly insured
• Substances covered by health, safety and environmental law
• Activities covered by health and safety laws
• Maintain high standards of occupational health
• Health, safety and the environment in specific sectors
• Checklist: protecting health, safety and the environment
• Here's how my business approaches health and safety issues

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