5.1 Fire

In accordance with the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, the company has undertaken a Fire Precautions Risk Assessment the main findings are as follows.

The Company recognises the continual risk of fire both on our premises and at sites we operate on. To reduce/control this risk all staff must remain vigilant and ensure fire exits are unlocked and not obstructed. Waste is to be removed frequently and flammable liquids are to be used with the utmost care. No smoking or sources of ignition are to be used in any risk area where notices prohibit such use or where stated by the Company. SMOKING IS PROHIBITED ON COMPANY PREMISES, IN COMPANY VEHICLES AND ON ANY PREMISES WHERE EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING. Fire evacuation drills are to be in accordance with the notices posted. All levels of management have particular responsibilities for fire safety within their area to.

1. Ensure that all employees are trained and instructed at prescribed intervals:
   a)  Action to be taken upon discovering a fire
   b)  Action to take upon hearing the alarm
   c)  Location and use of Fire Equipment
   d)  Means of escape
   e)  Assembly points and roll-call procedures
   f)   Isolation of power supplies
   g)  The need for clear unobstructed egress
   
   
2. Organise fire evacuation drills at prescribed intervals and record these in the Fire Register.
3. Organise and arrange for the examination and testing of all fire fighting equipment annually by a competent person.
4. Ensure that visual inspections are undertaken of fire extinguishers.
5. Maintain all appropriate records.
6. Liaise with the fire authority on proposed changes which will affect the fire precautions of the Company or any special operation to be carried out.
7. Ensure fire doors and fitted with crash bars and fire exit signs.
8. Ensure that fire extinguishers are wall mounted with clear access to them.
9. Ensure delegated staff are trained in which type of extinguisher to use in specific types of fire and how to use them.
10. Ensure all fire exit routes, stairs, passageways and routes through the premises are kept clear.
11. Provide fire extinguishers to Company vehicles.
12. Ensure the safe use, storage, handling and transportation of flammable and highly flammable and highly flammable materials.

5.2 Emergency Procedures

In any emergency, the preservation of life is of the utmost importance and therefore evacuation of the premises in accordance with the fire procedure is to be undertaken without panic, but as quickly as possible.

The senior person present will have complete authority and as such take measures as are necessary to prevent loss of life. Possible hoax calls, unidentified packages etc. are to be taken seriously and dealt with in accordance with the procedures until it is established that no such threat exists.

LOOK OUT FOR SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES AND ENVELOPES

eg

• unusual postmarks
• grease marks
• unusual smells (almond or marzipan)
• extra weight
• thick envelopes
• a small envelope inside a large one (especially if tightly taped or tied with string or wire)

5.2.1 What To Do if You Discover a Suspicious Package

1. Do not handle the package. Notify the responsible person or senior person who will instruct to tell other staff and any visitors to leave the room or area as quickly as possible.
2. Close all doors behind you.
3. Gather everyone in the nearest safe common area to await evacuation.
   
   

1. Stay calm.
   
2. Get as much information as possible from the caller:
   
   • When is it set to go off?
   • What kind of bomb is it?
   • Where has the bomb been placed?
3. Try to remember as many details as possible and write them down, eg.:
   
   • Was the caller male or female?
   • Did the caller sound intoxicated?
   • What accent did the caller have?
   • Did the message sound rehearsed or pre-planned?
   • What background noise did you hear?
4. Notify the person responsible or senior person who will immediately call the police.
   
5. If instructed by the police, the senior person will:
   • Evacuate the building by operating the fire alarm or by shouting or other means.
   • Do not stop to collect belongings.
   • Ensure that all persons leave the building in a quiet orderly fashion.
   • Instruct employees not to close windows or doors.
   • Ensure that the assembly point is 50 metres from the premises and not in direct line with any potential blast.
   • Account for all persons within the building.
   • Warn other members of the public not to walk through the danger zone.
   • Warn adjacent premises.
   • Liaise with the police and have a prepared plan (A4 drawing) of the office area to indicate the position of the device.
   • No one may re-enter the building until told to by a police officer.

5.3 First Aid

The Company recognises it's duty to provide adequate first aid arrangements as set out in the health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. The Company provides equipment (in the form of suitably stocked First Aid Containers) for the administration of First Aid. First aid is administered by trained first aiders with current first aid certificates as approved by the Health and Safety Executive.

