Successful Health and Safety Outsourcing

Managing health and safety in a business is vital from a commercial and legal point of view.  Good health and safety management will:

• improve morale and productivity
• minimise the risk of legal penalties and compensation claims
• protect the company’s reputation and maintain confidence. 

With the recent economic downturn, organisations are looking for ways to provide these benefits while reducing their costs.  One effective method is to fully or partially outsource their health and safety function. The benefits include:

• Cost saving – Many of the costs of having in-house health and safety staff are removed including costs of recruitment, wages, training, holidays, allowances, absence, sickness, office space, IT and equipment.
• Maintaining business focus - organisations can concentrate on improving their core business activities and management have enough time for strategic business planning.
• Access to a range of expert skills – rather than a single health and safety person, organisations have access to consultants with a wide range of expertise.
• Continuity of support – outsourcing ensure continuous health and safety support as service providers usually have a team of consultants to provide cover if people are on holiday or otherwise absent.
• Improved performance – health and safety consultants can work with in-house staff to transfer skills and best practice throughout the organisation.

How to choose a good health and safety outsourcing company

So, you think it is a good idea.  But there are lots of providers out there. How do you find the one that is right for you?  Here are some points to consider:

1. Check the company background and values carefully:

• their business approach
• their approach to meeting your requirements
• the qualifications skills, knowledge and experience of their advisers
• accreditation and certification to relevant professional bodies such as the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

2. Consider previous track record and experience

• have they provided outsourcing to organisations similar to yours
• how do they track customer satisfaction
• what are their clients’ testimonials on the quality of their services.

3.  Meet the consultant (not the sales person) who will be in charge of your account to talk through your requirements for example:

• providing full time or part time on-site support
• off site support
• attendance at meetings
• regular site visits
• providing a ‘competent person’ as required by legislation.

4.  Get written proposals outlining their approach, qualifications and costs. 

5.  Agree ways of measuring service level performance, for example timescales for:

• conducting risk assessments
• reviewing policies and procedures
• providing health and safety training and information
• providing updates on legislation and best practice.

System Concepts can provide you with practical and tailor-made outsourcing health and safety support services.  Our current clients include: Land Securities, Baker Tilly, the European Medicines Agency, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Hendersons and Mylan.

For a no-obligation chat about ways we can help you, please contact us.