HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY – 1999

 

 

 

 

GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

 

 

 

Our Policy is to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work for all our employees, and to provide such information, training and supervision as they need for this purpose.  We also accept our responsibility for the health and safety of other people who may be effected by our activities.

 

Health and safety have equal status with other primary business objectives.  The company is convinced that safe working practices and due consideration of environmental factors contribute directly to the overall efficiency and success of the business.

 

The company will ensure there is absence of risk to health and safety of all persons when handling, storing or transporting any article or substance.

 

Each individual Site of Work will have a specific comprehensive Construction Stage Health & Safety Plan in accordance with the Construction Design & Management Regulations.  This will be referred to at different stages/operations of the work as it progresses.  It will be reviewed and updated as required.

 

Risk Assessments of all work activities will be carried out and Method Statements explained to employees.

 

The allocation of duties for safety matters and the particular arrangements which the company will make to implement the policy are set out below.

 

The policy will be kept up to date, particularly as the business changes in nature and size.  To ensure this, the policy and the way in which it has operated will be reviewed annually.

 

 

 

M. C. Burke

Director Responsible for Health & Safety

 

 

Date. 28th May 1999

 

 

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CONTENTS - INDEX

 

 

 

 

 

1.0           Organisation

 

2.0                 Responsibilities

 

3.0                 Site Agents & General Foreman

 

4.0                 Employees & Sub-Contractors

 

5.0                 Accident

 

6.0                 Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

 

7.0                 Electrical Equipment

 

8.0                 Electricity.  Power Supply Lines

 

9.0                 Fire Hazard

 

10.0              Welfare and First Aid Facilities

 

11.0              Fumes, Dust and Vapours

 

12.0              Asbestos

 

13.0              Plant and Machinery

 

14.0              Safe Working Procedures

 

15.0              Personal Protective Equipment

 

16.0              Sub-Contractors

 

17.0              General Public

 

18.0              Visitors

 

 

 

1.0    ORGANISATION

 

The Companies safety policy has been designed to achieve the following:

 

1.1     The prevention of injury to all persons affected by Company operations and of damage to property and waste.

 

1.2     The observation of the requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 & The 1992 Management of H & S regs and all obligations under those acts and any regulations published under those Acts.

 

1.3     To ensure that all employees receive adequate Safety Training in the tasks they are to carry out, and all subcontractors have been adequately trained to carry out these tasks in a safe and responsible manner.

 

1.4     To insist that at all times employees/sub-contractors observes safe working practices and policies in accordance with Company policy or statutory regulations and with the practise laid down in the CDM/Safety File of each site/office.

 

1.5     To provide Induction Training and maintain safe plant, equipment and working conditions.

 

2.0    RESPONSIBILITIES

 

2.1    Management

 

Overall and final responsibilities for health and safety in the company is that of:

 

Mr. M. C. Burke.

 

The management is responsible for ensuring that all operations under their control are carried out in accordance with the company health and safety policy.

 

Which include:

 

2.2     Safe working systems, practices and procedures.

 

2.3     Proper training of staff.

 

2.4     Ensure deficiencies in equipment, standards, operating procedures and training facilities are corrected.

 

2.5     Make suitable arrangements for consultation with line foreman and workforce on health, safety and the environment.

 

2.6     Provide and maintain safe premises and means of access and egress when under our control.

 

2.7     Provide a working environment without risk to health and safety and adequate facilities for welfare at work for all employees.

 

2.8     Obtain guidance from specialist services on health, safety and the environment when necessary.

 

2.9     Make arrangements for communication between, Clients and Company. 

 

3.0    Site Agents & General Foreman

 

It is the responsibility of the Site Agents & General Foreman:

 

3.1     That all work under their control is conducted in a safe manner by appropriately trained persons.

 

3.2     To ensure subordinates are made aware of their individual responsibilities.

 

3.3     To ensure subordinates are made aware of any health and safety hazards and activities that could cause environmental damage.

 

3.4     That subordinates carry out work in accordance with statutory, company and client obligations.

 

3.5     To inform management immediately of unsafe plant or systems of work or those not operating to company requirements.

 

3.6     That all accidents causing injury or damage are reported to management immediately.

 

3.7     To inform management of any training needs to ensure safe work.

 

3.8     To ensure a safe means of access and egress is maintained at all times at the workplace.

 

3.9     That protective clothing has been issued.

 

3.10   That an awareness of others in the proximity of the workplace is maintained.

 

3.11   To ensure that good housekeeping is maintained.

 

4.0    Employees & Sub-Contractors

 

It is the responsibility of every employee and sub-contractor:

 

4.1     Take all reasonable care of their own health and safety and others while at work.

 

4.2     Observe the conditions of safe working practices at all times.

 

4.3     Report any change or deterioration of equipment or conditions at the workplace, which they feel would affect health, safety or the environment.