All areas of management are required to ensure that first aid arrangements within their appropriate areas are adequate and that any deficiencies are notified to the health and Safety Co-ordinator.

5.3.1 First Aiders
The Company aims to provide adequate numbers of trained first aiders or competent persons as recommended by the Approved Code of Practice revised in march 1997. The Health and Safety Co-ordinator is appointed to manage the first aid arrangements. First aid information is provided to all Company employees within the Health and Safety Policy.

First Aid training is valid for a period of 3 years after which a refresher course is required and provided for by the Company.

The names of those persons trained and certified in first aid will be displayed within the office premises and on each site, in addition to Appendix 4 of this policy document.

5.3.2 First Aid Containers
An assessment of the requirements has been made and the results require that the company provide a suitably stocked first aid container in the following locations:

• In the main office at Head Office
• In every company vehicle

5.4 Accident and Incident Reporting

The Health and Safety Co-ordinator is to:

1. Establish the causes of accidents, injuries, ill health and dangerous occurrences so that corrective action may be taken to prevent a re-occurrence.
2. Provide information to the Health and Safety Executive concerning notifiable accidents and dangerous occurrences.
3. Provide information to the Department of Social Security on all accident injuries where industrial benefit is claimed.
4. Maintain a record of all accident injuries, ill health and dangerous occurrences.
5. Provide to management, statistical data on all accident injuries, ill health and dangerous occurrences to highlight danger areas.
6. Provide a system for the immediate investigation of major injuries and dangerous occurrences.
7. Provide a system of notifying all authorised persons of fatalities, major accident injuries, ill health and dangerous occurrences.

1. Immediately telephone the Health and Safety Co-ordinator (or in his absence one of the Directors) to report the incident.
2. Provide full and complete co-operation when requested by any investigating authority.

5.4.1 R.I.D.D.O.R. - Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985
The reporting of accidents and ill health at work is a legal requirement under the above mentioned legislation. All employees must pass information to the Health and Safety Co-ordinator concerning accidents, ill health and dangerous occurrences that require to be notified to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). These are as follows:

5.4.1.1 Death or Major Injury
An accident connected with the project and the employee or self-employed person working on the site is killed or suffers a major injury (including as a result of physical violence) OR a member of the public is killed or taken to hospital.

Reportable major injuries are:

• Fracture, other than to fingers, thumbs or toes
• Amputation
• Dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine
• Loss of sight (temporary or permanent)
• Chemical or hot metal burn to the eye or any penetrating injury to the eye
• Injury resulting from an electric shock or electrical burn leading to unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.
• Any other injury: leading to hypothermia, heat-induced illness or unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.
• Unconsciousness caused by asphyxia or exposure to harmful substance or biological agent.
• Acute illness requiring medical treatment, or loss of consciousness arising from absorption of any substance by inhalation, ingestion or through the skin.
• Acute illness requiring medical treatment where there is reason to believe that this resulted from exposure to a biological gent or it's toxins or infected material.

5.4.1.3 Disease
A document notifying that an employee suffers from a reportable work-related disease. The following is a summary of the reportable diseases:

• Collapse, overturning or failure of load-bearing parts of lifts and lifting equipment.
• Some skin diseases such as occupational dermatitis, skin cancer, chrome ulcer, oil folliculitis/acne.
• Lung diseases including occupational Asthma, Farmer's Lung, Pneumoconiosis, Asbestosis, Mesothelioma.
• Infections such as Leptospirosis, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, Anthrax, Legionellosis and Tetanus.
• Other conditions such as: occupational Cancer, certain Musculoskeletal disorders, Decompression illness and Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome.

• Collapse, overturning of failure of load-bearing parts of lifts and lifting equipment.
• Explosion, collapse or bursting of any closed vessel or associated pipework.
• Failure of any freight container in any of it's load-bearing parts.
• Plant or equipment coming into contact with overhead power lines.
• Electrical short circuit or overload causing fire or explosion.
• Any unintentional explosion, misfire, failure of demolition to cause the intended collapse, projection of materials beyond a site boundary, injury caused by explosion.
• Accidental release of a biological agent likely to cause sever human illness.
• Failure of industrial radiography or irradiation equipment to de-energise or return to it's safe position after the intended exposure period.
• Malfunction of breathing apparatus while in use or during testing immediately before use.
• Collapse or partial collapse of a scaffold over five metres high, or erected near water where there could be a risk of drowning after a fall.
• Dangerous occurrence at a pipeline.
• Unintended collapse of: any building or structure under construction, alteration or demolition where over five tonnes of materials falls, a wall or floor in a place of work, any falsework.
• Explosion of fire causing suspension of normal work for over 24 hours.
• Sudden, uncontrolled release in a building of: 100kg or more of flammable liquid, 10kg of flammable liquid above it's boiling point, 10kg or more of flammable gas, or of 500kg of these substances if the release is in the open air.
• Accidental release of any substance which may damage health.

