Health and safety

The Health and Safety service provides Health and Safety support to Bedfordshire County Council and its employees.

What is Health and Safety about?

Health and safety is about preventing injuries and harm to health caused by work. Health and safety applies to employers, employees, members of the public, contractors in fact everyone.

Poor health and safety can have serious consequences:

• Death or serious injury to persons
• Prosecution
• Civil claims
• Poor reputation
• Poor staff moral
• Damage to plant/equipment
• Inefficiencies

What are Health and Safety’s key responsibilities?

• Develop health and safety strategy and procedures
• Support the health and safety training programme
• Support managers and staff of front line services
• Carry out health and safety audit and inspections of County Council establishments
• Evaluate accident/incident near miss reports and carry out accident investigations of serious accidents
• Liaise with enforcing authorities e.g. HSE, Fire authority
• Provide expert professional advice and guidance

What are the benefits of Health and Safety management?

• Prevention of prosecutions and civil claims
• lower insurance premiums
• reduction in accidents
• good staff morale
• improved efficiency