POLICY AIMS & OBJECTIVES

It is the policy of Meldeb Construction Ltd that all operations undertaken by the company shall be carried out in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practical, the Health, Safety and Welfare of all its employees and that of any third party who may come into contact or who may be affected by Meldeb Construction Ltd’s working activities.

To ensure against accidents and risks at work, Meldeb Construction Ltd will ensure that all its operations fall within the guidelines of the current Health and Safety legislation, the minimum standard of which will be:

• The Health and Safety at work Act 1974
• Construction Design and Management Regulations 1994
• Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
• Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
• Manual Handling Regulations 1992

Other associated regulations relating to COSHH, First Aid, Fire Fighting Equipment, LOLER, PPE and the NRASWA 1991.

The company appreciates and acknowledges the fact the safety and operational efficiency are complimentary and that the use of safe working practices and accident prevention techniques are an integral part of its operations.

All management and employees will be required to conform to the statutory regulation and to assist Meldeb Construction Ltd where possible in obtaining the maximum benefits in Health, Safety and Welfare matters to be derived from ongoing consultations.

It is the aim of Meldeb Construction Ltd to:

• Implement suitable and adequate measures to safeguard and person, plant, equipment, property, material or product likely to be exposed to any known or suspected hazards associated with or arising out of the processes, tests or operations being undertaken.
• The company will take into account at the tendering stage, those factors, which will help, eliminate injury, damage, waste and environment pollution.
• To prevent all accidents and injuries to persons associated with Meldeb Construction Ltd’s operational activates. This is fundamentally essential as part of the companies responsibility and to the community as a whole.
• It is the intention of the company to train and employ competent personnel for all work undertaken on third party sites to enable them to work safely. This policy is what Meldeb Construction Ltd will constantly aim for and provisions will be made to eventually achieve this outcome.
• Adequate provisions shall be made for the welfare needs of employee’s whist carrying out their tasks and duties and any hazards to health associated with the work shall be subject to precautionary measures.

Health and Safety requirements are an ever increasing part of good practice and affect the way we operate our business, we must always be ready to adapt, accept and implement and procedures which will help promote the company’s image.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Company Directives

1. To ensure adequate and appropriate funds and resources are made available for implementing the company’s Health and Safety Policy.

2. The company directors hold overall responsibility for the compliance with the health and safety legislation and to apply the spirit and the intention of the legislation to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for all employees thus enabling them to contribute to the overall aims and efficiency of the company.

3. To set a personal example and portray a high commitment in achieving the company’s health and safety aims and objectives.

4. Will delegate direct responsibility to managers and agents in maintaining all the company’s health and safety policy procedures.

5. To review periodically the company’s health and safety policy and to arrange for the addition of any amendments and revisions as and when necessary.

6. To insist that all senior management observe the company’s policies and procedures and to promote interest and enthusiasm for health and safety throughout the company.

Senior Management

Are required to act on the company’s safety policy and in particular amongst other things:-

• Ensure tenders take account of safe methods of working, safety equipment and reasonable welfare facilities.

• Determine at the planning stage of contracts, so far as is possible, safe working methods, usage of plant and equipment, fire precautions, identify potential hazards and ensure methods statements and risk assessments are prepared prior to the onset of work. Allocated responsibilities to agents, sub-contractors and others, and to ensure the provision of facilities for welfare and sanitation.

• Set up a management system on each contract to gather relevant information on health and safety matters.

• Familiarise themselves on all current health and safety legislation, and ensure that this information is passed on through site management.

• Review and act on all health and safety reports and implement any corrective action that will improve the company’s health and safety performance.

• Act immediately if any member of staff or employee should infringe health and safety requirements by reprimanding the offender.

• Set a personal example by wearing appropriate protective clothing and equipment.

• Actively promote all levels, good working practice and the company’s commitment to effective safety management.

• Develop and maintain a formal reporting and investigation structures for matters of health and safety.

Site Managers/Supervisors

Main responsibilities is to:-

1. Fully understand the company’s safety policy and procedural manual and support and implement all employees in its implementations.

2. To organise work under their control so that it is carried out to the required standard and within guidelines of current health and safety legislation, to minimise risk to the workforce, equipment and materials.

3. They are to co-operate with statutory authorities and interested third parties i.e. clients, planning, supervisor and principle contractor and adopt special provisions which will enhance the company’s health and safety procedures.

4. Liaise with senior management and the directors with regard to safety matters ensuring that any reported defects are actioned and correct.

5. Know, and have observed the requirement of all relevant legislation and of approved codes of practice, in particular to register records and reports must be in order. Ensure all method statements and risk assessments are in place prior to work commencing.

6. To encourage good working practices and commend operatives who by their actions or initiatives eliminate hazards in the workplace.

