This book provides guidance on relevant health and safety issues for small offices, shops and businesses. It avoids legal jargon and references and focuses on what you actually need to do in one, easy to read, location. If you run a small business, have a responsible role in a small business or are thinking of starting one, this book will help you to protect yourself and others without fuss.

Most small businesses cannot afford a full-time health and safety professional and may be wary of engaging a consultant. By reading this book you will be in a far stronger position to manage some health and safety risks using your own resources and also be able to spot areas where you may need help. This book is all about helping you to make informed decisions. This is possible because each health and topic is covered in bite-size chunks and explained in simple terms with the smaller business in mind.

The book is written with GB law in mind but the general principles could apply to any country. There are no complex legal references, just common sense terms and proportional guidance for smaller businesses. Readers will probably find that their confidence in understanding health and safety develops so that they can use the HSE's website in a more efficient manner to find more in-depth information (where required).