BMF helps members fulfil HandS obligations

BMF's Employee Safety Handbook helps members meet their legal HandS obligations and has sold over 800 copies in the first month.

Every company relies on its employees to follow health and safety (HandS) procedures and as employers; builders' merchants have a duty to provide HandS information for their staff.

BMF's Employee Safety Handbook helps members meet their legal HandS obligations and has sold over 800 copies in the first month.

The Handbook works in conjunction with company HandS policies, introducing employees to risks, commonly found within builders' merchants.

It provides guidance to prevent accidents and ill health, identify risks and follow best practice procedures.

Each Handbook comes with a sheet that employees sign and give back to their employer to show that they have read and understood the advice given.

BMF managing director, Chris Pateman, said: "We know from talking to our merchant members how difficult it can be for busy managers to ensure they are demonstrating their 'general duty of care' for staff and customers.

"Health and safety legislation is changing all the time, and it's difficult to be 100% sure that all your staff are up to speed with their obligations.

But getting it wrong can mean accidents, lost working days and even the risk of prosecution.

By alerting staff to HandS using an easy to understand handbook, merchants can help minimise the risks to their businesses and reduce the potential for harm to employees.

The response we've had confirms this is exactly the sort of information merchants needed".

Within the merchant trade, the variety of health and safety risks is huge.

The most obvious areas of concern are to do with manual and mechanical handling of goods when loading and unloading vehicles and racking, and in those areas where customers and members of the public have access to the yard and the stock room.

All of these are clearly addressed in the BMF handbook, using straightforward language and a series of 'dos' and 'don'ts'.

The Handbook is clearly laid out and split into two main sections.

The first, Priority HandS issues, includes customer and visitor safety, general hygiene, manual handling, fire safety, workplace transport and access to height.

The second section gives general guidance on other topics including hazardous substances, electrical safety, noise, and personal protective equipment.

Members can order copies of the BMF's Employee Safety Handbook by emailing chris.harding@bmf.org.uk or calling 020 7534 7426.

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