Providing a healthy and happy place for your employees to work is not just a whim for the socially conscious entrepreneur. Employers that do not take due note may find themselves in serious breach of Health and Safety legislation and up to their eyes in litigation from their own staff.
As with any type of employment law, it can be an absolute minefield to new (and established) businesses and getting it right in the beginning saves a lot of heartache later on. Getting the right type of advice therefore is always a priority. Government bodies like the Health and Safety Executive are very good at telling firms what they are doing wrong and employ scare tactics by showering them with official statistics, which the budding entrepreneur would find daunting to say the least. Even stepping into what would seem to be a fairly benign office space becomes a potential hazard that can cost employers huge amounts in compensation claims from their own employees.
It is hardly surprising therefore that many firms outsource their health and safety requirements. Again, a healthy workplace is a happy workplace and if health and safety is all taken care of, then work proceeds on a higher performance footing, saving the company money in the long run. Prevention is always better than cure and through ensuring that the workplace is as safe as it possibly can be the risk to employers of litigation and compensation pay outs will be vastly reduced.
At NorthgateArinso we demystify the legislation for our clients and ensure that they comply with health and safety requirements. Gap analysis is undertaken, relevant policy procedures put in place, ongoing support and advice provided, proper training to ensure employees are aware of potential hazards and corrective procedures, plus indemnity insurance to supply specialist legal support if the worst should happen.