Self Employed HSE Advisor

[dc240969]

Testing the water regarding going self employed as an HSE Advisor. What are the legal implications of giving advice to small businesses.

[bernicarey]

Anyone can give advice to anyone, hence the number of people out there trading as H&S Advisors who shouldn't be allowed out in the big wide world.

You can recommend pretty much anything and it's the Employer's need for Due Diligence that has primacy; if you know your H&S legislation, then you'll know the Employer can delegate the work but not the legal responsibility. The buck still stops with them.
However, if you mess it up badly enough, then you'll still feel the full weight of the law for not doing the job properly. For example, look up details of Richard Golding who got 9 months for poor consulting contributing to a death. The responsible Director meanwhile, got 3 years.

What you need is good Professional Indemnity Insurance, just in case a business gets into dire straights because of your advice and they sue. But that doesn't help with criminal charges.

I'd suggest you look at attending business start-up seminars and the ilk.

You're thinking of entering a field where your customers don't know they need you. It's not like opening a shop selling goods to a specific client base that already have the idea they want your product (or something similar).

[dc240969]

Im attending various start up meetings, groups, mentoring etc. You hit the nail on the head and this is my direction. 'You're thinking of entering a field where your customers don't know they need you'.

[bernicarey]

Building a networking relationship with a business takes some 10+ meetings (depending which 'expert' you listen to) and that's not just 10 times doing an elevator pitch in a group setting.
It's a difficult world.
I've recently taken on a new client who I first met some 4 years ago and have seen almost every fortnight since, so around 100 casual meetings. But they have realised they needed something doing.

[Rowebin]

Anyone can give advice to anyone, hence the number of people out there trading as H&S Advisors who shouldn't be allowed out in the big wide world.

You can recommend pretty much anything and it's the Employer's need for Due Diligence that has primacy; if you know your H&S legislation, then you'll know the Employer can delegate the work but not the legal responsibility. The buck still stops with them.
However, if you mess it up badly enough, then you'll still feel the full weight of the law for not doing the job properly. For example, look up details of Richard Golding who got 9 months for poor consulting contributing to a death. The responsible Director meanwhile, got 3 years.

What you need is good Professional Indemnity Insurance, just in case a business gets into dire straights because of your advice and they sue. But that doesn't help with criminal charges.

I'd suggest you look at attending business start-up seminars and the ilk.

You're thinking of entering a field where your customers don't know they need you. It's not like opening a shop selling goods to a specific client base that already have the idea they want your product (or something similar).

Sorry to dig up this older post, but just googled this Richard guy, interesting stuff. Thanks.