Does your UK business employ 5 or more people?

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Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and related regulations, UK companies of this size are legally required to have specific health and safety policies and documents in place.

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As health and safety consultants, IESS can alleviate this burden. We offer services to create, review, or update your mandatory documentation, plus other highly recommended policies and procedures.

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How we help:

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1. Simple Start: We begin with a straightforward site visit and meeting to understand your needs.

2. Tailored Support: Choose either:

   • Ongoing Partnership: We become your dedicated health and safety partner, managing all your documentation needs.

   • Flexible Service: We provide individual documents on a one-off basis, exactly when you need them.

 

We provide the following essential and recommended health and safety documents:

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Legally Required Documents (For UK businesses with 5+ employees):

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1. Written Health and Safety Policy: Must include:

   • Statement of Intent: Your general commitment to health and safety.

   • Organisational Responsibilities: Who is responsible for what.

   • Arrangements Section: Detailed procedures for managing specific risks (how you achieve your policy aims).

2. Risk Assessments: Documented assessments for all significant workplace risks (as required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999). This includes identifying hazards, who might be harmed, evaluating risks, and recording control measures.

3. Accident Book / Record of Reportable Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR): A system to record all work-related injuries, cases of ill health, and near misses. Specific incidents must be reported to the HSE under RIDDOR.

4. Industry/Activity Specific Assessments & Plans (Where Applicable): Such as:

   • COSHH Assessments (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)

   • Manual Handling Assessments

   • Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Assessments

   • Noise Risk Assessments

   • Vibration Risk Assessments

   • Asbestos Management Plan / Register (if applicable)

   • Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) Documents (for construction projects)

5. First Aid Arrangements: Documented details including appointed person(s)/first aider names, location of kits, and procedures.

6. Fire Safety Risk Assessment & Emergency Plan: Required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Includes evacuation procedures, fire drills, and fire safety arrangements.

 

Highly Recommended Documents (Not always strictly mandatory, but crucial for compliance and best practice):

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1. Safe Systems of Work (SSOW) / Method Statements: Detailed, task-specific instructions on how to carry out work safely, especially for higher-risk activities.

2. Training Records: Comprehensive records of health and safety training provided to employees.

3. Workplace Inspection Checklists & Reports: Records of regular safety inspections (e.g., general workplace, fire safety, equipment).

4. Contractor Management Procedures: Documents outlining how you ensure contractors working on your site are competent and work safely (including permit-to-work systems where needed).

5. Emergency Procedures (Beyond Fire): Plans for other emergencies (e.g., major incident, flood, bomb threat, medical emergency).

6. Health Surveillance Records: Records of health checks required for specific hazards (e.g., noise, vibration, hazardous substances).

7. PPE Records: Documentation of provision, maintenance, and training for Personal Protective Equipment.

8. Lone Working Policy & Procedures: Specific guidance and risk assessments for employees working alone.

9. Driving for Work Policy & Risk Assessments: For employees who drive as part of their job.

10. Stress Risk Assessment & Management Policy: Demonstrating commitment to managing work-related stress.

11. Welfare Facility Records: Records of maintenance checks for facilities like toilets, washing facilities, drinking water, rest areas.

12. Equipment Maintenance Records: Records of inspections, maintenance, and testing for work equipment (including PAT testing for electrical appliances, LOLER examinations for lifting equipment, PUWER inspections).