Risks to the health and wellbeing of any company's workforce are now seen as being risks to the entire business.

A growing number of employers accept that good health and safety risk management stimulates good operational practice, making the business more efficient and competitive.

The costs

According to the Health and Safety Executive, accidents and work-related ill health cost the UK up to £18 billion a year.

More than one million people are injured at work annually. Over half of these are absent for more than a day and a quarter more than a week. That means disruption and lost production.

The average uninsured cost to a firm of an accident leading to absence from work is £2,097, while the cost of a major injury accident averages around £19,000.

Legislation

Britain's Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and Executive (HSE) are responsible for the regulation of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in Britain. Businesses now face an avalanche of regulation, much of it now from the EU. Failure to comply carries the risk of prosecution, major compensation payouts, if accidents do occur and increases in insurance premiums. More directors are now being jailed for serious breaches of health and safety legislation.

New regulations are being added constantly. For example, since May 2005 firms have been obliged to draw up specific safety plans for employees working at height.

Health and safety risks are extensive

In addition to injury from specific incidents, employers must control staff exposure to hazardous substances, noise, vibration, display screen equipment and passive smoking.

And their liabilities stretch beyond the immediate workplace. For example they are responsible for employees travelling on company business and for the growing army of home-based staff, now numbering 400,000 in the UK.

Neither is it just their own staff. They are responsible to a significant extent for the health and safety practices of contractors who come onto their sites.

Ultimately employers must not only comply with the law and manage their risk effectively but must be able to prove they have taken the necessary steps.

It is an onerous task for which increasing numbers of businesses are seeking professional support.