| A significant number of small to | | | | businesses is not onerous, it's actually |
| medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are not | | | | helping them to keep best practice and |
| keeping their health and safety records | | | | keep the business up and running and |
| up to date, it has been claimed - | | | | operating," Ms Fowlie continued. |
| meaning many are in breach of standards. | | | | "Good health and safety practice |
| According to Lisa Fowlie, president of | | | | actually generates good business |
| the Institution of Occupational Safety | | | | practice." |
| and Health (IOSH), small businesses in | | | | Ms Fowlie went on to warn small firms |
| general are not fully au fait with | | | | that even if they are still of the |
| health and safety guidelines and | | | | opinion that health and safety |
| regulations, and often view them in a | | | | procedures are an unwanted distraction, |
| negative light. | | | | they should still do all they can to |
| Rather than being seen an attempt to | | | | ensure they are fully compliant with the |
| improve standards in businesses, she | | | | law - because if they don't, the Health |
| said, too often SMBs see health and | | | | and Safety Executive or the local |
| safety legislation as being detrimental | | | | authorities will be on their backs. |
| to their cause. | | | | In order to reduce the burden of red |
| However, Ms Fowlie has suggested that | | | | tape while ensuring that they remain on |
| applying health and safety law is not | | | | the right side of the law, Ms Fowlie |
| only "very easy to do", but also confers | | | | advised firms to keep things simple. |
| positive benefits. She admitted, though, | | | | "You don't want overkill; you don't want |
| that these are facts all too often lost | | | | masses and masses of files if you don't |
| on small businesses. | | | | need them," she said. |
| "It's very difficult to get the message | | | | "You want to put what we call sensible |
| across to small businesses, because by | | | | risk management in, so that they can |
| their nature they have got very few | | | | continue with what they're doing, rather |
| people [so there's an issue] of who | | | | than anything that stops them doing it." |
| actually takes the role on… People | | | | Disclaimer: |
| think that you have to have a huge | | | | This article has been written for |
| amount of red tape, and that if you | | | | information and interest purposes only. |
| start on [health and safety procedures] | | | | The information contained within this |
| then it's going to stop them operating," | | | | article is the opinion of the author |
| she commented. | | | | only, and should not be construed as |
| "Whereas in actual fact, a lot of small | | | | advice or used to make financial |
| businesses are very low risk and so the | | | | decisions. Expert financial advice |
| actual implementation is very reasonable | | | | should always be sought and any links |
| and very easy to do. There's a lack of | | | | contained within this article are |
| understanding quite often. | | | | included for information purposes only. |
| "Getting health and safety into | | | | |