A.C.Bean Ltd (French Polishing Contractors) SAFETY POLICY

INTRODUCTION

Section 2 (3) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states:

" Except in such cases as may be prescribed, it shall be the duty of every employer to prepare as often as may be appropriate a revised written statement of his general policy with respect to the health and safety at work of his employees and the organization and arrangements for the time being in force for carrying out that policy, and bring the statement and any revision of it to the notice of all his employees."

The Company Policy is a statement of intent by A C Bean French Polishing Contractors, so as to comply with current legislation to provide a safe place of work for employees and to ensure an adequate system of communication on all matters affecting health and safety at work. The overall responsibility rests with Management that all employees at every level must accept degrees of responsibility for carrying out this Policy and ensuring safe methods of work.

Every attempt will be made to bring to the attention of all employees that they have a responsibility to safeguard themselves and that their actions do not place others at risk.

The Management of the Company undertakes to make every employee aware of his legal obligation to comply with statutory legislation and to provide all necessary documentation. A safe system of work is to be employed so as to avoid risk or possible injury to all employees and members of the public.

GENERAL

Company Management undertakes the following:

1. To promote responsibility and accountability for each level of employee in the prevention of injury and damage.

2. To promote awareness of legal, personal and economic responsibility.

3. To provide the necessary training at all levels to enable each individual to carry out his responsibilities as laid down.

4. To take into account, at tendering and work planning stages, those factors which help eliminate injury, damage and waste.

5. To make specific arrangements with sub-contractors and any other individual contractors who may be working on the same site.

6. To ensure that dangerous occurrences, fatalities and major injuries are recorded and reported to the Health and Safety Executive and that investigation and costing is carried out as applicable.

7. To provide the correct equipment and protective clothing.

8. To liaise with external accident prevention organizations and to circulate information at all levels within the Company.

9. To encourage discussion of health and safety matters at all levels.

10. To provide sufficient funds to implement this policy.

EMPLOYEES

All employees have duties imposed on them by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 and other legislation. In particular they must:

1. Take reasonable care of their own safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.

2. Co-operate with the Company in its arrangements for complying with its legal duties.

3. Neither intentionally nor recklessly interfere with anything provided for their health, safety or welfare.

4. Use any work equipment, substance or system of work provided by their employer in accordance with the training and instruction given to them.

5. Inform their line management or safety officer of any work situation which they may reasonably consider to be a serious and immediate danger to health and safety or of any serious shortcomings in the companies protection arrangements for health and safety.

All employees must make themselves familiar with this policy, and, in particular with their responsibilities as detailed in the following pages.

NOTE

Within this Policy the term “health and safety” is defined to mean:

1. The prevention of injury to individuals and dangerous occurrences.

2. The control of all situations and procedures likely to cause injury, damage to plant, property and materials.

3. The application of measures to promote occupational health and hygiene.

4. The investigation of “near miss” situations that could have resulted in injury. damage to plant, property and materials.

5. Fire prevention and fire control.

6. The identification and elimination of hazards.

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES CONTRACT MANAGER

1. Understand and comply with the Company’s policy and appreciate the responsibility allocated to each grade of employee.

2. Be aware of the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act, Construction Regulations, other appropriate legislation and codes of practice and ensure that they are complied with in the Company’s work areas.

3. Ensure that contract conditions are adequate to cover safe systems of working and adequate welfare facilities.

4. At the Planning Stage:
   1. Determine the most appropriate safe system of work.

   2. Clarify responsibilities with Sub-Contractors and others, as defined by the Company Safety Policy for Sub-Contractors.

   3. Liaise with Safety Officer on possible hazards, relating to safety, health and welfare.

5. Review the sequence of operations at each stage, completing the hazard assessment form, ensure that adequate precautions are taken and be responsible for ensuring that method statements and assessments required under COSHH and other Regulations are adequately carried out and implemented. Co-operate with the Main Contractor in preparing. updating and enforcing the project safety plan.

6. Ensure that work, once started, is carried out safely, that the requirements of all relevant legislation and codes of practice are being complied with, and that safe systems of work are maintained.

7. Co-ordinate safety activities between Main Contractor, and other individual contractors who are working on the same site and ensure that the Group’s Safety Policy is complied with including the prior provision of method statements and assessments required under COSHH and other Regulations.

8. By personal example ensure that all subordinates recognize the importance of fully complying with the requirements of the Company safety policy.

9. Be responsible for ensuring that all dangerous occurrences, fatalities and major injuries are notified to the Health and Safety Executive, as specified under the current legislation and in accordance with the Company instructions, plus notifying the appropriate Director and the Safety Officer.

