HEALTH AND SAFETY

'User friendly assessments designed with our client's needs in mind'

Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires every employer and self-employed persons to make a 'suitable and sufficient' assessment of the health and safety risks to employees and other persons not in their employment but who may be affected by their workplace activities.

Our risk assessment process is designed to assist employers/self-employed persons in minimising such risks through the following stages:

• Fully comprehensive on site inspection which includes all relevant documentation and discussions with relevant personnel.
• Preparation of a detailed report including an overall summary of health and safety on site, current control measures in place and coloured coded action plans indicating infringements with a high (red), medium (amber) or low (green) priority rating.
• Practical recommendations with suggested timescales.
• Follow up consultation with the client to discuss the findings of the risk assessment.

The result of this process is a detailed but user friendly report which assists the client in reducing the level of risk to a reasonably practicable level. The fee for our risk assessments includes the on site inspection, report write up and expenses.

'Comprehensive, yet simple to use'

Regulation 2 (3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires employers with five or more employees to prepare written safety policy statements and implement procedures for all workplace activities which the company undertakes.

Our Health and Safety Policies provide clear and concise information which can be understood by all employees and non-employees. The policy includes the following sections:

• Statement of Intent.
• Organisation chart with nominated responsibilities.
• Control/Arrangements - policies and procedures in relation to all business activities which may include; accident/incident reporting, lone working, company car driving, asbestos, lifts, control of contractors etc.
• Monitoring – records of training received, maintenance of plant and equipment etc.
• Review – dates of review and amendments made.

Our Health and Safety Policies are bespoke to your business and are not “off the shelf” products. Each policy is the blueprint to safeand responsible working practices within your company which needs to be effective to manage safely.

'Reducing the risk of work related upper limb disorders'

The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 require all employers to carry out suitable and sufficient assessments of the potential risks that employees are exposed to whilst using DSE.

Incorrect use of display screen equipment can cause some of the most severe work related injuries which may not be noticed for many years. Our workstation assessments can minimise these problems as we cover the following issues during the assessment:

• Suitability of display screen equipment provided.
• Adequacy of workspace and environment.
• Suitability of the chair, mouse, keyboard, screen etc.
• DSE training received.
• Employees work routine.
• Health problems associated with work on DSE.
• Provision of eye and eyesight tests.

Following the on site assessments a full report will be produced for each employee and workstation assessed and this includes any necessary recommendations requiring action, health problems associated with work on DSE, timescales in which such recommendations should be achieved.

Information for Employee sheets are provided within the report covering the correct posture to be adopted and health problems associated with work on DSE.

'Reducing the risk to employees and other persons from exposure to hazardous substance'

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 require employers to prevent workplace diseases resulting from exposure to hazardous substances by undertaking a COSHH assessment for any chemicals which may be used on site, such substances can include cleaning fluids.

Our COSHH assessments can minimise the exposure of employees and other persons to hazardous substances by:

• Identifying hazardous substances used on site and the hazard/risks associated with use of the product.
• Assessment of persons who are exposed to the substance.
• Assessment of the current control measures in place and adequacy of such measures.
• Introduce additional appropriate control measures.
• Monitor and review the assessment.

A report will be produced for each substance assessed and include safe working procedures for each chemical.

'A detailed step by step plan to assist you in meeting your legal requirements'

Method Statements provide a system of controlling a specific work task and are required under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

More companies than ever are requesting method statements from contractors prior to any works being carried out within their business in order to ensure that a full exchange of health and safety information has been carried out.

Our Method Statements contain the following detailed information:

• Detailed step by step process on the work being carried out.
• Hazards and risks that employees, contractors and members of the public etc. may be exposed to.
• Planned methods to reduce hazards and risks.
• How such hazards and risks will be controlled, monitored and reviewed.

A report will be produced for the task specific project to be carried out.

'Ensuring only competent contractors are used on site'

When selecting contractors, health and safety aspects must be taken into account as well as the competence of the contractor to complete the work.

Clients need to satisfy themselves that contractors are competent (i.e. they have sufficient skills and knowledge) to do the job safely and without risks to health and safety. The degree of competence required will depend on the work to be done.

Companies have a legal obligation under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974: Section 3 to ensure that contractors operate in a safe manner.

There are five main parts to Positive Steps Contractor Approval Scheme, as detailed below:

QUESTIONNAIRE

Named contractors shall be contacted and asked to complete a thorough health and safety questionnaire, with supporting documentation to be attached where appropriate.

EXAMINATION AND EVALUATION

Once all information required has been received, it will be reviewed and analysed by one of our qualified consultants.

SCORING

Contractors are then placed individually through a specifically designed scoring system. When examining the questionnaire responses and supporting documentation, the consultant will take into account whether the nature of work undertaken is of a HIGH, MEDIUM or LOW risk, and then score appropriately.

RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The following information will be provided after the contractors have been evaluated:

• Details of those contractors that have passed or failed, including a percentage result;
• Reasons why contractors have failed (where relevant) and what is needed to enable them to pass;
• Details of any improvements needed; and
• General Health and Safety recommendations.

FOLLOW UP

The contractors that have passed will be notified that they have been added to the client's list of Approved Contractors. The letter will also state what is required on an annual basis, for them to remain on the list. Recommendations will be given on any identified areas of improvement. Those contractors that have failed will be notified of reasons for failure, and what is necessary for approval.

A booklet providing more detailed information is available on request. Please contact us for more information.

,Assisting clients in effectively reducing and recording accidents,

Several benefits of an effective Accident/ Incident Management System are as shown below:

• Immediate, professional advice and 24hr support to ensure that the correct remedial action is taken;
• The complete, coherent and consistent recording of information;
• Reduced likelihood of costs incurred through personal injury claims;
• Advice and support in the completion of RIDDOR reportable accidents;
• High risk activities, accident trends and areas for improvement, easily identified through statistical analysis; and
• Prevention and/or reduction in the reoccurrence of similar accidents and incidents.

ACCIDENT/INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES

FORMS AND REPORTING PROCEDURES

Bespoke forms such as Accident Reporting, Accident Investigation and Accident Investigation Checklists, will be designed for the client, along with Accident Reporting Procedures.

PHONE SUPPORT, INITIAL LOGGING AND ADVICE

When an accident/incident occurs, a phone call is to be placed to Positive Steps' 24hr helpline, who will give initial advice on the next steps to be taken (such as which forms need completion) and who will log the information on a central system.

REPORTABLE ACCIDENTS

Accidents/incidents and near misses, that are reportable to the HSE under RIDDOR, need completing by the client. Advice and support is available to ensure that these are completed correctly and within the set deadline.

ACCIDENT TRACKING

Accidents/incidents will be tracked from the initial phone call, to the completion of all necessary paperwork.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

After an accident investigation has been completed, recommendations on further action, any conclusions, and a likely liability scoring, will be presented to the client.

ACCIDENT STATISTICS SUMMARY

A statistics summary will be produced to show accident trends e.g. the main cause of accidents, the time of day most accidents occur, the percentage of road traffic accidents etc. This will enable the client to make informed decisions on areas to improve.

For more information on our Accident Management System please contact us.