The survey of more than 150 small and medium-sized businesses across the UK found that, on average, respondents spent 14 hours every month understanding and administering red tape related to health and safety regulations. Now, the FPB has launched the latest edition of its Health & Safety Guide to help smaller businesses understand their responsibilities and introduce systems to cope with them.  

The FPB's Senior Member Services Manager, Philip Moody, said the Guide, now in its 10th year, was a valuable tool for companies. 

"A successful company is dependent on the health and welfare of its employees and customers. The business owner is responsible for ensuring a safe working environment and minimising risk, and the FPB's Health & Safety Guide is designed to help do this with the minimum of fuss." 

Easy-to-follow sections cover general and sector-specific guidance on complying with health and safety regulations, while the ‘comply-as-you-complete' format ensures the business owner can stay fully up to date with the law simply and easily. 

Miss Delves of Horizon Hobby UK in Harlow, Essex has received the guide in the past.  "We just run a little boring factory but we live in fear of not properly complying with Government health and safety legislation. Some of it is completely ludicrous; we have to spend £400 on new signs for our factories and our employees have to wear face masks to change the photocopier toners. Although we have had no specific health and safety incidents, the Guide is still necessary for us because it helps us avoid prosecution. It is an insurance policy for us and in that way it has saved us lots of money." 

Mr Moody said the Health & Safety Guide covers varied topics and came in a format suitable for most firms. 

"The Guide contains risk assessment forms covering general, fire and asbestos, which are available in hard copy and electronic format. It helps the business owner evaluate current risks and has essential contact details for a variety of useful third parties, ensuring that all the information you need is always to hand." 

To purchase the FPB's 2007 Health & Safety Guide, log on to www.fpb.org/guides, email guides@fpb.org or call 0845 130 1722. The Guide costs £90 for members of the FPB and £190 for non-members. Those paying by Direct Debit can save a further £10.