Health and Safety Policy

Foreword

The directors of Just Solutions recognise health, safety and welfare as essential in the successful operation of its activities.

All operations will be conducted with due regard for the company's statutory obligations and the appropriate safeguards to minimise risks to the health and safety of all employees and others who may be affected by our activities.

This policy, aims to provide sound practical advice on safe working methods and statutory requirements relevant to the work activities of the company. It endeavours to make each and every person working for the company aware of his or her responsibilities with respect to health and safety and in so doing reduce the risk of accidents occurring within our working environment.

Adherence to the objectives set out in this safety policy and recognised good working practices are essential. The company believes that the active participation of all members of staff is essential in maintaining the highest practical standards of accident prevention.

Safety Policy Statement
Organisation and Responsibilities
Arrangements

Safety Policy Statement

The following is a statement that has been prepared by the company in respect of the requirements of section 2 (3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the relevant provisions of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

It shall be the continuing policy of the company to ensure that all its operations are, as far as is reasonably practicable, conducted in a manner so as to ensure the health and safety of all its employees and any other persons that may from time to time be affected by the company's activities. The prevention of accidents shall be regarded as an essential part of the company's responsibilities towards its employees, customers and others.

The objectives of the company safety policy are to promote the safety, health and welfare of all employees and others and to ensure and maintain a safe and healthy workplace in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions.

Compliance with the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and all subsequent and relevant legislation and regulations pertaining thereto, however, shall be regarded as the minimum standard expected. It is the policy of this company to endeavour to secure the co-operation of all concerned to achieve the highest standards practicable in all aspects of health and safety at work.

The policy reflects the commitment of the company to the belief that a safe and healthy working environment is directly related to the continuing success of an efficient and well run company, and the implementation of this policy is seen as an integral part of this commitment.

The company shall ensure, as appropriate, that adequate training is provided, protective clothing is made available and that all tools and equipment complies fully with the relevant legislation.

This policy clearly sets out the responsibilities of the management and all members of staff, in respect to this policy and shall be reviewed and revised as often as may be necessary. Any amendments or additions will be brought to the attention of all employees.

Simon Palomo | Managing Director

Organisation and Responsibilities

In order to meet the objectives of this policy the management will ensure that adequate resources are made available for the provision of health, safety and welfare within the workplace, including the provision and maintenance of plant and equipment, systems of work, and a workplace and environment which are safe and without risks to health.

The overall responsibility for health and safety within Just Solutions lies with the directors, who in line with Group policy shall appoint and monitor the performance of line management, having responsibility for implementing both company and local policy throughout the company.

In addition, and pursuant to the requirements of regulation 6 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and in order to provide assistance to both the main company and individual company directors and management the main board will appoint the company safety consultants as appropriate.

Overall responsibility for health and safety within the company, and for the promotion and implementation of this policy lies with the Managing Director of Just Solutions.

He will ensure that adequate resources, financial and otherwise, are made available to meet the health and safety requirements of the Company, and will monitor the allocation of these resources. He will also monitor the effectiveness of this policy, all procedures and precautions taken and the role of personnel with specific health and safety responsibilities as defined in this section.

As appropriate, he will delegate this authority, or appoint personnel, to take responsibility for, and carry out specific duties in relation to health and safety throughout the branch structure of the company.

In addition he will ensure that adequate arrangements are in force at all locations to;

Bring this policy and its contents to the attention of all employees.
Carry out regular monitoring and review of procedures including the provision of inspections and audits.
Deal with any emergencies that may arise, including the appointment of persons competent to administer first aid and supervise evacuation of any premises should the need arise.
Identify any training needs within the company and act upon them.
Liaise with the company safety advisors and make available such information as necessary to enable them to carry out the duties placed upon them by the company.
Enable all employees to be aware of their responsibilities, particularly those with specific duties as outlined below.

Directors, Managers and Supervisors

As part of the management team, all managers, supervisors and heads of department are responsible, and will be held accountable for, achieving the objectives of the Company Safety Policy as it applies to, and within their sphere of control.

Reporting to the Managing Director they shall:

