How to Improve Business Productivity by Minimising Risk

It’s a plain fact that apart from the impact on your staff, accidents and ill health caused at work costs your business time and money.
Not only that, but you will be aware of the amount of employee litigation that is on the increase, and it is becoming more difficult for businesses to keep up with the changes and complexity of new legislation.
So if you think about the legal implications, the management time used in dealing with employee situations, the loss of productivity, and the financial implications, it will come as no surprise that many businesses like yours are looking for specialist help and advice.
Establishing a well-planned and organised health and safety regime will ensure that all your hard-earned profits are not spent on accident or illness related problems. That’s a real business benefit.
Currently you are not required by law to eliminate all risk, but you are required to ensure that you protect people as far as is ‘reasonably practicable’. All workers are entitled to work in environments where health and safety risks are properly controlled. Under health and safety law, the primary responsibility for this is yours, as the employer. That’s why a robust health and safety risk management programme is so important.
Once you are aware of the particular risks your business faces means that any action you take will be more effective and therefore more secure. How can you be sure that you are adequately protected?
At BiB our aim is to help you manage and reduce your exposure to risk, specifically when it comes to the health and safety arrangements for your business, helping you to minimise the risk you face from the effect of unforeseen incidents.

So how can we reduce your exposure to this risk?

Unfortunately, it’s a common feature that many businesses often overlook the need for a comprehensive health and safety programme to their cost. Effective health and safety risk management looks at every possible impact on your business, and knowing the particular risks your business faces means that any action you take will be more effective and therefore more secure.
In fact, there are a number of factors which will affect the risk management measures you adopt;
such as your Health and Safety policy, COSHH requirements, fire risks, noise measurement, staff health checks, alarm systems, emergency lighting, and all the main health and safety topics which may expose you to significant risk.
Whatever your business, a well-planned review and assessment of your health and safety programme is a proven and effective method designed to protect your valuable investment.
To give you some guidance on health and safety risk management, we have put together an outline below of the main areas you should take into consideration in order to reduce your exposure to risk.

What you should consider ?

We would recommend that you carry out a thorough examination of both your premises and operations, closely evaluating any areas which may leave you exposed to significant risk. This will highlight any areas which could cause problems to you and your staff, enabling you to:

• Identify hazards


• Decide who may be exposed to harm


• Evaluate all the risks and decide on sensible precautions


• Record the findings and implement them

Some important areas you need to consider when assessing your exposure to risk:

• Do you have a standard Health and Safety policy?


• What is your recent track record on accidents and dangerous occurrences?


• Are Health and Safety Policy details known to all staff?


• Is there a specific person trained in and responsible for Health and Safety management?


• Are all statutory notices displayed?


• Has a programme of risk assessments been initiated?


• Are risk assessments reviewed periodically or when changes made?


• Are there missing assessments or any overdue?


• Do you carry out pre-employment health checks?


• Is there Health and Safety induction training for new staff?


• Do you carry out regular safety inspections?


• Is there a system for issuing work permits?


• Do you have a record of accidents and dangerous occurrences?


• Are you aware of compliance with RIDDOR and insurer reporting obligations?


• Is your fire detection and alarm method regularly checked?


• Are means of escape clearly marked and safe?


• Are fire exit doors and escape routes always unlocked and unobstructed?


• Do you carry out a full six monthly evacuation test?

This is a brief overview of some of the issues that could affect your business to a greater or lesser degree, depending on how you manage them. We can help you examine these areas in a well-planned and detailed manner, identify your level of exposure to risk and develop an organised, cost-effective risk management plan.
All of which gives you greater control of your business performance, profitability and success.

What should I do now?

If you would like to find out more about managing the risks associated with health and safety, then please call us on 01325 353888 and we will be happy to discuss this important issue with you in greater detail. Alternatively please email us on webenq@bibinsurance.co.uk