H&S Consulting - Compass HSC

Safe Storage of Chemicals: What Every Business Needs to Know

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Safe Storage of Chemicals: What Every Business Needs to Know

Essential guidance for preventing risks and ensuring compliance

Most businesses, regardless of size, use or store chemical substances — from small containers of cleaning agents to large volumes of hazardous materials. The way these chemicals are stored is critical to preventing fires, explosions, and health risks.

If your workplace holds chemicals that are flammable or highly flammable, you have additional legal responsibilities to ensure safe storage and handling. Failure to comply with these standards can result in serious incidents and HSE enforcement action.

Why Chemical Storage Matters

Incorrect storage of chemicals can lead to:

Fire and explosion hazards
Toxic exposure to employees and the public
Environmental contamination from spills and leaks
Criminal liability for company directors and managers under UK health and safety law

HSE Guidance for Chemical Storage

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides clear, detailed guidance for anyone responsible for the storage and handling of dangerous substances. Here are three essential resources:

1. HSG71 – Chemical Warehousing

HSG71: The storage of packaged dangerous substances

For all sizes of storage facilities
Covers warehouses, open-air storage compounds, and chemical production sites
Focuses on control measures to eliminate or reduce risks to people and the environment

2. HSG51 – Storage of Flammable Liquids in Containers

HSG51: Safe storage of flammable liquids

Applies to workplaces storing flammable liquids up to 1,000 litres
Provides practical guidance on container safety, ventilation, and segregation

3. HSG140 – Safe Use and Handling of Flammable Liquids

HSG140: Safe use and handling

For workplaces handling flammable liquids during processing and spraying operations
Explains fire and explosion hazards and how to manage risks effectively

Key Principles for Safe Chemical Storage

No matter the size of your operation, these five rules are essential:

Keep incompatible substances apart
Provide spill containment (bunds, drip trays, etc.)
Remove ignition sources from storage areas
Ensure good ventilation to prevent vapor build-up
Carry out a risk assessment under COSHH and DSEAR regulations

Are You Compliant with COSHH and DSEAR?

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) impose strict requirements on chemical storage and use. Non-compliance can lead to HSE improvement or prohibition notices, fines, and in serious cases, prosecution.

Is Your Chemical Storage Safe and Compliant?

Compass HSC can help you assess your chemical storage arrangements, ensure compliance with COSHH and DSEAR, and protect your people and property from serious risks.

Book a Chemical Storage Audit

About Brian Lambert

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS), the founder of Compass Health & Safety Consultancy (HSC), is a Chartered Member of IOSH and an accomplished IMaPS professional. With decades of industry experience, Brian is dedicated to guiding businesses of all sizes through the complexities of health and safety management.

His approach is built on integrity, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to raising the standard in health and safety. As a trusted advisor, Brian’s insights help organisations enhance compliance, reduce risk, and boost operational efficiency.

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Stress Awareness Month: How Employers Can Take Action This April

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 08:00:00 +0000

April marks Stress Awareness Month, a vital reminder that managing stress in the workplace isn’t just a wellbeing initiative—it’s a legal responsibility.

A widely accepted definition of stress, proposed by psychologist Richard S. Lazarus, defines it as: “A particular relationship between the person and the environment that is appraised by the person as taxing or exceeding his or her resources and endangering his or her well-being.”

In simpler terms, stress occurs when we believe the demands placed on us outweigh our ability to cope. It’s not just about the pressures of the job—it’s about how individuals interpret and respond to those pressures. This perspective, known as cognitive appraisal, is central to understanding and managing workplace stress.

To support businesses in tackling this issue, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is promoting its Working Minds campaign throughout April, encouraging employers to follow five key steps—the “5 Rs”:

Reach out – Start conversations and listen to your team
Recognise – Be aware of the signs and causes of stress
Respond – Take action to reduce risks where identified
Reflect – Assess the impact of your actions
Make it Routine – Embed these habits into your daily culture

These steps provide a practical framework for identifying risks, offering support, and promoting a healthier, more resilient workplace.

It’s important to note that managing work-related stress is not just good practice—it’s required by law. Employers have a duty to assess risks and take reasonable steps to protect workers’ mental health.

Whether it’s through conversations, changes in workload, improved communication, or regular check-ins, creating a mentally healthy workplace must be a shared priority.

Need support developing a stress management strategy for your workplace? Compass HSC offers tailored mental health risk assessments, training, and policy guidance to help you fulfil your responsibilities and foster a healthier work culture.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your people and your business.

The post Stress Awareness Month: How Employers Can Take Action This April first appeared on Compass HSC.

Rushing to Failure: How Deadline Pressure Leads to Dangerous Decisions

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS) — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In the world of workplace safety, preventing injuries is about far more than ticking compliance boxes. It’s about understanding human behaviour and predicting how people are likely to act under pressure—especially when deadlines loom.

