Managing health and safety is something no one really wants to talk about but is crucial to the successful running of a business. In most workplaces, it’s the responsibility of the employer to ensure the work environment is safe for employees and customers alike.
Unfortunately, health and safety is often forgotten or even ignored by those who are self-employed, which can have severe consequences, both for the physical health of those working and for the reputation of the business. Here are some steps a self-employed person could take to ensure they are meeting UK health and safety laws.
Determine Whether You are Classed as Self-Employed
You may think you fall into the self-employed category, but it’s important to know for certain. Many people are classed as self-employed by HMRC for tax purposes but do not actually fit the self-employed category for health and safety responsibilities. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines a self-employed person as someone who doesn’t work under a contract of employment and only works for themselves.
If you regularly carry out work that carries a high risk of injury or serious health issues, you will need to comply with health and safety regulations. Examples of such work include agriculture and forestry, construction, gas, asbestos, genetically modified organisms, and railways.
Be Aware of Health and Safety Risks
If you’re self-employed and employ others you have the same legal responsibilities as any other employer. It is your duty to protect your staff, as well as anyone else who could be affected by your business. This includes everyone from customers to suppliers delivering products and sales representatives visiting for a pitch.
You must carry out regular risk assessments to ensure you’re aware of anything that could become a health and safety issue, and you should communicate any issues to your team. Once an issue has been identified, ensure you take steps to prevent it from causing harm. For example, if you notice a fault with a piece of machinery, mark it as “Out-of-order”, let your staff know about the hazard and do not use the equipment again until it has been repaired and deemed safe by a qualified engineer.
Provide Staff with Safety Equipment
To keep your staff as safe as possible and reduce the risk of injury or illness, you must provide them with appropriate safety wear and personal protective equipment (PPE). For example, if you run a laboratory, your employees should be wearing face masks, disposable gloves and possibly even overalls, to protect them from chemical spillage and breathing in fumes which could be harmful.
Educate your staff on the importance of wearing their PPE and discipline those who do not follow the health and safety rules. There can be severe consequences if PPE is not used around heavy machinery or dangerous liquids, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
