A practical, pragmatic and positive approach to risk and safety Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires employers to appoint one or more competent persons to assist in undertaking the measures needed to comply with the requirements of any relevant statutory provisions.  In other words an expert in health and safety who knows how to ensure you are complying with current legislation. If this can be an internal employee who either is, or can be, trained that is ideal.  However, most smaller organisations find this impractical and need an external advisor and some bigger ones prefer to engage a wider range of knowledge than one person can easily acquire. If you’re considering this step the Risk and Safety Plus team have specialist expertise that ensures that the competencies of: understanding relevant current best practice awareness of the limitations of one’s experience and knowledge willingness and ability to supplement existing experience and knowledge by obtaining help and advice, when necessary a higher level of knowledge and experience or specific applied knowledge or skill, where more complex or highly technical situations exist Their experience encompasses many industries and organisations of all sizes – you’ll be in safe hands. Whether you choose to retain the expertise on an ongoing basis or need expert assistance with a specific issue you’ll find that Risk and Safety Plus will work with your organisation to get the solution that works for you.  The services include: ·    Gap Reviews - a brief 'snapshot' of an organisation, following a systematic fact-find of the inputs, processes and outputs involved, in the integrated risk areas of fire, safety, security and the environment.  This provides a sound basis from which to establish an ongoing risk management programme. ·    Policy Development - this is a statutory health and safety requirement and, in most cases, must be in writing.  Policies can also incorporate environmental, security and disaster/emergency planning procedures, to ensure that all of these management issues are fully compliant and interact appropriately. ·    Systems Development - to implement and effectively deliver the Policy requirements. ·    Training Needs Analysis (sometimes called ‘role mapping’) - offers significant productivity gains, by isolating and evaluating each individual work operation, especially if a formal analysis of organisational training requirements is also required, for instance, when seeking the 'Investors In People' award. ·    Risk Assessments (including Fire Risk Assessments) - to identify and evaluate the 'significant' hazards, recommend appropriate controls and document the findings, on behalf of the client, particularly where a higher level of technical expertise is required, than is available in-house (e.g. Fire Engineering etc.). ·    Project Management - to provide independent input where close co-operation is required between various parties, such as builders and installers of specialist equipment and additionally, the provision of peripatetic advice to Clients, Planning Supervisors, Designers, Principal Contractors and Contractors. ·    Inspections - to examine such things as fire precautions, disability access, maintenance standards, housekeeping, employee involvement and work practices, or, indeed any specific area of operation or issue, including routine 'themed' site inspections. ·    Surveys - to provide more detailed assessment of vital operations and facilities. ·    Audits - to subject separate areas of the Fire, Safety and/or Environmental system(s) to in-depth critical analysis. ·    Technical Intervention - to provide engineered solutions to problems that cannot be controlled by management or conventional means. ·    Liaison and Mediation - by an independent third party, often prevents litigation and/or prosecution.  The increasing burden of self-compliance creates the potential for conflict with both the enforcing authorities and other workplace occupiers or users.  The use of an 'honest broker', with no existing views or influences can nearly always resolve such issues. ·    Accident Investigations - provide an independent report, for the client, allowing an evaluation of responses to prevent a recurrence, without the interference of vested interests, such as the enforcement agencies, personal injuries claim specialists, or even their insurer, that may be looking for statutory breaches to prosecute, litigation opportunities or limitation of their own liability. You can access any or all of these – and get independent and practical advice on a wide range of occupational safety, health, eco-management and fire issues. For more information about any of these services please contact us by email or phone on 0845 430 9461.