In compliance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, the Principal Contractor will also be informed.

5.5 Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

The Health and Safety Co-ordinator will ensure that the Company is complying with the COSHH Regulations. All employees have a duty to co-operate with the Health and Safety Co-ordinator to ensure the discharge of these regulations.

The Company will not carry out any work that may expose our employees to hazardous substances without first considering the risks and the necessary precautions. We will undertake a formal assessment of the risks to health arising from your employment.

Should the risk assessments reveal exposure greater than is reasonably practicable the Company undertakes to prevent exposure by:

1. Change the process or activity so that the hazardous substance is not required or generated or.
2. Replace the substance with a safer alternative, or
3. Use the substance in a safer from e.g. pellets instead of powder.

1. Total enclosure of the process.
2. Partial enclosure and extraction equipment.
3. General ventilation of the area.
4. Systems of work and handling procedures which minimise the chances of spills, leaks and other escape of hazardous materials.
5. Reduction in the number of employees exposed or the duration of their exposure.
6. Personal Protective Equipment as the last resort.

5.5.1 Purchasing Policy
Management is to ensure that no substance is brought into use without the relevant safety data sheet being available for assessment. This includes all samples obtained from salespersons. Additionally, the person responsible for purchasing is to ensure that NO NEW substances are purchased, unless approval has been gained from the Health and Safety Co-ordinator.

5.5.2 Monitoring Arrangements

5.5.2.1 Contractors and Visitors
Ensure that all persons visiting site/company premises who are required to use hazardous substances have with them COSHH assessments for the materials brought onto company premises, wear and use appropriate safety equipment and warn our management and employees of any risks to health associated with their use. Where unsafe practices are viewed, contractors are to be reminded by Company management and supervisors of their responsibilities under the regulations. Where in the opinion of Company management unsafe practices are being used by contractors, they are to inform them to cease work until a safer alternative is agreed upon. The Company is responsible for ensuring the health of all persons, including visitors and contractors. Management is to ensure pro-active measures are implemented to prevent any significant exposure to any substance that may damage their health.

5.5.2.2 Preventing Ill Health
The Company will, where practical and/or applicable, screen job applicants to ensure that any previous injury or illness will not be adversely affected by the tasks they will be required to undertake. This will be in accordance with current legislation. Additionally, where practicable the Company may use job rotation to limit exposure or as an interim measure where any ill health effects are detected.

5.5.2.3 Health Problems
Where any person suffers ill health or is involved in an accident, they must immediately report it to the Health and Safety Co-ordinator. All such information will and must be kept in the strictest of confidence. The Health and Safety Co-ordinator will ensure that any ill health, accidents/incidents are investigated and subsequent action implemented to prevent recurrence and all persons concerned, informed of those actions.

5.5.2.4 Pregnancy
Female employees are to report pregnancy as soon as possible to alert management to ensure that any continued exposure, however low, will not be hazardous to her health or that of her unborn child. Where any doubt exists management must seek expert advice immediately.

5.5.2.5 Health Surveillance
Where appropriate, health surveillance will be used to monitor certain individuals subject to activities where known adverse health effects can occur or have been identified.

5.5.2.6 Substance Monitoring
Where a substance has an exposure limit which cannot be validated, or a known sensitise or carcinogen, substance monitoring will be required to ensure persons are not over exposed and therefore do not suffer detrimental health effects.

5.5.2.7 Substances Taken onto Other Employers Premises
Any substance, which is required to be used on other employers' premises, must be accompanied by a COSHH assessment unless it is a small spray or tube etc. which has the safety precautions clearly marked upon it.

5.5.2.8 Storage of all Hazardous Materials
Certain chemical substances when store together may produce a violent reaction. ALL SUBSTANCES ARE TO BE STORED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURERS' RECOMMENDATIONS AND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.

