Tel 01204 772977 or 07792 400 503
Comply at Work Upcoming Courses
P2-3
Dealing with flood waters safely
P4-5
Can staff change a lightbulb?
P6-7
Getting an injured employee back to work
P8-9
Improve your marketing material
P10-11
In the Spotlight
P12-13
February 2016
Short Training Session 18 February 2016 3pm ‘How to deliver engaging ‘Toolbox’ Talks…’ You will already be aware that giving employees and contractors suitable and sufficient training, instruction and information is a legal requirement and is also good for business! ‘Tool box’ talks are a quick and easy method in an informal setting to improve safety culture and get your safety message across in a memorable way. This session is an excellent opportunity for continuing professional development (CPD) and to show evidence of training within the company for accreditations such as CHAS & Safe Contractor. The training session starts at 3 pm on Thursday 18th February at our training centre in Horwich and will last approx. 1.5 - 2 hours, depending on the size of the group. Certificates of attendance and refreshments are also included. Our retained clients can attend for FREE and will be given priority bookings. If you are interested in attending, please get in touch for further details. There’s a 20-seat limit, and they’re sure to be snatched up quickly, so register today! Places may be limited per company if demand is high.
P2 | Safety Snippets
Tel 01204 77 29 77 mobile 07792 400 503
Comply at Work OUR UPCOMING TRAINING COURSES…. Ask us about our special offers: Pick n mix sessions, free seminars and discounts for retained clients. Fri 19 February pm sessions Manual Handling and Asbestos 18th February 3pm Short Training Session How to deliver engaging ‘Toolbox’ talks 9th and 10th March Emergency First Aid Spring dates to be confirmed soon: Level 2 Award in Health and Safety Fire Marshall Training Paediatric First Aid. Please register your interest in any of the above courses as soon as possible to ensure a place.
e-mail info@complyatwork.co.uk www.complyatwork.co.uk
Safety Snippets | P3
Sn Saf ip ety pe ts
Tip 1. Use our risk assessment template to identify the significant risks associated with dealing with a flood. It covers planning, the clean-up process and re-occupying the building. Please contact us to obtain your FREE copy.
Tip 2. Although it’s tempting to enter the building as soon as the flood waters start to go down, before re-entering your premises, you must ensure that it’s structurally safe. Unless it’s obvious that it’s undamaged, have it checked by a structural engineer.
Tip 3. It’s the same story with the electrical installation. As damage could have been caused behind the walls, in voids, etc. have the entire system checked by a competent electrician before it’s used.
source: Indicator
P4 | Safety Snippets
Tel 01204 77 29 77 mobile 07792 400 503
Comply at Work
Dealing with flood waters safely Prolonged spells of heavy rain have caused widespread flooding. What health and safety issues does this create and how should they be managed? Water everywhere. Throughout December 2015 and early January 2016 the effects of heavy rain and flooding were felt across large parts of the UK. As the water levels subsided the HSE was quick to tell employers that they shouldn’t overlook health and safety issues when working out how to get their businesses back up and running. This article aims to help you do that as the worst of the weather may not be over yet. The risks. For example, floodwater could cause significant structural damage, make electrical installations dangerous and leave a trail of dirty and potentially contaminated water and sludge behind. Enforcement. The HSE has given no indication that it intends to visit premises hit by flooding. However, this isn’t a sign that it will overlook those who fail to manage clean-up operations safely. Note. Flooding doesn’t have to be extensive to create health and safety issues. Even relatively small amounts of water can cause large-scale damage and create risks. To summarise: Flood waters can cause structural damage, electrical safety issues and leave behind contaminated water and sludge. Employ professionals to check your building and follow our risk assessment when cleaning up.
source: Indicator
e-mail info@complyatwork.co.uk www.complyatwork.co.uk
Safety Snippets | P5
Sn Saf ip ety pe ts
source: Indicator
P6 | Safety Snippets
Tel 01204 77 29 77 mobile 07792 400 503
Comply at Work
Can staff change a light bulb? At one block of flats an odd job person wasn’t allowed to change a light bulb. One resident was so incensed at the property management company’s position he sent a complaint to the HSE’s Myth Busters Challenge Panel. http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/index.htm Opinion. The Panel’s findings state that the employer had insisted on using an electrician for health and safety reasons and to protect itself from claims. However, the Panel pointed out that health and safety legislation does not require the use of an electrician to change light bulbs; all that’s needed is for the employer to manage the risks of the task.
Tip. It’s acceptable to allow a member of staff to change light bulbs as long as they are fit and able to do the job. Make sure the task is covered by a simple risk assessment. If you would like our FREE example, please get in touch.
source: Indicator
e-mail info@complyatwork.co.uk www.complyatwork.co.uk
Safety Snippets | P7
Sn Saf ip ety pe ts P8 | Safety Snippets
Tel 01204 77 29 77 mobile 07792 400 503
Comply at Work
Getting an injured employee back to work A member of staff has suffered a serious injury. Although he’s not able to operate at full capacity, he feels fit enough to return to work. How should you manage the return to work process? Don’t want to be off A member of staff suffered an ankle injury about four weeks ago. Although he didn’t suffer any broken bones, his ankle is badly bruised and swollen. Despite the fact that his injury hasn’t fully healed, he has contacted you and asked to come back to work. He said that sitting at home is driving him mad and he would rather do something meaningful. So can you allow him to come back? Get medical advice Tip. Before allowing your member of staff to return to work, ask him to seek a medical opinion on whether it’s safe to do so. On his return he should be able to present you with a fit note that confirms it’s safe. Not fully fit. Because your employee is still injured, the fit note is almost certain to suggest that he shouldn’t be considered fit to complete his full duties. However, don’t expect the document to give you any details as to what light/alternative duties will be suitable for him. Identify appropriate light duties Tip 1. To identify what duties he can do, carry out a risk assessment for light duties. We can assist with an example FREE template – please contact us.
