Businesses Warned Against Rumours on New Safety Posters
Businesses have been buying over priced health and safety posters since the release of a new version. The HSE has confirmed that the new posters were released in April and that some businesses in the UK had fallen prey to false rumours that it was compulsory to purchase them immediately.
The HSE has denied rumours about the need to display the posters on all notice boards in the organization. Spokesperson from the HSE, Vinny Kenny, said that false information about the posters was misleading many employers and that in such cases confused employers and businesses should get in touch with the HSE if they have any misconceptions about the legality of the existing posters.
In April a new series of posters on health and safety law coupled with pocket size cards were released to give workers a better insight into their rights and duties as per the law. Companies should make themselves fully aware of the most up-to-date requirements by visiting Workplace Law. They also need to be sure that they are giving the correct instructions to employees with regard to health and safety issues – click on NEBOSH Certificate, for information on the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health qualification; designed to help those with health and safety responsibilities to carry out their duties at work more effectively and to protect the organisations for which they work.
Since the HSE rules grant a period of five years in which a business can implement the change to the new posters and cards, the employers now have ample time till 5 April 2014 to carry out the replacement task. Employers who wish to retain a display of the old poster beyond April 6, 2009 are required to ensure that they are legible and updated with the new contact details of the concerned authorities.
