HS Policy Manual

SECTION 1: GENERAL POLICY STATEMENT

It is the general policy of Marsh Industries that all reasonably practicable steps shall be taken to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees and the protection of those not in its employ but who may be affected by the operation of its plant.

The company will pay particular regard to: –

• The provision and maintenance of a safe working environment without risks to health or safety, together with adequate facilities and arrangements for the welfare of those at work.
• The provision and maintenance of plant, equipment and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health
• The provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of employees and visitors
• The maintenance of safe access to and egress from the workplace together with specified procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency
• The provision of safe arrangements for the use, handling and transportation of articles and
  substances used by the company

All levels of management are responsible for achieving the company’s health and safety aims. Each management level is accountable to the one above and is responsible for the one below. Management will give a positive lead in organising health and safety activities, supported by
outside professional assistance where required.

Employees are under legal obligations to co-operate fully with management by looking after the health and safety of themselves and others, by using all protective equipment provided, following the company’s safety rules and any training given, and by immediately reporting any risks to anybody in the workplace to their immediate superior.

A Health and Safety Committee has been established for staff participation in health and safety arrangements and to ensure adherence to health and safety policies and their development.

All contractors and other authorised persons working on, or visiting, the company must conform to both our Health and Safety Policy and our “Rules for Contractors” at all times.

Throughout the organisation all working methods and systems will be assessed, in order to minimise risk to all concerned. Legislation in matters of health, safety or welfare is to be regarded as a minimum level only; the company believes that joint efforts to achieve higher standards will be to the benefit of all concerned.

This Health and Safety Policy document will be fully reviewed at 2-yearly intervals. In between it will be revised whenever significant changes take place such as alterations to working practices, the introduction of new equipment, changes in legislation, etc.

The Managing Director gives full backing to this policy and will support all those who endeavour to carry it out.

SECTION 2: HEALTH & SAFETY ORGANISATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The organisation of the company is set out in a chart displayed on the company notice board. It indicates both line management and health and safety responsibilities.

Whilst the Managing Director has ultimate responsibility for ensuring that Marsh Industries achieves and maintains a satisfactory performance in health and safety matters, he will devolve many of the responsibilities for ensuring that this is achieved to individual managers, team leaders and employees. The responsibilities delegated to each level for health, safety and
environmental purposes are set out below.

A. Managing Director

1. Ensures that the company’s activities are conducted in such a way that employees, contractors, visitors and the general public are not exposed to risks to their health and safety from the company’s activities. Authorises adequate resources, including adequate funds, to meet health and safety requirements.
2. Appoints a co-ordinator to steer and develop the health and safety management system.
3. Ensures that a Health and Safety Committee is established and maintained.
4. Takes those health & safety responsibilities allocated to the Health and Safety CoOrdinator below on all occasions when the Health and Safety Co-Ordinator is not present on site.

B. Health and Safety Co-Ordinator (Lianda & Neil)

1.  Ensures that all team leaders understand, actively support and implement the Health and Safety Policy, in particular their own individual responsibilities and the arrangements set out within this health and safety policy document.
2. Takes responsibility for being aware of major hazards and ensures that Managers and Team Leaders make periodic checks to ensure that safety precautions, procedures, equipment, etc., as laid out in this manual, are being adhered to.
3. Assesses the health and safety performance of the company through a system of regular inspections and by examining accident and ill-health statistics. Initiates action to reverse any adverse trends and to reduce lost time wherever possible.
4. Ensures, generally through the management structure, that job safety requirements and safe working systems, where appropriate, are established for jobs and that these and all other health and safety requirements are made known to employees by adequate training.
5. Identifies training requirements to meet both statutory obligations and best practice in health and safety and maintains a record of those employees who undertake training.
6. Ensures that any changes to buildings, processes and equipment, conform to the relevant safety legislation.
7. Ensures that adequate and up-to-date Acts and Regulations are communicated, that warning signs are displayed as appropriate and that health and safety information posters are displayed as required.
8. Liaises with external advisors for ongoing knowledge and guidance on compliance to health and safety legislation and good practice.
9. Maintains records of principal health and safety contacts, such as Insurers.

C. Managers and Team Leaders KH & NJ

1.  Contributes to and fully supports the health and safety policy.
2. Ensures that subordinates are so informed, instructed, supervised and trained that they can fully implement the provisions of the health and safety policy.
3. Is informed about statutory legislation, common law requirements, Approved Codes of Practice and other relevant standards as they affect the health and safety performance of the area for which he holds responsibility.
4. Maintains interest and enthusiasm for healthy and safe working amongst all subordinates.
5. Continuously monitors health and safety performance within their area of responsibility, initiating action to reverse adverse trends and to attain best practice in consultation with the Group Operations Director.
6. Ensures that accident/dangerous occurrence information is completed as soon as practicable and sent immediately to the Group Operations Director. Ensures that all incidents resulting in damage to company property and all dangerous occurrences are also
   reported.
7. Prohibits the use of any machine, process, area or substance where a hazard warrants it.
8. Ensures prompt attention is given to repair and maintenance requirements, with special priority being given wherever there are health or safety implications.
9. Ensures that employees are aware that health and safety equipment is available and that it is used in accordance with the requirements laid down in this health and safety policy. Checks on the correct use and maintenance of protective equipment.
10. Ensures that access to all emergency exits, fire alarm points and fire extinguishers is maintained at all times.
11. Ensures that the highest standards of housekeeping are maintained within his area of
    responsibility.