Ensure that their department has adequate resources and supervisory experience to maintain safe working conditions.
Appoint sufficient numbers of persons to act as First Aiders and to ensure that they have received appropriate training to carry out those duties commensurate with the size and scope of the activities of the branch or department.
Ensure that adequate arrangements are in place to deal with any emergencies which may arise, including the appointment, and training of, persons competent to supervise any evacuation.
Make arrangements for ensuring that all workplace hazards and risks are identified and that suitable and sufficient means for controlling those risks are identified and implemented, in order to satisfy any requirements and prohibitions placed upon the company pursuant to any relevant statutory provisions in accordance with the requirements of Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1999.
Inform all personnel under their control of their responsibilities with respect to health and safety and ensure that they are all familiar with the Company health and safety policy, and the arrangements in force for dealing with emergencies, including the identities of those persons appointed to administer first aid or supervise any evacuation.
Operate within all statutory and Company requirements applicable to the work of the department.
Clearly define safe operating procedures and instructions as they apply to their department, and ensure that they are known and observed.
Ensure that safety receives full consideration when sourcing and purchasing materials and equipment and when planning new operations and methods of work.
Report all accidents and injuries in line with Company procedures and, in consultation with company safety advisors and others as appropriate, carry out such investigations and implement remedial measures as required.
Monitor the safety performance of all staff under their control, and in particular those with specific responsibilities under this policy.
Assist in the identification of safety training needs.
Consult where appropriate with the company Safety Advisors, employee's representatives or management on matters relating to health and safety.

Site Supervision

The senior persons who have overall responsibility and are accountable for, the implementation and supervision of the health and safety policy with respect to the various site operations under their control.

Reporting to the Managing Director they shall:

Ensure that each site has sufficient resources and adequate supervisory experience to maintain safe working conditions.
Make adequate provision for welfare and first-aid facilities for each site.
Inform all site operatives of their responsibilities and duties under the Company Safety Policy and satisfy them that they are competent to perform such duties.
Monitor the performance of all sites and with respect to safety, keep all site staff aware of changes to Company health and safety policy or procedures, informed of current best working practices and report any apparent training needs.
Ensure that when the company is appointed as principal contractor under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994, all relevant information pertaining to the project is obtained from the planning supervisor and client in order that the construction phase safety plan can be drawn up before work commences on site.
Pass on to site staff all relevant information with respect to any known hazards which may affect the safe conduct of the works, and ensure that risk assessments and safe working method statements are prepared and made available when planning new operations and methods of work.
Ensure that safety receives full consideration when sourcing and purchasing materials or equipment, and appointing subcontractors.
Investigate, in conjunction with the company Safety Advisors, and senior management, all accidents to discover their cause and implement such precautions and remedial measures as necessary to prevent re-occurrence.
Consult, where appropriate, with the company Safety Advisors, employees or management, and liaise with clients, planning supervisors and sub-contractors representatives, local authorities and enforcing agencies on matters relating to health and safety.

Information and Procedures

The Managing Director and those with supervisory responsibilities are responsible and accountable for assisting their contract managers in achieving the objectives of the Company Safety Policy and for the day-to-day management of health and safety. They shall:

Inform all personnel under their control of their responsibilities and ensure that they are issued, and are familiar with, the Company Safety Policy, and any safe working method statements and procedures relevant to their work.
Bring to the attention of all personnel on site the provisions of any Construction Phase Safety Plan and ensure that all procedures contained therein are followed throughout the contract.
Satisfy themselves that all employees and sub-contractors under their control have been suitably trained and/or authorised to carry out the type of work that they are engaged in, and report any apparent training needs to their contract manager.
Make sure that adequate means of safe access to, and egress from all workplaces is provided ad maintained at all times.
Identify all workplace hazards and make operatives aware of any resulting risks to health and safety, and arrange to carry out regular site tool box talks.
Enforce all statutory and Company requirements applicable to the work and ensure that safe operating procedures and instructions are known and observed. Review all precautionary measures and procedures as work progresses, and identify any additional measures necessary.
Check and make sure that all plant, machinery and equipment, including hand tools etc, used on-sites, meets all relevant statutory requirements and are maintained in a safe condition.
Keep a supply of protective clothing and safety equipment available and ensure that it is issued and worn as necessary.
Report all accidents and injuries in line with Company procedures.
Complete and maintain all records of inspections in relation to tower scaffolds, ladders, equipment and lifting appliances etc, as required by the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 and make provision for the display of all statutory notices.
Inform all persons on site of any arrangements in force in the event of a fire or other emergency.
Liaise with the company Safety Advisors, management employees and clients and/or sub-contractors representatives as appropriate on matters relating to health and safety.
Promote and maintain high standards of workmanship and tidiness at all times, and set a good example for all employees to follow.

All employees

All employees (including labour only sub-contractors) should make sure that they are familiar with, and understand the contents of the Company Safety Policy, and comply with the requirements therein and all safe working methods at all times.

