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Free Resources

To support your business we've created a range of free downloadable documents. From Health & Safety resources to HR & Employment Law documents, they're the perfect starting point to meeting your legal obligations as a business owner.

How contracts can protect your business: a best-practice guide

It can be overwhelming figuring out how to do your work and run a business, and it can often feel...

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Must-know HR & Employment Law updates for 2024

Last year saw Parliament pass seven Private Members Bills designed to introduce various new employment rights and obligations. This year...

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Go green and get seen: how to win more work and become more sustainable

Businesses that focus on taking care of the environment, supporting their communities and having strong management practices not only become...

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RIDDOR must-knows for business owners

Hazards are present in any workplace and accidents are sometimes unavoidable. In fact, in 2022/23, over 60,000 accidents were reported...

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Free Webinar – How to boost your tenders.

Do you have a goal to work with local councils and win big commercial contracts? Or are you wondering how...

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Site Safety: top tips for businesses

Site safety is one of the most important parts of running a successful business. It’s no secret that construction is...

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SSIP accreditations: your ultimate guide to winning commercial work

At HS Direct, we’re here to help our clients transition from domestic work to commercial contracts, and one of the...

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Workplace transport: vehicle and pedestrian safety

As a business owner, making sure everyone on your site is safe – employees and visitors alike – is top...

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On-demand Health & Safety MOT webinar: latest must-knows

Are you wondering what’s going on in the world of Health & Safety? Worrying about Health and Safety Executive (HSE)...

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Tendering: how to secure work with local councils

Winning commercial contracts is a key goal for many businesses. But the process is slightly different when it comes to...

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What to expect when your employees are expecting: a guide to maternity

How much do you know about your responsibilities when it comes to your employees who are expecting? There’s a lot...

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Keeping it cool: your guide to safe summer working

We all love summer – barbecues, beach weekends and sunbathing. But as the temperatures rise, risks at work do too,...

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Fire Safety 101: roles, responsibilities and everything you need to do

Fire safety is something you need to have a handle on at your business. In 2021/22 alone, in total, there...

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Asbestos checklist: must-knows for business owners

Protect your people and your business with this free checklist covering everything asbestos – including what the law says, what...

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Health & Safety handbook: free template and step-by-step guide

Everyone in your business needs to be fully in the know when it comes to Health & Safety policies and...

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Metalworking Inspection Guide: handling cutting fluids

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is currently inspecting companies that handle cutting fluids, which can cause serious health problems...

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New starters: an onboarding checklist for business owners

As a growing business, you might be in the recruitment process at the moment, or potentially taken on new staff...

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Heat stress at work: must-knows for business owners

Every workplace is different and so there’s no law for maximum working temperature. However, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare)...

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Managing dust in construction & trades and related industries

More than 3,500 builders die each year from cancers related to their work and becoming exposed to harmful substances, with...

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Long-term health conditions and disabilities: HR and Health & Safety checklist

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest some 2.5 million people are missing from the labour...

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Hybrid working: must-knows for getting it right

Hybrid workers are those who spend part of their time at their workplace and part of their time workingfrom another...

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On-demand Webinar: Managing Stress & Mental Health – top tips for business owners.

Watch as Guy Woodcock LLB, our Director of Employment Law & Service Delivery and Josh Wright GradIOSH, Health & Safety...

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Business MOT checklist: Health & Safety, HR, accreditations and more

Worried about whether your business is where it needs to be when it comes to compliance and your legal responsibilities?...

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The ultimate business guide to Health & Safety responsibilities

At HS Direct, we’ve spent years helping thousands of small businesses take control of their Health & Safety compliance and understand what’s...

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On-Demand Webinar: Getting Health & Safety Inspection Ready.

As a busy business owner with lots to keep on top of, it’s easy to overlook your core Health and...

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Free Method Statement Checklist

Our checklist is designed to make your life easier by guiding you through the process of creating effective and comprehensive...

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Health & Safety Business Boosters: how to use accreditations to level up your business

Want to power your business forward? As part of something bigger, you’ve got a whole team of backers by your...

