Ensuring workplace safety compliance is crucial for any business. In 2024, staying up-to-date with safety regulations can protect employees and avoid legal issues. Here are practical tips to help maintain a safe and compliant workplace. Regular safety training Regular safety training is essential to keep all employees aware of current safety protocols. Training sessions should cover potential hazards, emergency procedures, and the proper use of safety equipment. Employees must understand how to report unsafe conditions and the importance of following safety guidelines. Providing refresher courses is equally important. These sessions help reinforce safety practices and update employees on new regulations. Incorporating practical demonstrations can enhance understanding and retention of safety procedures. Conduct routine inspections Routine inspections are vital to identify and rectify potential hazards. Inspections should be thorough, covering all areas of the workplace. This includes checking equipment, ensuring exits are clear, and verifying that safety signs are visible and up-to-date. Employers should document findings and take immediate action to address any issues. Regular inspections can prevent accidents and ensure compliance with safety regulations. It’s advisable to have a checklist to ensure nothing is overlooked during inspections. Maintain equipment and infrastructure Maintaining equipment and infrastructure is a key aspect of workplace safety. Regular maintenance checks can prevent equipment failure and reduce the risk of accidents. This includes inspecting machinery, electrical systems, and other critical infrastructure components. For electrical safety, it’s important to know how long an EICR lasts. You can contact experts such as Hexo Electrical Testing to see how long an EICR lasts. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) typically lasts for five years for commercial properties. Regularly updating this report ensures compliance with safety standards. Implement clear safety policies Clear safety policies provide a framework for a safe working environment. These policies should outline procedures for handling hazardous materials, emergency response plans, and guidelines for safe working practices. Policies must be accessible to all employees and included in training sessions. Regularly reviewing and updating these policies is crucial to adapt to new safety regulations and workplace changes. Employees should be encouraged to provide feedback on safety policies, which can help identify gaps and areas for improvement. Foster a safety culture Creating a safety culture in the workplace encourages employees to prioritise safety in all their activities. This culture starts with leadership. When management demonstrates a commitment to safety, employees are more likely to follow suit. Regularly communicating the importance of safety and recognising safe practices can reinforce this culture. Encouraging open communication about safety concerns is also vital. Employees should feel comfortable reporting hazards or suggesting improvements without fear of reprisal. This proactive approach can help identify and mitigate risks before they lead to accidents. Use technology for safety management Leveraging technology can enhance workplace safety management. Safety management software can streamline the process of tracking incidents, conducting inspections, and maintaining records. These tools can provide real-time data and analytics to identify trends and areas needing attention. Additionally, wearable technology, such as smart helmets and vests, can monitor workers’ health and safety in real-time. These devices can detect hazardous conditions, such as high levels of toxic gases, and alert both the worker and management immediately. Implementing such technologies can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and improve overall safety compliance. Regularly review safety procedures Regular reviews of safety procedures ensure they remain effective and compliant with current regulations. This involves assessing the efficacy of existing safety measures and making necessary adjustments. These reviews should consider any changes in the workplace, such as new equipment or processes, that might introduce new risks. Involving employees in these reviews can provide valuable insights. Workers on the front lines often have firsthand knowledge of potential hazards and can offer practical suggestions for improvement. Regularly updating procedures based on these reviews helps maintain a safe working environment. Ensure proper signage and labelling Proper signage and labelling are crucial for maintaining safety compliance. Safety signs should be clearly visible and provide essential information about hazards, emergency exits, and safety equipment locations. Labelling hazardous materials with the correct warning symbols and handling instructions is also essential. Signs and labels should be updated regularly to reflect any changes in safety procedures or workplace layout. Ensuring that all employees understand the meaning of different signs and labels can prevent accidents and improve response times in emergencies. Ensure adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) Providing adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) is a fundamental aspect of workplace safety. Employers must ensure that employees have access to the necessary PPE, such as gloves, masks, helmets, and safety glasses, depending on their job roles. It is also important to regularly inspect and replace PPE to ensure it remains effective. Training employees on the proper use and maintenance of PPE is essential. They need to understand when and how to use each piece of equipment to protect themselves effectively. Ensuring compliance with PPE usage can significantly reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

Environmental Consultancy EMEC has joined the sponsor line up for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, backing the Contractor of the Year category. Speaking with Business Link, Ed Tripp, Consultancy Director at EMEC, said: “EMEC is the go to Environmental Consultancy based within the region, for ecology, biodiversity and land management services. EMEC decided to sponsor Contractor of the Year in order to contribute to rewarding exciting and innovative approaches to sustainable development. “As a wholly owned subsidiary of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, all profits are gift aided to the Trust to support nature conservation, and sustainability is at the heart of our core beliefs. Since Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) legislation became mandatory in February 2024, new developments will need to deliver a minimum 10% BNG and its never been more important for Contractors and Ecologists to work together for the benefit of the natural environment. “Our top advice for any contractors looking to submit an application is to showcase a nature/ecology first approach to their development schemes. We firmly understand the need for new developments in order to drive the economy forward, but we will be looking for contractors who are showcasing an innovative approach to embracing sustainability. Our role as the consultant ecologist is as much about protecting habitats as it is about offering added value advice to the developer so that the communities they create, incorporate diversity.” The East Midlands Bricks Awards, which will take place on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, recognise development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes, schools and public spaces. We also highlight the work of architects, agencies and those behind large schemes. Winning one of these awards will add considerably to a company’s or individual’s brand and enhance their commercial reach significantly. To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of our awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page. A highlight in the business calendar, winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening of celebration and networking with property and construction leaders from across the region. Tickets can be booked for the 2024 awards event here. Connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. Attendees will also hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. Thanks to our sponsors:      

             

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A growing number of businesses in the East Midlands are benefitting from tailored business support, thanks to the Accelerator project. Evaluation of the project’s performance at its halfway point has identified over 1,100 businesses that have been engaged and are working with a business adviser to boost their growth. The project, which is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), was established in the autumn and is being delivered by East Midlands Chamber in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicester. Alongside one-to-one support from a business adviser, the project has so far also delivered the following:

• 102 growth vouchers up to the value of £2,000 to help businesses access tailored, 1-2-1 consultancy support to introduce digital technology and green measures.
• 300 workshops and webinars successfully attracting over 7,000 delegates.
• 50 energy saving and improvement audit approvals to help businesses create an action plan to save money.

Businesses signing up to the project have also been introduced to the wealth of additional support available from other regional and national sources. For innovative SMEs, this includes growth and scale-up support from Innovate UK Business Growth. Manufacturing micro and small businesses can also benefit from Made Smarter support on how to switch to advanced and automated technologies. East Midlands Chamber Deputy Chief Executive Diane Beresford said: “From our launch events onwards, we’ve listened to what businesses want in terms of what, where, when and how they would like to access Accelerator support. We’ve set up a new Leicestershire Manufacturing Network, the first forum meeting for which will be held on 5^th July at Loughborough University, as well as a new Gedling Business Support Network. “Chamber and D2N2 Growth Hub support is undoubtedly at its best when businesses are given a helping hand to apply for support from other sources, including grant funding and pitching for investor support. Trans-Sport.tv in Bassetlaw is one example of an Accelerator business that has been referred to the Made Smarter programme and has accessed road mapping, grant funding and leadership support as a result. “The Accelerator project has some challenging targets including the creation and safeguarding of jobs, creating new enterprises, accessing new technologies or processes and engagement in knowledge transfer activity. We’re certainly on the right trajectory to achieve that and for any business yet to sign up, I would urge them to seize the opportunity before the project ends in March of next year.”