The importance of health and safety

Steve Rawlings of Rawlings Safety and Training Consultancy Services Ltd, providers of RHA Health and Safety Services, highlights the need for greater awareness

Health and safety compliance is a key aspect for any business to manage. Though it has received some poor press, it nevertheless remains a critical aspect to all businesses.

Good health and safety management is simply good business. Achieving the correct standards of safety compliance substantially reduces your exposure to the risk of civil and criminal litigation and avoids the debilitating effects that accidents bring, both financial and legal, as well as the detrimental impact they make on public image. Reduced accidents and ill health also ensure a motivated and efficient workforce.

The tragic after-effects of an accident cannot be overestimated, as the recent incident of the runaway HGV in Bath where four people were killed in horrific circumstances shows. The core cause for that terrible event was a total failure of health and safety management and maintenance systems.