We have partnered with Block in a Box who provide a range of useful services for blocks of flats and apartments. For a quote visit the Block in a Box website.
All blocks of flats must have a risk assessment carried out on the health and safety of any common areas. It is a requirement of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. You may argue common areas are not “at work” but if any gardener, cleaner, managing agent or repair contractor enters them, then a risk assessment must be made.
The following summarises the main health and safety regulations that apply to blocks of flats. There are others.
- Responsibility for carrying out a Health & Safety Risk Assessment in your building could be with the owner (freeholder) the Residents’ Management Company, a Right to Manage Company or a Managing Agent.
- Health & safety should never be ignored or dismissed because it requires additional expenditure as the cost of failing to comply if there is an accident or injury may be far greater than the cost to comply.
Gardens, grounds, plant rooms, meter cupboards and lift motor rooms need to be included
If there are no employees working at the block there is no requirement to record the risk assessment but it would be sensible to do so as if there were to be an accident and you had no proof of the risk assessment being carried out, you are much more likely to be prosecuted and/or sued for negligence.
The risk assessment should be looked at annually to reassess the situation.
Block in a Box are working with 4Site Consulting who can provide you with a quote for all your Health and Safety Assessment needs.
For a quote, visit the Block in a Box website here or call 0333 015 4145.