5.5.2.9 Recording and Reviewing the Risk Assessment
The Health and Safety Co-ordinator will record the risk assessment as part of the Health and Safety Policy Document and review the assessment at:

• Intervals not greater than two-yearly.
• Whenever there is reason to believe an assessment is no longer valid.
• Where there has been a significant change in the work.

1. The nature of the substances you work with the risks created by exposure to those substances.
2. The precautions you should take.

1. Control measures, their purpose and how to use them.
2. How to use personal protective equipment and clothing provided.
3. Results of any exposure monitoring and health surveillance.
4. Emergency procedures.

• In the main office at Head Office
• In every company vehicle

• Contact of chemical products with the eyes, skin and mucous membranes should be avoided wherever possible. Protective clothing and equipment supplied is intended to prevent this. Good personal hygiene practices must be observed. The inhalation of chemical products and dust should be avoided. Adequate ventilation or respiratory protective equipment will be provided if appropriate.
• Materials should not be used in areas where food is being eaten.
• Facilities for washing and cleaning the skin must be made available, together with necessary and suitable cleansers and barrier creams.
• Chemical products and materials are to be stored in ventilated areas away from temperature and environmental extremes.
• Spillages must be cleaned up immediately, and waste and used containers disposed of properly.
• Read the data sheet, container labels and detailed health and safety information before using any chemical products.

5.6 Electrical Safety

The Health and Safety Co-ordinator is appointed by the Company to co-ordinate and undertake the management of electrical duties required under the Electricity at Work Regulations and the latest IEE Wiring Regulations. All employees must co-operate with the Health and Safety Co-ordinator to ensure that the duties are duly discharged. In assessing the risks, the recommendations of employees undertaking the tasks will form an important part of the assessment and where practicable will be implemented during any alteration to the work environment, practices or equipment

5.6.1 Precautions for Electrical Safety

• Every level of management and supervision is directly responsible for ensuring that electrical wiring or equipment does not injure persons within their control used within their areas of responsibility. This will be accomplished by performing pre-use visual checks identifying hazardous activities, reporting defects, providing safe systems and permits to work to control any such hazardous tasks.
• The Company shall only allow trained, qualified operatives to work on the electrical systems in accordance with the Electricity of Work Regulations 1989 and the latest edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations.
• The Company shall secure the health and safety of all persons, so far as is reasonably practicable, by ensuring that the electrical systems are constructed and maintained at all times to prevent danger. Every work activity shall be carried out so as not to give rise to danger so far as is reasonably practicable.
• The Company shall provide suitable means for 'cutting off' the supply of energy to and the isolation of electrical equipment. These means shall not be electrical. Where switching off and isolation is impracticable precautions must be taken to prevent danger so far as is reasonably practicable.
• All authorised operatives shall ensure that adequate precautions are taken to prevent electrical equipment made dead to be worked on from becoming electrically charged ie. by adequate isolation of the equipment.
• The Company shall ensure that no person shall be engaged in any work near a live conductor unless a) it is unreasonable in all circumstances for it to be dead, b) it is reasonable in all circumstances for persons to be at work on or near it while it is live, and c) suitable precautions are taken to prevent injury.
• Buried cables should be anticipated on every site where cables are to be laid, and the person in charge of the work must obtain cable plans where available and make specific enquiries where they are unavailable. The position of buried cables must be clearly marked on site and treated as live. Power tools and machinery must not be used knowingly within 0.5 metres radius of a buried live cable, and hand-digging with spades only is permitted. If in doubt, seek the advice of the Electricity Company or relevant undertaking.

• All plugs and leads including extension leads) are to have a pre-use, user examination and a formal visual inspection (checking within the plug to) at intervals between 6 months to 2 years, together with a formal inspection and testing programme at intervals between 1 and 5 years, depending on the type of equipment they are connected to, their use and environment.
• Computer equipment, calculators, photocopiers, facsimile machines and rarely move items such as desk lamps, fans etc. used in an office or other clean dry environment, require formal visual inspection at intervals between 2 to 4 years, together with a combined inspection and testing programme at intervals up to 5 years, unless they are double insulated.
• Hand held double insulated equipment (electrical tools etc) require a pre-use, user check together with a formal inspection at intervals of 6 months to 1 year.
• Earthed equipment (class 1) such as electric kettles, floor polishers etc, require a 6 month to 1 year formal visual inspection and a combined inspection and testing programme at intervals of 1 to 2 years.
• Special, frequent testing and arrangements are required for high risk equipment used in construction or in other hostile environments.
• Construction equipment should have a formal initial inspection and thereafter a check at least 1 monthly intervals together with a combined inspection and electrical test every 3 months.
• Industrial equipment should have an initial inspection and checks thereafter at 3 monthly intervals together with combined inspection and electrical tests at 6 to 12 monthly intervals.

