Health and Safety for Small Businesses

Do small businesses need health and safety?

Majority of small businesses have fewer employees compared to large-scale companies. Some even have contractors which can create confusion around health and safety policies.

The short answer is every business needs to have strict health and safety policies for the running of the company ensuring any individual that is carrying out work is not in danger to themselves or those around them.

Health and safety is particularly important for small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Evidence suggests that in any particular industry, SMEs are less safe than larger businesses.
A positive health and safety culture is part of a broader organisational culture of mutual trust and respect where everyone works together. Workers are likely to be more productive when they know they can trust that you will listen to their concerns.

Good health and safety practices give you peace of mind. This is important for smaller companies, as they may find it hard to recover from serious health and safety incidents. This guide is for directors, owners, and managers of small to medium-sized businesses. It’s designed to give you an overview of the most important things you need to know and do about health and safety. For more specific and detailed advice relevant to your business it’s a good idea to look at the guidance prepared by Site Safe or WorkSafe on how to manage risks in your
line of work. You can also seek the help of a professional health and safety practitioner for a more specified programe that aligns to your business.