September is “Preparedness Month”, so we’re offering preparedness tips and tricks for UK SMEs to maintain a safe, compliant and convenient workplace.

You know all those things you forget about until it’s too late – like niggly electrical safety issues or facility concerns? Well, here’s a checklist for you, so you can ensure that your business adheres to important regulations before you get caught out!  

Duty of Care

The following preparedness tips fall under every UK business’s legal Duty of Care to provide a safe environment for staff and visitors.

It’s always worth remembering that Health and Safety law differs from criminal law. Rather than “innocent until proven guilty”, you must prove your innocence to save you from prosecution for negligence – this is why being prepared is so crucial.

Proving your business’s compliance requires a paperwork trail of regular accredited services – so don’t skimp on this stuff, or you could face fines, closure and even prison-time.

Be Prepared with Safety Services

“Safety” sounds so generic, so let us break it down for you:

Electrical Safety

No matter what industry your business is in, you probably deal with electrics on an hourly basis. From basic light fittings and plug sockets to specialist tools and appliances, workplaces across the country are legally obliged to keep their electrics in safe, working condition.

To ensure electrics are safe, it’s not good enough to simply get one thing checked when you think there’s an issue with it. All electrics in your premises must be checked periodically, so you can prove you’ve conducted regular, safe maintenance of:

By “checked”, we don’t mean have a look see and make sure there are no sparks. We mean by a qualified, accredited technician.

Fire Safety

Does your business have the right measures in place for fire prevention and fire emergency response?

Think about the following:

To truly be “fire safe”, you need to ensure your premises have these fire safety facilities. But it’s not enough to simply install them; just like electrics, fire safety features need regular checking.

Sounds like a hassle, right? And surely pricey? Well, it needn’t be. Find the right supplier and you can set up a fire safety check schedule to inspect your business six-monthly, yearly, two-yearly or whatever regularity suits your specific needs.

Health & Safety Supplies

One last note on safety: always make sure your business is equipped with emergency supplies. You never know when disaster may strike, so it’s crucial to be prepared with First Aid equipment.

Most businesses have a First Aid kit, but you shouldn’t stop there. Think about Automatic External Defibrillators. AEDs save lives in the event of Sudden Cardia Arrest – which can strike anyone at any time. The more AEDs are supplied by businesses, the safer the country is from SCA deaths.

Be Prepared with Waste Management

It’s likely that most sensible UK businesses have a general waste disposal service by a licensed waste carrier – but are those businesses only producing “general waste”, or are they using general waste bins for things that should really be disposed of in specialist ways?

The following waste types should not be disposed of with a general waste service:

  • Recyclable waste – glass, cardboard, plastic, food and more
  • Hazardous waste – potentially harmful chemicals or substances that can contaminate
  • Clinical waste – including pharmaceuticals, sharps and offensive waste (soiled with bodily fluids)
  • Bulky waste – large items that require a skip
  • Electrical waste – electric appliances fall under strict WEEE regulations
  • Confidential waste – items with sensitive data on them need to be destroyed/shredded

In line with current UK waste regulations, these substances require specific services to ensure they’re disposed of efficiently and responsibly to minimise any potential danger – like contamination, injuries, data breaches or environmental damage.

Things you’ve disposed of wrongly can come back to bite your business in the form of fines, closure and even more severe prosecution, so the sooner you get your Waste Management right the better.

Be Prepared with Building Facilities

Waste Management and Safety Services cover the main bulk of our preparedness tips, but there’s a lot more that goes into the running of a business.

Different premises have different needs, but we’ve tried our best to detail some common issues that most workplace have to deal with:

  • Washroom Facilities – accommodate a fundamental human need for your staff and visitors with restrooms that are convenient, functioning, pleasant and well-stocked
  • Water Systems – whether you just have one tap or a whole host of water systems, make sure you conduct a Legionella risk assessment to comply with the L8 Approved Code of Practice
  • Pest Control – insects, rodent and birds can wreak havoc on a business, so get a prevention service to avoid infestations
  • Floorcare – invest in floor mats to prevent slips, trips and falls, and keep them hygienic with a regular laundering service
  • Gritting/Snow Clearance – minimise hazards around your workplace during cold weather with a pro-active salt-spreading service
  • Pandemic Response Services – in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, businesses must adjust with extra cleaning and social distancing measures

Finding the Right Supplier

At Direct365, we compare reliable, certified suppliers nationwide to find your business the lowest price. We’ll save you the time and hassle of finding the right help, so you can focus on doing the things you love.

Our range of contractors cover all the above services and are professional, accredited and reliable. They’ll conduct services at your workplace during a convenient time for you, with minimal disruption to your business.

Browse our website or get in touch for a quick, free, no-obligation quote.

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