In particular, they are required to:

Comply with all safety instructions given by the directors, supervisors, heads of department, Company Safety Advisors or safety representatives of the client/main contractor and observe any specific safety regulations or requirements that may be applicable to their work area, or are identified in any construction phase safety plan and/or the relevant risk assessments and method statements.
Make proper use of all protective clothing and safety devices issued at all times, and not damage or misuse any equipment provided for the purposes of health and safety.
Immediately report to their supervisor, any defects in equipment, safety devices and protective clothing, or any safety hazards encountered in the course of their work, in order that the necessary repairs or remedial action can be taken. No employee should attempt to use any equipment that is known, or suspected to be, faulty or unsafe.
Not operate any machinery, tools or equipment, use any materials, nor perform any work tasks for which they have not been trained or authorised by the company.
On arrival at any new site or workplace, employees should familiarise themselves with any emergency procedures in place, the location of first-aid and emergency (e.g. fire fighting) equipment, and how to summon assistance in an emergency.
Exercise care when working on occupied premises to ensure that their activities do not create hazards for the client and their staff. Employees should always abide by any security or safety rules in force for the premises and ensure that they are made aware of any emergency procedures, restricted areas or other hazards that may affect them during their work.
Report all accidents, whether causing injury or not, to their immediate supervisor, and assist in any investigations as required.
Always work in a responsible manner, keep the workplace tidy and promote good working practices at all times.

The company actively encourages suggestions from any employee for the improvement of health and safety in the workplace. Employees have a statutory duty to report any shortfall in the implementation or policy of the company with respect to health and safety in so far as it effects their own activities.

Any member of staff, regardless of position or status, who is found to be deliberately or consistently negligent in the performance of their duty with respect to this health and safety policy may be subject to disciplinary action including dismissal.

Trainees and Apprentices

In addition to the general requirements of all employees, special attention needs to be paid to the activities of trainees and apprentices who may be unfamiliar with the type of work and the responsibilities that go with it.

In particular:

No person should be allowed to operate any equipment or carry out any process for which they have not received training or have been authorised, except as part of that training under the direct supervision of a trained and competent person.
Apprentices and trainees should comply with all safety instructions given to them by their college instructors etc, during periods of off-the-job training.

Special provisions may be required with respect to working hours, in the case of young persons and these shall be observed accordingly.

Pursuant to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, any risk assessments carried out shall identify any specific hazards or risks which may be a result of, or increased by, the age or inexperience of persons under eighteen years of age, and suitable and sufficient controls or prohibitions implemented. Such measures shall be conveyed to all trainees as part of their training.

Sub contractors and suppliers

Whenever work is to be contracted out, only those contractors who meet the Company's criteria with respect to health and safety, and have been duly authorised, shall be used.

All contractors will be issued with and be required to acknowledge receipt of, a copy of the Company's safety rules for subcontractors prior to commencement of work.

In addition, they shall be required to supply information on any hazards created by their activities which may affect the Company or its employees, and submit for prior approval any risk assessments, method statements and working procedures for such activities.

Any contractor who fails to co-operate or comply with Company procedures on site may be removed from the approved list of suppliers.

The Company shall endeavour, when letting any contracts, to satisfy themselves that the contractor has sufficient resources and has made adequate provision for health and safety in respect of the work to be carried out.

All suppliers shall be required to supply to the company all relevant information with respect to any relevant safety procedures or known hazards in relation to their products or services, including product safety data sheets, operating manuals and the like. It shall be the responsibility of any person ordering or specifying goods or services obtained on behalf of the company to ensure that such information is provided and made available to the relevant personnel.

Arrangements

Risk Assessments

Pursuant to regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, an assessment of the risks to the health and safety of all employees shall be carried out in order to ensure that any requirements and prohibitions placed upon the company under the relevant statutory provisions pertaining to its activities are observed.

Standard method statements and safe working practices shall be developed and adopted for all activities for which significant hazards and levels of risk have been identified. Any such measures shall be recorded and conveyed to those members of staff affected, in order that the risk shall be minimised and controlled. All measures taken shall be reviewed as to their effectiveness and may be revised in the light of experience, or amended to suit specific circumstances as and when the need arises.

In addition, specific assessments required under other legislation, including The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 and The Manual Handing Operations Regulations 1999, shall be carried out as appropriate and reviewed from time to time by management and the company safety advisors.

Inspections and Audits

Day to day inspections of the workplace will be the responsibility of senior site engineers, heads of department and line managers who will ensure that all work procedures, tools and equipment and the workplace, including housekeeping and welfare facilities are in good order. Regular inspection of the workplace will be carried out by senior management.

Periodical safety inspections of company premises and sites on an ad-hoc basis, and audits of company procedures on a regular basis will also be carried out by the company safety advisors and a full report of all such inspections and audits shall be made to the board of directors indicating any recommendations for remedial action required.

Welfare and First Aid

The company shall ensure that adequate provision is made for the purposes of washing, sanitation and the taking of meals and breaks, and it shall be the responsibility of each and every employee to ensure that the facilities provided, either by the company or others (e.g. a main contractor or client as appropriate) are kept in a clean and safe condition at all times.

First aid facilities will be made available, including a suitable first aid kit, which will be replenished or replaced as necessary. A first aid kit will normally be available on each working site under the supervision of the relevant site supervisor, unless arrangements have been made under special agreement of the client or main contractor.

