The Bottom Line Secret Every Business Should Know ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Health and Safety has an image problem, we know that. Banning conkers, no throwing sweets at the pantomime, no hanging baskets, stepladders are banned by the HSE.
Health and safety can save your business money, but you probably don't believe me because of its poor image.
In this time of credit crunch surely any system that can improve the bottom line of a business by up to twelve times the investment should be implemented without delay. Good health and safety management can do this and there are plenty of case studies to show that it is true.
Well, I can feel a lot of eyes rolling in disbelief, so take a trip to the HSE website for proof www.hse.gov.uk/business/casestudy.htm and see the real case studies for yourself.
Still incredulous?
"We've seen it all before, we don't have accidents here, there is no need for health and safety getting in the way."
Comments like these are frequent and perceived to be true, but they aren't true at all.
If implemented properly a good health and safety management system, improves business image to clients, working practice, productivity, morale, lessens absence rates, lessens staff turnover rates, saves on training new recruits, reduces the chance of insurance claims, and could get you a reduction in insurance premiums.
An accident investigation alone will probably cost a business around 5000
There are three significant reasons, Moral, Legal and Financial, for business' to implement a good health and safety management system.
Can any business afford to miss out on these potentially large financial cost savings? Especially in these days of the credit crunch and shrinking markets. An practical and efficient health and safety management system can deliver astonishing financial returns.
Contrary to the adverse publicity, health and safety does not have to be restrictive. I recently did some work with a school local to my home. The headmaster is very proactive in getting the children to take part in risk/adventure activities as part of their all round education.
The pupils take part in all sorts of activities, camping, night walking, potholing, paintball with the army, mattress surfing (dont ask) and the climbing wall has been ordered. They also canoe and build rafts to go on the river that borders the school land, in which they also swim.
They take to the hockey field with enthusiasm and an ethos reminiscent of St. Trinians.
I dont think they feel restricted by risk assessment and for a relatively small school they have a disproportionate number of Area and County level sports representatives, in one of Englands largest counties.
Have risk assessments been done? Of course. Are they restrictive? No. They provide sensible guidelines to staff and pupils to manage the risk without wrapping the children in cotton wool.
Managing risks for themselves builds confidence and a rounded character for life after school, the parents do not object, in fact they actively encourage the children to take part. The excitement ignites the childrens imaginations
They wont understand about risk if they're wrapped in cotton wool and they wont have much fun either.
Think of the other benefits to your business if your workforce had the kind of positive can do attitude that the pupils of this school show with the added advantage of saving costs through a good health and safety management system which is progressive not regressive.
Would we have a Great Britain if our ancestors had not taken risks?
The big stick downwards is much less productive than involving everybody from the grass roots up and valuing their opinion. These criteria should be used in business, health and safety is cost effective, but it needs to be embraced by and communicated to the whole workforce.
Manager Oh yes we have risk assessments
Auditor Where are they?
Manager In that box file on the top shelf Auditor
Have the staff read and understood them? A hush falls on the room.
Does that sound familiar? If it does you are not doing a very good job with your health and safety. Cost savings will be negligible if you do not run the system professionally.
Gain the respect of your customers and suppliers, add kudos to your competitive edge not to mention the pro-active productive involvement of the work force. Do it right and pounds can be added to the bottom line of your business.
So with all this evidence and advantage, give it a go, what have you got to lose? Even your marketing gurus cant give you a 12 to 1 return on investment especially in these difficult times when businesses need every penny.
See for yourself what can be done, go to www.hse.gov.uk/business/casestudy.htm if you want more proof - 16036
Health and safety can save your business money, but you probably don't believe me because of its poor image.
In this time of credit crunch surely any system that can improve the bottom line of a business by up to twelve times the investment should be implemented without delay. Good health and safety management can do this and there are plenty of case studies to show that it is true.
Well, I can feel a lot of eyes rolling in disbelief, so take a trip to the HSE website for proof www.hse.gov.uk/business/casestudy.htm and see the real case studies for yourself.
Still incredulous?
"We've seen it all before, we don't have accidents here, there is no need for health and safety getting in the way."
Comments like these are frequent and perceived to be true, but they aren't true at all.
If implemented properly a good health and safety management system, improves business image to clients, working practice, productivity, morale, lessens absence rates, lessens staff turnover rates, saves on training new recruits, reduces the chance of insurance claims, and could get you a reduction in insurance premiums.
An accident investigation alone will probably cost a business around 5000
There are three significant reasons, Moral, Legal and Financial, for business' to implement a good health and safety management system.
Can any business afford to miss out on these potentially large financial cost savings? Especially in these days of the credit crunch and shrinking markets. An practical and efficient health and safety management system can deliver astonishing financial returns.
Contrary to the adverse publicity, health and safety does not have to be restrictive. I recently did some work with a school local to my home. The headmaster is very proactive in getting the children to take part in risk/adventure activities as part of their all round education.
The pupils take part in all sorts of activities, camping, night walking, potholing, paintball with the army, mattress surfing (dont ask) and the climbing wall has been ordered. They also canoe and build rafts to go on the river that borders the school land, in which they also swim.
They take to the hockey field with enthusiasm and an ethos reminiscent of St. Trinians.
I dont think they feel restricted by risk assessment and for a relatively small school they have a disproportionate number of Area and County level sports representatives, in one of Englands largest counties.
Have risk assessments been done? Of course. Are they restrictive? No. They provide sensible guidelines to staff and pupils to manage the risk without wrapping the children in cotton wool.
Managing risks for themselves builds confidence and a rounded character for life after school, the parents do not object, in fact they actively encourage the children to take part. The excitement ignites the childrens imaginations
They wont understand about risk if they're wrapped in cotton wool and they wont have much fun either.
Think of the other benefits to your business if your workforce had the kind of positive can do attitude that the pupils of this school show with the added advantage of saving costs through a good health and safety management system which is progressive not regressive.
Would we have a Great Britain if our ancestors had not taken risks?
The big stick downwards is much less productive than involving everybody from the grass roots up and valuing their opinion. These criteria should be used in business, health and safety is cost effective, but it needs to be embraced by and communicated to the whole workforce.
Manager Oh yes we have risk assessments
Auditor Where are they?
Manager In that box file on the top shelf Auditor
Have the staff read and understood them? A hush falls on the room.
Does that sound familiar? If it does you are not doing a very good job with your health and safety. Cost savings will be negligible if you do not run the system professionally.
Gain the respect of your customers and suppliers, add kudos to your competitive edge not to mention the pro-active productive involvement of the work force. Do it right and pounds can be added to the bottom line of your business.
So with all this evidence and advantage, give it a go, what have you got to lose? Even your marketing gurus cant give you a 12 to 1 return on investment especially in these difficult times when businesses need every penny.
See for yourself what can be done, go to www.hse.gov.uk/business/casestudy.htm if you want more proof - 16036
About the Author:
The author Sean Fowden is a respected health and safety consultant, with his own company for health and consultancy and training, rass ltd. Their web site is full of free advice and free downloads to assist any business.
