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Company Health and Safety Policy
Dated 23rd August 2002.
Reference Company Health and Safety Officer – W.M. Thomas
23.08.02 WMT-HSE
It is the Company’s policy not only to comply with safety and health legislation but to act positively to prevent injury, ill health and damage arising from it’s operations.
It considers that the promotion of health and safety of it’s employees at work to be an essential part of the duties of the Heads of Departments, and the Depot Managers, for which they are accountable at all levels.
It is the company’s policy to reduce all safety risks to the absolute minimum. To this end all members of staff are free, at all times, to discuss any ideas they may have that will help us to achieve this goal.
The Company expects it’s employees to recognise that there is a clear duty on them to exercise self discipline and to accept a responsibility to do everything they can to prevent injury to themselves and to others.
In accordance with this policy the Company will
a) Appoint Mr. W.M. Thomas as the Company Safety Officer
b) Appoint the Depot Managers at Bridgwater, Brentor Road Plymouth and Tamar House Plymouth as Safety Officers for their respective depots. They will ensure that all aspects of safety are investigated, reported and actioned. They will be directly responsible to Mr. W.M. Thomas.
c) Ensure that all potential hazards in the work locations are inspected regularly and that the hazards are clearly and permanently labelled, giving instructions to all personnel whether Company employees or visiting persons.
d) Carry out at regular intervals fire evacuation drills in each of their three depots, and post instructions on the procedures to be followed in the event of fire.
e) In accordance with advice given by the local fire officer make available and maintain adequate fire fighting equipment in the Head Office and at the two depots
f) Maintain hygienic and healthy working conditions for all employees.
g) Ensure that products under its control are stored and handled in a safe manner and that instructions and training are given to persons involved in each operation.
It is the duty of all warehouse staff to take the appropriate safety precautions when carrying out their work. Namely
All employees are responsible for cleanliness in their area of employment. The highest possible standards of cleanliness will be maintained for equipment and premises.
All waste is to be removed from site on completion of the work and disposed of with regard to the environment in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The company appointed to remove waste from the site must be registered with the local authority in accordance with The Duty of Care.
All pallets to be visually checked for load integrity. Pallets to be stacked only in accordance with instructions received from the Warehouse Manager. Visual inspection of all stock to be made on daily basis looking for signs of movement/damage.
A daily health and safety check list completed by warehouse staff.
Marking and keeping clear gangways, exits, etc.
It is the responsibility of every employee to ensure the gangways, exits etc, are clear. To ensure this is occurring, weekly audits are performed by the Responsible Care Advisor. In addition, Depot Managers will carry out daily checks.
All reasonable steps will be taken by the Company to ensure the safety of employees who work with ladders and such equipment. All work activity using such equipment will be risk assessed and as a result of that assessment, suitable equipment will be provided. Control measures will be introduced to reduce the risk to a minimum and training will be provided. All ladders and such equipment will be inspected on a six monthly basis and a record maintained.
Authorised persons only are allowed onto the warehouse roof or into any roof spaces. No authorisations are currently in place.
All electrical equipment to be inspected visually on a regular basis for signs of loose connection or faults. An annual inspection to be made by a qualified electrician to carry out thorough inspection of all electrical equipment/installations.
Certain types of equipment must by law be examined and certified fit for use e.g. lifts, lifting tackle and pressure vessels. You must identify dangerous parts and see that guards are in position and in working order when equipment is tested or used.
Reference should be made to the Register which lists all machinery, maintenance schedules, operating and cleaning schedules.
A copy of this can be located in each warehouse office.
All engineers employed on site are qualified to the current regulation and in accordance with the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) Regulations currently 16th Edition.
Daily checks are performed by the machine operators prior to use.
You need to consider whether you have adequate safety information. Supplier’s data sheets should contain useful information.
Determine the extent of health and safety risks from your work with dangerous substances. Using the information risks, ensure your rules provide appropriate protection in handling storage, disposal and other aspects. Check that your rules are effective and maintained.
HSE guidance describes a range of substances which have specific legal exposure limits. These limits must be observed.
Reference should be made to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Register and the attached Risk Assessments.
Substances classified as Hazardous are not to be brought on site without prior consent from site Health and Safety or the Technical Manager.
Information will be obtained from the supplier about any article or substance purchased which has any hazards associated with it. Information will include an assessment of the risks and appropriate precautions which need to be applied.
Assessments will be kept on record of any substance hazardous to health covered by COSHH Regulations.
Information and training about their use will be given to appropriate employees and records of training kept.
You may need special rules for such matters as:
Action: State hazard rules and maintenance procedures.
Hazard:
Noise:
Refer to Company Health and Safety Officer
Company cars:
Company cars are only to be driven by employees over the age of 23 who hold a full driving licence following authorisation from a Company Director.
Only authorised persons are allowed to use these facilities.
The vehicle engine must be switched off, and smoking is strictly prohibited. All spillage’s must be cleaned up immediately by the driver. Hot work, cold work and electrical work is strictly prohibited in this area unless authorised by the Engineer and the Health and Safety Adviser a permit to work is required. These are inspected and examined on a biannual basis.
May only be driven by employees who have gained certification having attended the Company Training (Fork Lift Truck) Course and approved by a recognised examiner.
If you still need advice on specific points check first in the guidance documents below. You may also contact the Health and Safety Manager who is there to help and guide you.
Further advice in connection with general fire precautions should be obtained from the Health and Safety Manager.
You will find further advice and information in the following HSE publications:
Essentials of health and safety at work, ISBN 0 11 885665 3 rev
Safety representatives and safety committees, HMSO< ISBN0 11 883959 4
Introducing COSHH IND(G)65(L)
Hazard and risk explained, IND (G)67(L)
Introducing assessment, IND (G)64(L)
If you have any safety concerns contact W.M. Thomas immediately.