The Company shall make adequate provision for the appointment and training to a suitable standard of sufficient number of first aid personnel, in accordance with the requirements of the Health and Safety (First Aid at Work) Regulations 1981 and the 1997 ACOP.

Notices outlining the arrangements in place, and identity of duty holders should be clearly posted and brought to the attention of all personnel.

Should any changes be made to these arrangements then notification in writing will be circulated to all affected employees.

Emergency Procedures

The company policy with respect to emergency procedures should be made known to all employees and any other persons who may be on company premises.

In the event of fire or other circumstances which may give rise to imminent and serious danger (e.g. gas leak) the first priority of any employee discovering it must be to raise the alarm. On hearing the alarm the appointed person shall put into effect the evacuation procedures and notify the emergency services.

In all cases the first consideration is to the safety of all persons and no attempt should be made by any individual to tackle the situation if they would put themselves or others at risk by so doing.

The company shall provide and maintain sufficient and suitable fire extinguishers as appropriate and ensure that staffs are trained in their use.

Line managers are responsible for ensuring that their staffs are aware of the specific procedures, including the location and type of fire fighting equipment, escape routes and assembly points etc. The Company shall ensure sufficient fire marshals are appointed and trained to supervise any evacuation.

When working on a clients premises (commercial property) it shall be the responsibility of the site supervisor to obtain from the occupier, or principal contractor all relevant information as to the action to take to raise the alarm, assembly points, the location of emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers etc., and exit routes and to pass this information to all operatives.

Reporting of Accidents and Injuries

All accidents no matter how small shall be recorded in the accident book kept at Head office. The details of any first aid administered should be recorded by the appointed person concerned. Completed accident books will be logged and kept in safe keeping for the requisite time period.

All accidents or dangerous occurrences (as defined by the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995) shall be reported to management forthwith, whereupon such information as is necessary shall be gathered so that a full and proper investigation may be carried out.

In the case of any injury or work related ill health resulting in the absence from work of any employee for three or more days the local office of the Health and Safety Executive shall be notified using the prescribed form (F2508).

In the event of a fatal accident, major injury or prescribed dangerous occurrence, the following procedure shall be adopted;

Enter details in accident book, and inform the branch manager immediately, who shall:
Notify immediately by telephone the company director (Mr A Miller) and the local office of the enforcing authority for the area in which the accident occurred.
Unless there is an immediate risk of further injury or damage, the vicinity of, and any plant or equipment involved in, the incident should be left untouched until instructions to the contrary are received from HM Inspectorate.
Identify and obtain statements from any witnesses and obtain photographs where possible.
Where applicable, advise relatives of the injured party.
Ensure that company accident reporting form is completed and forwarded to company safety advisors.

The company safety advisors and senior management shall be responsible for ensuring that any or all necessary investigation is carried out and that written notification on form F2508 is forwarded to the relevant enforcing authority within ten days.

Where appropriate detailed reports shall be compiled and presented to the directors along with any recommendations for remedial action to prevent recurrence.

Training

The company is committed to the belief that suitable and proper training is an essential factor in achieving and maintaining high standards of skills, efficiency and heath and safety throughout its operations and therefore full use will be made of any guidance and/or training available either in-house or through trade associations, professional bodies and others as and when appropriate.

The company shall continue to make use of any guidance and/or training provided by manufacturers and suppliers of equipment used in the workplace to ensure that its employees are able to use the equipment in a safe and proper manner.

All employees shall be given basic safety induction training and specific site inductions as appropriate.

Specialist safety training will be carried out where appropriate, for example abrasive wheels, first aid etc. and regular tool box talks will be given by management to operational staff. All installation engineers receive regular product safety training.

Health and safety update sessions will be held for supervisory staff as appropriate to ensure that management are kept informed of any changes in legislation or company policy etc.

All training carried out shall be recorded and a record of staff training kept by the company on the requisite form.

Housekeeping and waste disposal

All work areas shall be maintained in a clean and tidy fashion and where appropriate, dust sheets and other protective measures will be used if appropriate. All spillages of materials etc. shall be cleared up immediately.

Line management shall be responsible for ensuring high standards of tidiness in the workplace. All floors and walkways shall be kept clear and free from obstruction/

All waste produced shall be disposed of in the appropriate manner either through the local authority or other local arrangements as appropriate. All waste removed shall be via a registered waste carrier in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act (Duty of Care).

Following any operations which result in the release of dust, site operatives shall ensure that the work area is suitably cleaned.

Personal protective equipment

Protective clothing and safety equipment relevant to the work being undertaken will be provided for, and used or worn by, all employees as appropriate, in accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992, the Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989, The Noise at Work Regulations 1989 and any other relevant statutory provisions or company procedures.

It is recognised that certain processes and the use of certain substances within the company's activities will necessitate the use of personal protective equipment.

