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Important Health & Safety Considerations for Employers Taking on Temporary Workers this Festive Season

17/10/2016

At this time of year, with the festive season on the near horizon, it is fairly common for a business to take on temporary staff to cover increased workloads and additional leave requests. However, with the often last-minute nature of having to make such arrangements, there are sometimes certain aspects of employer duties that get overlooked. One of these employer duties is health and safety. 

 
At this time of year, with the festive season on the near horizon, it is fairly common for a business to take on temporary staff to cover increased workloads and additional leave requests.

However, with the often last-minute nature of having to make such arrangements, there are sometimes certain aspects of employer duties that get overlooked.

One of these employer duties is health and safety. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) dictates that any business using temporary workers and agency staff must provide the same level of health and safety protection for them as they do for their employed workforce.

Why Good Communication Between Employer and Agency is Vital

Issues regularly arise in this area due to a lack of communication between the employer, and the agency supplying the temporary personnel. Often the employer will assume that the agency should take responsibility for health and safety training, as they are supplying the staff and remunerating them. However, many agencies will not agree that this responsibility lies with them.

However, under the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2003, agencies - and the businesses that they supply with workers - must exchange the information needed by both parties in order to ensure the safety of workers.
 

How to Avoid Health & Safety Incidents Amongst Temporary Workers

The HSE suggests, in order to avoid problems which of course could lead to a worker sustaining an injury in the workplace through lack of health and safety training, that providers of temporary workers and employers should cooperate and engage in clear communication with the aim of ensuring the risks posed to those workers are effectively managed.
 

The advice provided by the HSE includes: 

  • Ensuring that prior to the start date of the temporary worker, that risk assessments have been carried out and that the worker is aware of the measures put in place to protect their health and safety
  • Making sure that the worker comprehends the instructions provided in order to work in a safe manner
  • Checking that the worker has undergone any necessary health and safety training
  • Considering any language needs of temporary workers whose first language is not English
  • Making checks to ensure that the worker possesses any occupational skills or qualifications required for the job
  • Agreeing on arrangements for the provision and maintenance of any necessary personal protective equipment, health surveillance and display screen equipment sight tests
  • Making an agreement as to how any accidents should be reported to the enforcing authority (i.e. HSE or the local authority).

The HSE has a section on its website dedicated to health and safety for agency and temporary workers which is well worth a read if you are considering taking on temporary staff this coming festive season, or at any time of the year.


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