Health & Safety
Competent Person Advice Line
A named, qualified competent person - with the time and the authority to provide advice to businesses whenever and where ever they require it.
From £100 a month.
You don't need to know everything.
You just need to know who to ask.
Managing health and safety doesn't mean having every answer yourself.
The DBIM Competent Person Advice Line gives you ongoing access to practical, competent health and safety advice when questions arise, something changes or you simply want a second opinion.
Every client also receives an annual Health & Safety Health Check to step back from the day-to-day, identify gaps and help keep the bigger picture on track.
What does having access to competent advice actually mean?
You know your business better than anyone. But that doesn't mean you're expected to have the answer to every health and safety question that comes your way.
For many smaller businesses, employing a dedicated Health & Safety Manager simply isn't necessary.
Instead, you might manage health and safety internally while having access to competent advice when you need additional knowledge, reassurance or a second opinion.
That's where the DBIM Competent Person Advice Line fits in. You continue to manage your business, with competent health and safety support there when you're unsure what to do next.
Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires employers to appoint one or more competent people to assist them in meeting their health and safety duties. Competence requires the appropriate skills, knowledge and experience for the risks involved.
You've got someone to turn to.
A health & safety question? Ask.
Not sure whether something is compliant? Check.
Need a second opinion on a risk or control? Talk it through.
Something changed in your workplace? Ask what you need to consider.
Not sure what to prioritise? We'll help point you in the right direction.
We look at the bigger picture too.
Your annual Health & Safety Health Check steps back from the day-to-day questions to look more widely at how health and safety is being managed, helping identify gaps and establish clear priorities for the year ahead.
You're still in control of your business. You just don't have to figure everything out on your own.
You don't need to wait until something has gone wrong to ask for help. The Advice Line is there for the everyday health and safety questions that come with running a business. Whether you need a quick answer, a second opinion or you're simply not sure what the right next step is, we're here to help.
Risk assessments & safe working
Not sure whether a risk assessment is suitable, whether additional controls are needed or how to approach a new activity? Talk it through with us.
Incidents & near misses
Something happened and you're unsure what to do next? We'll help you understand the immediate actions, investigation considerations and whether further reporting may be required.
Changes in your workplace
New machinery, processes, substances, employees or ways of working can introduce new risks. Ask us what you should be thinking about before making the change.
Policies, procedures & documentation
Unsure whether something needs documenting, what should be included or whether your existing arrangements are appropriate? We'll point you in the right direction.
Legal & compliance questions
If you're unsure what a health and safety requirement means for your business, ask. We'll help turn the requirements into practical actions you can understand.
A second opinion
Sometimes you already have an idea of what to do but want someone competent to sense-check it before moving forward. That's exactly what the Advice Line is for.
And once a year, we look at the bigger picture.
Every Advice Line client receives an annual Health & Safety Health Check. We'll review how health and safety is being managed across your business and help identify gaps, priorities and areas that could be strengthened.
No jargon. No overcomplicating it. Just practical health and safety support when you need it.
How the Advice Line works
The Advice Line is designed to be simple. You get ongoing access to competent health and safety support throughout the year, with an annual Health & Safety Health Check to make sure we're not only dealing with questions as they arise, but looking at the bigger picture too.
We get to know your business
We start by understanding your business, what you do and the health and safety challenges you're dealing with. That gives us context when you come to us for advice.
You ask. We advise.
When a health and safety question comes up, get in touch. From everyday questions to situations where you need a second opinion, we'll give you practical guidance on what to consider next.
We build knowledge of your business
You're not starting from scratch every time you ask a question. Over time, we build an understanding of your operation, your risks and the way you work.
We step back and look at the bigger picture
Your annual Health & Safety Health Check provides a wider review of how things are being managed, helping identify gaps and set clear priorities for the year ahead.
Support that becomes more useful the longer we work together.
This isn't about handing your health and safety over to someone else. You remain in control of your business. We're there to give you competent advice, another perspective and somewhere to turn when you're not sure what comes next.
Is the Advice Line right for your business?
The Competent Person Advice Line is designed for smaller businesses that manage health and safety day-to-day, but want competent support there when they need it. If the points below sound familiar, this service has been built with your business in mind.
01
You don't have an in-house H&S professional
You manage health and safety internally, but don't need or aren't ready for a dedicated Health & Safety Manager.
02
You sometimes need a second opinion
You're comfortable dealing with the day-to-day, but sometimes want someone competent to sense-check a decision or point you in the right direction.
03
You want someone who gets to know your business
You don't want a generic helpline where you explain everything from scratch each time. You want ongoing support from someone who understands how your business operates.
04
You want to know where you stand
Your annual Health & Safety Health Check gives you an opportunity to step back, identify gaps and understand what should be prioritised next.
05
You want support without full consultancy costs
You don't need somebody embedded in your business every week. You want an affordable monthly arrangement that gives you access to competent advice when you need it.
That's exactly what the Advice Line is designed for.
Somewhere to turn when you're unsure, competent advice when you need it, and an annual Health & Safety Health Check to make sure the bigger picture isn't being missed.
The Advice Line won't be right for every business. If you need regular site support, audits, implementation work or more hands-on management of your health and safety arrangements, we'll be honest about it and talk through a more suitable level of support.
Why keep competent advice on hand?
Good health and safety decisions are often easier when you've got someone knowledgeable to talk them through with. The Advice Line gives you competent support in the background, ready when a question, concern or change comes up.
Ask before it becomes a problem
Sometimes a quick conversation is enough to stop a small concern becoming a much bigger issue. You don't have to wait until something has gone wrong before asking for advice.
Make decisions with more confidence
Unsure about a risk, requirement or next step? You've got someone competent to sense-check your thinking and help you decide what to consider next.
