17 most important questions to ask about health and safety in the workplace

17 Most Important Questions to
Ask about Health and Safety in the
Workplace.

www.HealthandSafetyintheWorkplace.com

Health & Safety in the Workplace

In this series of slides, we pose a number of critical questions
regarding Health & Safety in the Workplace which need to be
considered in each and every working environment.

Some may need to be reviewed on a regular basis whilst
others may not relate to your business after an initial
investigation.

We recommend that you consider each slide and then decide
if you need to take any further action on the topics discussed.

Q1 – Have you got Health and Safety
under Control?

If you have five or more employees, as a minimum
you will need a written Health & Safety policy
statement.
You will need to do Risk Assessments for your staff
and review their working environment.


Q2 – What are the Chances of
Slipping or Tripping at Work?

This is the most common cause of injury in the
workplace and can occur in any working environment.
Estimations of the cost to employers exceeds £300m
a year for these types of injuries.


Q3 – Do your Staff work with, or
come into contact with, Asbestos?

Asbestos can be found in many buildings constructed
from 1950 to the mid-80’s as an insulation material,
etc.
Avoid working with Asbestos, if possible, but if not,
make sure that you do safely!


Q4 – Do your staff perform Work at
Height and, if so, is it done safely?

This covers falls from ladders and is no respecter of
height. Even a fall from a few steps can cause injury!
There are over 50 fatalities a year and 4000 major
injuries a year involving falls from height.


Q5 –Do your Staff work with
Hazardous Substances?

This covers the materials they are working with and
the environment in which they are working
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Regulations covers this aspect of Health & Safety
management.


Q6 – Do your Staff suffer from
Sprains, Strains and Pains?

Training people in the correct way to lift and carry
loads in the workplace can reduce the number of days
lost to these types of injuries.
It is not just heavy loads that cause these problems,
but usually just the way that they are picked up or
carried.


Q7 – Are your Staff using Computers
or other Display Screen Equipment?

Staff using computers on a regular basis can cause a
variety of problems including bad backs and eye
strain.
Correct design of the work station can minimise these
problems and reduce the time lost by staff.


Q8 –Is the Work Environment Noisy?

The protection of hearing is critical in the workplace
and can affect old and young alike.
Do people need to wear ear protection anywhere in
the workplace?
Are there any areas in the factory/office where people
always have to shout to be heard?


Q9 – Are your Staff exposed to
Vibration?

This can include the use of hand operated equipment
ranging from angle grinders through to concrete
breakers
Driving heavy equipment or fork-lift trucks is another
area of possible exposure and needs to be monitored.


Q10 – Hoe Safe is the Electricity in
your Workplace?

Electricity can kill so the need to ensure that all your
equipment is safe is a major function of Health &
Safety management.
Poor electrical installations can also lead to fires
which may result in injuries and, in the worst
cases, deaths.


Q11 – What are the Risks from
Transport in your Workplace?

Even an office environment can have issues with
danger from moving vehicles if they accept deliveries
so the risks must be assessed.
The danger of vehicles in the workplace can be more
than on the public highway due to the operating
conditions so must be considered where applicable.


Q12 – How do you Select and Use the
Equipment in your Workplace

It is important that you select the right equipment for
doing each job and that staff are correctly trained in
the safe use of this equipment
This applies from photocopiers through to heavy
equipment and that every person who does use the
equipment is fully conversant with the correct
working practices.


Q13 – Are you Aware of the Risks
associated with High Pressure Systems?

This covers the full range of equipment from high
pressure systems through to the equipment used in
dentists.
The risk of failure of these systems due to poor
maintenance or unsafe working practices needs to be
monitored and managed.


Q14 – Do you know how to prevent
Fire or Explosion?

There are a number or regulations covering fire and
explosive risks in the workplace.
There are a wide range of possible sources of fire in
the workplace and these all need to be assessed and
managed.


Q15 – Are You, or your Staff, feeling
Stressed at Work?

There is a need to manage the stress felt by staff at
work as this can lead to ill health and high staff
turnover rates.
This can be identified by carrying out a similar analysis
as any other risk to health and then the necessary
steps can be put into place to reduce and remove
these risks.


Q16 – Are your Staff at Risk from
Harmful Radiation?

This can apply to any of your staff who are usually
working outside in the sun as this is classed as UV-
radiation so the risks to them must be assessed.
There are other obvious sources of radiation in some
workplaces such as lasers, x-ray equipment, etc.


Q17 – Do you know what to do fi
there is an Accident at Work?

Are there enough first aid staff and equipment for
your size of organisation?
Are all your staff aware of the need to report every
accident, no matter how small? Remember this is a
legal requirement and must be recorded!


Health & Safety in the Workplace

You need to have Health and Safety procedures in your
business and we have the solutions to help you.

Visit our site at
Health and Safety in the Workplace
and sign up for our report


17 most important questions to ask about health and safety in the workplace

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