 

4.4     Use plant and equipment in a safe manner.

 

4.5     Only use equipment which they have been trained to operate, erect or dismantle.

 

4.6     Use the protective equipment provided.

 

4.7     Co-operate with management to maintain safety standards and comply with statutory requirements.

 

4.8     Maintain records on particular plant and equipment where required.

 

4.9     Familiarise themselves with the information provided by the company on the health hazards of the plant, equipment, materials, substances and working procedures applicable to them.

 

4.10   Understand actions to be taken in the event of an emergency, and be conversant with Company   procedures and those of the Client.

 

4.11   Have authorisation to carry out their work and understand this form of authorisation and the hazards involved.

 

4.12   Seek advice concerning any aspects of work presenting doubt or difficulty.

 

4.13   Liase with supervision on all matters relating to health and safety.  Discuss any suggestions which may improve conditions and procedures.

 

5.0    Accidents

 

All accidents must be reported in the accident book held at head office.

 

Notifiable accidents must be reported, the manner of reporting depends on the nature and severity of the injury.

 

The procedure for reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences will be in accordance with the RIDDOR Regulations.

 

All dangerous occurrences, injuries or accidents of a serious nature or within the classification of notifiable, will be investigated.  A report will be circulated including recommendation of action to be taken to avoid recurrence. 

 

6.0    Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

 

The C.O.S.H.H. Regulations are designed to safeguard employees who work with harmful chemicals, dusts or pathogens within the industry.

 

In instance where the risk of exposure to a hazardous substance cannot be removed the appropriate protective clothing must be worn.

 

Assessments under the Regulations have been and you must be aware   

 

7.0    Electrical Equipment

 

ALL electrical equipment will only be serviced, installed or repaired by a competent person.

 

Hand tools will only be used by authorised personnel.

 

Tools and equipment will be inspected on a regular basis and tagged / certificate accordingly. 

 

8.0    Electricity.  Power Supply Lines

 

Assume all lines are live.  A written safe system of work must be established with the line owner before work can continue.

 

9.0    Fire Hazard

 

Fire points established on premises will have sufficient extinguishers available within the area.

 

In the event of a fire / explosion, the person discovering the fire must contact the appropriate Foreman, Client Representative or / and fire brigade.

 

All fire fighting equipment will be checked / examined regularly and recorded

 

No smoking may apply in designated areas.  The No smoking signs must be adhered to at all times.

 

10.0  Welfare and First Aid Facilities

 

These will be provided so far as is reasonably practicable.  Where shared facilities are available, application will be made for certificates of shared Welfare Arrangements.

 

11.0  Fumes, Dust and Vapours

 

Efforts will be made to ensure the level of fume, dust, vapours etc. is kept to a tolerable level in compliance with and referenced to EH/40.

 

12.0  Asbestos

 

Where work involves the handling of asbestos, the Control of Asbestos At Work Regulations and relevant Codes of Practice must be followed.

Asbestos work will only be carried out by an approved/licensed company.

 

13.0  Plant and Machinery

 

Plant and machinery must not be used on areas that prove to be hazardous or unsafe.  Refuelling, servicing and maintenance must take place in safe areas and must not cause harm to others or damage to the environment.

 

Regular inspections will ensure that all necessary guards, stop/start buttons, emergency switches and control are in position and functioning correctly.

 

All plant will be serviced and maintained on a regular basis and records kept.

 

14.0  Safe Working Procedures

 

It is the company’s responsibility to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that any work carried out does not constitute a health risk to employees or to others.  Risk Assessments / Method Statements will be issued before work commences.

 

All operatives will co-operate with the company and carry out their work in accordance with the Risk Assessment / Method Statement.  Any change to the Method Statement must be agreed with the company before work continues.

 

15.0  Personal Protective Equipment

 

The company will provide employees with the necessary protective equipment to safeguard their health and safety.

 

It is the duty of employees to wear and maintain the protective equipment provided.  Any loss or defect must be reported.

 

Failure to wear protective equipment may result in disciplinary action.

 

16.0  Sub-Contractors

 

All Sub-Contractors will provide a Safety Policy.

 

It will be the responsibility of the Site Agent or General Foreman to ensure that, sub-contractors are familiar with the Company’s Safety Policy.

 

17.0  General Public

 

It will be the responsibility of all employees and sub-contractors to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable that the general public are protected from anything likely to endanger their health and safety.

 

18.0Visitors

 

It is Company Policy to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health and safety of all visitors to the Company’s sites.  All visitors will be accompanied by a responsible person.

 

 

 

 

Non-compliance with company policy / procedures may result in disciplinary action and possible dismissal.

 

 

Revised Monday, 22 October 2001

 

 

 

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