I: i) Legal considerations
A large number of government and local authority agencies can, and do have the right to enter your premises, sometimes without warning.
These can include: Equal opportunities, Racial Discrimination, Pest control, Fire Service, Police, Trading Standards, Environmental health etc).
You need to be able to provide and prove that you are keeping the relevant records, and carrying out the mandatory checks. For instance: Fire Extinguishers, Fire alarms, fire drills and automatic fire doors, all have to be checked on a regular basis.
In addition, things such as lifts, cranes, boilers, gas & electrical equipment must be inspected by approved contractors, and detailed records kept. (This includes portable electrical equipment).
All accidents or injuries, either to staff or customers must be recorded.
The amount of information to be recorded, and kept, can seem a lot. It can ease with familiarity, and organisation, but you must never be complacent.
You will also need to display various regulatory/safety notices, which will vary according to your business.
External Services to be ‘bought in’
If you have any doubt, get assistance, until you either know what you are doing, or have established methods or routines to cope with the requirements.
You may want to consider joining an organisation which can keep you up to date on such matters as:
- Personnel rules and regulations
- Disciplinary procedures
- VAT
- Income Tax
- Bookkeeping
- Accountancy
- Legal services
- Hygiene Services, practices and procedures
- Fire and safety equipment
- Electrical safety
It can also be useful, particularly in the retail trade, to hire the services of people who come and ‘shop anonymously or ring your office’, to give you independent feedback on the operation of your business.