Health & Safety Consultancy

Health & Safety is quite often greeted with moans and groans and cries of "health & safety, what a boring subject!"

At The Employment Law Group, we not only find the subjects fascinating and absorbing but also we enjoy protecting your company from possible investigations by the Health & Safety Executive and any subsequent actions. We do all this just so that you can enjoy what you should be doing - managing your business.

All companies with 5 or more employees have a legal duty to prepare a comprehensive Health & Safety policy, which has to be brought to the attention of all employees and updated as necessary. This might be easy you think, however, the last requirement of the company is that an organisation and arrangements have to be put in place to implement this policy.

Breaches of health and safety regulations can tie up key members of staff for extended periods of time in legal proceedings, and a successful prosecution could result in substantial fines and even criminal records. Such breaches can easily occur without you even being aware of them as this is a very complex and rapidly evolving area of law.

Through its association with Peninsula Business Services, The Employment Law Group can offer the services, resources and advice of the country's leading Health & Safety Consultancy.

We will set in place a general policy on Health and Safety that incorporates line management and employee responsibilities along with emergency procedures. Working documents will include the forms necessary to record risk assessments, training and maintenance. The entire operation can be carried out quickly and painlessly, providing you with an easy to manage system which is safe, practical and very straightforward.

We go to great lengths to keep your business safe and secure as possible. You will be able to tell at a glance that our Health & Safety Managers and Professionals don't come from a purely academic background, instead we have built a team with a wealth of practical health & safety experience from working in commerce and industry - we even have former enforcement officers as part of the team. The consultants have a hands on approach to create a system which meets the customer's individual needs. Where necessary they will also liase with the Enforcing Authorities on your behalf investigate emergencies and act as expert witnesses to give evidence in the unfortunate event of a prosecution. Should an Improvement or Prohibition Notice be served, the in house experts will respond rapidly to get your business up and running again as quickly as possible.

In summary, the Health & Safety support combines four service systems.

1. A fully documented Health & Safety management system, constantly updated as legislation changes. This includes, but is not limited to, such items as:-
   a. General Health & Safety policy and procedures
   b. Employee safety handbooks
   c. Visitors documentation
   d. Safety and training records
   
   
2. A 24 hour a day, 365 days a year advice line with unlimited use for partners of The Employment Law Group. This service can be invaluable if you need help with a sudden crisis at work; especially useful during shifts at night or weekend. This service is available to The Employment Law Group partners as often and for as long as required until the problem is resolved.
   
   
3. The service includes assistance with carrying out of an emergency/accident investigation in the event of a serious incident occurring on the client's premises. The consultants, where necessary will liase with the Enforcing Authorities in the event that a visit by one of their inspectors has resulted in criticism or the issue of an Improvement or Prohibition Notice.
   
   
4. An Indemnity that will cover the cost of defending the client against any safety prosecution or enforcement action e.g. an interview under caution. The Indemnity principally would relate to summonses under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, and would also fund the legal costs of raising appeals. This of course applies when advice given over the advice line has been followed.