*This is a collaborative post.
As with most safety-related issues, an important part of risk prevention is clarifying responsibilities. That's all well and good if an organization is broadly aware of the specific risks it faces, but if no one is technically responsible for doing anything about it, it's nearly impossible to ensure the right steps are taken.
Here we focus on the business environment and explore who is responsible for maintaining safe water systems in business premises. From what the law actually says, to the practical steps you need to take to ensure water safety, here's what you need to know.
law
In the UK, according to Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 Employers are required by law to provide employees with an adequate supply of safe drinking water at all times.
Essentially, this means that in a business environment, the ultimate responsibility lies with the business owner. That being said, this is a slightly simplified version of reality. In most cases, a specific framework will be implemented to further define who is responsible for each of the different roles throughout the process of ensuring water security.
Assign responsibilities
The key to achieving water security for any business is water safety plan, or WSP for short. The plan first involves identifying and assessing the general and specific water-related risks of a particular building or estate.
To mitigate any risks identified during the initial phase and later assessments, another element of the water security plan includes the creation of a Water Security Group (WSG).
Exactly who this group includes depends to some extent on the circumstances. It is often multidisciplinary and involves people from various fields. It is important that the water safety team will clearly delineate the roles and responsibilities of individuals within the organization, including leaders and deputy leaders.
It is through this structure that the legal responsibilities for water safety in most organizations should be understood.
Ensure long-term water security
Once a water security plan and water security team are established, the foundation will be laid to initiate an effective long-term water security approach.
Ongoing measures will include regular testing of water systems to identify potential risks and then effectively mitigate those risks. This may include testing the water for impurities, or testing the temperature of the water storage location to ensure bacteria are not proliferating.
Another measure is the ongoing provision of training. This can be done at a relatively basic level, by providing basic introductory knowledge to all employees, or it can be more specific training on regulations and monitoring technology updates.
It is critical to identify from the outset who is responsible for water security in your organization. As a business owner, you have a legal responsibility to provide clean water to your employees, and this won’t fix itself. By working with water sanitation experts, you can ensure an effective approach while achieving regulatory compliance.