7. Plan and maintain a tidy site (safe workplace).

8. Check that all machinery, plant and equipment including power and hand tools are maintained in good condition and tested in accordance with current legislation e.g. electrical power appliances, excavators etc.

9. Ensure that adequate arrangements for first aid as required by regulations are available and that their location is known to all employees and sub-contractors.; the same applies to welfare facilities (suitable and adequate).

10. Accompany HM factory inspectors on site visitors and act on their recommendations immediately.

All Employees

Are required to comply with the company’s safety policy and:-

1. Have a statutory duty to take responsible care to guard their own health and safety and have a legal and moral obligation to guard the health and safety of others, who may be affected by their actions or omissions.

2. Have a statutory obligation to co-operate with the company in discharging its obligations as an employee.

3. Must not interfere with or misuse anything provided for their protection in the interest of health, safety and welfare.

4. Use safety equipment and protective clothing supplied, such as helmets, goggles, gloves, high visibility waistcoats, safety boots, dust masks etc.

5. Ensure that before commencement of their work, that they have received information of the risk and hazards through induction to site, and are aware of method statements and risk assessments for every item of work carried out.

6. Ensure that if you are unaware of the risk that a particular task might present, you ask your supervisor for clarification.

7. Develop a personal concern for safety of yourself and others. In particular, take care when working with heights, to work in such a way as to avoid the possibility of falling or causing materials or debris to fall, which are the industries main causes of fatal accidents.

8. Make familiar all emergency procedures, fire precautions and first aid arrangements, to protect and assist you in matters of health and safety.

9. Do not use any plant, tools or equipment unless you have been fully trained or have received adequate training and authorisation.

10. Act and inform senior management on any visible hazards on site that may lead to injury to persons or damage to property.

11. Contact the safety advisor if the company’s procedures encourage you to act outside the guidelines laid down by current legislation.

PROCEDURES & DOCUMENTATION

Regional/Area offices shall obtain a set of Factories Act forms for each new contract from Meldeb Construction Ltd’s main office and will forward completed form F10 (Notice of Commencement of Work) and OSR1 (Office Registration) to the local Construction District Inspector of Factories within seven days of the commencement of the contract. Copies of the completed F10 and OSR1 forms will also be forwarded to the Meldeb Construction Ltd’s main office. Management dealing with the project work and transient sites need to compile F10 and F2202 (Shared Welfare Arrangements (if appropriate. Copies of these require forwarding to Meldeb Construction Ltd’s main office 21 Glebe Lane, Banks, Southport, PR9 8EU.

It is the responsibility of the Safety Manager to obtain all HSE documentation and for both Senior and Site Management to use the necessary HSE documentation for the control and use on site, i.e. F91’s etc., copies of which, on completion of the project, must be forwarded to Meldeb Construction Ltd main office for maintenance of relevant records.

NOTIFICATION OF PROJECTS

It is the policy that Meldeb Construction Ltd meets its statutory duties in relation to the CDM Regulations 1994.

The Construction Design and Management Regulations 1994, regulation 7, breaks down the requirements for the notification of any project that lasts longer than 30 days or 500 person days on any building work or civil engineering. It will be the responsibility of the Contracts Manager to assess man-hours, staffing and working programmes prior to the commencement of any contract. If appropriate, he will complete the relevant notification F10 required under CDM regulations 1994.

ACCIDENT REPORTING

All reportable accidents/dangerous occurrences shall be investigated in line with Meldeb Construction Ltd’s accident reporting procedure. Reports shall be submitted to the Company Director and the relevant enforcing authority. The procedures are designed to ensure that accidents are properly reported and investigated, with a view to achieving a reduction in accident rates, by analysing accident causes and trends.

The policy and its procedures apply to accidents involving:

1. Injury to staff or employees.

2. Injury or damage to third party persons and/or property.

This process will ensure that Meldeb Construction Ltd complies with the relevant provision of current legislation and assist in:-

• Ensuring accidents are promptly investigated to discover their causes and eliminate any re-occurrence.

• To identify accident trends and the causes.

• To assist in arranging the training of staff and employees as required.

• To ensure that all employees are made aware of basic health, safety and welfare requirements.

• To ensure documentation and records are properly completed and forwarded to all interested parties.

In the case of a fatal accident to an employee or third party or a dangerous occurrence, the person making the discovery must contact Meldeb Construction Ltd’s office then follow this up by contracting the relevant agent or manager in charge.

The Company Director will arrange for the accident to be fully investigated by a competent person and a special report made, in addition to the report above. Copies of which must be retained by the agent/manager in charge of the safety department.

All accidents that involve absence from work from work for more than three days must be reported to the local Health and Safety executive within ten days, on the recognised standard forms: F2508 and F2508A. This will cover the company’s obligations under Riddor 1995.