5.7 Manual Handling

The Health and Safety Co-ordinator will ensure that the Company is complying with the Manual Handling Regulations. All employees must and will co-operate with the Health and Safety Co-ordinator to ensure the discharge of this duty.

It is the intention of the Company to secure the health and safety of all persons from the hazards of manual handling by assessing the risks to prevent or control any ill health effects or accidents arising from or arising out of any such activities. Wherever possible the task will be automated, redesigned to avoid the manual movement of the load or mechanised.

In assessing the risks, the recommendations of the employees undertaking the tasks will from an important part of the assessment and where practicable will be implemented during any alteration to the work environment, practices or equipment.

The Company will, as far as reasonably practicable, avoid the need for employees to carry out those operations that involve a risk of injury. Where this is not possible:-

1. an up to date assessment of all such manual handling tasks will be kept and the necessary information provided to employees including the precise weight of each load, the heaviest side of any load whose centre of gravity is not centrally positioned.
2. Appropriate steps will be taken to reduce the risk of injury to employees arising from any such operation to the lowest reasonably practicable.

All manual-handling operations having a risk of injury, which employees carry out will be identified and recorded by the Health and Safety Co-ordinator. Appropriate selection of staff as to capability will then take place, followed by necessary training and the giving of appropriate information and instruction.

All employees are encouraged to discuss potential manual handling problems not identified with the person in charge of the work, together with any work involving repetitive motion.

The Company requires all employees to make full and proper use of any system of work put in place by the employer to reduce the risk of injury during manual handling.

5.7.1 Monitoring Arrangements

5.7.1.1 Manual Handling Assessments
These will be undertaken by the Health & Safety Co-ordinator as previously specified in accordance with the schedule to the Regulations

5.7.1.2 Work Routines
Wherever possible in addition to the assessments and recommendations it is the Company's policy to review job procedures to intersperse manual handling with other tasks and use job rotation to reduce risks. Where this is not possible, rest periods will be notified to specific persons exposed to these risks.

5.7.1.3 Preventing Ill Health
The Company will where practicable, screen job applicants to ensure that any previous injury or illness will not be adversely affected by tasks beyond their capacity.

5.7.1.4 Health Problems
Where any person suffers injury, they must immediately report it to the Company. All such information will be kept in the strictest confidence. The Health and Safety Co-ordinator will ensure that manual handling accidents/incidents are investigated and subsequent action implemented to prevent recurrence and all persons concerned, informed of those actions.

Where appropriate health surveillance will be used to monitor certain individuals subject to high-risk activities and where ill health effects have been identified.

5.8 Personal Protective Equipment

It is the Company's policy that suitable PPE should only be used as a last resort when preventative measures cannot, for whatever reason be applied. By 'suitable' the Regulations require that PPE must protect the wearer, be appropriate for the risks and work conditions, give adequate protection and fit properly, the adequate account of a worker's needs and be compatible with any other item of PPE worn. As the physical dimensions of employees will vary, more than one size or type of PPE may be required. The employees who will be users of PPE should be involved in it's selection.

PPE is provided at Company expense and replaced if it becomes unserviceable. Any loss of PPE is to be reported immediately. Where an employee solely for fashion purposes etc. requires a particular type of PPE, the Company may contribute the same amount of the cost appropriate, comfortable type identified. PPE is not to be removed from the premises without management approval. PPE is to be inspected and maintained in by the user in accordance with the instruction and training given. Where appropriate personal lockers or other Company arranged facilities are to be provided for the storage of PPE and Respiratory Equipment (RPE).

All employees are required by law to co-operate with management and wear the PPE/RPE provided. Any medical or other reason for not wearing the PPE/RPE is to be immediately reported to the management. The modification or deliberate damaging of all such equipment is a disciplinary offence.

