How to notify us over the holiday period.
Notifications
If someone has been seriously injured, become seriously ill, or died as a result of work – phone us on 0800 030 040 straight away. We have staff available to respond to these 24/7.
If you’re not sure what a notifiable event is, including your obligation to hold a scene, visit What events need to be notified?
Notifications made through our online form won't be monitored between 12pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and 8.30am on Monday 6 January 2025.
If you’re not sure if you need to notify us, use our online notification system and we’ll respond to you after 6 January 2025.
Health and safety concerns
If you have a health and safety concern that isn’t urgent, use our online form and we’ll respond to you after 6 January 2025.
Raise a health or safety concern
General enquiries
General enquiries made by phone or email after 12pm on Tuesday 24 December will be responded to from Monday 6 January 2025. This does not apply to notifications made by phone on 0800 030 040.
We wish you a safe and relaxing holiday.
Lone workers – particularly those working late night shifts – may be at increased risk of confrontation or even injury where some work tasks are more challenging to do alone
How are workers harmed?
The effects of workplace confrontation can vary from individual to individual. In general their effects can reduce productivity and disrupt workplaces through:
- impaired performance
- increased absence
- low morale
- more mistakes and accidents
- loss of company reputation
- resignations and difficulty recruiting
- poor customer service and/or product quality.
What can you do?
First you must always eliminate the risk where you’re reasonably able to. Where you’re not reasonably able to, then you need to consider what you can do to minimise the risk. Here are some examples.
Employers should understand the situations where people work alone and consider some of the following questions:
- Is there a safe way in and out of the workplace, eg for a lone person working out of regular business hours where the workplace could be locked up?
- What is the risk of confrontation?
- Are there any reasons why the individual might be more vulnerable than others and be particularly at risk if they work alone (if they are young, pregnant, have a medical condition, are disabled, or a trainee)?
- Does the workplace present other specific risks to the lone worker, eg handling equipment, such as portable ladders or trestles, that one person could have difficulty handling?
- Are chemicals or hazardous substances being used that may pose a particular risk someone working alone?
- Does the work involve lifting objects too large for one person?
- If the lone worker’s first language is not English, are suitable arrangements in place to ensure clear communications, especially in an emergency?
You need to select the most effective controls that are proportionate to the risk, and appropriate to your work situation.
Get your workers involved
- Ensure your workers know how to make suggestions, ask questions, or raise concerns.
- Always ask your workers for input on identifying health and safety risks and how to eliminate or minimise them. People are more likely to take responsibility and make good decisions when they have been involved in the conversation. Your workers (including contractors and temps) are the eyes and ears of your business. They can help spot issues, and suggest practical, cost-effective solutions.
- Always train your workers on what the key risks are and how to keep healthy and safe.
Where to go for more information
Related information
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