The role of a premises manager is a demanding one, particular if you have a career that involves moving from one post to another, with your duties becoming steadily more complex.

You are not, and cannot be, required to carry out all tasks yourself that may be necessary to control hazards and reduce risks pertaining to the premises. You are, however, required to ensure that the hazards are controlled somehow and the risks are reduced, and it therefore helps if you have a solid, basic, all-round awareness of issues related to occupational safety and health.

Firstly, it is advantageous for you to be aware of the requirements for fire safety. Signage must be correct, escape routes clear and well-indicated and an appropriate mix of fire extinguishers correctly mounted and regularly serviced. Staff must be aware of fire procedures and the alarms must be working. Last but not least, furnishings and fittings must conform to fire safety regulations.

Secondly, a premises manager requires an understanding of workplace, work equipment and space regulations. Even in an office environment there is a range of issues to which you must give attention for safety purposes. All electrical equipment, even items as mundane as kettles and fans, must be regularly PAT tested; flooring surfaces must be such as to minimise the risk of slips, trips and falls; and welfare and toilet facilities must be appropriate, adequate and regularly maintained. Cooling systems must be constructed and operated in order to prevent the risk of water-borne diseases.

If all that were not enough, the situation in any premises is not static. Not only does wear and tear expose or create new hazards, but also people themselves can behave unpredictably, sometimes posing a risk to themselves and others. If there are visitors, their safety must be ensured and any threat they present to regular users of the building minimised.

You are also responsible for ensuring that contractors are operating safely. This is true for regular contractors: for instance, even cleaning materials and their disposal must comply with regulations. It is also true for occasional contractors - you may not be an expert on construction issues, but if an extension is being built you will want to ensure that methods and material are safe and that the contractor and their employees are properly trained.

With a premises manager holding such a diverse portfolio, it is important to remember that the safety issues raised above are only part of the job. There is, therefore, a need for general safety qualifications for managers and supervisors. Even where there is a qualified safety professional in the building or there are staff safety representatives doing their jobs, much of the burden of implementing safety-related changes falls on the premises manager.

This is where the National General Certificate (NGC) in Occupational Safety and Health comes in. For 25 years the NGC has been recognised as the principal qualification in occupational safety and health for the manager who is not a safety professional. It can also be, incidentally, a valuable stepping-stone for those who propose to move into a safety career later, and is often the qualification of choice for safety representatives as well.

The qualification is offered by around 400 colleges and training companies in the UK and around the world.

Centring upon risk management, it is an 87-hour course (roughly 12 days of study). The manager will study the safety implications of many aspects of the workplace. At the end of the course there will be a three-part examination: Paper 1 will be Safety Management, Paper 2 will deal with the technical aspects of safety, while the practical paper will test the ability to spot hazards in the workplace and to make recommendations for their control.

The NGC is recognised by the UK's Qualifications and Curriculum Authority at Level 3 in the National Qualifications Framework. It will equip premises managers with much of what they need for the safety aspect of their job and, perhaps more importantly, will show them where outside help is needed.

There are some areas that you cannot cover yourself. You may have to call in an outside dust or noise consultant, but you will understand their language and know how to negotiate with and manage them. You could save the cost of your NEBOSH course just by driving down your fees! For premises managers with a frequent need for construction work there is also the National Certificate in Construction Safety and Health.

Further information
Please visit: www.nebosh.org.uk