What's new at HSE » Small businesses http://news.hse.gov.uk News and updates from the Health and Safety Executive Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:38:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Small Business Trade Association Forum http://news.hse.gov.uk/2010/02/15/small-business-trade-association-forum-4/?eban=rssSmall businesses Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:00:15 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=14854 The agenda and papers for the meeting of the Small Business Trade Association Forum held on 12 November 2009 are now available.

View Small Business Trade Association Forum agenda

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2010/02/15/small-business-trade-association-forum-4/feed/ Promotion of health and safety in motor vehicle repair http://news.hse.gov.uk/2010/02/15/promotion-of-health-and-safety-in-motor-vehicle-repair-2/?eban=rssSmall businesses Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:00:43 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=14858 Local authority circular. HSE national priorities for delivery in 2010/11 include a combined workstream to promote the new guidance for motor vehicle repair (MVR) HSG 261 ‘Health and safety in motor vehicle repair and associated industries’ and implement the SLIC campaign on risks from hazardous substances in SMEs by application in MVR.

View LAC 57-6: Promotion of health and safety in motor vehicle repair

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2010/02/15/promotion-of-health-and-safety-in-motor-vehicle-repair-2/feed/ Free online risk assessments – what do you think? http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/12/31/free-online-risk-assessments-what-do-you-think/?eban=rssSmall businesses Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:00:06 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=13270 HSE is keen to hear from anyone who has used our free online risk assessment and police templates.

Tell us what you think

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/12/31/free-online-risk-assessments-what-do-you-think/feed/ HSE Chair’s speech to Claims Club, General Insurance Industry event http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/12/04/hse-chairs-speech-to-claims-club-general-insurance-industry-event/?eban=rssSmall businesses Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:20:03 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=12702 Transcript of HSE Chair Judith Hackitt’s speech at the Claims Club, General Insurance Industry Claims Managers Event, London, 2 December 2009.

Read the HSE Chair’s speech

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/12/04/hse-chairs-speech-to-claims-club-general-insurance-industry-event/feed/ HSE board member honoured with lifetime achievement award http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/10/22/hse-board-member-honoured-with-lifetime-achievement-award/?eban=rssSmall businesses Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:05:18 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=11504 The Health and Safety Executive’s longest serving board member, Judith Donovan, has been recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The agriculture and small business champion, who is in the final year of her maximum 10-year term with HSE, has been honoured by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) for her work in these areas.

View press release HSE board member honoured with lifetime achievement award

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/10/22/hse-board-member-honoured-with-lifetime-achievement-award/feed/ New risk assessment tools save businesses time and money http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/10/22/new-risk-assessment-tools-save-businesses-time-and-money/?eban=rssSmall businesses Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:30:44 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=11507 Businesses are set to save time and money with the launch of new, simplified documents to help get their health and safety arrangements in place.

HSE has developed a new electronic template specially for small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) which combines, into one document, the requirements of a health and safety policy, risk assessment and written record of health and safety arrangements.


View press release new risk assessment tools save businesses time and money

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/10/22/new-risk-assessment-tools-save-businesses-time-and-money/feed/ RR737 – COSHH and current practice http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/10/20/rr737-coshh-and-current-practice/?eban=rssSmall businesses Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:04 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=11395 Guidance on the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) has been recently revised (INDG136 Rev4). Before publication, HSE wished to test whether this new format would properly engage and inform the target audience of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and, especially, micro-businesses. .

View the full research report RR737: COSHH and current practice

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/10/20/rr737-coshh-and-current-practice/feed/ Coming soon: Asbestos – Hidden Killer campaign http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/10/06/coming-soon-asbestos-hidden-killer-campaign/?eban=rssSmall businesses Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:40:42 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=10948 Starts 2 November 2009 – helping tradesmen and maintenance workers know when they might be working with asbestos.

Coming soon: Asbestos: Hidden Killer campaign

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/10/06/coming-soon-asbestos-hidden-killer-campaign/feed/ Example risk assessment – maintenance of flats http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/09/18/example-risk-assessment-maintenance-of-flats/?eban=rssSmall businesses Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:22:28 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=10570 A new example risk assessment shows the kind of approach a small business might take. It can be used as a guide to think through some of the hazards in your business and the steps you need to take to control the risks.

View example risk assessment

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/09/18/example-risk-assessment-maintenance-of-flats/feed/ Free events to help businesses with health and safety issues http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/08/27/free-events-to-help-businesses-with-health-and-safety-issues/?eban=rssSmall businesses Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:20:24 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=10130 Businesses in Hereford shire and Worcestershire are being invited to learn more about how they can improve their health and safety performance at two free events.

View free events to help businesses with health and safety issues press release

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/08/27/free-events-to-help-businesses-with-health-and-safety-issues/feed/ Small Business Trade Association Forum http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/08/18/small-business-trade-association-forum-3/?eban=rssSmall businesses Tue, 18 Aug 2009 06:30:12 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=9866 The agenda and papers for the meeting of the Small Business Trade Association Forum on 21 July 2009 are now available.

