SMEs' workplace accident costs are on the increase

Thousands of UK small organisations could be forced to close their doors because they are neglecting vital operational requirements, warns an environmental health and safety specialist.

Thousands of UK small organisations could be forced to close their doors because they are neglecting vital operational requirements, warn EHS Projects, the North's fastest developing Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) advice specialist.

The rising number of staff off on long-term sick pay, increasing civil claims and lost time through avoidable workplace incidents is costing the UK marketplace billions every year.

The added effects on employee moral and ultimately the reputation of organisations are even harder for employers to cope with.

David Holmes, Client Manager for EHS Projects explains: "Across the UK there is a huge increase of organisations using Environmental, Health and Safety Standards such as ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 as organisations recognise the business benefits of corporate and social responsibility." But he warns: "While this is true of larger companies, smaller ones feel that they do not have the time, money or staff resource to implement and maintain adequate operational standards, or worse still feel that they just don't need too." He adds: "We appreciate that many small businesses do not have dedicated health and safety officers or know the latest legislation but that is where support organisations like us fit in.

We work with a wide range of employers, offering EHS advice and helping them to implement tailor made management systems designed to suit their company.

We also show them how these systems can help them save money, perform better and provide a better and safer work environment for their employees.

Kirkgate is a good example of the right attitude and the benefits that can be recouped from taking action." Kirkgate Engineering - Case Study - Kirkgate Engineering are manufacturers of general sheet metalwork and fabrications in a range of ferrous and non-ferrous materials.

Based in Liversedge in West Yorkshire, the company is family owned by a husband and wife team and employs 25 skilled workers and support staff.

Whilst larger and medium sized companies often have the expertise and knowledge in-house to implement a stringent health and safety structure, Kirkgate Engineering found itself somewhat exposed to meeting industry requirements.

Like some small businesses the company recognised the importance of adhering to health and safety requirements, not only to protect the welfare of their workforce, but also to make themselves a more attractive company to do business with.

However, whilst the owners appreciated the obvious advantages of safeguarding the health and welfare of their workforce, as well as the need for legal compliance with prevailing health and safety legislation, they were also aware that the necessary controls, practices and procedures would be a drain on their limited resources.

Managing Director, Mark Fox, comments: "Some small businesses, have not bothered addressing health and safety systems and procedures and hence they do not incur the additional overhead, which is why they regularly undercut our quotations for work." Thousands of smaller employers will empathise with Mark.

However, many will not take the same positive and proactive stance to health and safety as Kirkgate Engineering and simply opt to do nothing.

The Solution - since April 2004, Kirkgate Engineering has been working with EHS Projects to formally establish the required health and safety infrastructure, procedures and knowledge base to mitigate the attendant risks involved in the wide range of manufacturing processes undertaken.

The long-term aim for EHS Projects was to advise themselves out of regular work with Kirkgate Engineering over an appropriate period of time by establishing a compliant health and safety system, as well as training staff so that the organisation could operate autonomously.

Occasional advisor input will then be sensibly limited to an occasional audit and updates on relevant developing legislation.

Key health and safety legislation requirements, which have been implemented at Kirkgate Engineering, are: * Formal H and S Policy developed, issued and enforced.

* Risk Assessors trained and Risk Assessments in hand.

* Safety Committee now focusing on key priorities.

* Noise Survey/Awareness Training completed.

* PPE disciplines much improved.

* Additional First Aiders appointed and trained.

David Holmes, Client Manager for EHS Projects comments: "We sympathise with the position of smaller organisations, especially new/start up organisations trying to get a foothold in the market.

However, with insurance companies finding employer's liability insurance increasingly unattractive, organisations without an evident commitment to health and safety may find themselves forced to close their doors because of soaring premiums." The establishment and operation of an effective health and safety system is likely to shade the considerations of the Judge who in the event of an incident, inevitably asks the question - 'has the company done all that could be reasonably expected to protect its employees in these circumstances.' Evidence substantiating such considerations by the company would be likely to mitigate the extent of criminal damages or civil awards.

"Ingraining health and safety thinking into an organisation's busy workforce is not accomplished in weeks.

Although in Kirkgate Engineering, regular visitors to the company have commented positively on a number of physical safety improvements to the site and the improved insight and understanding of health and safety principles and practices exhibited by the workforce and management.'".

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