New website puts health and safety advice at your fingertips
Friday, 9 October 2009Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster launched a new website, today, to help small businesses manage their workplace health and safety.
The Health and Safety Works NI (HSWNI) website, www.healthandsafetyworksni.gov.uk will give small businesses 24 hour access to the information that will guide them through health and safety management in a logical, step-by-step manner enabling them take positive steps towards complying with their legal duties, protecting their workers and improving profitability.
Launching the new website at the Health and Safety Executive’s office in Omagh today, the Minister said: “To enable small businesses to compete, succeed and thrive in the current economic situation, it is vital that they strive for excellence in all areas of business practice. The HSWNI website gives them a clear starting point from which they can introduce an effective and practical health and safety management programme.
“This website puts health and safety management at the fingertips of small businesses and I would encourage them to visit the website and make use of this excellent resource.”
The development of the website takes the services offered by Health and Safety Works NI, the advisory branch of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, to the next level by giving small businesses easy access to health and safety information that is specific to their business needs and on a level that is appropriate to them.
Included in the site is a section on getting started with health and safety. This contains practical advice and guidance together with many useful health and safety templates and checklists developed specifically for small businesses. The site also carries an extensive range of relevant health and safety publications which are available to download. For businesses that feel that they need more help, there is an option within the site for them to request a free and confidential advisory visit with a HSWNI Business Adviser.
Attending the launch, Mr William Moffat, Director of Omagh-based Building Contractors, Moffat and Robinson, said: “The HSWNI website, with its clear layout and straightforward approach, will be of great benefit to us as we further develop our health and safety systems and procedures.”
Dermot Breen, Deputy Chief Executive, HSWNI commented: “Our advisers mentor hundreds of businesses every year, many of whom feel overwhelmed by the amount of health and safety information that is out there. When it comes to managing health and safety, they simply don’t know where to start. The website aims to address this need directly, answering the common questions and helping small businesses to find the relevant information easily and quickly.
Notes to Editors:
1. For further information on the HSWNI website please contact David Lowe at Health and Safety Works NI on 028 9040 8020 or 028 9040 8007 or email david.lowe@detini.gov.uk
2. Health and Safety Works NI (HSWNI) is the small business advisory service of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI). It is a free and confidential government service set up specifically to help small businesses across all of Northern Ireland manage their health and safety. It operates at arms length for HSENI’s more traditional enforcement role.
3. HSWNI offers essential health and safety information; advice and guidance through workshops and presentations and mentoring through a premises visit with the business to identify their needs and develop an agreed action plan to manage health and safety.
4. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
5. HSENI, the regional health and safety authority, is the lead body responsible for the promotion and enforcement of health and safety at work standards in Northern Ireland.
6. For media enquiries, please contact DETI Press Office on 028 9052 9297. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
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