The Health and Safety Co-ordinator is to ensure:

1. Having assessed the risks, it is of the correct type to protect the employee against all hazards from the task and circumstances in which it is to be used.
2. It is being used and stored correctly.
3. It is inspected, maintained, cleaned and replaced accordingly.
4. Employees know how to use and look after it.
5. It carries the CE mark.
6. Statutory examinations and recording eg. For shot blasting or self contained breathing apparatus in accordance with the legislation.
7. Records are maintained for all PPE issued and training.
8. It is the right type, size and comfortable for the task.

5.9 Working at Height

All reasonable steps shall be taken by the Company to provide a safe working environment for employees required to carry out their trade or professional skills at height.

The Company shall provide the necessary preventive and protective measures to prevent falls of persons or materials from the workplace and will liaise with any other persons involved in the work activity.

The employee and any other person involved in the work activity shall co-operate in the implementation of this policy. The responsibility for the implementation of this section of the policy on behalf of the company lies with the Health and Safety Co-ordinator.

5.9.1 Arrangements for Securing the Health and Safety of Workers
The Company will, in consultation with workers and their representatives:

• Carry out an assessment of the risks involved in work at height and take steps to eliminate or control them.
• Provide all the necessary equipment to allow safe access to and egress from the place of work.
• Provide suitable plant to enable the materials used in the course of the work to be safely lifted to, and stored if necessary, at the workplace.
• When working in an open environment, assess the effect of weather conditions on the type of work being undertaken and, if necessary, halt work temporarily (once the work, plant and equipment have been left in a safe condition) until such time as it is safe to continue.
• When working at dusk, night or dawn, provide sufficient local lighting, so that work can be carried out safely and access and egress are easily visible.
• Arrange for the regular inspection of all equipment required for working at height, particularly where there is a statutory requirement to do so.
• Appoint a competent person to be responsible for the supervision of the erection, altering and dismantling of scaffolding and for the inspection of equipment used in work at height.

a) No further work should be undertaken.
b) A responsible person should be informed.
c) Alternative procedures will be outlined and workers will be advised of these following appropriate consultation.

5.9.3 Information and Training
The Company shall provide any information, instruction and training that an employee may require carrying out his or her trade or skill in a safe manner when working at height. the company shall ensure that supervisors responsible for ancillary plant and equipment used for the work are suitably and adequately trained and capable of providing the correct information on it's use.

5.9.4 Safe System of Work
In order to prevent falls of persons or objects from a height, the following measures should be taken.

• Plan work in advance to anticipate potential problems and implement safe procedures.
• If at all possible, arrange for work to be done at ground level or provide adequate platforms where this cannot.
• Scaffolding should be erected by trained and experienced workmen making use of all the necessary plant and equipment including lighting where required.
• Ensure that adequate edge protection is provided.
• Ensure that the surfaces of working platforms, gangways and runs are free of protrusions and obstructions and that they are large and strong enough to hold workers along with their tools and materials.
• Erect barriers or use covers to prevent falls through openings in the floor.
• Make use of safety harnesses and belts, or safety nets, where these are required.
• Follow the method statement laid down by the company, if this is not possible, inform a responsible person immediately.
• Inspect equipment before use, a competent person should inspect scaffolding.
• Report any defects found to a responsible person immediately.

5.10 Maintenance of Plant and Machinery

5.10.1 General Statement
The Company will take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of all employees maintaining the machinery as well as the safety of those affected by the maintenance work. The Company will liaise with the suppliers of all new machinery to establish how that machinery should be maintained safely.

The Company will seek to inform and train personnel to implement this policy. The implementation of the policy needs the co-operation of all management and staff. The person responsible for implementing this policy is the Health and Safety Co-ordinator.

5.10.2 Arrangements for Securing the Health and Safety of Workers
The Company will, in consultation with the maintenance staff and their representatives:

• Carry out an assessment of how the machinery should be isolated for specific maintenance work.
• Carry out an assessment of how the machinery should be isolated to enable general maintenance work to be carried out safely.
• Carry out an assessment of the maintenance of the machine itself including any heavy parts that have to e moved, any positions that have to e reached to achieve the necessary result (eg. Climbing outside a safety barrier on a crane) and any risks of parts falling.
• Carry out an assessment of how the maintenance of the machine affects it's environment.
• Carry out an assessment of all hazards that arise when guards have been removed.
• Take appropriate measures for the protection of any person carrying out maintenance operations which the assessment has shown to involve risk to health or safety.
• Provide any personal protective equipment that might be necessary to carry out the work safely ensure that employees are aware of the reporting procedures, so that a responsible person is informed of any problems as soon as they arise and remedial action can be taken.

