Health & safety performance indicator
Printable set of questions
1. Handling heavy loads
| How often do any of your workers handle heavy loads? Never or N/A, Rarely, Monthly, Weekly, Daily, Constantly |
Handling heavy loads
| Have you consulted your workers on handling heavy loads and identified ways to reduce the risk of injury? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure workers do not handle loads which they find difficult or uncomfortable? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure the handling of loads does not involve twisting or stretching away from the body? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure loads are not handled below knee height or above shoulder height? Yes/No |
| Do you provide appropriate mechanical handling equipment for moving heavy loads? Yes/No |
| Do you ask workers if they have any health problems and make sure that they are not made worse by handling loads? Yes/No |
| Do you train all workers in safe handling methods and use of lifting equipment? Yes/No |
| Do you ask your workers if they have any symptoms such as lower back pain or muscle discomfort caused by handling loads? Yes/No |
| Do you ask your workers to report any symptoms such as lower back pain, caused by handling loads? Yes/No |
| Do you have a named competent person to check that workers are using the correct methods to move loads? Yes/No |
2. Repetitive tasks
| How often do any of your workers perform tasks requiring repetitive movements of the upper limbs for two hours or more per shift? Never or N/A, Rarely, Monthly, Weekly, Daily, Constantly |
Repetitive tasks
| Do you consult your workers when assessing the risks of injury from repetitive tasks? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure that all equipment involved in repetitive tasks is in safe working order? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure workers who have to apply force do not have to do so repetitively for more than 30 minutes? Yes/No |
| Do you train workers who carry out repetitive tasks about the importance of correct working hours, taking regular breaks and switching tasks? Yes/No |
| Do you ask workers if they have any health problems and make sure that repetitive tasks will not make them worse? Yes/No |
| Do you allow and remind workers to take breaks from any repetitive tasks? Yes/No |
| Do you ask workers if they have any health problems and make sure that repetitive tasks will not make them worse? Yes/No |
| Do you ask workers if they have any symptoms such as pains, stiffness, cramp, swelling, numbness or tingling? Yes/No |
| Do you tell your workers to report any symptoms of injury caused by repetitive tasks? Yes/No |
| Have you identified a named competent person to check that workers are using the correct safety methods for repetitive tasks? Yes/No |
3. Hazardous chemicals and products
| How often do any of your workers work with or near potentially hazardous liquids, dusts, fumes, gases etc? Never or N/A, Rarely, Monthly, Weekly, Daily, Constantly |
Hazardous chemicals and products
| Do you regularly check that safety equipment used for hazardous chemicals and products is in good working order? Yes/No |
| Have you checked whether there is a product or chemical available that is less hazardous? Yes/No |
| Have you made a record of all hazardous materials and products provided and all workers who might be exposed to them? Yes/No |
| Do you train your workers in the safe use of hazardous chemicals and products and the correct use of safety equipment? Yes/No |
| Do you have protective equipment for hazardous chemicals and products available at all times? Yes/No |
| Do you ask your workers if they have any health problems and make sure that exposure to hazardous chemicals and products will not make them worse? Yes/No |
| Do you consult your workers about ways of reducing the risks of injury from hazardous chemicals and products? Yes/No |
| Do you have a named competent person to check workers are using the correct safety procedures for hazardous chemicals and products? Yes/No |
| Do you have facilities for washing hazardous chemicals and products off the skin or out of the eyes? Yes/No |
| Do you check if workers have any health problems and if working with hazardous chemicals and products will make them worse? Yes/No |
4. Working at height
| How often do any of your workers work at height? Never or N/A, Rarely, Monthly, Weekly, Daily, Constantly |
Working at height
| Do you use scaffolding, tower scaffolds, guard rails or MEWPS when working at height? Yes/No |
| Do you ensure your workers do not lean out over guard rails etc when working at height? Yes/No |
| Are your workers fully competent to work at height, or closely supervised by someone who is? Yes/No |
| Do you only use harnesses to prevent falls from height when they have been justified by a risk assessment? Yes/No |
| Do you have a named competent person who is responsible for safe working at height? Yes/No |
