Online tools to 'reduce burden' on small businesses

The Government's drive to reduce bureaucracy for small and low-risk businesses has led to the launch of two online tools for managing health and safety in the workplace.

The Health and Safety Toolbox (go to www.hse.gov.uk and follow the prompts) is the latest package of online guidance from the HSE which aims to make it easy to find relevant guidance on specific risks with a few clicks of the mouse.

Building on Health and Safety Made Simple, which provides sufficient basic information for large numbers of low-risk businesses, the toolbox provides quick, simple guides and interactive tools on how to identify, assess and control common workplace hazards. It also sets out core health and safety issues relating to the type of business, its workforce and workplace, as well as information on manual handling, trip hazards and harmful substances.

Employment minister Mark Hoban said: “Small and low-risk businesses should be focusing their time on growing and becoming a success, not having to waste precious time and money on unnecessary bureaucracy.

This Toolbox will make it quick and simple for businesses to discover everything they need to know about health and safety.”

Its launch follows that of the Safe Start Up website (www.iosh.co.uk/safestartup) from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). The step-by-step guide demystifies regulation for anyone setting up a small business.

The simple tool walks people through the areas of health and safety they need to consider, in order to comply with the law and keep people healthy and safe.

So far, five occupations are available - hairdressing, floristry, complementary therapist, landscape gardener and building contractor - but IOSH says that these are continuously being added to.