In an attempt to negate some of the downright shocking HS&E System 'guidance for cash' I see every week, I am considering setting of a 'Free Advice Website' for Company's with 1-25 employees. There would have to be a bomb proof disclaimer. The 'company' would specialise in the 'Effective Implementation and Operation' of 18001 / 14001 Systems. Your views would be welcome... Rationale: Fed up of seeing Consultants charge ££££s for over-engineered nonsense. Hornets nest syndrome perhaps but something has to be done, doesn't it? The Smiling Cat.

Hi Garfield I may sound a bit naive, but how do you create a "bomb proof disclaimer". Surely if you are offering professional advice free or not, if there is an incident based on that advice there may be come back on your advice. Regards Mike

In Northern Ireland the local HSE organisation (HSENI), has already set up a free consultancy service for small businesses. http://www.healthandsafetyworksni.gov.uk/

quote=mike52]Hi Garfield I may sound a bit naive, but how do you create a "bomb proof disclaimer". Surely if you are offering professional advice free or not, if there is an incident based on that advice there may be come back on your advice. Regards Mike

Even charities and other such organiations pay for services when they have to

Hello garfield....why try to help businesses free? You mention charities and trusts? I work for a charity (wildlife Trusts) and help a number of others free of charge, both H&S and fundraising. There is a real need for high quality accessible, business specific H&S advice in the charitable sector. Many of your local charities could use your help if you have time.

Hello again garfield In seriousness, if you did feel the need to help charities and the environmental sector takes your fancy drop me an email, I'm sure your input would be welcome. k.tomkins@staffs-wildlife.org.uk

Free work still attracts Pi insurance. Remember also the old director adage - A consultant is best measured by the amount they charge. The higher the hourly rate the better they must be and the more I must listen to them. Bob

JJ and once again for the final time. "To be fair to me JJ. Mr original post requested 'your views' and used words such as 'considering' - The idea of work for charity was suggested which I thought was {a good idea by fellow poster}. I still may pursue either one or both..." Bob Lewis, PI (oh yes!) However, based on objective evidence I have gathered over a 12 month period, I have come to the very real a conclusion that the cost of service certainly does not guarantee quality of service. "and when he saw the man who had been robbed, his heart was filled with pity" Garfield the Cat :-)

Garfield I did say directors adage and it is hard to shift - no matter what you think about value they think as I have described most of the time without great persuasion being applied. Free info is just that - something not worth paying for. Bob

.... quote; 'I have been advised by a lawyer that a disclaimer would be effective'......... :<)) best one today - thanks

quote=garfield esq] Oh there's more Steve. Quote verbatim from one of the largest and best known lawyers in Scotland... "If you provide a disclaimer [which is accepted] to the effect that you will not be liable in damages for losses arising from your advice then you should be able to rely on that. However, for extra protection you might want to consider the following: -setting up and trading as limited company in any event to ensure that your personal assets are kept separate from your business dealings; -Use attached Draft Indemnity Cover Letter, which can be signed by the 'client'; From a liability point of view that would be a more sensible way of proceeding especially where you don't intend to charge fees in any event" From that and other correspondence (paid for thus 'worth something' then my way forward could be: 1/PI (already in place) 2/Disclaimer and Indemnity 3/Creating a Limited Company Example Disclaimer: example already in use by a very well known H&S related org. XXXXXXXX Guidance is provided by XXXXXXX for general guidance on matters of interest. In making this guidance available to a general and diverse audience it is not possible to anticipate the requirements or the hazards of any particular subscriber's business. Users are therefore advised to carefully evaluate the contents and adapt the 'guidance' to suit the requirements of each situation or activity. XXXXXXX does not accept any liability whatsoever for injury, damage or other losses which may arise from reliance on this information and the use of these documents. Perhaps all of the above is nonsense??

Whereas simple advice & information could be provided freely by signposting authoritative sources, complex issues may require your time and in many cases knowing the situation first hand by visiting the site. In most cases, it is not the size of the organisation that determines the level of risk but the type of activities it undertakes.

why is it that we are the only profession that I know of where people within it advocate giving things away for free - as already said; if its free is it any good? Please lets get our business heads on

Last time I was on here it was all about health and safety not how you can make a fast buck. Who cares what directors think in terms of the info they pay for? If they started getting good reliable info for free that would soon change and drive the sheisters who charge for duff advice out of business, and quite right too. 'Let's not get our business heads on' - what's that all about? When did we stop applauding H&S great ideas? One of the things in the legal world is pro bono work. Lawyers are not ridiculed for that. Next time I cannot think of the right word I will not pay someone to think of it for me, I will look in a dictionary or thesaurus, or use the web. Or I will find another free way to find it out before paying for it. In the Young One's terminology, specifically Neil's, how come everyone seems to have become breadheads?

There is no doubt that it is an out of left field idea but if that is what you want to do then I say go ahead and do it. I don't, however, think it will make much difference to the world or significantly impact the issue that you have identified as the motivator for your plan. Similar stuff already exists and is not that well used. Small businesses are often looking for 'guaranteed coverage' to protect them rather than tools to achieve things themselves. So, it is the worth, perceived and actual, of your final product and its impact on the problem identified that would dissuade me from investing any resource on such an idea. On the other hand designing a useful process to assist small businesses and successfully marketing it would, without doubt, be more effective. A paradox maybe but a reality. In passing I would say that the question of disclaimers for websites is not as difficult as some suggest and I am sure could be sorted to a satisfactory conclusion without too much effort or cost. Just remember there will always be a residual risk in anything. Make sure you know what that risk is. good luck p48

I agree with Jay here. Businesses pay us for visiting them and providing insight applicable to their circumstances - they don't want to plough through tons of stuff, free or not. Very laudable sentiments, but the answer is not to compete with the rip-off merchants by offering it free, you compete with them by charging reasonable prices and giving them what they need instead.

For what it's worth, I offer free electrical/H&S advice to anyone who asks. If a charity should need a hand I'd be happy to help out. I've taken a look at some 'generic' risk assessments produced by a well known 'professional' company (who charged a small fortune for them). What a load of rubbish they are too.

Health and safety as a rule is fairly simple...until things go wrong! Many of us are 'General Practitioners' and need a wide range of knowledge on different subjects and industries. Zimmy may be an expert on electronics, I'm not, but I know a man who is.