| Do you prevent your workers from working on or over fragile surfaces unless there is a safe platform or cover? Yes/No |
| Do your workers only use ladders to climb to a workplace rather than regularly working from them? Yes/No |
| When working at height, do you always take measures to prevent objects from falling and injuring other people? Yes/No |
| Do you have a competent person to regularly check that all work equipment used for working at height is in safe working order? Yes/No |
| Do you ask your workers for their ideas on how to reduce the risk of falls from height? Yes/No |
5. Using guarded machinery or machinery with dangerous parts
| How often do any of your workers use machinery that has dangerous parts that need guarding? Never or N/A, Rarely, Monthly, Weekly, Daily, Constantly |
Using guarded machinery or machinery with dangerous parts
| Do you make sure that on each shift, workers who operate dangerous machinery carry out basic checks prior to use? Yes/No |
| Are workers who operate dangerous machinery properly trained and assessed as competent, or supervised by someone who is competent? Yes/No |
| Do you have a named competent person to regularly check that all dangerous equipment and machinery has the correct safety features? Yes/No |
| Do you have a named competent person to regularly check compliance with dangerous equipment safety regulations? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure all guarded machinery is switched off and the power supply is isolated before an inspection, blockage clearance or maintenance can take place? Yes/No |
| Is the condition of guarding/interlocks, and other safety features checked on a regular basis by a named competent person? Yes/No |
| Have you involved your workers in assessing all the machinery that they use or work near and how to reduce the risk of injury? Yes/No |
| Do you ask your workers for their views on safe working methods and how to reduce the risk of injury? Yes/No |
| Is misuse of guarded equipment, such as operating machinery without a guard, or tampering with guard interlocks, treated as gross misconduct? Yes/No |
| Does all dangerous machinery and equipment have a warning notice about the hazard and does machinery with dangerous moving parts have an emergency stop button? Yes/No |
6. Stress at work
| How often do any of your workers experience high levels of stress at work? Never or N/A, Rarely, Monthly, Weekly, Daily, Constantly |
Stress at work
| Do you ensure that managers receive information and advice on how to manage work-related stress? Yes/No |
| Do you ask your workers what causes stress at work, and what can be done to reduce it? Yes/No |
| Do you provide clear advice that acts of bullying and harassment are not acceptable and all such complaints will be formally investigated? Yes/No |
| Do you, where possible, let your workers have some choice about how they do their work? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure your workers always know what they are expected to do and regularly talk to them about their work? Yes/No |
| Do you ask your workers to talk to their manager if they are finding their job stressful? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure all managers know how to provide help, support and training to workers? Yes/No |
| Do you discuss any expected changes with your workers? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure working hours are always kept below 48 hours each week? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure your workers have enough time to do their work? Yes/No |
7. Workplace transport
| How often do any of your workers operate or work close to vehicles or plant, eg diggers and dumpers, on sites that you control? Never or N/A, Rarely, Monthly, Weekly, Daily, Constantly |
Workplace transport
| Do you provide trained banksmen with high-visibility clothing to guide reversing vehicles where it is not possible to have physical barriers between vehicles or powered mobile equipment and people on foot? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure workers who operate vehicles or plant carry out basic safety checks before each shift? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure there are barriers separating vehicles or plant from people on foot? Yes/No |
| Do you check that temporary workers or contractors have the necessary skills before you allow them to operate vehicles or plant? Yes/No |
| Do you mark out all areas where vehicles or plant operate and/or closely supervise these areas to ensure pedestrian safety? Yes/No |
| Do you check that all workers who operate vehicles or plant have an appropriate licence or certificate, or have been properly assessed as able to operate safely? Yes/No |
| Do you ask workers who work near vehicles or plant for their views on how to reduce the risk of injury? Yes/No |
