As the business owner you have a duty of care to ensure the environment you provide for your employees is safe. We look at what needs to be in place legally to ensure this.
Portable appliance testing
Portable appliance testing, also known as PAT testing. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 makes it your responsibility to ensure all your electrical equipment is safe and compliant. If not, you could be putting yourself, your employees, your office and ultimately your business at risk. PAT testing is a regular inspection conducted on electrical appliances to make sure they are safe to use in the workplace. The inspection checks for damages and makes sure the item is working correctly.
Fire safety checks
Fire safety in the workplace is crucial, fire not only destroys businesses, buildings and assets, but it can also take lives. The workplace needs to be regularly checked for any potential fire hazards. Make sure your staff know the procedures in place and what to do, in the event a fire does break out. Keeping alarms, smoke alarms and sprinklers tested and checked is vital. An annual visit from a fire marshall is also required, to ensure you have everything in place.
Insurance
An unexpected event, such as a burglary, fire, IT failure or a flood can seriously damage or maybe even destroy a business. If you have the right insurance in place this can put your mind at ease that, even in the worst case, you’re protected. You need to look at the risks your business property presents and what needs to be covered. It is a legal requirement for businesses to buy employer’s liability insurance. The right contents insurance can also help you to avoid cost shocks should disaster strike.
Aware of your environment – flooding prone?
If you take out the right insurance, it should also cover you for natural disasters and other unforeseen events like flooding. However, before you adopt a building for your business you need to take into the account the environment. Has the building flooded in the past? If it has insurance could be difficult. What are the flooding risks in the area, are you located close to running water and does the area have a reputation for flooding? If your business is in a flood risk area it is always good to have a plan in place, should you need it.
Alarms
It is important – and often a specification of business insurance – to have an alarm fitted at your business. It will protect any valuable stock, helps towards a safe environment for your employees and can help deter any potential burglaries.
Keep your premises safe
Business premises should be treated the same as a home. If you have a green area, then an overgrown garden may make the building look derelict and won’t be good for business, as people may think you’re no longer operating. You will probably have lots of valuables on site, so ensure that these are secured away at night. Try to hide computers from view through window.