Where statutory provision or detailed assessment of the task or substance involved indicates that such PPE will be required then the company will ensure that it is made available. All PPE used will be of a type approved for the purposes and conform to the relevant British (BS) or European (EN) standards.

It is the responsibility of all employees to wear such PPE as provided and to use it in the proper manner. All PPE should be regularly inspected and kept in good order, and any loss, damage or defects reported immediately.

Specific requirements and guidance on the use of PPE will be given where necessary and records of issue will be kept as appropriate.

Hazardous substances

All hazardous substances used by or produced as a result of any process carried out by, the company in its operations shall be subject to assessment in accordance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) and a record of all such assessments shall be kept.

A company COSHH manual will be maintained and each branch or department issued with a copy. Any substances purchased or used locally shall initially be assessed at site or branch level and any such assessments recorded using the standard company format. All such assessments shall be copied to head office for verification and inclusion in the company COSHH manual updates.

All employees will be made aware of any significant hazards and the precautions or protective equipment required when using or handling any such substances and additional training will be given where appropriate.

Operatives are urged at all times to follow any safety instructions given by the manufacturer or supplier and contained on any packaging or labelling supplied with any product. Particular attention should be paid to any product bearing a hazard-warning label.

Substances carrying warning symbols and specific safety instructions should not be transferred to any unlabelled container and should only be stored in accordance with any instructions given or identified in the relevant product data sheet and COSHH assessment.

Where applicable, and identified as necessary in the relevant assessment, then suitable health surveillance shall be arranged and carried out and records kept for the requisite period of time.

Use of work equipment and machinery

No unauthorised or untrained persons shall be permitted to operate any machinery or equipment belonging to, or in use by, the company.

All guards and safety devices must be fitted and correctly positioned before any machinery or tools are operated. Any missing or defective guards should be reported to management for action immediately.

All hand held electrical tools and equipment shall be maintained in good order and tested at regular intervals, dependant upon type and usage, in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

It is generally the policy of the company, with the exception of individual employees hand tools, that major items of plant or equipment are procured on a hired basis, and therefore, where electrical or pneumatic equipment is hired, then it shall be the responsibility of the site supervisor to ensure that the equipment is in good order upon delivery and that all relevant safety instructions are supplied with the equipment by the hirer.

No person shall be authorised to carry out any alteration, modification or repair to any machinery or electrical equipment for which they are not qualified and competent to carry out.

Where electrical equipment is used in an outside environment then for preference this should be of the 110 volt type only.

All equipment purchased, hired or in use by the company shall comply in all respects with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, shall be good order and properly maintained. Where such equipment is the property of the company, then suitable maintenance records shall be kept by the senior person where the equipment is held.

Manual handling

The risk of injury due to the manual handling of loads is recognised by the company and all measures will be taken as necessary to reduce such risks.

Wherever weights outside those given in the general guidelines contained in the guidance to the Manual Handling 0perations Regulations 1999 must be lifted then a thorough assessment of the operation will be carried out, and relevant precautions taken.

Wherever reasonably practicable, the lifting of heavy loads should be avoided and the company will endeavour to provide mechanical alternatives or aids for the lifting of such loads.

Materials, whenever possible shall be purchased and delivered to site in quantities suitable for individuals to handle without undue risk of injury. Where materials are supplied in bulk, they should be transferred to smaller containers or packs for use.

Particular care should be taken when handling and positioning ladders.

Training in proper handling techniques will be given as appropriate and only those persons so trained should be asked to move heavy loads, when mechanical means are unavailable.

Wherever an assessment relates to a complex situation or cannot easily be repeated then that assessment will be recorded and a record kept for future reference.

Sub-contractors and suppliers

The company shall endeavour, when engaging any sub-contractors, to satisfy themselves that the contractor has sufficient resources and has made adequate provision for health and safety in respect of the work to be carried out. Any contractor who fails to co-operate or comply with company procedures may be removed from the approved list of suppliers.

All suppliers will be required to supply to the company all relevant product safety data sheets for any substances supplied by them to the company, and it shall be the responsibility of the person ordering such materials to ensure that the relevant safety information and instructions are supplied with the goods.

The performance of all sub contractors and suppliers shall be monitored by the Company Director.

Project planning and general site operations All of the companies activities, including site based operations, shall be carried out with due regard to the health and safety and welfare of all members of staff and any other person who may be affected by the activities of the company.

In order to achieve this goal it is essential that safety considerations be taken into account at the earliest stages of planning for any project to be undertaken by the company. Therefore, all estimators and surveyors shall ensure, through consultation with the Directors, that when pricing and tendering, sufficient resources are allocated for ensuring that safety and workmanship of the highest standards can be achieved and maintained on all projects undertaken by the company.

