Health and Safety is an area of compliance which few can now ignore. Its prominence in contemporary society is enshrined in buzz phrases such as ‘where there’s blame there’s a claim’, no win no fee, ‘had an accident at work’ etc.
Rather than target the usually honest employer with unjustified claims for financial reimbursement following a workplace accident or occupational ill health (Which is the approach of the no win no fee solicitor!), Think Health and Safety (UK) Ltd has been dreamed up & structured to offer a compliance tool either web based (for those who want the tools to manage safety themselves) or with visits for those less conversant, which in effect is a conceptual model management system for health and safety which can be applied / customised for any workplace (dependent on its risk profile or in other words the activities being undertaken).
Granted there are lots on companies out there trying to do this. Nevertheless, there are literally thousands of companies who both require and can afford support and are possibly unaware of their potential exposure to employee claims, prosecution etc, in the absence of this support.
Who needs H&S support?
Everyone who employs others! All employers are required to make provision for fire safety, first aid etc and the general provisions contained in the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The employer has a statutory duty of care to ensure that activities being undertaken by their staff or subcontractors (e.g. building work etc) are suitably risk assessed. If an employer has more than 4 people in their employ, requirements such as a written safety policy and documented risk assessments for the activities being discharged are mandatory.
Taking this into account, the mutual benefit for ourselves and potential client is perhaps more apparent. Everybody needs these things by law, many don’t have it and are exposed (and don’t realise), we have the tools and expertise to deliver, we can potentially reduce Client insurance premiums in the process, and we can offer the peace of mind that offsets possible litigation or enforcement action - Do you agree?
Larger entities require greater levels of support. This is similar to any other area of compliance.
How do we determine what level of support is needed?
We visit the Client or advise them via web chat on our site and offer to make an assessment of their profile although we don’t offer any documented report unless they commit to a package. We now partner with Manchester Professionals to assist us to broker meetings and try to support our package selling via the internet.
During the initial visit or online via web chat we assess or try establish;
• The activities being undertaken by the Client
• The minimum requirements to comply & their costs (discussed later)
• The numbers of staff
• Their levels of competency (based on the activities being carried out).
• Their training requirements
• What is presently in place (If anything)
• What needs to be in place
• Schedule of visits (If any)
• What the costs may be
During the visit or your discussions / web chats with potential clients, it is very important for Think H&S (UK) Ltd to convey that through the procurement of our services, we can reduce liabilities, determine and protect exposures, reduce the likelihood of accidents, incidents and near misses, reduce the likelihood of enforcement action (e.g. a Prohibition notice from the Health and Safety executive means in effect that a company might be required to cease operating – what do you think are the seen and unseen costs of this?)
Options for package
1. If a Client wants merely the Online support, access to their Domain on the site - £1200 Plus VAT 20% (PA) £1,440.00
2. Requested visits at £350.00 Per time (See website)
Costs and support requirements, from requested upfront visits must derive from a competent initial assessment (By a qualified person – Ideally, all initial assessments will be undertaken by one of our trained technicians
What is our unique selling point?
There are literally thousands of companies who require these type of packages and as discussed earlier there is plenty of competition for us. The angle of tax efficiency and insurance reduction (Or the ability to set premiums based on how you operate) combined with real quality service / technical competence & reduced exposure is very difficult to decline from the perspective of the employer, perhaps that what makes us different...
All employers should familiarise themselves with fundamental aspects of H&S;
• Every employer needs a Fire Risk Assessment for their premises.
• Every employer is required to Risk Assess staff activities.
• Every employer can be sued and needs to protect their liabilities.
• Every employer needs to ensure there staff are suitably trained.
The key messages within this synopsis provide genuine liability protection through a framework of safety management which has safety and commercial benefits.