| Do you have a site speed limit and make sure all operators of vehicles or plant stay within this limit when on site? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure vehicles or plant do not reverse on your site, other than in a car park? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure that trained supervisors or controllers regularly check that workers are following the site safety rules? Yes/No |
8. Uneven or slippery surfaces and obstacles
| How often do any of your workers walk across uneven or slippery surfaces, or around low level obstacles which might cause a slip or trip? Never or N/A, Rarely, Monthly, Weekly, Daily, Constantly |
Uneven or slippery surfaces and obstacles
| Do you provide equipment to clean up spills immediately? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure floors that have become uneven are repaired promptly, keeping people off the area until the work is done? Yes/No |
| Have you trained anyone to make sure that effective cleaning is carried out? Yes/No |
| Have you involved workers in thinking about ways to stop the floor becoming slippery? Yes/No |
| Do you provide slip-resistant footwear? Yes/No |
| Have you given someone the responsibility to check that you are doing all you should to keep slips and trips to a minimum? Yes/No |
| Have you organised work so that workers do not need to carry awkward or heavy things across uneven or slippery surfaces, or around low level obstacles? Yes/No |
| Have you made sure there are storage areas for keeping objects out of the way and that passageways aren't cluttered? Yes/No |
| Have you considered the most appropriate cleaning methods and equipment to keep your floors clean and dry? Yes/No |
| Do you tell workers to be tidy and to clear up small spills immediately? Yes/No |
9. Noise
| How often do any of your workers wear hearing protection or work in a place where the level of noise requires people to shout to be heard two metres away? Never or N/A, Rarely, Monthly, Weekly, Daily, Constantly |
Noise
| Do you make sure that workers who experience hearing problems, or have concerns about noise levels, stop working in the noisy environment and report their symptoms to their manager? Yes/No |
| Have you trained your workers to operate noisy equipment so that it produces as little noise as possible? Yes/No |
| Do you have a named competent person who regularly checks for compliance with noise control measures? Yes/No |
| Do you ask your workers for their ideas on how to reduce noise levels by engineering methods and workplace/job design? Yes/No |
| Has a named competent person carried out a noise assessment, to identify all workers who are exposed to high noise levels and the reasons why? Yes/No |
| Do you have a specific person with responsibility for making sure you continue to reduce noise exposure? Yes/No |
| Do you provide regular hearing checks for workers who work in noisy areas? Yes/No |
| Do you check that workers do not have any hearing problems such as tinnitus, and ensure that their work will not make it worse? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure that no-one works in an area where they must shout to be heard, without hearing protection? Yes/No |
| Do you consult with your workers about the choice of hearing protection and equipment and train them on why, how and where they wear it? Yes/No |
10. Vibrating tools and equipment
| How often do any of your workers use hand-held power tools, hand-guided powered equipment or hand-fed powered equipment? Never or N/A, Rarely, Monthly, Weekly, Daily, Constantly |
Vibrating tools and equipment
| Do you ensure that workers who use vibrating equipment do not exceed a total trigger time of more than 15 minutes a day for hammer action, or one hour a day for rotary and other actions? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure that workers who use vibrating equipment for longer trigger times have regular health checks? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure that if workers already have health problems, such as numb finger, these will not be made worse by using vibrating equipment? Yes/No |
| Do you ensure workers who use vibrating equipment vary their tasks to include tasks not using vibrating equipment? Yes/No |
| Do you make sure that workers who use vibrating equipment are trained to use it safely are are given advice about the health risks? Yes/No |
| Do you involve your workers when assessing vibrating equipment and how to reduce the risk of injury? Yes/No |
| Do you ask workers who use vibrating equipment to report any symptoms such as numb fingers as soon as possible? Yes/No |
| Do you have a regular maintenance programme to ensure that all vibrating tools remain at the manufacturer's specification and avoid worsening vibration? Yes/No |
| Do you have a named competent person who regularly checks that workers are following the correct safety procedures when using vibrating tools? Yes/No |
| Do you check the manufacturer's information on all new equipment to ensure it is low-vibration equipment? Yes/No |
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