Health and safety and risk assessment for one man band

[Gene Powell]

Morning all I know the questions probably been asked a lot.
Basically I done some work for a company last month and put my invoice in at the start of last month now there asking for health and safety policy and risk assessment. What's the score being a one man band solo trader.

 

[Pete999]

Morning all I know the questions probably been asked a lot.
Basically I done some work for a company last month and put my invoice in at the start of last month now there asking for health and safety policy and risk assessment. What's the score being a one man band solo trader.

You need both

 

[stevethesparks]

They should have asked for both before letting you work for them, instead of now using it as an excuse to delay paying your invoice.

 

[Pete999]

They should have asked for both before letting you work for them, instead of now using it as an excuse to delay paying your invoice.

Yes Agree

 

[SparkyChick]

If you have fewer than 5 employees you don't actually need a written health and safety policy.

Writing a health and safety policy - http://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/managing/writing.htm

That page explains this and also provides a template for you to write one.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

If you have fewer than 5 employees you don't actually need a written health and safety policy.

Writing a health and safety policy - http://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/managing/writing.htm

That page explains this and also provides a template for you to write one.

Now that would be interesting to show to Stroma, or indeed to any scheme!

 

[Pete999]

If you have fewer than 5 employees you don't actually need a written health and safety policy.

Writing a health and safety policy - http://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/managing/writing.htm

That page explains this and also provides a template for you to write one.

Thanks SC must have changed cus when I did my H&S Courses, the course included a statement that even as a one Person concern these docs where needed, thanks for the update.

 

[Pete999]

Now that would be interesting to show to Stroma, or indeed to any scheme!

True!

 

[SparkyChick]

Personally, I think it's a nonsense. It's very hard to have a policy when nothing is written down.

As for the schemes... I don't think it's a bad thing that they insist on having a written policy even if you're a one man band.

There is an assumption that the company isn't going to pay the OP. It could be that acquiring this is standard practice. It could be argued that it should be collected before they engage someone but a pending payment does have a tendency to focus ones attention, so they may have better success obtaining it at the invoicing stage.

Personally I would write one that covers the basic scenarios (working at height, live working, using ladders, using power tools etc.) and send it to them with a reminder that the invoice is overdue.

 

[snowhead]

If you have fewer than 5 employees you don't actually need a written health and safety policy.

It might not be a legal requirement but a customer can put any conditions they want on carrying out work on thier premises prior to giving an order to someone.

The only issue here is the RAMS should have been requested before work started, not picked up on a check list by someone in accounts after the work was completed.

The last few companies that I worked for before retiring had complex approval systems before any subcontractor could even quote.

 

[snowhead]

I think I might have to start asking the Scrap man, that takes my scrap from the front of the house for free, for his RAMS in the future.

 

[Wilko]

I have seen insurance company requirements that the business has H&S and RA docs in place. I've used the ones in @SparkyChick post copies duly sent to CPS and annually reviewed etc.

On a lighter note I have got a PPE related item in the RA Slips and Trips section. Action is to confirm suitable footwear for site and elimination of trip hazard by doing laces up. Very effective as I haven't fallen on my butt yet .

 

[snowhead]

It's always the simplest things that get overlooked
Demostrates FULL attention to detail

 

[davesparks]

Now that would be interesting to show to Stroma, or indeed to any scheme!

The scheme should already know about it, the Elecsa ---- certainly did a few years ago when I joined and he was fine with me not having one.

 

[davesparks]

Personally, I think it's a nonsense. It's very hard to have a policy when nothing is written down.

Personally I would write one that covers the basic scenarios (working at height, live working, using ladders, using power tools etc.) and send it to them with a reminder that the invoice is overdue.

Why would I as a sole trader need a health and safety policy? The only employee I have is me so the only person who needs to read and adhere to it is me.

That wouldn't be a health and safety policy, that would be risk assessments and method statements if it covers specific tasks, a health and safety policy sets out a company's general attitude/approach to health and safety, not the specific mechanisms by which it is applied.