Tip 2. Make sure that both parties are satisfied with the findings of the risk assessment. You must insist that the injured employee signs the document to confirm that you have taken reasonable steps not to put him at risk. Although this may seem over the top, going to this level of detail will protect you from any claim that you have knowingly put the injured party at unnecessary risk. Note. Don’t forget that you are under no obligation to allow the employee back to work early. Only allow him to return when it’s deemed safe for him to do so. What you can do As the injured party will be in the best position to understand what impact his injury has on his capabilities, your starting point is to ask him what he can do. Tip 1. If you don’t think that you will be able to accommodate the employee safely, you must make this clear to them. Suggest that you will review the situation as soon as they feel fitter. Tip 2. Avoid tasks requiring manual handling, work at height and standing for prolonged periods, or those which require wearing protective footwear. Tip 3. As the injured party has restricted mobility, complete a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP). This will ensure that he can escape from your premises in the event of a fire. If you would like a FREE Template to use, please do not hesitate to contact us.
source: Indicator
e-mail info@complyatwork.co.uk www.complyatwork.co.uk
Safety Snippets | P9
S Sn afe ip ty pe t P10 | Safety Snippets
Tel 01204 77 29 77 mobile 07792 400 503
Comply at Work
Improve your Marketing materials… The objective of most B2B marketing materials is to trigger enough interest that your target gets in touch. So, your aim is to convince people to call, not convince them to buy. This new focus makes your content: • shorter (good for them) • cheaper (good for you), and • more focused (good for you both) Examples of content that convinces people to call are: A name and number to contact. If you don’t include your contact details, they don’t know how to contact you. So they won’t. And, if you don’t include a personal contact, they won’t know who to contact. Have an engaging title and/or subtitle. A title’s only aim is to convince someone to want to read on. Unengaging titles like “About us”, “Our services”, and “Our history” just don’t engage. A better formula is “Helping you to (insert benefit)”. Free advice. When people read your marketing material, you want them to think “well, I’ve never thought about it like that before”. Include top tips, common errors people make, etc, so they feel compelled to find out more.
Include a brief example of your ability to deliver. Remember: facts tell, stories sell. Include a testimonial and/or very short case study. The best ones contain (1) an impressive customer name and (2) the impact you caused, not just the work you did. Include 1-2 jaw-dropping credentials (if you have them). “Our customers include the Royal Family” is pretty compelling. “We have 17 offices and here’s our map” isn’t. Mention your unique way of doing things (if you have one, and it’s interesting). Only include things that others can’t say. So “unparalleled market knowledge” isn’t unique – everyone says things like this. Better is: “All agencies do A, B and C. But we find this results in (bad thing). So, we also do D and E, which gives you (good thing)”. If in doubt, make it shorter. Remember, you’re looking to convince people to call, not buy. So, review your current marketing material, asking “if I knew nothing about this company, would I get in touch?” Use the above list to help improve. And, when creating new material, use the list in the order it appears. So, start with a name/ number to call, and then work backwards to the title, then the free advice… You’ll find you end up with shorter, and much more compelling, material.
Source: Andy Bounds
e-mail info@complyatwork.co.uk www.complyatwork.co.uk
Business Bytes | P11
Comply at Work
in the spotlight In the last month we have completed a range of projects including: • Office Fire risk assessment • Training in general Health and Safety, Manual handling, Asbestos awareness and Work at Height • Project management for a retained client • DSE Workstation assessments and reviews • Assisted clients with Safe contractor and CHAS applications • Arranged CITB training courses and CSCS tests • Updated Health and Safety Policies • Assisted a client who is working towards the Environmental ISO standard News just in... We are pleased to report that our retained clients, North West Maintenance Services Ltd of Wigan have successfully completed their SMAS accreditation. We are pleased to announce our new online Health and Safety Software package – please ask for our FREE demonstration with no obligation and see how this package can save time and improve your business and compliance.
We also welcome to our new clients: Arrow Security Shutters, Horwich Creative Concern, Manchester Sequence Financial Management, Northwich Monarch Catering Equipment Ltd, Horwich Our new starter‌ As from 1 Feb, we have a fulltime employed Principal Consultant in the business to assist our Clients, Mr Paul Barlow. Paul holds a NEBOSH Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health and an Honours Degree in H & S Management. Paul will be assisting our clients with queries and guidance. Paul is looking forward to joining Comply at Work on a full time basis and has worked within the team for a number of years previously as one of our trusted associates.
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