Health and Safety Due Diligence
Are there hidden dangers in your acquisition portfolio?
Anyone conducting due diligence with a view to a merger or acquisition will automatically consider such areas as financial performance, current order book, asset and property values, and perhaps even intellectual property protection.
That’s all perfectly sound, but it can leave an area of significant vulnerability - health and safety. Whatever the liabilities in this area might be – you will acquire them along with all the positives.
There may be an accident investigation under way or pending; there may be a legal or civil action in hand. Perhaps some non-compliant documentation or poor procedures which would be very expensive to put right.
Some companies have a poor health and safety culture – so even if they appear to have the necessary systems and procedures in place, it is possible that there is a prevailing attitude that fosters neglect.
Even if discovering these would not deter you from your acquisition or merger – it might make you reconsider the price you are willing to pay.
More and more companies are becoming aware of the need to assess the vulnerability of target companies in this area, and are beginning to give it the level of attention it deserves. Where you need the right person to fill a new post, we can even help to find them.
4See can provide the following services:
- Gap and Needs Analysis
- Due Diligence Strategic Compliance Audits of Health and Safety
- Strategic Recruitment Assistance (SafetyRecruitPlus+)