What is a Safety Statement?
When you are managing your own business, ensuring the safety of the people who work for you is your responsibility and you will want to meet legal and industry standards to protect your business, your employees and your reputation. An accident or incident that could have been prevented could destroy all of your hard work in building up your business, and it is vital to have stringent safety measures in place to ensure the highest levels of health and safety practice.
In Ireland, a Safety Statement is required by law for any workplace that employs more than three people, in accordance with the Health and Safety Act 2005. This Safety Statement must be prepared by the employer or by the person who is in control of the workplace, and it must be a written document that safeguards the health and safety of employees and members of the public in the workplace. Your Safety Statement must be reviewed on an annual basis, or when there are major changes in the organisation or workplace, and should be specific and unique to your business.
Why Do I Need a Safety Statement?
Your Safety Statement is a document that defines the health and safety practices that your organisation adheres to and ensures the safety of those in the workplace. It plays an important role in identifying potential risks and putting preventative measures in place. A Safety Statement is a legal requirement for all businesses with more than three employees and there are penalties for non-compliance with this law. Here you can find out more about writing a Safety Statement.
Having a strong Safety Statement for your business will allow you to meet your legal and moral responsibilities to maintain a safe workplace, and will prevent you from incurring fines and legal action. All of your employees and clients should have access to your Safety Statement and this can help to build your brand image as a company with integrity and strong values. Ensuring that you meet and exceed industry requirements will also save you money as you will not have to deal with preventable emergency situations and pay expensive insurance premiums.
How to Create a Safety Statement
Creating a Safety Statement that can stand up to the legal and practical standards required does not have to be an arduous process. We can help you to ensure that your Safety Statement is comprehensive and that it is easy to follow and maintain. A Safety Statement should involve the following steps:
- A risk assessment should be conducted to identify the hazards and assess the potential risks in the workplace. Your Safety Statement should record these and specify the actions that will be taken to mitigate these risks, and this includes investing in training and equipment maintenance.
- The people responsible for maintaining health and safety in the workplace should be named in your Safety Statement, along with a description of their responsibilities.
- Clear step by step protocols should be included in your Safety Statement to be followed in case of accidents or incidents occurring in the workplace.
- The intention to regularly review the Safety Statement should be included within it and a schedule should be set for this. The Safety Statement and any updates to it should be shared with employees annually or whenever it is updated.
It is a good idea to work with our expert safety consultants at ASM Group to take the hassle out of the process and ensure that your Safety Statement is robust and comprehensive enough to protect the people and the organisation in your care.
How a Safety Statement Impacts Your Organisation
Having a comprehensive Safety Statement can give you peace of mind and demonstrate to your employees and clients that you are proud to instil a culture of care and responsibility in your workplace. We know that a Safety Statement is mandatory for all businesses with more than three employees, and giving this the attention to detail it requires will reinforce your willingness to invest in protecting your workplace and the people who work for you.
The health and safety standards in your organisation will be driven up by your Safety Statement, reducing the disruptions caused by accidents. This also goes a long way to future proof your business so that it can continue to evolve as safety standards and technology change over time. A Safety Statement is more than just a legal requirement, it is a clearly laid out plan that will enable a safer, more productive workplace.
Maintaining a Safer Workplace
We believe that clarity is of vital importance when you are setting up health and safety protocols for your business, and this can help to protect you in the event of legal action following an incident in the workplace. Your Safety Statement can help here, as it is the first thing that will be consulted in this situation and you will be able to refer to it for guidance when you need to. For this reason, it is very important to give your Safety Statement the time and care it deserves, ensuring that it is a well crafted, thorough statement that will protect you and your business and drive up safety standards throughout your organisation.
Your Health and Safety Consultants
At ASM Group, we have an experienced team of health and safety experts on hand to provide all the guidance you need to protect your business. Our priority is to improve health and safety standards, and we will always be happy to discuss your requirements and create solutions that are tailored to your organisation. We are professional Health and Safety Consultants in Ireland and we know the industry inside out so we can ensure compliance with all legal requirements and we can deliver audits, gap analysis and Safety Officers as needed in your business.
We have spent many years developing the expertise to drive up standards of health and safety provision and we have a variety of options for working with you to bring all of the benefits of improved health and safety standards to your business. Talk to a member of our professional team to find out more about working with us to benefit your business. Give us a call on 01 234 3724 or make an online enquiry today and let us take the hassle out of health and safety for you.
