Company owners have been urged to “improve the health and safety” of their business in a bid to protect employees, visitors and general members of the public.
According to whatishealthandsafety.co.uk safety signs should be bought from a reliable source and security measures need to be tightened across the board. The use of personal protective equipment is also promoted and health and safety training is advised for all workers – no matter what their occupation.
The advice follows worrying statistics revealed by HSE – the national independent watchdog for work-related health, safety and illness – which state that 200 people are killed and over one million are injured at work every year. Over two million people also suffer illnesses caused by, or made worse by their job and forestry is one of the most dangerous industries to work in.
Matt Hornsby, a spokesman for the online resource said: “Health and safety is an important part of business, but it is often ignored. Many companies try to cut corners, to reduce costs, but this is simply unacceptable. We might be in a double-dip recession, but there’s no need to put staff members at risk.”
He continued: “There are lots of things company owners can do to tighten up the security of their site. Cornering off dangerous areas is a good start and providing the relevant safety gear is a must. Hard hats, ear muffs, protective gloves, steel toe boots, fluorescent jackets and other useful items can be bought online and can save the lives of many employees.”
Employers are required by law to carry out a thorough risk assessment of their property and to take steps to make improvements. Not all tasks have to be done at once, but significant changes must be made if necessary to prevent staff members from getting injured.