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Risk Assessment (Individual) for Pregnant and Expectant Mothers

Did you know you’ve got a legal requirement to make sure that work doesn’t harm your pregnant staff? If you’ve...

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Free On-Demand Webinar: Expert Tendering Webinar & Panel Discussion

Tendering is all about standing out from the crowd. So, as well as acing your applications, you need to make...

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How to keep young workers safe and healthy

Whether through apprenticeships, work experience or other circumstances, you might’ve found yourself in the position of hiring people under 18...

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Free tendering toolkit: must-have resources for business owners

Get set for growth and read our top tips on how to grow from completing largely domestic work to winning...

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Silica Dust: Toolbox Talk

We already know the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is upping their inspections – but something they’re cracking down on...

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On-Demand Webinar & Slides: Safe Site Shutdown

The festive period has arrived, and it may well be time for you to think about closing your site over...

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Business Continuity Planning Checklist (Planning For Emergencies)

Workplaces legally need to have a plan in place for emergencies that can have a wider impact – like serious...

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Stress Risk Assessments: Must-knows For Business Owners

About 11 million working days are lost per year due to stress, depression, and anxiety, causing significant financial losses to...

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Subcontractor management: free checklist for business owners

Subcontractors are a flexible source of expertise and labour, available as and when your business requires them. However, that flexibility...

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HR & Employment Law Essentials Toolkit: business owner must-haves

Are you sure you’ve got all things HR & Employment Law sorted in your business? Our experts have pulled together...

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Alcohol and Drugs Policy Template

Depending on the nature of your business, it may be necessary to have a detailed alcohol and drugs policy, which...

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Employment Status Must-knows for Hair & Beauty Businesses

Due to the nature of the industry, the beauty sector sees individuals regularly being engaged under all of the three...

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World Cup Checklist: Health & Safety and HR considerations for business owners

Is it coming home? Who knows. But what we do know is: The football World Cup this winter runs from...

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Health & Safety Inspection Toolkit: Must-haves For Business Owners

As a business owner, you could face an unannounced spot check from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). If the...

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Tendering: Common Mistakes and Must-knows For SMEs

Do you primarily complete domestic and residential work but have ambitions to win more commercial contracts? If you’ve tendered for...

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Free Hair and Beauty Health & Safety Policy Template

Your Health & Safety policy will not only show your commitment to Health & Safety by reassuring your employees, but...

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Free Winter Toolkit: Must-have Compliance Resources

Winter is an especially challenging time for employers from a Health & Safety perspective with cold conditions, slippery surfaces, dark...

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Employment Status: Health & Safety Considerations For Employers

Do you have the same Health & Safety obligations towards workers and employees? What about self-employed persons that you work...

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A Guide To Handling Holiday Leave

From entitlements to accruing leave to employee requests, the holiday season can be a lot to handle if you’re not...

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Free Mental Health Toolbox Talk

Mental health concerns how we think, feel and behave. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems. They...

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Toolbox Talk – Cosmetic Procedures: Non-Surgical Legislation

The UK government has announced its intention to introduce special licensing requirements for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, otherwise known as aesthetic...

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Cosmetics and Aesthetics Health & Safety Cheat Sheet

Although there are lots of different options within the industry (be those cosmetic procedures, holistic treatments, hair care or nail...

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Holistic Therapies Health & Safety Cheat Sheet

Download your holistic therapies Health & Safety Cheat Sheet!

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Hair, Nails and Beauty Health & Safety Cheat Sheet

Download our Hair, Nails and Beauty Health & Safety Cheat Sheet.

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COSHH Risk Assessments in 5 Simple Steps

As an employer, you must comply with the COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations 2002 to control exposure...

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Free CDM Template

Download your free Construction Phase Plan template now.

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Free COSHH Assessment Template

Free COSHH Assessment advice from HS Direct, learn how to write your own COSHH Assessments.

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Free Risk Assessment Template

Download our free guide to writing your Risk Assessment.

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Free Method Statement Template

A free guide to writing your own Method Statements.

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Key Employment Law and HR Updates for 2022

It’s already proved to be a busy start to 2022 for HR & Employment Law updates with the annual changes...

