Useful information
Introduction
This guide is intended to help users get a brief overview of the main features of the health and safety performance indicator. If you have any comments or queries not covered here, please use the feedback form at the bottom of the screen.
The indicator is a self-assessment tool designed to give businesses a measure of how well they are handling health and safety issues. However, it is not intended to be a comprehensive audit tool.
The indicator works by asking a series of questions on key hazards that most small to medium-sized businesses encounter and how often these accidents or incidents occur.
A score out of 10 is calculated for each - with 10 the best possible result and 0 the poorest.
How was the indicator developed?
In 2003 the government undertook a review of the Employer's Liability Compulsory Insurance. Commenting on its subsequent report, the Minister for Work indicated that too many businesses face premiums that fail to reflect their health and safety record. One resulting action was to create a tool for small to medium-sized businesses that would enable insurers to make that link and thereby overcome the problem.
The Health & Safety Executive and businesslink.gov.uk were asked to undertake this work, which has led to the development of what is now the health and safety performance indicator.
Businesslink.gov.uk and the Health & Safety Executive are particularly grateful to the Association of British Insurers, the British Insurance Brokers Association and the Federation of Small Businesses for their help in the development.
What is the indicator?
It is a self-assessment tool designed to give businesses a measure of how well they are handling health and safety issues. It works by asking a series of questions on key hazards that most small to medium-sized businesses encounter and the frequency of incidents relating to these hazards.
What the indicator isn't
The indicator is not a comprehensive audit tool. It only considers the top 10 hazards that our developers found most small/medium businesses encounter. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act, you need to consider all the risks that your workers may face while at work. It is not designed to deal with special hazards faced by particular industries. For these you may be able to obtain more advice through your trade association (if you have one) or a safety consultant. You can also contact the Health & Safety Executive on Tel 0845 345 0055.
Feedback
Use the feedback button at the bottom of each page of this site.
Why does the indicator focus on ten hazards?
During initial research 35 workplace hazards were identified. These were then assessed against the main causes of injury and employer liability claims. This led to the focus on ten hazards covered by the indicator.
How do you know that the indicator's results are accurate?
The calculations have been tested during the development of this tool. In addition, the indicator is tested at regular intervals. Every three months the web administrator checks that the calculations function accurately.
Can I get a paper version of this tool?
You can print off all of the questions using the link on the first page.
Access to results
Anyone can access the print-only questionnaire and benchmarking section of the tool. But no one else can see a business' individual results other than the business themselves.
Using the indicator
Does giving a "no" answer mean I am breaking the law?
Not necessarily - the questions are designed to test how well you are dealing with health and safety issues. If you have given a "no" answer the tool will help you to find out what action you need to take to give a "yes" response. We want the indicator to encourage businesses to improve. From your results page you can find further sources of help.
How do I find out what a word or phrase used in the indicator means?
You can use the "i" information icon to find out more information about a particular hazard.
I have employees based at more than one location and/or at home. How do I take them into account when completing the indicator?
The important thing is to gain a picture of how your whole business is doing.
If you are operating out of more than one site, you could print off the questions for others in your team to answer and then add the results together before inputting them.
Indicator scores, weighting and verification
What is a good score?
A score out of 10 is calculated for key hazards that most small to medium-sized businesses encounter and how often any incidents happen. A score of 10 is the best possible result and 0 the worst.
As more businesses complete the indicator, however, you will be able to see how you perform in relation to them. For instance you many have scored 7, but if the rest of your industry is scoring 9, you are obviously lagging behind. 'Good' scores will vary between industry sectors and types.
Why are the results weighted?
Hazards where you have indicated a higher exposure frequency are weighted so that your score will generally be lower than for hazards that do not occur so often. The logic behind this is to try to encourage businesses to reduce the frequency of a particular hazard. By reducing the frequency, this should help reduce the risk of accidents or injuries.
Should I arrange for someone to check or verify my answers?
Unless your trade association, broker or insurer has asked you to do so, our advice is that this is not essential. But you may find a second opinion useful. You could ask someone else in the business or another member of your trade association to do this. If you wish, you could ask different people to check different sections.
How can I improve my results?
Consider your answers, particularly those where you have said you face a hazard, and given "no" answers. Are there any changes that you could make that would allow you to answer "yes" in the future?
Also review your processes and procedures to see if you can reduce the frequency of a particular hazard as this will reduce the weighting of your scores and by default should also reduce the risk of having an accident, incident or work-related illness.
Benchmarking
The benchmarking facility allows you to compare your results with other businesses.
You first pick the business sector, business type, number of employees and location to see how your performance compares against others, if you have completed the questionnaire. You will see your results mapped against those of others in the industry type you selected.
If you are using the benchmarking facility without having filled in a questionnaire, you won't see any individual business' results, but you will see the general results for the particular industry type you chose. You can benchmark as many times as you like, using any combination of location, industry type and business size.
Who can see my results?
Only you. The system is secure and protected by user password.