View the SBTAF agenda and papers

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/08/18/small-business-trade-association-forum-3/feed/ Safety Schemes in Procurement Competence Forum http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/08/05/safety-schemes-in-procurement-competence-forum/?eban=rssSmall businesses Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:30:23 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=9632 This report describes a study into the means by which the Safety Schemes in Procurement-Competence Forum’ (SSIP-C Forum) might operate; it also considers the business case for such a forum and how this body might be brought to the attention of clients.

View the Safety Schemes in Procurement Competence Forum research report

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/08/05/safety-schemes-in-procurement-competence-forum/feed/ Qualitative research amongst ‘hard to reach’ small construction site operators http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/07/28/qualitative-research-amongst-%e2%80%98hard-to-reach%e2%80%99-small-construction-site-operators/?eban=rssSmall businesses Tue, 28 Jul 2009 05:40:35 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=9473 Since 2000 there has been a significant reduction in fatal accidents and other injuries in the construction industry. This reduction has been attributed in part to the focus of HSE on influencing large firms. In order to encourage the continuation of this downward trend, the HSE’s Small Sites Project was established to bring about the adoption of sensible risk management strategies to improve standards of health and safety on Small Sites. There is a specific focus on those sites with 5 or fewer employees on site.

View RR719 – Report of qualitative research amongst ‘hard to reach’ small construction site operators research report

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/07/28/qualitative-research-amongst-%e2%80%98hard-to-reach%e2%80%99-small-construction-site-operators/feed/ Small companies warned to take health and safety responsibilities seriously http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/07/23/small-companies-warned-to-take-health-and-safety-responsibilities-seriously/?eban=rssSmall businesses Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:57:52 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=9530 HSE has warned small companies to take their responsibilities seriously, after a man fell through the roof of a DIY superstore in Wigan and later died.

David Battisson from CRN Contracts Ltd in Birkenhead (formerly Concrete Repairs NW Ltd) was working on the roof of The Range store when he fell ten metres to the floor through a PVC light.

Read small companies warned to take health and safety responsibilities seriously press release

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/07/23/small-companies-warned-to-take-health-and-safety-responsibilities-seriously/feed/ Bucks Chief Executives sign up to sensible risk management http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/07/16/bucks-chief-executives-sign-up-to-sensible-risk-management/?eban=rssSmall businesses Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:45:06 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=9284 Buckinghamshire Council Chief Executives were keen to add their support to the Sensible Risk Management Campaign when they collectively signed up to the principles of sensible risk management. 

Find out more

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/07/16/bucks-chief-executives-sign-up-to-sensible-risk-management/feed/ Managing my asbestos http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/07/03/managing-my-asbestos/?eban=rssSmall businesses Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:30:24 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=8947 A step by step guide to the duty to manage asbestos.

This systematic guide takes duty holders through the process of understanding their duties as defined in Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.

A set of questions will enable you to identify whether you are a duty holder and take you through a series of steps to help you decide if there is asbestos present and if so, how to manage it.

View Managing my asbestos guide

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/07/03/managing-my-asbestos/feed/ Small Business Trade Association Forum meeting agendas, minutes and papers http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/06/30/small-business-trade-association-forum-meeting-agendas-minutes-and-papers/?eban=rssSmall businesses Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:40:55 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=8867 Updated minutes, agendas and papers for the Small Business Trade Association Forum are now available online.

Find out more

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/06/30/small-business-trade-association-forum-meeting-agendas-minutes-and-papers/feed/ Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/06/12/control-of-substances-hazardous-to-health-coshh/?eban=rssSmall businesses Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:35:09 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=8405 Using chemicals or other hazardous substances at work can put people’s health at risk, causing diseases including asthma, dermatitis or cancer. COSHH regulations require employers to control substances that can harm workers health.

The COSHH website has been re-launched with lots of additional information.

View the re-launched website

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/06/12/control-of-substances-hazardous-to-health-coshh/feed/ Induction pack for smaller construction companies http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/04/17/induction-pack-for-smaller-construction-companies/?eban=rssSmall businesses Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:55:32 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=7116 This presentation has been prepared by Site Safe Scotland with assistance from the construction industry, WWT Campaign and HSE. The slides and speaker notes in this presentation are designed for a short (1/2 to 2 hour) induction session for workers arriving on site.

View induction for smaller construction companies pack [PDF 2MB]

]]> http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/04/17/induction-pack-for-smaller-construction-companies/feed/ Moves to simplify health and safety take effect http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/04/08/moves-to-simplify-health-and-safety-take-effect/?eban=rssSmall businesses Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:42:45 +0000 HSE http://news.hse.gov.uk/?p=6914 Moves to make health and safety laws easier to understand and comply with take effect from today.

HSE is making four changes to the regulations it is responsible for:

  • Introducing a new, easier to read version of the law poster that employers must display
  • Reducing the number of forms that employers must complete
  • Simplifying arrangements for the manufacture and storage of explosives
  • Aligning chemical hazard information and packaging with new EU regulations

View Moves to simplify health and safety take effect press release

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