The clocks have changed and warmer weather is on the way. Many will take this as their cue for an annual spring clean, but it’s also an opportunity to refresh your health and safety procedures. From testing electrical appliances to restocking first aid kits, here are five ways you can put safety first this spring.
Perform PAT testing
There are 22,000 fires a year in UK workplaces, and a quarter of these are caused by faulty electrical equipment. The best way to avoid this scenario is to perform regular PAT (Portable Appliance Testing).
While PAT isn’t a legal requirement, an annual inspection of all electrical equipment is the best way to ensure safety. For low-risk devices such as lamps and desk fans, a quick visual check should be enough. Higher risk equipment such as power tools should be inspected more thoroughly.
Faulty equipment should be replaced immediately. You should also want to label safe equipment with the date of the inspection for future reference.
Focus on fire safety
As well as taking steps to avoid electrical fires, it’s a good idea to refresh your memory on general fire safety procedures. Taking the following actions at least once a year will ensure that everyone behaves appropriately in the event of a fire:
- Make sure fire extinguishers are in date, and remind employees how to use them
- Test fire alarms and make sure fire doors are in good working order
- Remind employees of evacuation routes and assembly points
- Check that evacuation routes are clearly signposted and free of obstacles
- Update your staff list to ensure an accurate roll call in the event of an evacuation
- Carry out a timed fire drill to make sure these measures are working correctly.
Restock first aid equipment
The law requires every work place to have at least one suitably stocked first aid kit. The contents of the kit are up to you, but it should include the following items as a minimum:
- Sterile dressings and plasters of various sizes
- Triangular bandages
- Sterile eye pads
- Unmedicated wound dressings
- Safety pins
- Disposable gloves
Now is a good time to check if these items are running low, and to replenish your stocks if necessary. You should also look for items with use-by dates, and replace any that have expired.
Check risk assessments
A lot can change in a year, and this could mean that your existing risk assessments are no longer effective. Risk assessments should be updated throughout the year, but an annual review is a great way to spot new hazards you may have missed. Things to look out for include:
- Tasks that have been added to the working day
- Changes to existing tasks
- Changes to staff or rotas
- Physical changes to the workplace
- New equipment that could cause harm
If a new risk has emerged or an existing risk has been exacerbated, you should update your risk assessment accordingly. Describe the risk in detail and include suggestions for reducing the danger. If this means changing your way of working, make sure that all employees are familiar with the new guidelines.
Update health and safety policy
The law requires every business with five or more employees to have a written health and safety policy. This should clearly state your approach to health and safety, as well as setting out the responsibilities of you and your staff. There is no legal obligation to update this policy, but an annual review ensures that it remains accurate and relevant.
As with your risk assessments, you should take into account any major changes that have occurred in the last 12 months. You should also be on the lookout for new H&S legislation that applies to your business. If you decide to update your policy, make sure that a copy of the new policy is made available to all employees.
These are just some of the ways you can get ahead of the game this spring. If you need help carrying out a PAT test, writing a risk assessment or updating your health and safety policy, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