Similarly, any design element to specific projects should also consider the suitability and safety aspects of both the installation itself and the site operatives who will be installing or maintaining it, in accordance with the requirements of regulation 13 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994.

Project managers and site supervisors shall ensure that such resources are utilised in the most efficient and proper manner, and that adequate facilities for safety and welfare are available to all site personnel. Specific equipment and safety measures, including suitable access arrangements etc, shall be investigated and implemented prior to, or upon commencement of site operations.

Senior Site Engineers or supervisors shall ensure that adequate arrangements are in force for protecting the safety of other persons on site including members of the public and visitors to site. Where appropriate this shall include segregation of the works, signing in procedures, and site reduction procedures etc.

The Construction Design and Management Regulation 1994

It will be the responsibility of the Managing Director to ensure that all staff and contractors under their control are aware of the CDM regulation and the duties placed upon them.

Before any work which falls under the scope of the CDM regulations is undertaken, no work will be carried out on¬site until a copy of the principal contractors construction phase safety plan has been made available along with all necessary information regarding specific site rules and the provision of shared welfare facilities as appropriate.

Where Communicate are appointed as Principal Contractor steps should be taken to ensure that the client is aware of their duties under the regulations and that a Planning Supervisor, has been appointed and made known to us. The pre¬tender stage safety plan shall be obtained from the client/planning supervisor and developed to form the construction phase safety plan, which will be made available to all staff and contractors involved in the project prior to work commencing.

Copies of the safety policy, risk assessments and method statements pertaining to the work will be issued to the client/principal contractor/planning supervisor as appropriate to satisfy them that the company is competent to carry out the work safely and for prior approval and reclusion in the safety plan.

All sub-contractors shall be subject to company selection procedures as detailed elsewhere in this policy and existing Quality Assurance procedures, and shall provide similar information as above to site management before starting work. In return they shall be reformed of any specific site rules and other provisions included in the safety plan.

All designs produced by the company will be checked for compliance with all relevant specifications, in so far as they relate directly to the work being undertaken, and assessed for potential construction hazards. Where these cannot practically be removed they shall be highlighted and passed to the planning supervisor for inclusion in the pretender stage safety plan.

All designers employed by the company have a duty to co-operate with the Planning Supervisor and other designers engaged on the same project as far as may be necessary.

All drawings, amendments and details of construction methods and materials will be passed to the Planning Supervisor/Principal Contractor for inclusion in the safety file.

The procedures outlined in the regulation will be followed with respect to reporting of injuries under RIDDOR.

When acting as planning supervisor the relevant project management team shall ensure that correct notification of the project is made to the HSE area office for the project on Form F10 (Rev).

Work in occupied premises

Much of the company's work is carried out in premises occupied by others, usually the client, and therefore it is essential that all operatives follow safe working procedures both for the protection of themselves and others.

Prior to any work commencing on client's premises, arrangements will be made by the Company to ensure proper access for the site engineers.

All relevant information with respect to permissible working times, and any special safety requirements of the client, for example work permits etc. shall be obtained whenever possible in advance and the engineer briefed accordingly.

In addition all reasonable enquiries shall be made with respect to the presence of any specific hazards created by the clients undertaking which may affect the safety of company personnel whilst on the premises in order that suitable arrangement can be made. It shall be the responsibility of management, with assistance from the Company safety advisors where necessary to advise clients that they are required to supply such information to the Company under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and, where applicable, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994.

Upon arrival at client's premises for the first time, site personnel should make themselves known and familiarise themselves with any emergency procedures in force for the premises.

Operatives should comply with any signing in procedures and ensure that they obtain any necessary permits prior to commencing work.

Where the activities of the Company are likely to affect the clients undertaking then suitable arrangements shall be made to ensure the least amount of disruption and the client shall be kept informed of progress as necessary. Should the Company's activities present any hazard or risk to other occupants of the premises, then such risks shall be notified accordingly in order that the appropriate action can be taken.

In particular those activities which may lead to excessive levels of noise or dust, such as drilling etc. shall wherever reasonably practicable, be carried out outside of the clients normal working hours or at such other times by arrangement to cause the least disruption or exposure risk.

Domestic customers and members of the public

It is recognised that the company has a duty of care to all visitors including customers and other members of the public who may come into contact with the operations of the Company, particularly when working in a domestic environment or residential areas.

When working in public places suitable warning notices, shall be used to inform others of the hazards which may be presented due to the work activities.

Cones, tape and other barriers should be used to prevent persons from walking under ladders etc. from which persons are working.

All materials shall be kept secure and protected when not in use and particular care should be taken when children are present.

Lone working

Occasionally operatives may be required to work alone, and whenever this is the case, the company shall ensure that such persons are in possession of a mobile telephone and any relevant emergency contact numbers. Regular contact will be maintained throughout the working day, and, where possible operatives should obtain a contact number from the occupier of the premises and relay this to head office upon arrival.

