Health and Safety Assessment

Health and Safety board

Why it matters

The Health and Safety At Work (HASAW) Act 1974 was brought in to law to protect people in the workplace by reducing the risk of accidents, injuries and fatalities.

At one time, it was just a fact of life that people were electrocuted, scalded, burned, impaled, injured or disabled with life-changing personal damage due to lack of diligence and duty of care by owners or managers in the workplace. Now it is not just known about legally, but the moral aspects are understood by workers and guests, both with potential financial and business implications.

If you look after the infrastructure and equipment of your business, keep the place tidy and presentable, and lead by example, your staff will be better motivated, more productive and will be in-tune with the mindset of safety, willing to observe and rectify any problem before it affects someone.

Slips, trips and falls are the number 1 health and safety issue yet are so easily avoidable if you know what to look for.
Falling down stairs bigger

When you protect your staff, you protect your guests. In turn, you protect yourself and your business from costly claims, reputational damage and loss of income.

Major hotel booking websites are now providing a filter to select properties that demonstrate they are taking Health and Safety measures.

There have been a number of recent infamous hotel fires in England and Scotland where aspects of non-compliance with Health and Safety were known before the fire and were considered to have contributed either to the fire or the avoidable fatalities or extensive damage suffered.

A Health and Safety Assessment has many overlaps with a Fire Risk Assessment so you should consider having both done at the same time, not just for a sensible cost-saving measure but for the comprehensive peace of mind and conscience that you have done the right thing for you, your staff, your guests and your business.