I run an office, what is the biggest hazard to my work force?
One of the biggest problems that you have is slip, trips and falls (STF). You need to carry out a risk assessment and introduce effective controls to tackle them. The causes of STF in an office can include trailing cables, wet floors and obstructions around desks and in corridors. These can be controlled by good housekeeping to ensure items are either stored or moved away. Make staff aware of their duty to inform management of any cracks in floors, missing tiles or loose rugs. Managers should ensure that a regular cleaning program is introduced and that correct protective footwear is worn.

Step 1. Look for Hazards (Something with the potential to cause harm)
Look only for hazards which you could reasonable expect to result in significant harm in your workplace. Ask your employees or their representatives what they think.

Step 2. Decide who might be harmed
There is no need to list individuals by name – just think about groups of people doing similar work or who may be affected, including members of the public and others sharing your workplace.

Step 3. Eliminate or minimise the risk
Either remove the risk or control it so that it is unlikely to cause harm.
Is there:

• Adequate information, instruction and training?
• Adequate systems and procedures?
• Guarding?
• Personal Protective Equipment?

Where the risk is not adequately controlled then indicate in the ACTION PLAN what more needs to be done.

Step 4. Record your findings
If you have 5 or more employees you must record the significant findings of your assessments and communicate your findings to your staff. Keep written records for future use and auditing purposes.

Step 5. Review and revise
Each risk assessment should have a revision date placed upon it, depending upon the nature of the assessment, this could be a month or on a yearly basis.

Once it is established that there is a need for PPE, then the employer will need to determine what standard of PPE is required - this is part of the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002. There are many different types of safety glasses, gloves etc all designed to perform different tasks and to provide different levels of protection.

An important part of the assessment is to ensure that the equipment is suitable and sufficient to the purpose intended and that the PPE when worn together provides total protection and that the wearing of one piece of equipment does not have a detrimental effect on another.

Staff must be trained in the use of the PPE and management must provide somewhere to keep it safe and cannot charge employees for it.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors has a database of approved surveyors who have passed the appropriate qualifications known as the P402, have insurance to practice as an asbestos surveyor and have undertaken additional study to be on the RICS’s list.

Once it has been established that the building contains asbestos, then the owner has to put in place a management system. This involves the production of an Asbestos Register where the location, type and condition of the asbestos are recorded. Under a document known as MDHS100 the asbestos needs to be re inspected every 6 – 12 months.

The Register must be made available to any one internal or external who may disturb the asbestos. Asbestos is dangerous when the fibres are released by rubbing down or drilling etc. If asbestos is removed or further testing is carried out then this must be recorded in the register.

It is not a requirement for the asbestos to be removed if it is not in a place or condition that is dangerous. Placing a barrier over it can protect the asbestos; it can also be encapsulated possible by painting it.

If a material is suspected as being asbestos then it must be treated as asbestos until it is proved otherwise.

Those who may come into contact with asbestos must be trained and have suitable information given to them by their employer as to the risks posed.