Working at height

The nature of the work often requires working at height and all operatives should observe safe working practices at all times.

Ladders and steps
All ladders and steps shall be maintained in good condition and regularly inspected for damage. All ladders should be securely tied, footed or otherwise secured against falling or sliding when in use. Particular attention should be given to the ground conditions and if in doubt anti slip mats or chocks should be used. The correct angle of the ladder should be set such that the height is approximately four times the base distance (1:4).

When working in public places precautions should be taken to ensure that persons cannot walk under, or into any ladder.

The ladder should be repositioned rather than trying to overreach.

When working from stepladders these should always be fully extended and operatives should not stand on the topmost step.
Mobile tower scaffolds
Mobile tower scaffolds should be erected in accordance with the supplier's instructions and should not exceed a height of three times the minimum base dimension (including all outriggers etc.) when used outdoors or three and a half times indoors.

All guardrails and toe boards should be fitted when erected to a height greater than two metres. Access to the working platform shall be by the ladder provided on the inside of the scaffold and operatives should never climb the outside of the tower. Under no circumstances should any person remain on any tower scaffold whilst it is being moved and the wheels should be locked during use.

When erecting and moving tower scaffolds caution is required with respect to overhead power lines and uneven ground conditions. Tower scaffolds should be inspected on a regular basis, and if used continually in one location for more than seven days, a record of such inspections should be kept.
General access scaffolding
Where fixed scaffolding is required and not supplied by the main contractor, then a specialist scaffolding contractor will be engaged to erect any such scaffold and a handover certificate will be obtained prior to first use.

No operative shall interfere with or remove any part of any scaffold and all working platforms shall be maintained in a clean and tidy fashion. No materials shall be stacked such that they extend above the height of the guard-rail and steps, trestles etc. shall not be used on any scaffold unless additional guard¬rails are in place or there is no risk of a person falling beyond the existing guard-rail.

Any scaffold provided by the company shall be inspected on a weekly basis and a record of such inspections maintained.
Mobile elevating work platforms
Before using any MEWP the site supervisor shall ensure that the supplier instructs all site operatives in the safe use and operating techniques for the specific machine and that the operatives are fully familiarised with the controls and emergency procedures.

Under no circumstances shall the permitted safe working load be exceeded, and care should be taken to ensure that the machine is stable at all times. Never travel the machine in the raised position.

During operation suitable warning notices, barriers and cones etc. should be positioned. Operatives should wear a safety harness securely attached to a point inside the cage at all times. Operatives should have undergone the requisite course of training to operate such equipment.
Electrical and electrical equipment
No employee shall interfere with or attempt to modify any electrical installation or equipment unless they are suitably qualified to do so.

All electrical equipment, including hand tools shall be used in the correct manner, and no electrical circuit shall be overloaded so as to represent a risk of fire.

Branch managers shall make arrangements to ensure that all electrical installations and equipment are maintained and tested periodically in accordance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. All installations shall be inspected and tested by a competent person or electrical contractor on a five yearly basis.

When working on site, all electrical connections shall only be performed by competent and qualified staff. When any installation requires connection to or modification of any existing electrical circuit then all necessary procedures for the isolation and locking off of such circuits shall be carried out prior to work commencing.

Any permit to work system in operation by the client or main contractor for the premises shall be adhered to and no work will commence until such permits have been obtained following isolation of the system concerned.

It is often necessary for site operatives to work in the vicinity of electrical switchgear and within plant rooms etc, and should the work be in proximity to any live electrical equipment, then suitable precautions shall be taken, including isolation and the obtaining of permits etc. as appropriate.

In such circumstances where the Company is acting as principal contractor or duty holder in respect of the electrical installation, then arrangements will be in place for the isolation and issue of permits under the supervision of the site supervisor.

Any permit to work system in operation by the client or main contractor, will in general, take precedence over any internal procedures.

Asbestos

Whenever any material containing, or suspected of containing, asbestos is encountered in the course of the Company's activities, then all work shall be ceased immediately.

The client (or main contractor, as appropriate) and all others in the vicinity shall be informed and arrangements will be made for a sample to be tested.

No further work activity involving the material shall be carried out until such time as the results of the analysis are known.

Should the material prove to contain asbestos then the client or main contractor shall be advised that a suitable licensed asbestos removal contractor will need to be employed and work will only re-commence once the contractor has certified the area safe and clear of all asbestos.

Under no circumstances should any material suspected of containing asbestos be broken up, cut, drilled or otherwise be disturbed in such a manner as may lead to the release of dust or fibres.

All site operatives and installation engineers will be given suitable information with respect to the above policy and basic training in asbestos recognition.

Noise at work

The Noise at Work Regulations 1989 set out legal duties to prevent damage to hearing. The Regulation recognises 3 levels of action.