5.10.3 Information and Training
The Company will give sufficient information, instruction and training as is necessary to ensure the health and safety of all maintenance staff and any others affected by maintenance of the machinery. Managers responsible for supervising the maintenance of the machinery will be appropriately trained.

5.10.4 Safe System of Work
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992 outline the following safe systems of work.

• Work equipment should be maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.
• Maintenance logs should be kept up to date.
• Appropriate work equipment should be provided with suitable means to isolate it from all sources of energy. Appropriate measures should be taken to ensure that reconnection to the energy source will not expose any person using or maintaining the work equipment to any risk to his or her health or safety. Where any electrical power is involved in the machine to be maintained it should always be checked that this is dead before work is started.
• All persons who maintain machinery and all persons who supervise or manage the maintenance of machinery should have available to them adequate and readily comprehensible safety and health information and, where appropriate, written instructions pertaining to the maintenance of the machinery. This information will include the conditions in which, and the methods by which, the machinery should be maintained, any foreseeable abnormal situations and the action to be taken when they occur, as well as any conclusions to be drawn from experience in maintaining the machinery.
• All persons who maintain or who supervise or manage maintenance of work machinery should have received adequate training for the purposes of their health and safety.
• Measures should be taken to:
  a) prevent access to any dangerous part of machinery.
  b) stop the movement of any dangerous part of machinery before any person enters a danger zone.
• Where necessary a permit to work system should be rigorously adhered to.
• Isolation of all equipment or machinery from all sources of energy should be possible, and should be carried out before maintenance work commences (unless running maintenance is being carried out). Reconnection and isolation procedures must avoid and risks.

5.11 Confined Spaces

5.11.1 General Statement
It is the policy of the Company to take all reasonable steps to secure the health and safety of those persons in our employ who are required to make entry into confined spaces.

The Company acknowledges that health and safety hazards may arise when entry into confirmed spaces is required. It is the intention of the company to ensure that any risks are reduced to a minimum.

The implementation of this policy requires the total co-operation of all members of management and staff. There will be full consultation with employee representatives through existing channels of communication. The person responsible for implementing this policy is the Health and Safety Co-ordinator.

5.11.2 Arrangements for Securing the Health and Safety of Workers
The Company will, in consultation with employees and their representatives:

• Design work tasks so as to avoid the need for entry into confined spaces where practicable.
• Provide such information, instruction and training as is necessary to enable the appointment of "competent persons" capable of carrying out risk assessments when entry into confined spaces is planned.
• Maintain a documented Permit to Work system which must be used whenever entry into "confined spaces" is required.
• When entry into confined spaces is required for employees:
  i) Maintain sufficient serviceable sets of appropriate breathing apparatus (and, if applicable, safety belts and ropes) to ensure safe entry where there is danger from gases, fumes, vapours, etc or where there is liable to be a deficiency of oxygen.
  ii) Provide training in the use of breathing apparatus (an safety ropes where necessary) for those employees who may be required to use such equipment when working in confined spaces.
• When entry into confined spaces by contractors and sub-contractors (including the self-employed) is required:
  i) Ensure that only serviceable sets of approved breathing apparatus (and safety ropes) are used so as to allow safe entry into confined spaces where there is danger from gases, fumes, vapours, etc or where there is a deficiency of oxygen.
  ii) Ensure that users of breathing apparatus and safety ropes have received adequate training in their use.
• Provide such equipment and resources as are necessary to safely carry out entry into confined spaces.

• Take all necessary steps to investigate the circumstances.
• Take corrective measures where appropriate.
• Advise the employee of actions taken.

• Inform a responsible person immediately.
• In the case of an adverse health condition, advise the Company Doctor and his or her own General Practitioner.

Managers and Site Supervisors who are responsible for workers required entering confined spaces will also be given appropriate training.

5.12 Design Safety

Those preparing electrical designs on our behalf will alert clients to the duties they may have under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994, and follow the Designer's duties as defined within the Approved Code of Practice to the Regulations.

The guiding principles for designs prepared by us will be to design to avoid risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable, to reduce risks at source where avoidance is not possible, and to include relevant information with the design.

It will be our practice to co-operate fully with the Planning Supervisor where appointed, and with other designers involved in projects to make the maximum contribution to design safety.

Final responsibility for design safety matters rests with the Health and Safety Co-ordinator.