Pictured: Michael Slade, Managing Director of Bibby
Consulting & Support
When it comes to health and safety legislation, many companies
simply don't know what they are meant to comply with and this is
leaving them open to prosecution and their employees open to
unnecessary dangers.
That's one of the key findings of a nationwide survey by health
and safety advisor specialist Bibby Consulting &
Support.
The survey, the full results of which will be published within
the next few weeks, elicited responses from 383 organisations of
various sizes and industry sectors, with around 70 per cent of
those taking part owners or directors of small to medium sized
businesses.
Nearly half of the respondents (48.1 per cent) admitted that
while they were aware of the principles of health and safety, they
did not know any specific regulations. This would suggest that
their level of understanding is very limited indeed.
When asked which regulations they were aware of, comments ranged
from "too numerous to mention" and "where would I start?" to
"cannot name any" and even "dunno". Other comments included "I know
the basics" and "they do not apply to me". One respondent said the
approach to health and safety in their business was "very
relaxed".
When asked a question about a specific piece of legislation -
RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries Disease and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations) - a significant proportion (45 per cent) skipped the
question, and of those that answered 60 per cent said they didn't
know the answer. This suggests that most respondents knew very
little about these regulations which is worrying considering the
relevance across nearly every business type.
One respondent to the survey railed against health and safety
regulations in general, saying: "I think that they are massively
overcomplex and ridiculously nit-picking. The people that write
them clearly never have the issues of running a business. They seem
to think all you have to do is comply with their little section.
But there are all the other areas of legislation we have to comply
with. Much more common sense should apply."
Michael Slade, Managing Director of Bibby Consulting &
Support, says of the survey's findings: "One respondent summed it
up perfectly when he said 'There are many pitfalls for the willing
but unknowing'. Most people appreciate the need for health and
safety regulations and are more than willing to comply with them.
But if they lack knowledge in certain areas, they are leaving
themselves and their colleagues open to all sorts of dangers and
penalties."