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HR & Employment Law basics

Struggling to get your head around HR & Employment Law and how it relates to your business and your employees?...

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Working at Height Risk Assessment

Make sure you’ve got the proper measures in place to keep your people safe.

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Tendering 101

No matter the size of your business and your goals, you’ve probably come across tendering in some way or another...

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Top Tips for Tendering

Tendering is a key way of bringing in more business, and so making sure your application stands out from the...

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Asbestos Awareness Training

Join our training sessions at a location near you.

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How to report an accident: a checklist

Hazards are present in any workplace and accidents are sometimes unavoidable. But, as an employer, you do have certain legal...

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Manual Handling Risk Assessment

Our Manual Handling Risk Assessment template has been written by IOSH and NEBOSH qualified professionals. This Risk Assessment template helps...

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An Introduction to Health & Safety Accreditations

Achieving a Health & Safety accreditation can be a great way to win more business, stand out from the competition...

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Winter Working Toolbox Talk

The winter season can bring a whole host of positive occasions and events to look forward to, however when it...

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Winter Working: Cheat Sheet

Winter is an especially challenging time for employers from a Health & Safety perspective, for a number of reasons. These...

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Longer-Term Homeworking: An Action Plan for Employers

On 8 December 2021, Boris Johnson announced that the government will be introducing winter Plan B measures to help combat...

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COVID-19 Winter Toolkit

During the winter months, with COVID cases increasing and the Omicron variant now a concern, it’s important you take the...

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Tips for business growth: free guide

In the wake of the chaos caused by the pandemic, as well as supply chain issues and recruitment challenges, there...

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Five common Health and Safety mistakes

Our team of Health & Safety experts support business owners to create safer and more effective businesses and when it...

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The end of furlough: your options explored

Please Note: All information was correct at time of writing on 02 September 2021. We do our very best to...

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Travel and Quarantine (June 2021 update)

Following the suspension of all travel corridors with the UK back in January this year, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps addressed...

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The Kickstart Scheme – everything you need to know

The government’s £2 billion Kickstart Scheme has been in place since September 2020. The government’s aim is for the scheme...

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Returning to work challenges

Employees who can’t (or won’t) return to work: a troubleshooting guide: The COVID-19 pandemic has meant drastic changes for the...

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Managing ventilation in the workplace and vehicles

One of the key control measures in relation to a COVID-secure workplace and vehicle is ventilation. The fresher the air...

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COVID-19: Face coverings in indoor settings

It became mandatory to wear facemasks in a variety of settings – including shops, supermarkets and public transport – across...

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COVID-19 testing: Key HR considerations for employers

One of the most important facts about coronavirus that has emerged is that about one-third of infections are asymptomatic –...

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Travel and Quarantine Update

Travel-related quarantine periods and their implications for employers. Following the suspension of all travel corridors with the UK back in...

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Flexible working: your responsibilities as a business owner

Quite simply, flexible working is a pattern of work that differs from the one under which an employee is currently...

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A guide to COSHH in cleaning

Cleaning is an essential aspect of controlling the spread of infections around all workplaces. Infection prevention aims at keeping your...

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Managing employees with COVID symptoms

As your people start to return to work, making sure you know exactly what to do if an employee presents...

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Managing sickness and absence: top tips for business owners

Managing sickness and absences can be challenging at the best of times, but the latest figures suggest sickness absence is...

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Construction Health & Safety checklist

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is spotlighting certain businesses for failing to assess, plan, and implement the correct Health...

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The Good Work Plan: employment rights at-a-glance

Understanding how to make the distinction between employee, worker, and the self-employed is essential for business owners. The changes that...

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Risk Assessment Checklist

As we all know, risk assessments are a legal necessity and if you employ five or more people, they must...

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How to hold a disciplinary

Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself having to deal with the added stress and complexities of the disciplinary...

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Employment contracts: free template

The aim of this guide is to explain what the legal requirements are for employment contracts. Free advice is available

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Termination of Employment – Short Service

Learn everything your need to know about the legality of short term dismissal. Free info and advice is available.

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Water Industry Regulation Scheme – WIRS

Learn everything your need to know about the Water Industry Registration Scheme accreditation. Free info and advice is available. WIRS

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What is a Zero Hours Contract?

