Safer Workplace Better Business (SWBB) was the brainchild of the Devon Health & Safety Sub Group (see ). Following a number of successful Safety Health Awareness Days in Devon for both the Licensed Trade and Hospitality Industry, and a number of interventions on the back of these events, it became apparent that a large number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) had a poor knowledge of Health and Safety and were struggling with their documentation.

Based around the principles of the nationally recognised 'Safer Food Better Business', pack produced by the Food Standards Agency to assist small catering businesses to meet European food hygiene requirements. The SWBB pack is similar, but aims to ensure that small businesses can comply with requirements of current Health and Safety standards. Each section explains the employer’s duties, the actions required, and allows the employer to document policies, controls and procedures they implement within their business. Once completed the pack will enable the business to identify the key hazards in their workplace, introduce suitable control measures and have a documented system available for inspection by enforcement officers.

Having agreed on a basic format, and content for the pack, each of the 10 Devon Local Authorities took responsibility for a number of sections. These were then modified by a small editorial team, and finalised into our first working copy with the assistance of Torbay Council’s design team. The initial trial involved 10 packs distributed to each LA to gauge the views of businesses and officers on what we were trying to achieve.  The initial findings prompted some major changes to some sections, particularly in instances where there was extensive, technical text or where it was indicated the layout was no user friendly.  Once these changes were made, a new set of evaluation forms were compiled and the second edition of the pack submitted to HSE for printing.

On 1 December 2009 the phase two trial was officially launched at the South West Regional Partnership Conference in Exeter with 500 packs being issues to the assembled audience.