ELECTRICAL TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Meldeb Construction Ltd’s policy is that only equipment that is 110v will be used on all construction work. Only fully trained persons will carry out electrical installations or repairs or fit abrasive cutting discs. They will inspect the equipment regularly for damages or deterioration, disconnect the power supply of a machine or tool when cleaning, adjusting or repairing.

SAFE MATERIAL HANDLING

Meldeb Construction Ltd’s policy is that all working activities involving manual handling will be assessed for risk. Providing operatives with the information and the assessments will assist in ensuring that when required, all operatives will be trained in the correct lifting techniques. They should always be able to lift materials carefully, bend their legs and be able to summon assistance for awkward or heavy loads and select and use the correct lifting equipment in order to avoid manual handling wherever possible.

Meldeb Construction Ltd will carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of all substances considered to be hazardous and how they are to be used in the working environment.

Providing information, instruction and training for the safety of all persons either working with or coming into close proximity of any hazardous substance will be of paramount importance for Meldeb Construction Ltd. Finally, maintaining control measures and monitoring health surveillance on personnel working with hazardous substances will ensure that all possible steps are taken to prevent exposure.

ASBESTOS

Only registered contractors will be consulted when working with any form of asbestos. Any type of asbestos Meldeb Construction Ltd is involved with in the working environment will be tested prior to any working activity taking place. Routes for safe disposal will be discussed with the specialist contractor and written information retained for future reference.

VEHICLES AND PLANT

Meldeb Construction Ltd has a legal obligation and is committed to enacting all relevant regulations relating to transport, plant and machinery as laid down in the Provisions of Work Regulations 1998, The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and European legislation. These procedures are designed to ensure that every necessary precaution is taken when operating vehicles, plant and machinery and in maintaining and servicing vehicle, plant and machinery to manufacturers recommendations and Department of Transport requirements.

Staff has a direct involvement, such as drivers and workshop staff, or indirect involvement such as Transport Managers by making them fully aware of the company’s legal and moral responsibilities of ensuring that effect operation of the vehicle maintenance vehicle.

Training and information on the safe operation of transport, plant and machinery will help with identifying hazards associated with operating them and ensure the safe use of safe working practices to ensure that all personnel and third parties are protected from the operation of vehicles, plant and machinery. It is the requirements of these regulations and legislations and is Meldeb Construction Ltd’s policy that only qualified and approved personnel use and operates vehicles, plant and equipment. Evidence of current, valid qualifications are kept on file. It is Meldeb Construction Ltd’s policy to ensure all vehicles and plant are fully inspected, maintained and serviced by an approved supplier.

HGV’s will have a Pre-Ministry Inspected every six to eight weeks. This will be documented and records kept. Servicing will be carried out as per manufacturer recommendations. Plant will be serviced as per manufacturer recommendations also, details of which will be retained on file.

SCAFFOLDS

Only trained and authorised personnel will erect and dismantle general access and tower scaffolds. All scaffolds will be checked to ensure that the working platforms are complete and scaffold with a height of more than two meters high has guard rails and toe boards fitted. If there is a risk of material falling, brick guards or netting will be in place and when clearing debris, only the use of mechanical hoists or rubbish chutes will be acceptable. When using mobile scaffolds the height will not exceed three times the minimum base dimension when outside, and three and a half times when inside.

ROOF WORK

Meldeb Construction Ltd is aware of the hazards with roof work and working at heights. The company will only use operatives who have been trained in roof work and who know the dangers and how to avoid them.

All waste materials will never be thrown from the roof; it will be descended by using an appropriate hoist or rubbish chute. Open joists will be boarded to stop operatives falling between the timbers when walking across them. Roof edgings, guard rails and toe boards will be erected to safeguard all roof workers and operatives who work adjacent to the underside of the roofline. All defined openings will include the use of anchored roof ladders, crawling boards or timber battens to climb slopes, or access fragile roofs. During extensive work on the roof, barriers or guard rails will be erected to prevent falls. Where appropriate, safety belts/harnesses will be attached to suitable positioned anchorage points and will always be used.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

Meldeb Construction Ltd are committed to ensuring that the policy of protecting their employees from the risks at work is maintained and to this purpose, will regard the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 as the minimum requirement to meet their obligation and duty. The company will provide adequate personal protective equipment to all employees involved where risk of injury may possible occur.

To create a safe working environment, Meldeb Construction Ltd will inform, instruct and train all employees in the use, purpose and manner in which personal protective equipment is to be used. We will ensure that every employee provided with personal protective equipment by virtue of the regulations, wears the protective equipment provided and does not misuse any item designed to assist in their protection.

It is the requirement under legislation that Meldeb Construction Ltd provide personal protective equipment to employees where risk of injury cannot be totally eradicated. It will be Meldeb Construction Ltd’s responsibility to assess each individual employee’s safety requirements when carrying out any working activity. If a formal assessment reveals that the use of personal protective equipment is essential, then it is their responsibility to wear it.

