Despite a number of high profile cases that have hit the media in recent years many businesses continue to turn a blind eye to their legal obligations with regard to Health and Safety at work.

Health and safety law is designed to prevent people from being harmed by work or becoming ill by taking simple precautions to help provide a satisfactory working environment. The rules that exist are in place to ensure that employers do not not to put themselves or others in danger. The law is also there to protect the public from workplace dangers. These laws apply to all businesses, however small; also to the self-employed and to employees.

The majority of the requirements are straight forward and simple to instigate, it is largely a case of recognising where there is potential for an issue, understanding what needs to be done and putting a solution into practice. Ensuring therefore that your business is fully compliant should not be too difficult but for many it is another unwanted stretch on resources that they can do without.

Whether you have a full set of policies and procedures in place, have the basics or have nothing at all, it may be sensible to have an assessment to ensure that you are meeting the current legislation.

SMEO have introduced a Health and Safety Audit which meets this requirement. It can be completely tailored to your business, so if what you have is satisfactory you won't have to 'reinvent the wheel'.

As part of the audit we can:

• conduct an assessment of your premises to identify any risks and hazards that do not have suitable preventative measures in place
• check over your existing policies - if you have them - and ensure compliance
• advise what additional policies and procedures - if any - are recommended or essential for your organisation
• create these policies, tailored to your business
• carry out the appropriate training for you and your personnel
• incorporate feedback programs and other initiatives to help you maintain a high profile within the business
• prepare an induction training programme for you to run with new starters
• keep you up to date on new legislation in advance of it coming into force