First Action Level - (a daily personal exposure (LE p 'd) of 85 dB (A))
Second action level - (a daily personal exposure (LE 'd) of 90 dB (A))
Peak action level - (single event sound pressure of 200 Pascal's {140 dB))

An assessment of exposure to noise will be required whenever the first action level is likely to be exceeded. As a rough guide, assessment will usually be needed whenever persons have difficulty in being heard clearly when someone is speaking in a normal voice from about two metres away.

In all such cases an assessment shall be made by site management, and the necessary precautions identified and implemented. In situations where more detailed assessment and accurate measurements of sound levels is required then assistance will he sought from external specialist as appropriate.

Hearing protection will be made available on request when the first action level is reached. Once the second action level is exceeded, measures will be taken to reduce the noise levels as far as is reasonably practicable. If noise levels cannot be reduced by other reasonably practicable means then notices will be posted and a compulsory hearing protection zone established. All operatives required to enter such a zone will be issued with suitable hearing protection and its wearing enforced.

Where works may lead to unavoidable, excessive noise levels which may represent an environmental hazard or are likely to affect persons not connected with the work, such as a clients employees, then wherever reasonably practicable such work will be programmed such that the least disturbance, or numbers of persons will be affected.

Working in confined spaces Whilst the Company's activities would not generally be those associated with working in areas usually recognised as confined spaces, it may be necessary for site operatives and installation engineers to work in cramped conditions such as roof spaces and equipment rooms etc.

In such circumstances a specific risk assessment shall be carried out to ascertain what, if any, additional risks may be present as a result of working in such conditions and the precautions necessary to eliminate or reduce those risks in accordance with the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 and the Approved Code of Practice L 1 0 1.

Driving company vehicles

No person shall drive any company vehicle for which they do not hold a valid current driving licence, and have been authorised to drive by the company. The company should be informed of any medical condition or medication, which could affect an employee's ability to drive a vehicle on public roads.

Whilst every effort is made to keep all vehicles in a safe and roadworthy condition it shall be the responsibility of the driver to carry out routine checks of road lights, tyres and daily maintenance items and to report any defects to Directors for action.,/

Drivers shall ensure that any loads carried are secure and that the vehicle is not driven in an overloaded condition. When driving Company vehicles on sites or clients premises, all due regard shall be given to any speed limits and parking restrictions in force for the particular site.

Drivers should be alert to site traffic and hazards, in particular when driving on construction sites additional care should be taken and consideration given to the terrain.

Care should always be taken not to park any vehicle in such a manner that it may constitute a hazard or obstruction to others, and in particular that no emergency routes or exits are compromised by so doing.

It will be a condition of use that those persons responsible for company vehicles keep them in a clean and tidy fashion and treat them with respect.

Display screen equipment

Each departmental manager shall ensure that any display screen workstations are assessed in accordance with the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1999 where such workstations fall within the scope of those regulations.

If a person uses a display screen workstation for more than two hours continuously on a daily basis, then a full assessment of the workstation, the surrounding environment and the user must be made on the standard company VDU Assessment form.

Whilst the majority of the form is a self assessment document, it is the responsibility of the relevant manager to check the details, in consultation with the user and to ensure that the assessment is reviewed on a regular basis.

Any potential risks to the health of the user, or non compliance identified as a result of the assessment shall be referred to the Directors for action.

All display screen equipment users shall receive information and training with respect to the requirements of the regulations, and measures which can be taken to reduce the risks associated with poor posture and layout of the workstation etc.

Consultation

The Company recognises that consultation at all levels on matters of health, safety and welfare is essential to ensure good working relations and the promotion of a positive safety culture within the organisation.

Whilst no recognised trade union representation exists within the Company, the views of all employees on matters relating to health and safety are always welcomed.

In order to facilitate such exchange, line managers shall solicit the views of those members of staff under their control and actively encourage suggestions for the improvement of safety standards and procedures, in line with the requirements of the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 as appropriate.

All members of staff shall be consulted with respect to changes in working practices etc. in as far as such changes may affect their health and safety, and their input shall be required when carrying out any risk assessments related to their tasks or duties.

Each branch shall make its own arrangements for formal consultation through regular staff meetings, personal contact or other such means as appropriate to the size and structure of the branch.

The Directors of the Company shall consult with line management through regular meetings.

A "no fault' hazard reporting scheme is in operation within the Company and all employees are encouraged to use this system anonymously if desired, to bring any concerns over safety matters to the attention of management.

In addition, the Company safety advisors are available to provide such advice and assistance to all members of staff on request.

Publishing the policy

In order that the contents of this policy and associated documentation shall be made known to all employees it shall be prominently displayed at Head Office and a copy shall be issued to each member of staff.

Any changes to this policy will be conveyed to all members of staff in writing and all amendments or additions will be attached to the policy for display.