Minister Breen points to the benefits to companies of BeSMART.ie. There are now 50,000 organisations using BeSMART.ie, the HSA’s free, easy to use, on-line tool that allows them prepare a safety statement and risk assessments specific to their workplace. Since its launch in 2011 BeSMART.ie is estimated to have saved Irish businesses between €37 million - €55 million in administrative costs.
BeSMART.ie helps small and medium sized enterprises deal with health and safety in a way that is quicker, easier and cheaper. The aims and benefits of using the tool include:
- Fewer accidents
- Less paperwork
- Reduced cost
- Less absenteeism
- Simplifies managing health and safety
- Improved staff morale and motivation.
BeSMART.ie guides users through the risk assessment process in a way that is simple and straightforward. Also the safety statement produced using BeSMART.ie already contains relevant information and templates, so it saves valuable time.
Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen TD, whose remit covers workplace safety, said that BeSMART.ie has been well received by small businesses:
“I think it is a great achievement that so many small businesses have already become aware that managing health and safety in their workplaces is not something to fear and is relatively easy to implement. BeSMART.ie gives them the confidence to routinely manage health and safety by simplifying the process of developing a safety statement. This is leading to a reduction in accidents, increased staff morale and a long-term reduction in costs in these companies.”
Martin O’Halloran, CEO of the HSA said:
“We have continued to support and develop this resource and many trade organisations, insurance companies and others have helped promote its usefulness. Feedback from businesses requesting their workplace type to be included has resulted in it being expanded and improved. Now with 300 different types of businesses included, the system caters to a wide range of enterprises within the retail, hospitality, services, manufacturing, construction and agribusiness sectors.”
Ronan Dillon, founder of a corporate health provider, Healthy Workforce Ireland, has been identified as the fifty thousandth user of BeSMART.ie, he says that the resource is perfect for the needs of his business:
“Our business is about making health professionals available to a wide variety of workplaces and providing advice to employees on physical activity, wellbeing, nutrition and physical therapy. Our highly qualified team includes Nurses, Physiotherapists, Sports Scientists and Nutritionists. BeSMART.ie is a perfect resource for us as we visit many different work environments. It means that we can proactively manage the health and safety of our people.”
Minister Breen congratulated Ronan Dillon on being the fifty thousandth BeSMART.ie user:
“I would like to welcome Ronan as the fifty thousandth business to sign up for this great initiative. His business’s aim of facilitating healthy workforces is consistent with the Government’s policy as expressed in the ‘Healthy Ireland’ initiative. I wish him and his colleagues every success. I would also call on any small business, that has not yet used BeSMART.ie, to try this free and very useful resource. In a time of almost full employment, attention to health and safety issues can offer a source of competitive advantage to companies looking to recruit and BeSMART.ie makes this process considerably easier.”
To register for BeSMART.ie all that is required is an email address. The information provided is completely confidential, and because it is online the resource can be used at any time and location.