Over recent weeks, I’ve observed several instances where workers put their lives at risk simply because they were trying to speed up the job. One particularly shocking case involved someone working at a height of four metres on a tower scaffold—without any handrails on the working platform. A fall from that height would almost certainly result in death.

This wasn’t an isolated case of recklessness—it was the product of a wider cultural issue. According to Heinrich’s Domino Theory, accidents are rarely random. Instead, they result from a chain of interconnected factors:

A person’s social environment and upbringing
A personal fault or misjudgement
An unsafe act or condition
The accident itself (e.g., fall, crush, electrocution)
The resulting injury or death

Each factor is like a domino: knock one over, and the others are likely to follow. The key to preventing incidents lies in breaking that chain before it gets to the accident stage.

This is where leadership matters. The Managing Director and board are the primary influencers of workplace culture. It’s their responsibility to foster a positive and proactive safety culture—one in which unsafe acts or conditions are not ignored but addressed immediately.

Culture doesn’t grow overnight. It develops slowly, shaped by shared attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours. But when health and safety become a collective value—when no one walks past an unsafe condition without taking action—the results are tangible: fewer incidents, fewer injuries, and fewer tragedies.

Take that scaffold incident: more than 20 workers, including the site manager, saw what was happening and did nothing. This wasn’t a failure of rules or regulations—it was a failure of culture.

If we’re serious about preventing harm, we must stop rewarding speed over safety. We must challenge unsafe practices—even when it’s uncomfortable. And we must lead by example, every day.

Because when we rush to meet deadlines without thinking about safety, we aren’t saving time—we’re gambling with lives.�

Need help improving your site’s health and safety culture? At Compass HSC, we work with directors, managers, and site leaders to instil a safety-first mindset across every level of your organisation. Whether you need a culture audit, tailored training, or a clear roadmap for regulatory compliance and behavioural change, we can help.

📞 Call us today on (01253) 735755 or use the form below to arrange a free consultation.

Build a culture where no one walks past an unsafe act—and everyone gets home safe.

The post Rushing to Failure: How Deadline Pressure Leads to Dangerous Decisions first appeared on Compass HSC.

The Cost-Effective Way to Keep Your Business Safe and Compliant

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS) — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In today’s fast-paced business environment, managing health and safety can feel like a daunting task. Changing regulations, unexpected challenges, and the need for compliance can stretch resources and add pressure to already busy teams. That’s where Compass HSC’s Retained Consultancy Services can help—offering you a reliable, expert solution for less than the cost of a daily coffee.

What Are Retained Consultancy Services?

Retained consultancy gives your business year-round access to expert health and safety advice and support. Think of it as having your own health and safety specialist on-call, without the overhead of a full-time employee.

Whether you’re a small business looking to establish compliance or a larger organisation seeking ongoing risk management, our retained service is tailored to your needs. It’s proactive, dependable, and designed to give you peace of mind.

Why Choose a Retained Option?

1. Consistent Support, Whenever You Need It
Our retained clients benefit from unlimited advice and support throughout the year. From answering day-to-day queries to helping resolve urgent issues, we’re always just a phone call or email away.

2. Practical Solutions, Not Just Policies
We don’t believe in ticking boxes for the sake of it. Our team works with you to create practical, bespoke solutions that work for your business, your industry, and your people.

3. A Cost-Effective Investment
For less than the price of your daily coffee, you can safeguard your business, protect your employees, and remain compliant with ever-changing legislation. It’s an investment that pays for itself by reducing risks and preventing costly incidents.

4. Tailored to Your Business
Every business is unique, and so are our retained services. Whether you need help with audits, risk assessments, training, or emergency support, we provide what you need—when you need it.

5. 24/7 Emergency Support
Health and safety issues don’t always arise during office hours. That’s why we offer round-the-clock support to our retained clients, ensuring you have access to expert advice whenever it’s needed.

Partner with Compass HSC

When you choose Compass HSC as your retained consultancy provider, you’re not just outsourcing a service—you’re gaining a partner who is as invested in your success as you are.

We’re here to help you:

Reduce risks and improve workplace safety
Stay ahead of health and safety legislation
Develop and maintain policies and procedures that work
Avoid fines and penalties by ensuring compliance

Let’s Talk

At Compass HSC, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional value and exceeding expectations. If you’re ready to take the stress out of health and safety management, get in touch with us today to discuss how our Retained Consultancy Services can support your business.

📞 Call us: (01253) 735755
🌐 Learn more: Retained Services

Your business deserves expert health and safety support—and with Compass HSC, it’s more affordable than you might think.

The post The Cost-Effective Way to Keep Your Business Safe and Compliant first appeared on Compass HSC.