D. Employees

1. Making themselves familiar with, and observe the company’s Health and Safety Policy, health and safety rules, safety procedures and safe methods of working.
2. Taking all due care for the health and safety of themselves, their fellow employees, contractors, visitors or any other persons on site.
3. Co-operating with the company in the implementation and observation of all statutory requirements, this health and safety policy and good working practices.
4. Not misusing or interfering with anything provided by the company in the interests of health and safety at work.
5. Wearing and using the appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with company requirements and using safety equipment as instructed.
6. Reporting all accidents and dangerous occurrences to their immediate line manager.
7. Only using machinery, equipment, substances, etc., in the workplace in accordance with training and instructions given.
8. Informing their line manager of any work situation which could present a serious risk to the health or safety of themselves, another employee or a visitor to the company.

In addition to any disciplinary action which may be taken for breaches of personal responsibility for health and safety, in the case of breaches of statutory requirements individuals may be held personally liable under the law.

F. Visitors to Company Premises

1. To observe the company health and safety rules as laid down in the company health and safety policy and the instructions given by persons enforcing that policy
2. Not to work on the premises until permission has been granted, either through the “Rules for Contractors” or, in the case of other visitors, by verbal permission. All relevant rules must be understood and accepted.

G. Health and Safety Committee
The Health and Safety Committee is made up of Management and Employee representatives.

The Committee meets at regular intervals, no longer than once every 4 months. Minutes are taken and distributed.

The objective of the Committee is to ensure appropriate consultation takes place with staff in respect of any changes that may affect the health, safety or welfare of staff or others affected by the company’s activities. Furthermore the Committee provides a suitable forum to discuss health and safety plans and review performance and potential improvements.

SECTION 3: HEALTH & SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS

This section of the health and safety policy contains the arrangements for implementing health and safety at Marsh. The arrangements will be reviewed, as with the rest of the health and safety policy, on a regular basis and will be modified and added to as time goes on.

Accidents and Incident Reporting

Following the application of first aid measures, first aid injury accidents will be recorded on a DSS Accident Report Form. BI510 by the First Aider or other responsible person.

Managers shall sign accident forms relating to their area of responsibility.

All dangerous occurrences must also be reported to the Manager of the area concerned, whether or not there is an injury and regardless of whether damage results to plant or equipment.

Where an accident occurs on a client site, this must be reported by telephone to the General Operations Manager. Lianda shall complete an Accident Report Form. Attention must also be given to following local reporting arrangements with the client.

All accidents and dangerous occurrences will initially be investigated by the Manager of the area concerned. Where a significant issue has arisen, a brief written report may be supplied to the directors

Accident forms are forwarded to the Commercial Manager who shall maintain them as the responsible person.

Once the Director has been informed, he will carry out further investigations as necessary and authorise any remedial action to be taken to prevent further occurrence.

The Director and or Lianda Phillips shall decide whether it is necessary to report incidents as required under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) and action accordingly.

Authorisation/Training

Employees are to be authorised by their Manager to use plant and equipment provided. No employee shall use any plant or equipment unless authorised to do so. In particular, the following items of plant may only be used by employees who have been specifically trained and appointed:

• Fork lift trucks
• Company vehicles
• Handling equipment
• Catering equipment in the kitchen/training area

Consultation

Informal consultations between management and employees are an essential part of day-to-day arrangements for ensuring health and safety and should take place whenever appropriate. Any issues should be first raised with an employee’s Manager.

Such consultation is encouraged. Health and safety issues should be raised whenever they are first noticed; this is a legal requirement.

The company has a Health and Safety Committee that meets, as a minimum, 3 times a year.

Minutes of meetings are taken and these are circulated accordingly and displayed on the notice board.

Control of Contractors

The control of contractors and other site visitors is fully covered in the “Rules for Contractors” which form an attachment to this health and safety policy.

A Permit to Work (PTW) policy applies, for work undertaken on the premises to ensure hazard arising from higher risk activities such as hot work and work at height. A PTW must be obtained before work commences.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

Information on new substances will be obtained by the Directors prior to carrying out any assessment. Assessments will be carried out by the Directors and substances only used following approval.

Material Safety Data Sheets and Risk Assessments will be issued to staff as deemed necessary, and with a central record held by the Directors.

All employees must familiarise themselves with the Risk Assessments and Material Safety Data Sheets for the materials and substances with which they are working and comply with the precautions identified in identified.

Discipline

As required by the Health and Safety at Work Act, all employees must;

• Take all reasonable care for their own safety and that of any others affected by their acts or omissions. Things you do, and don’t do.
• Co-Operate with the company to allow Health and Safety policies to be met.
• Not, interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health and safety. For
  example you must never block a fire exit, or bypass a machine guard.

These are legal requirements and therefore the company reserves the right to take disciplinary action in accordance with procedures against anyone deemed to be in breach of these requirements.

It should be noted that individuals breaching such requirements may also be subject to separate criminal action by the relevant enforcement authorities.
Further advice and requirements regarding Gross Misconduct is contained in the Safety Rules section of the Employee Safety Handbook issued individually to all staff.

Display Screen Equipment

These provisions apply to those classified as “Users” under legislation.

Each workstation will be assessed and the requirements checked against legislation. The daily work routine of users will be analysed and, where requested, an eye and eyesight test will be available to employees classified as “Users”.

Appropriate information and training on the correct adjustment and layout of the workstation will be provided, as will advice on correct methods of working. The HSE publication “Working with VDUs” INDG36 is distributed to each applicable member of staff.

Risk Assessments will be held by the Directors who shall periodically ensure that all staff, and particularly new starters, have had risk assessments completed.

Electrical Equipment

The main electrical services to fixed plant and equipment, including distribution of power supplies, will be maintained in accordance with current requirements. All fixed services will be examined and tested by a competent electrical engineer at least once every 5 years.

All portable electrical equipment will be recorded and inspections carried out at suitable intervals by a competent electrician. Inspection intervals will be determined by a competent electrician having regard to the use and duty to which the equipment is put. Records will be maintained by the Directors.