Download a Zero-hour employment contract example from EL Direct. Free information and advice is available

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Guide to Disciplinary Procedures

A guide to disciplinary procedures against an employee in the workplace.

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Redundancy Starter Checklist for Employers

The cost of living crisis has left many UK employers forced to consider making redundancies to ensure their businesses are...

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Subcontractors

Learn everything your need to know about subcontractors before your take them on. Free info and advice is available

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What is the National Living Wage

Find out everything your need to know about the National Living Wage. Free help and advice is available

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My employee refuses to work their notice period

Employees often refuse to work their full notice period. We explain what to do to avoid this and provide example...

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Managing a TUPE transfer

Learn how to manage TUPE transfers and ensure compliance. Free info and advice is available

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Employment Contracts Review and Drafting Service

First for Employment is a unique online system to managing your employees.

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Gas Industry Registration Scheme – GIRS

Learn everything your need to know about the Gas Industry Registration Scheme accreditation. Free info and advice is available. GIRS

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HR Health Check Questionnaire

Free HR Health Check Download from EL Direct Ltd

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Modern-slavery-act

Learn about how the Modern Slavery Act can affect your business

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National Electricity Registration Scheme – NERS

Learn everything your need to know about the National Electricity Registration Scheme. Free info and advice is available

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Your Free Staff Holiday Calculator from EL Direct Ltd

Download your free Staff Holiday Calculator from EL Direct Ltd. A Sheffield based Employment Law & HR company.

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Young People at Work

Pros and Cons of employing young workers.

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Apprentices: must-knows for businesses

Apprentices

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Working in Cold Conditions Risk Assessment

Keep everyone on your premises safe, whatever the weather.

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What is SafeContractor Accreditation

Find out the importance of a SafeContractor accreditation and h how it can benefit your business.

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Free Electrical Safety in the Workplace template

Find out major electrical hazards, who considered a competent person, and how to manage the risks.

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Noise Risk Assessment

Free advice on the risks of noise in your setting.

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Respiratory Protective Equipment

Check you’ve got everything in place to properly manage RPE in your workplace.

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Working in the Sun

Are you aware of the hazards and risks that come with working in the sun?

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ISO Certification

Find out the benefits of becoming ISO certified and what it means for your business.

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Vet Surgery

From Veterinary specific risk assessments to employee training management, our system has you covered.

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Farming & Agriculture

Free online demonstration of our Safety First Pack for farming.

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Free Health & Safety Policy template

Free Health & Safety Policy information plus a guide to writing your own Health & Safety Policy.

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Toolbox Talk

Find your free Toolbox Talks downloads and resources.

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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Find out everything you need to know about PPE.

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HACCP

Find out what HACCP is, the risk factors, control methods and your legal duties

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Asbestos Risk Assessment

Check your legal obligations as an employer for preventing the risk of asbestos.

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Carcinogens Risk Assessment

Carcinogens Risk Assessment. Check what your responsibilities are when it comes to preventing this harmful substance.

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Confined Space Risk Assessment

Do you work in confined spaces? If so, make sure you know how to keep everyone safe whilst doing so.

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Driving at Work Policy

Do you use your car for business purposes? Check out our free recommendations for managing company vehicles.

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Fire Safety in the Workplace Policy

Make sure that you know the control methods that you should have in place for fire safety at work.

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Legionella: five things you need to know

Find out the dangers of Legionella and how to prevent it.

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Lone Working Risk Assessment

Do you need a Lone Working Risk Assessment? Check out our free resources.

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Employing Migrant Workers

Make sure you’re aware of your responsibilities when it comes to employing workers from overseas.

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General Office Risk Assessment

Do you need to carry out an office safety Risk Assessment? We can help.

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Producer Responsibility

Check out your obligations, key legislation, and penalties for getting it wrong.

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Shift Working Guidelines for Employers

Do you employ shift workers? If so, read about how to properly manage it.

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PUWER Regulations for Employers

Everything you need to know about PUWER guidelines.

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Bonfire & Firework Safety Advice

Keep safe this bonfire night.

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