Question 1

What are the main health and safety responsibilities of an employer?

Accepted Answer

Employers in the UK have a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 t(https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/37/contents)o protect the safety, health and welfare of all employees, so far as is reasonably practicable. This includes conducting risk assessments,(https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/post/risk-assessment-guide-uk) providing adequate training, maintaining safe equipment and creating a safe working environment. Employers with five or more employees must also have a written health and safety policy.(https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/post/health-safety-policy-guide) If you want to learn more about your responsibilities and how we can help, please contact us. (https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/contact-us)

Question 2

Do I legally need a health and safety consultant?

Accepted Answer

Under UK law, you must appoint a "competent person" (https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/post/the-role-of-a-competent-person-in-health-and-safety)to help manage health and safety. This could be yourself, someone within your business or an external health and safety consultant. For most small to medium-sized businesses,(https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/health-and-safety-for-sme) hiring health and safety consultants makes sense because they bring specialist knowledge, keep you updated on changing regulations and help you avoid costly mistakes.

Question 3

How often should a workplace risk assessment be reviewed?

Accepted Answer

Risk assessments (https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/post/risk-assessment-guide-uk)should be reviewed regularly (at least annually) and whenever there are significant changes to your workplace, processes, equipment or workforce. If there's been an accident, near-miss or new legislation, you should also review your assessments.

Question 4

What's the difference between a health and safety audit and an inspection?

Accepted Answer

A health and safety inspection (https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/site-inspections)is typically a routine check of your workplace to identify immediate hazards and day-to-day compliance. A health and safety audit,(https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/risk-audits) on the other hand, is a comprehensive, systematic review often covering the entire management system – looking at policies, procedures, documentation and how well everything works together. Our health and safety consultants recommend starting with an audit to identify gaps, then implementing regular inspections to maintain standards.

Question 5

What happens if I don't comply with health and safety regulations?

Accepted Answer

Non-compliance can result in serious consequences including unlimited fines, prosecution, imprisonment for serious breaches, enforcement notices from the HSE (https://www.hse.gov.uk/)and potential claims from injured workers. As well as legal penalties, businesses face reputational damage, loss of contracts and increased insurance premiums. The good news is that compliance doesn't have to be complicated, our health and safety consultants can help you meet your obligations efficiently and cost-effectively.

Question 6

What should I expect from a health and safety consultancy?

Accepted Answer

A professional health and safety consultancy will provide clear, actionable advice based to your business. This includes conducting thorough assessments, creating compliant documentation, delivering practical training and being available when you need support. In our view, the best consultants don't overwhelm you with jargon, they work collaboratively with your team, making health and safety manageable. Check out our blog on "Choosing the Right Health and Safety Consultancy." (https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/post/choosing-the-right-health-and-safety-consultancy)

Question 7

Can health and safety consultants help with CDM regulations?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our experienced construction health and safety consultants specialise in CDM (Construction Design and Management) Regulations 2015.(https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/post/cdm-regulations-the-complete-guide-for-construction-compliance) They can act as your CDM adviser, helping you understand your duties as a client, principal designer or principal contractor. CDM consultants assist with pre-construction information, health and safety documentation and maintaining compliance throughout the project lifecycle. Any questions regarding CDM? Let us know! (https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/contact-us)

Question 8

Do small businesses need health and safety consultants?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Small businesses are actually more likely to experience accidents than larger companies, yet often lack the in-house expertise to manage health and safety properly. Health and safety consultants help you from creating your first risk assessments to managing compliance as you grow. Whether you're a small business in Sheffield, a startup in London or operating anywhere in the UK, we are happy to support (https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/contact-us)you!

Question 9

How can I improve the safety culture in my workplace?

Accepted Answer

Building a strong safety culture (https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/post/safety-culture-a-guide-on-how-to-improve-your-safety-culture)starts with leadership commitment and clear communication. Make health and safety part of everyday conversations, involve employees in risk assessments and safety improvements, provide regular training (including engaging toolbox talks)(https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/post/making-health-and-safety-accessible-to-your-workers-engaging-toolbox-talks) and recognise good safety practices. Many businesses find that working with health and safety consultants helps embed lasting cultural change, they bring fresh perspectives, proven strategies and ongoing support to make safety second nature rather than an afterthought. We have an in-house Safety Psychologist, so please contact us (https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/contact-us)for any questions.

Question 10

What are the most common workplace health and safety issues?

Accepted Answer

Common issues include slips, trips and falls (https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/post/how-to-prevent-slips-trips-falls-workplace)(the leading cause of workplace injuries), manual handling injuries or work-related stress.(https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/stress-risk-assessment) Many of these are easily preventable with proper planning, assessments and controls. We at DuoDynamic Safety Solutions can help identify the specific risks in your workplace and help you implement practical solutions that actually work for your business. 
Even though traditional safety efforts have reduced minor injuries, serious injuries and fatalities remain stubbornly high. This means especially businesses with high-risk activities such as the construction industry must also focus on SIF prevention!(https://www.duodynamicsafety.co.uk/post/serious-injury-and-fatality-sif)

Health & Safety
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Health & Safety Services That Actually Work for Your Business

Your Business.
Your Needs.
Your Choice.

Health & Safety Packages

Risk Assessments

Health & Safety Policies

Method Statements

Fire-Risk Assessment

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Accident Investigation

CDM

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DuoDynamic Safety Solutions is Available in Most Key Regions Across the UK

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Risk Assessments

Fire Risk Assessments

H&S Policies

H&S Audits

Competent H&S Advisor

Health & Safety Consultancy Services

Health & Safety Services That Actually Work for Your Business

Your Business. Your Needs. Your Choice.

Health & Safety Packages

Risk Assessments

Health & Safety Policies

Method Statements

Fire-Risk Assessment

Health & Safety Audits

Accident Investigation

CDM

Health & Safety Retainer Packages

Duo.Core

Duo.Prime

Bespoke Package

Competent Health & Safety Advisor

DuoDynamic Safety Solutions is Available in Most Key Regions Across the UK

Ready to Get Your H&S Sorted?

Health & Safety
Consultancy Services

Your Business.
Your Needs.
Your Choice.