Backing for common sense approach to safety in small firms
December 1st 2008 A major RoSPA initiative to raise standards and reduce the
health and safety burden on small and medium-sized firms has
won the support of leading figures from business and industry.
More than 20 organisations have so far pledged support for a set
of 12 common health and safety criteria to help small firms
seeking new contracts.
SMEs were facing problems as prospective clients used a wide
range of pre-qualification schemes to assess a firm's approach to
the prevention of accidents and ill-health. An inquiry from
RoSPA's National Occupational Safety and Health Committee
found little mutual recognition between schemes, so firms were
facing unnecessary form filling to meet the requirements of each
one. It is hoped that clients and other third parties will now
accept the results of any competent assessment that is based on
the 12 criteria."The core criteria are designed to reduce the
administrative burden, and make the essential requirements of
health and safety management clearer for SMEs," says Roger
Bibbings, RoSPA occupational safety adviser.
A joint statement has been signed by organisations including
the Federation of Small Businesses, the Electrical Contractors'
Association, the Association of British Insurers, Royal Mail Group,
and construction federations.They have pledged to support the
development, implementation and widespread recognition of
the criteria.
The core criteria are: health and safety policy and
organisation; arrangements for ensuring health and safety
measures; risk assessment; access to competent advice; training
and information; individual qualifications and experience;
workforce involvement; contracting procedures; co-operating
and co-ordinating with others; accident/near-hit reporting and
investigation; first aid (and other emergency measures notably
fire arrangements); and monitoring, checking and reviewing
performance.
Please contact RoSPA if your organisation is interested in
becoming a signatory, using
the number on the right. More articles from RoSPA: | 
