THOUGH having access to competent health and safety assistance is a basic requirement of health and safety law, it is also one of the most difficult for smaller organisations to implement. The main regulations (see box) that require employers to have competent advice on hand, don't actually define competence or specify skills or qualifications. That's understandable, since the necessary competences can vary widely and there are various ways to meet the requirement. The good news is that many smaller businesses may already have the staff competence to deal with basic health and safety issues. SME (small and medium enterprise) managers deal with a wide range of issues and, with the support of employees and by following good practice guidance (notably on the HSE's website www.hse.gov.uk), they should be able to control everyday health and safety risks too..
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