Health and Safety Works NI

Small businesses make up the greatest proportion of the Northern Ireland economy. Competitive small firms are vital to the future of the NI economy yet one of the biggest barriers to the success of such businesses is that associated with the failure in the management of their health & safety. Few recognize that effective health and safety management could bring practical benefits and enhance competitiveness if it were fully integrated into their business systems.

A new health and safety advisory service for small businesses is now available. The Health & Safety Works NI initiative was set up to promote the benefits of managing workplace health and safety within emerging small and micro businesses throughout Northern Ireland. The aim of the service is to help businesses in Northern Ireland to develop and be sustainable, whilst ensuring a healthy and safe working environment.

Health & Safety Works NI provides:

• Free Health & Safety Audits
• Confidential Practical Advice in a user friendly format

This service is provided at no cost to the business and is entirely independent as it does not have an enforcement or inspectorate.

For further details contact deirdre.goan@detini.gov.uk or alternatively look at the service in more detail on http://www.healthandsafetyworksni.gov.uk

Health and Safety Training Courses

For those wishing to progress their company in relation to Health and Safety. Local company Zenith Learning are offering a wide range of Training Courses. The Managing Director, Jackie O'Neill, can assist your company comply with current Health and Safety Legislation. The initial consultancy visit free of charge. Zenith can prepare your health and safety policy, risk assessments, fire assessments and train your staff on:

• Foundation Health & Safety
• Manual Handling
• COSHH
• Stress Awareness
• Risk Assessments

Don't be a statistic; ensure your workforce is safe. For details of further H&S courses visit http://www.zenithlearning.com or alternatively contact jackie@zenithlearning.com

Advice on Managing Health & Safety

A guide to managing health & safety entitled 'Safety Pays' has been developed for small businesses. This guide incorporates information on risk assessment and how to write a safety policy. Download the Safety Pays guide here .

Also the HSE has developed a number of useful information sheets which give advice and information on managing health and safety in the workplace. Factsheets relating to business types can be downloaded by clicking on health & safety sheets below:

Managing Health & Safety Access

"The Chamber have now available a portable disabled access ramp which provides for easy front entrance wheelchair access.The ramp is easily deployed as required and has been supplied by new chamber member , Multilift Parts. Multilift Parts are specialists in the supply of all kinds of portable and semi-permanent disabled access ramps.Their products can be viewed at http://portableramps.co.uk

A range of safety fact sheets covering a variety of business sectors.