LOCATION OF UNDERGROUND SERVICES

Meldeb Construction Ltd have a legal obligation and are committed to enacting all relevant regulations pertaining to avoid danger from underground services, as laid down by the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, also by the guidelines of HSG (47), Avoiding Danger from Underground Services.

It is the requirement that all Meldeb Construction Ltd’s employees follow the company’s safe system of work whilst involved on this classification of work. We will ensure every effort is made to locate, mark and identify services and that all gangs work with a full set of utility drawings. This procedure has been formulated to protect employees, sub-contractors and third parties from the dangers arising from near to underground services. It is mandatory that all employees and sub-contractor s work within the guidelines laid down in Meldeb Construction Ltd’s procedures.

EXCAVATIONS

Meldeb Construction Ltd are committed to ensure that all work on excavations is free from risk and follows the guidelines as laid down in the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996

All trenches excavated in unsafe ground or below 1.2 meters shall be adequate shored using a recognised shoring system. Guard-rails, toe boards and fixed barriers will prevent encroachment to the trench and protect operatives working inside the trench.

Materials will be stored away from the trenches sides and access points. Bridges will be erected to allow access over the trench to take place. Vehicular movement will be controlled so as not to undermine the side wall of the trench, inspection of the excavations will take place and be recorded.

CONFINED SPACES

Meldeb Construction Ltd will ensure the safety of all operatives involved in working in confined spaces. No person at work shall enter a confined space to carry out work for any purpose unless it is not reasonable practical to achieve the purpose without such entry. All operatives carrying out this work will have been assured that tests for inert gases have taken place and that adequate emergency procedures are in place, i.e. third person onlooker present, a harness and line must be available and emergency breathing apparatus is available if required. In an emergency no person must enter a confined space alone, they must seek immediate assistance.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Meldeb Construction Ltd is aware of its legal obligation under current legislation to carry out risk assessment at work for the protection of its employees or any third parties affected by the company’s working activities. The company will carry out such assessments prior to any work commencing circumstances or unforeseen hazards.

The company will identify the hazards, record all findings and review the ongoing assessment. All risk assessments shall be suitable and sufficient and the information shall be forwarded to all employees and sub-contractors to ensure that they ate aware of’ and can guard against any risk affecting their health, safety and welfare at work.

INSPECTION AND AUDITS

It will be the intension of Meldeb Construction Ltd to review and upgrade, where necessary, all policies and procedures relating to effective managing health and safety in its undertakings. This will be carried out by inspecting all projects regularly and auditing all systems currently being operated. The aim of this process will be to identify and report all non-conformities relating to the safety policy of the company. This process is aimed to assist Meldeb Construction Ltd to become more efficient and improve on the company’s safety performance and to educate all employees on the acceptable safety culture within the organisation. The Director of Meldeb Construction Ltd will act on any recommendations which will enhance the overall performance relating to all health and safety matters and ensure that adequate resources are available to meet the requirements. All documentation complied for inspections and audits must be retained for future statistical analysis.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Meldeb Construction Ltd recognises that environmental issues are of fundamental importance to a successful and responsible business strategy. Therefore it is committed to minimising the environmental impact of its operations wherever possible. In line with the commitment to the environment, Meldeb Construction Ltd will use operating standards of environmental protection to the best industry practice in comparable situations, minimise energy usage and waste wherever practical, train and educate its workforce in the relevant aspects of environmental policy and practices at all levels and at all sites of the company and reviews its environmental policy on a regular basis. All information and advice obtained from local enforcing authorities over matters relating to an improvement of the environment when carrying out the company’s activities will be taken on board and adopted in all future upgrades to Meldeb Construction Ltd’s environmental policy.

TRAINING

Meldeb Construction Ltd are committed to ensuring that where required, and for the high standard of health and safety, all its employees will constantly be updated with information relating to current and new health and safety legislation . Training needs and requirements for all our employees will be assessed annually.

Wherever possible, Meldeb Construction Ltd’s policy is to develop and enhance the performance of all its employees by actively encouraging them to participate in developing their needs by analysing their responsibilities and negotiating their training needs. We will train our staff to the standard as required by the construction industry, CITB and the leading bodies involved in health and safety.

REVIEW

Meldeb Construction Ltd has a structure to ensure that all health and safety policies and procedures are reviewed. Safety inspections, audits and reports are the means of measuring the health and safety performances of the company. The information received will be reviewed against policy by both senior management and the Director of the company.

Where non-compliance of statutory regulations or the standards of the policy sets out to achieve fails, then the Director and Safety Advisor will recommend and implement new strategies to ensure that the policy and procedures of Meldeb Construction Ltd are maintained up to date and to a high standard of health and safety.