Common Health and Safety Mistakes Small Businesses Make – And How to Avoid Them
Running a business comes with a long to-do list, but health and safety should never be at the bottom. Unfortunately, many small businesses unknowingly put their staff and operations at risk. Here are five common mistakes—and how to fix them:
1. No Written Risk Assessments
Many businesses assume they’re not needed unless there’s a major hazard. But even low-risk environments like offices require basic assessments.
✅ Fix: Get a professional risk assessment tailored to your business operations.
2. Outdated or Generic Policies
Using templates without reviewing them for relevance can leave gaps in your compliance.
✅ Fix: Have your policies reviewed and customised to reflect your actual working environment.
3. Inadequate Training
Training isn’t a one-off. Staff need ongoing updates and refreshers.
✅ Fix: Schedule periodic training and keep records of attendance.
4. Poor Recordkeeping
Failure to document incidents, maintenance, and safety meetings can lead to trouble during inspections.
✅ Fix: Use a simple log or software to track your records and evidence compliance.
5. Not Having a Competent Person
Every business must appoint someone competent to manage health and safety. This can be in-house or outsourced.
✅ Fix: Partner with a retained health and safety consultant to get expert support on demand.
Stay proactive—small actions today prevent big problems tomorrow.