FPB warns of second wave of problems for flood-affected firms
The FPB, which represents more than 25,000 smaller businesses across the UK, many of them in areas that have been flooded, says that employers are concerned about the health and safety of staff where premises have been affected but it is still possible for work to be done there. Richard Cole, health and safety officer for a menswear and school uniform store in Cheltenham, was one of the members who contacted the helpline. He was expecting the water to be cut off and was "seeking assurances that we could work on if this happened". Mr Cole was told that the 30 employees of The Famous of Cheltenham could continue to work if they had drinking water and he made provision for water to flush the toilets. Water supplies were cut off in the area on Tuesday, but Mr Cole says that he acted on the advice he received and trade had been "reasonably brisk". "Employers want to know if water coming into the premises, or the loss of the main water supply, means that there is a health and safety risk to their employees," said Matt Hardman, the FPB's Campaigns Manager. "The advice our experts are giving them is that there is unlikely to be a risk, unless there are circumstances in which the water intruding is contaminated, or if they are unable to get supplies of drinking water. "However, if there are any concerns over health and safety, the employer should contact the local authority's environment department for advice." A number of firms are having to lay workers off because of flood damage. "Employers should check their workers' contracts, their employment handbook or take legal advice before taking such action," advised Mr Hardman. The FPB offers the following guidance to its members: Register any claims as soon as possible with your insurance company, even though they have not been costed. Check whether you can go ahead and repair or replace equipment in order to get the business running again. Make an inventory and take photographs of the damage. Find out if you will be eligible for rate relief by contacting your local authority. Contact your landlord (if you rent your business premises) about repairs and ask for a reduction in rent while things are being put right. Contact your local authority for advice on disposing of any equipment or furniture that may have been contaminated. Talk to your local regional development agency; some are offering help to businesses affected by the floods.