. Everyday he, or she, has to find new ways to make sure the office continues to run smoothly and comply with all regulatory requirements. That seems to be a more difficult task than ever as the rules and guidelines in this area seem to be changing all the time. As such it is important to make sure that health and training be kept up to date.
As an employer or office manager it is your responsibility to make sure all staff have a safe and comfortable environment to work in. According to official statistics more than 200 people are killed each year by accidents within the work place. Some of those could have been avoided with the proper health and safety training in place.
Whether it's an office, factory or even if they're on the road you have to do everything in your power to reduce the risk of accidents or mishaps for staff. As such the more competent employees you have within your staff, the better for you as the business owner. They will do more to make sure you avoid any accidents or illnesses caused by the work place, develop a culture in which health and safety is put at the heart of everything you do and avoid the negative impact on your reputation caused by any high profile problems.
The dangers of neglecting health and safety training should never have been more clearly in view. We are entering a culture of blame and litigation - one in which ambulance chasers are happy to parade themselves on prime time television offering no win no fee legal services.
For staff or employees who feel they have been injured in the work place this can seem a tempting proposition. It had undoubtedly prompted more people to make claims on the off chance. We not spin the coin and take a chance - you never know.
It means businesses should be doubly on their guard. For example, the NHS has a huge dedicated legal action fund designed to cope with the thousands of spurious claims they receive each year. As a business you must do the same. Make sure you have only the very best health and safety training in place. Use inspectors to come into your offices and oversee your existing procedures. Send different employees on different programs - they can come back and educate others. It all helps to make sure you're always on your guard in what has become an increasingly safety conscious environment.