No starting from scratch
This isn't a faceless helpline. We get to know your business, your operation and the challenges you face, helping make the advice more useful and relevant over time.
Keep an eye on the bigger picture
Your annual Health & Safety Health Check helps identify gaps, priorities and areas that could be strengthened before they disappear into the day-to-day.
Budget for support, not surprises
A simple monthly retainer gives you access to advice without having to find and commission consultancy every time a health and safety question comes up.
Health & safety expertise in your corner.
You stay in control of your business. We give you practical advice, another perspective and somewhere to turn when you're not sure what comes next.
What's included in your monthly retainer?
Your monthly retainer gives you somewhere to turn when health and safety questions come up. The focus is practical advice, guidance and a second opinion when you're unsure what to do next.
Competent H&S advice
Ask day-to-day health and safety questions and get practical guidance on what to consider and what to do next.
A familiar adviser
No generic call-centre experience. We get to know your business, your activities and the challenges you're dealing with.
Risk assessment & control advice
Talk through risk assessments, control measures, new activities or situations where you're unsure whether you've covered enough.
Incident & near-miss guidance
Get advice following an incident or near miss, including investigation considerations and whether RIDDOR may need to be considered.
Policy & documentation guidance
Ask about policies, procedures, records and H&S documentation when you're unsure what you need or how something should be approached.
Advice when things change
New equipment, processes, substances or ways of working? Talk through the health and safety considerations before moving forward.
Your annual H&S Health Check.
Once a year, we'll take a wider look at how health and safety is being managed across your business, highlight areas that could be strengthened and help you establish clear priorities for the year ahead.
Need us to do the work, not just advise?
The Advice Line is designed for advice and guidance rather than unlimited consultancy hours. More hands-on work can still be provided by DBIM, but we'll agree that with you separately.
No unexpected consultancy bill. If something falls outside the Advice Line, we'll explain what support is needed and agree it with you before additional work starts.
You stay in control. We help you make better decisions.
The Advice Line doesn't take health and safety away from you, and that's not what it's designed to do.
You know your people, your processes and your workplace. DBIM provides the competent advice behind you, helping you understand what good looks like, work through questions and make more informed decisions when you're unsure.
Sometimes that means confirming you're on the right track. Sometimes we'll recommend doing something differently. And where something needs specialist expertise or more hands-on support, we'll tell you that too.
Good health and safety isn't about handing responsibility to a consultant. It's about knowing you've got the right support around you when you need it.
What it costs
Simple monthly pricing based on the size of your business. Every tier gives you access to the Competent Person Advice Line and your annual Health & Safety Health Check.
Up to 10 employees
£100 / month
Competent H&S advice when you need it, plus your annual Health & Safety Health Check.
Ideal for smaller teams managing H&S internally but wanting competent support behind them.
11–25 employees
£175 / month
Competent H&S advice when you need it, plus your annual Health & Safety Health Check.
For growing businesses where more people naturally means more questions, changes and H&S considerations.
26–50 employees
£250 / month
Competent H&S advice when you need it, plus your annual Health & Safety Health Check.
Ongoing competent support for businesses dealing with a broader range of people, activities and operational risks.
51–100 employees
£350 / month
Competent H&S advice when you need it, plus your annual Health & Safety Health Check.
For larger SMEs wanting competent support available without moving straight to a more hands-on retained H&S service.
Let's talk.
Once you're over 100 employees, business structure, sites, risk profile and the level of support required start to matter more than headcount alone. We'll have a conversation and recommend the right level of support for your business.
Common questions
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The DBIM Competent Person Advice Line gives your business ongoing access to competent health and safety advice for a fixed monthly retainer.
It is designed for businesses that manage health and safety internally but want someone knowledgeable to turn to when questions arise, something changes or they simply want a second opinion.
Every Advice Line client also receives an annual Health & Safety Health Check to step back from the day-to-day, identify gaps and set priorities for the year ahead.
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The Advice Line is primarily designed to give you access to competent health and safety advice, rather than simply putting DBIM's name against a role.
Under Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers must appoint one or more competent people to assist them with their health and safety duties. HSE confirms this can be the employer, workers, someone outside the business, or a combination depending on the competence available internally.
If you specifically need to review your Regulation 7 arrangements, we can discuss that with you as part of getting started.
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Pretty much any day-to-day health and safety question where you need advice, guidance or another perspective.
That might include risk assessments, control measures, incidents and near misses, RIDDOR, policies and procedures, changes to equipment or processes, employee H&S concerns, documentation or understanding what a particular requirement means for your business.
If something requires specialist expertise or more detailed consultancy work, we'll tell you.
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The service is designed to give you ongoing access to advice as questions arise, not make you worry about being charged every time you ask something.
It is an advice service rather than unlimited consultancy hours, however. If a question turns into something more substantial, such as writing documentation, carrying out an investigation, completing an audit or attending site, we'll explain that before doing any additional chargeable work.
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Once a year, we'll take a wider look at how health and safety is being managed across your business rather than only responding to individual questions.
The Health Check is designed to highlight gaps, areas that could be strengthened and your priorities for the next 12 months.
Think of the Advice Line as support for the day-to-day, and the Health Check as an opportunity to look at the bigger picture.
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No. You remain responsible for managing health and safety within your business.
The Advice Line gives you competent assistance to help you make informed decisions and understand what you need to consider. HSE is clear that using an external consultant or adviser does not transfer the employer's legal duty to manage health and safety.
You run your business. We're there to help you get the health and safety decisions right.
Where we work. Greater Manchester and the North West as standard: Manchester, Bolton, Bury, Stockport, Rochdale, Oldham, Preston, Blackburn, Warrington and Trafford. Appointments elsewhere in the UK where the travel works for both sides.