Introduction:

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness………..Autumn is without a doubt my favourite season and my favourite time of year for carrying out site visits. However, as the leaves fall, temperatures drop, and mornings become misty and frosty there are some health and safety issues that we need to bear in mind a bit more at this time of year; so if  you are out and about completing bat roost or wintering bird surveys, or even aquatic invertebrate surveys this autumn; here are a few things for you to bear in mind.

Slippery Surfaces:

The falling leaves and wet boggy ground can create slippery surfaces, particularly when they become wet from rain or morning dew. Be cautious when walking on pathways or climbing slopes covered in fallen leaves. Use proper footwear with good traction and a good grip and remember to clean those soles and grips of caked mud.

Reduced Daylight Hours:

As autumn progresses, daylight hours decrease. Dim lighting can make it challenging to navigate safely. Ensure you have adequate lighting equipment, such as torches, headlamps, or portable floodlights, to illuminate work areas and pathways. Try to plan for site visits to take place during daylight hours.

Cold Weather:

It’s easy to get caught out with cold temperatures during autumn, especially when we have been having unseasonably warm days; but the temperatures will drop at some point. Falling temperatures can lead to cold stress or even hypothermia. Dress in layers to maintain warmth and use insulated clothing to protect against the cold. Don't forget to cover extremities with gloves, hats, and scarves and consider using outdoor gloves specifically designed for writing or tablet use so that it isn’t necessary to keep taking gloves off.

Wildlife Encounters:

Autumn is a season of increased wildlife activity, including mating and migration. When rural locations, remote or wooded sites, be aware of the potential for wildlife encounters, including for example dear which are on the move for mating season during autumn and are commonly seen on roads. For more information visit https://www.deeraware.com/

Visibility Challenges:

Fog, mist, or rain are common weather conditions during autumn. Reduced visibility can hinder site assessments and create potential risks when operating machinery. Identify measures appropriate for your site, for example marking out walking routes and working areas, wear reflective vests and appropriate lighting.

Driving:

Autumn and winter driving can be particularly hazardous, dazzle from the sun, glare from wet roads, reduced visibility, heavy rain, ice and fog can create difficult driving conditions. Ensure that you have considered whether driving is necessary, planned your route including places to take regular rest breaks, and made sure that your car is well maintained and is autumn and winter ready, for example ensuring screen-wash and anti-freeze are topped up, lights are working correctly, tyres are suitable with adequate tread. For more information on autumn driving, please visit https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/seasonal/autumn

If you would like support risk assessing the hazards associated with site visits or assistance with any other aspect of health and safety in your business, please call Helen  - Health and Safety Specialist on 07572464445 or email helen.byram@buzzsafety.co.uk

As a health and safety consultant, when I talk about health and safety as a key component in the sustainability of a business, more often that not I will be asked ‘what has health and safety has got to do with sustainability?’ Well, rather a lot actually – when talking about the long term sustainability of your business, the health, safety and wellbeing of your employees is key.

Changing the Image of Health and Safety

To really appreciate the role of health and safety in sustainability, we need to reframe it. For as long as I can remember health and safety has been viewed (generally) as being burdensome; the focus on keeping the director out of jail and doing what is necessary to tick the boxes and keep the regulators away. Of course, we can’t ignore legal compliance and minimum requirements must be set; but the focus of health and safety should be on looking after your people because you want to – they are your most important asset. If ever I’m lucky enough to walk in to see a new client and hear the words ‘I want to took after my people’ or words to that effect – my heart sings, I know we are on the same page; their priority is the wellbeing of their people and health and safety will be implemented with purpose not resentment.

Changing Priorities

The world is shifting – we know sustainability is key to the future of the planet. Focusing on the profitability of an organisation above everything else might bring an increase in profits, but failing to look after your people and consider your impact on the environment is unlikely to bring longevity in today’s business climate. Employees quite rightly are beginning to prioritise their wellbeing and the sustainability credentials of employers when scanning the job market. Likewise, consumers and clients are becoming much more savvy, choosing ethically and sustainably produced products.

What makes a Business Sustainable?

The Triple Bottom Line concept identifies 3 components of the business sustainability model.

PEOPLE-PROFIT-PLANET

These 3 components are inextricably linked – to be truly sustainable, a business cannot focus on one to the detriment of the others.

So, back to health and safety. Good health and safety management plays a key role in looking after your people. A well designed and relevant health and safety management system will work for and with your organisation.  A health and safety manual should not sit on a shelf gathering dust only to be dragged out when the regulators come to visit – I’ve seen that many times and it achieves nothing.

It's all about the Bigger Picture

Investing in good proportionate health and safety management and creating a culture where employees feel safe, listened to, able to raise concerns and valued will unlock discretionary effort, increase productivity, reduce staff turnover (reducing the associated loss of skills and knowledge and the inevitable recruitment cost), reduce sickness and lost time following incidents. All of this will impact positively on the business in terms of reducing costs, reducing downtime, driving up profits, improving public image and reputation. It will of course also achieve the ‘traditional’ aims of health and safety by reducing the incidence and costs of accidents and increasing legal compliance and increase in profits.

Greater profit allows for better financial reward for employees, investment in the local economy,  greater investment in green technology and sustainable practices which again feed employee satisfaction and reputation whilst benefitting the planet. Everyone wins. For me People-Profit-Planet is a cycle of continuous improvement that has no beginning and no end and should be actively and passionately pursued. We should be constantly striving and improving our working conditions for our people and fairly rewarding people for their efforts to create a sustainable standard of living, a sustainable society, ongoing investment in green technology and genuine ethical and sustainable practices and overall, a sustainable planet.

In this conversation Yvette Whitwam of Beanstalk HR and I talk about our personal experience of peri-menopause and it's impact on us as people running our own businesses. We discuss how employers can support their employees from an HR and health and safety perspective.