HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
GENERAL STATEMENT
The company recognizes that it has responsibilities relating to the Health , Safety and Welfare of its employees whilst at work. It is therefore the policy of this company to take all reasonable and practicable steps to prevent personal injury and damage to property and to protect everyone from foreseeable hazards.
The following sets out the company’s policy as to the provision of a safe place of work. In particular the company will:
* Provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, taking account of any statutory requirements.
* Provide and maintain any plant, equipment and systems of work that are safe and without risk to health.
* Provide such information, training and supervision to enable employees to perform their work safely.
* Accept that it is responsible for the health & safety of other people who may be affected by the company’s activities such as customers and co-contractors.
* Avoid risks to health & safety during the use, storage, handling and transfer of items of stock, plant, equipment and hazardous substances.
This health & safety statement is circulated to all employees in order to ensure full awareness of its contents. This policy is to be regularly monitored to ensure that objectives are achieved, revisions and reviews will take place in line with new legislation or organizational changes.
HEALTH & SAFETY ORGANISATION
Overall responsibility for Health & Safety rests with the Managing Director, who will ensure that -
* There is an effective policy for Health & Safety within the company.
* The policy is appraised annually to ensure its effectiveness and that any necessary changes are made.
* Appropriate legislation is complied with, including undertaking Risk Assessment. Procedures and effective control measures are employed to minimize risk and prevent harm to employees.
* Resources are provided to meet requirements of this policy.
* Employees observe safety requirements and use safe working practices.
* Accidents and near misses are properly recorded and that an investigation into the causes is properly carried out.
The successful implementation of this policy requires the commitment from all our employees, each individual has a legal obligation to co-operate in the operation of this policy by -
* Taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
* Not misusing equipment provided in the interest of safety or health.
* Ensuring that all safeguards and protective equipment etc. are used where necessary.
* Reporting any potential hazards or defects in plant or equipment.
* Reporting any accidents involving injury, damage to plant and equipment including near misses.
HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY STATEMENT DEVELOPMENT
The Health & Safety at Work Act requires that an organization employing 5 or more operatives must have a Health & Safety Policy Statement.
The key features of the policy statement are -
* The statement must clearly identify the organization’s commitment to health and safety.
* The statement should reflect the work carried out by the organization and its staff and should be reviewed and amended as the structure of the organization and/or the type of work carried out changes.
* It should in any event be reviewed at a period not exceeding 12 months.
FIRST AID
All employees are advised to take all reasonable precautions to guard against personal injury to themselves, colleagues or visitors. However, because of the nature of the business all employees shall receive basic training in first aid procedures. A first aid kit will be kept on company vehicles at all times, the kit will be maintained in proper condition at all times and will be regularly checked.
Serious cases must be dealt with by professional medical staff at the nearest hospital.
ACCIDENTS
Accidents must be reported in the accident book which is located in the workshop, all accidents will be investigated by the Managing Director and any recommendations implemented to prevent a re-occurrence.
Major accidents, dangerous occurrences and 3 day accidents reportable under RIDDOR must be reported as soon as possible to the Managing Director who will complete Form F 2508 and forward to HSE within 7 days.
FIRE
All employees will be trained in the use of fire fighting equipment which will be provided on all vehicles and the employee will be required to ensure that fire fighting equipment is near the vicinity of the work area when carrying out hot work. On commencing work on a new site the employee should avail himself of all appropriate escape routes.
All employees must comply with fire procedures prescribed on site by others at all times including keeping fire doors closed at all times and keeping doorways, walkways free of obstructions.
All fire fighting equipment will be inspected annually by competent persons.
Action to take in case of fire -
* Any person on discovering a fire should in the first instance, attempt to warn all other persons present in the immediate vicinity.
* Attack the fire if possible with equipment, without taking personal risk.
* Evacuate the area.
* Call the fire brigade giving precise instructions as to the nature of the fire, the exact location and address.
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
All employees will correctly use plant and equipment issued to them. The Managing Director will ensure that provision for portable appliance testing is made available on a 3 monthly basis. Defective plant and equipment will be reported immediately and the defective equipment taken out of service.
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
Employees will be provided with COSHH assessment sheets identifying control measures that must be used to minimize risk of exposure to hazardous substances. Employees must not use material that have not been subject to assessment and the situation reported to the Managing Director.
MANUAL HANDLING
Employees should carry out manual handling in line with the manual handling sheets provided, wherever possible moving goods by mechanical means. All employees will be trained in safe lifting techniques.
GENERAL RISK ASSESSMENT
All employees are required to follow safe working practices identified in the general risk assessment sheets provided to them, deviation from the procedures identified should be agreed with the Managing Director.
ACCESS EQUIPMENT
The Managing Director will check access equipment on a regular basis. Defects should be reported by employees to the Managing Director as soon as possible and the equipment removed from service. All employees will be trained in the use of access equipment and the recognition of faults.
ASBESTOS
If asbestos is encountered on site the matter should immediately be reported to the Managing Director who will inform the customer. Where asbestos is near to the proposed work area and risk of touching the substance is considerable, work in that area must immediately cease and not commence until agreed with the Managing Director.
LEAD
Where operatives are required to work with lead, appropriate hygiene facilities will be provided. All operatives will be given basic instructions by the Managing Director in the safe use of lead and associated personal hygiene requirements.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
All employees will be provided with and should use PPE as directed by the appropriate assessment for the work task. PPE will be regularly maintained and replaced as necessary. The organization is committed to only using PPE as a last resort.
INFORMATION AND TRAINING
All employees will be provided with all relevant information appropriate to the work task to ensure that they are able to work in a safe manner.
The organization is committed to providing basic induction training to the company and job specific training to ensure that work can be carried out safely.
The Health and safety procedure in Hadfield and Britain Ltd. is monitored on an ongoing basis by the Managing Director. The arrangements for health and safety procedures are reviewed by Mr. A. K. Fogg on an annual basis or as changes in legislation or the organization occur.
All employees of Hadfield and Britain Ltd. are encouraged to provide any suggestions on health & Safety matters that will improve safety standards within the organization, these suggestions will be considered by the Managing Director, where reasonably practicable appropriate measures will be implemented.