It is good business sense to get help and advice on health and safety issues from the outset.  The regulations may seem a burden, but could save you money in the future. 

As a small business with employees you have a responsibility for ensuring your staff are safe at work.  The Public Health and Safety Team are happy to advise businesses on how best to comply with the law, and to provide guidance on practical health and safety problems.  They issue a handbook that summarises these requirements. 

The Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has produced a book: Protect Your People - and Your Business.  It is packed with tools and advice on setting up a H&S policy, providing checklists, sample documents and jargon-busting explanation.  It costs £20.

The St Paul's Learning and Family Centre offer short HSE certificate courses.

Safe Start Up is presented by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.  It provides information on how to comply with health, safety and environmental regulations aimed at start-up companies and small businesses.  By entering information on the size and type of your business the site will tell you what you are required to do.

More detailed information can be found from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) - which has a useful section for small businesses.  It also has a wide variety of downloadable information leaflets, in a number of other languages too.  This includes a kit that guides you through completing a "risk assessment" and drawing up a health and safety policy.  Individuals with concerns about workplace safety can also call the HSE Info Line on 08701 545 500, stating which language they would like to speak and be connected direct to an interpreter.  The HSE has also launched a new website and online newsletter focussing on its science and research activities, found at www.hsesro.com

A new report published by the HSE is being made available online to help businesses understand how and why health and safety regulations are enforced.  The report shows that prosecutions increased by 6% on last year and provides case studies and examples of health and safety law in action.