10. To provide information to the Main Contractor to enable him to regularly update the project safety file.

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOREMAN

1. Be familiar with and conform to the Company safety policy at all times.

2. Have a working knowledge of the Health and Safety at Work Act, Construction Regulations and other appropriate legislation and codes of practice, including the Working Rule Agreement.

3. Organize and control sites so that work carried out is to the safety plan, as defined by the above regulations and legislation.

4. Ensure that all registers, records and reports are completed at prescribed intervals and that the “competent person” appointed has sufficient knowledge of the plant or machinery to evaluate all aspects of its safe operation.

5. Carry out assessments in consultation with Contracts Manager and safety department, where appropriate, and ensure that the conditions of the assessment and of method statements are complied with.

6. Give all Trade Operatives precise instructions on their responsibilities for safe systems of work and see that they do not require or permit anyone, particularly young persons, to take any risks which would endanger health or safety.

7. Ensure that adequate supervision is provided at all times, particularly where young or inexperienced workers are concerned.

8. Plan and maintain a tidy site.

9. Ensure that all machinery and plant, including power and hand tools, are maintained in good condition and comply, where applicable, with Company Policy.

10. Ensure that all plant operators and other operatives are only employed on equipment for which they have been trained.

11. Check that hired plant is suitable for the work in hand and that, where appropriate, copies of current statutory documents are made available.

12. Ensure that suitable protective clothing and equipment is available where appropriate and that it is used.

13. Ensure that all items of first aid equipment, as required by Construction Regulations, are available and their location known to employees.

14. Ensure that details of where to obtain medical help and ambulance service in the event of a serious injury, are displayed at all times. (Nominate others to act in an emergency).

15. Accompany H.M.Factory Inspector on site visits, make note of and act on his recommendations. H.M.F.I. visit to be recorded and Safety Officer notified.

16. Liaise with the Safety Officer; act on his recommendations, and release supervisors and operatives, where necessary, for on or off site safety training.

17. Be personally responsible for notifying the Contracts Director of any dangerous occurrence, fatality, or major injury, as defined in current legislation.

    Attention is drawn to the Company’s instructions in respect of these incidents and that a Safety Officer or similar responsible person must be informed immediately by telephone.

18. Ensure accident reports forms are fully completed for accidents on site involving injury, damage or lost time and forwarded to the Company’s office, as soon as possible.

19. By personal example ensure that all subordinates recognize the importance of fully complying with the requirements of the Company safety policy. of fully complying with the requirements of the Company safety policy.

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES - OPERATIVES

1. Be familiar with and conform to the Company Safety Policy, the Health and Safety at Work Act, current legislation and the Working Rule Agreement.

2. Use the correct tools and equipment for the job; follow the safe system of work and use safety equipment and protective clothing as specified in the method statements and hazard assessments.

3. Keep tools, equipment and plant in good condition and report any defects immediately to supervisors.

4. Develop a personal concern for safety - for others and particularly newcomers and young people. Take no action which would put others at risk.

5. Avoid improvising which entails risk to health and safety.

6. Refrain from horse-play and the abuse of welfare facilities.

7. All personal injuries must be reported to the Project Co-Ordinator, or nominated person. Details must be entered in the Accident Book and additional information given to enable the Company’s accident form to be completed. Attention is drawn to the current legislation which requires all employers to inform the Health and Safety Executive of any dangerous occurrence, fatality or major injury, immediately. Each person must assist the supervisors by bringing to their attention any incidents of this nature that have occurred, to enable the authorities to be notified at once.

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES SAFETY OFFICER

1. Advise and up-date Management on legislation affecting Health and Safety at Work.

2. Carry out periodic inspection of work places to ensure compliance with current legislation.

3. Monitor and ensure that adequate testing and inspection of plant and equipment is carried out as required by statute and by the Company’s policy.

4. Advise on suitable and correct items of personal protection and equipment.

5. Liaise with H.M. Health and Safety Inspectorate. Local Authorities and other relevant organizations.

6. Advise on suitability of method statements and hazard assessments and assist in their preparation and that of the safety plan.

7. Carry out investigation of accidents, ensure the necessary reports are completed and submitted, and advise on measures to prevent recurrence of accidents.

8. Ensure adequate fire protection where required and arrange necessary evacuation drills and testing of fire alarms.

9. Assist in training and promoting good practice for health and safety generally.

10. Maintain or monitor such reports as are necessary and required by the Company and by legislation.

11. The Safety Officer is authorized to take steps to stop dangerous or illegal practices and, where necessary, to require the stoppage of work when, in his opinion, an extreme hazard exists for personnel. Where such ultimate action is taken, the Safety Officer must immediately inform the Contracts Director.