Health & Safety

Health and Safety Policy Statement


AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

As Managing Director, I commit the company to a high standard of health and safety and will comply with all statutory duties on health and safety to ensure, as far as reasonably practical, the health, safety and welfare of all employees in the workplace.

This company will provide safe and healthy working conditions for its employees and other people working under its control and will ensure that the conduct of their work does not endanger employees of others or members of the public.

Sufficient time and resources will be allowed for health and safety and the company will:

· provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from our work activities;
· consult with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety;
· provide and maintain safe plant and equipment;
· ensure safe handling and use of substances;
· provide information, instruction and supervision for employees;
· ensure all employees are competent to do their tasks, and to give them adequate training;
· prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health;
· maintain safe and healthy working conditions; and
· review and revise this policy as necessary at regular intervals not exceeding 12 months.

As Managing Director, I will set a good personal example to others in complying with the duties laid upon me and will expect all employees to co-operate with the company in respect of this policy to ensure it is carried out.


Signature:



Date: 10 May 2009
Review Date: 10 May 2010


RESPONSIBILITIES

Overall and final responsibility for health and safety lies with the Geotron UK managing director, Dennis van Enk. Specific responsibilities include overall directing of safety within the business, health and safety training, plant maintenance, reporting accident to the HSE, provision of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and coordination of site-safety arrangements. Day to day responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into practice and that all employees are in receipt of the necessary health & safety information and measures to control potential risks to health & safety is delegated to Dr Sarah van Enk.

All our employees have an absolute duty to comply and cooperate with the safety management arrangements and procedures of our business and those of our clients’ businesses when working on their premises or sites.

All employees must:

· Cooperate with supervisors and managers on health and safety matters;
· Not interfere with anything provided to safeguard their health and safety;
· Take reasonable care of their own health and safety; and
· Report all health and safety concerns to either of the responsible persons named above.

ARRANGEMENTS

Health and Safety Risks Arising from our Work Activities
Risk assessments will be undertaken to identify all hazards and risks associated with the company’s activities. The significant findings of risk assessment will be documented separately from this policy, and actions to remove, reduce and control risks will be approved, implemented and reviewed.

All employees shall be informed about the hazards associated with their work activities and method statements will be developed for tasks with significant hazards or risks.

Risk assessments will be reviewed every 12 months or when the work activity changes, whichever is sooner.

Consultation with Employees
Employee consultation on health and safety matters will take place with individual employees both during the course of our work on site and during regular toolbox talks at the company’s premises.

Safe Plant and Equipment
The Managing Director is responsible for ensuring that:

All plant, machinery and equipment requiring maintenance is identified and effective maintenance procedures are drawn up

All maintenance procedures are followed

Any borrowed or hired equipment is accompanied by all appropriate maintenance and inspection records

Employees are responsible for ensuring that:

All plant and equipment (including electrical equipment) is inspected visually prior to its use

Any defects are reported immediately to their supervisor.

Safe Handling and Use of Substances
All substances used regularly have been identified and COSHH assessments have been undertaken to identify and hazards associated with the substances. Action to remove, reduce or control any risks identified has been taken.

All new substances will be identified and COSHH assessments will be undertaken to identify any hazards associated with the substances. Action to remove, reduce or control any risks identified will be implemented and reviewed.

Relevant employees shall be informed about the outcome of the COSHH assessments.

COSHH assessments will be reviewed every 12 months or when the work activity changes, whichever is soonest.

Potential exposure to hazardous substances within the ground and groundwater will be identified on a project specific basis. Where information on potential contaminants is available (either from the site or from our client) prior to beginning a job, a COSHH assessment will be carried out for each substance identified as a potential soil and or groundwater contaminant and the necessary actions to remove, reduce or control the risks will be identified, implemented and reviewed during the course of the work.

Information, Instruction and Supervision
The Health and Safety Law poster is displayed at the company’s offices and the information contained within it is also set out in this policy.

All new employees and trainees will be appropriately supervised.

Toolbox talks will be held where and when appropriate and information from assessments undertaken will be provided to all relevant workers.

Competency for Tasks and Training
Health and safety training needs will be identified and appropriate training given either in–house or will be outsourced to external specialist training centres.

All employees will undergo health and safety training under the eCITB CCNSG (Client Contractor National Safety Group) Health and Safety Passport Scheme. Where possible this training is completed within the first month of employment and will be renewed by attendance at refresher courses every 3 years.

Records of all health and safety training undertaken (both internal and external courses) will be kept at the company’s offices.

Accidents, First Aid and Work-Related Ill Health
Employees are required to report all accidents, near misses and cases of work-related ill health immediately to their supervisor and complete an accident report form supplied by the company.

All accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences will be reported by the managing director to the relevant HSE department.

First aid boxes are provided in each company vehicle and must be checked on a regular basis and replenished as necessary by the driver.

Whenever possible, the first aid arrangements of the client or site on which the work is being carried out will be utilised. The location of first aid boxes and names of first-aiders or appointed persons will be clearly indicated at each site.

Emergency Procedures
The Client or Principal Contractor’s fire risk procedures will be followed on site.

Head Office emergency procedures (including carrying our fire risk assessments and testing and maintaining fire extinguishers, fire alarms and emergency evacuation procedures) are set out in signs attached to or next to the fire extinguishing equipment.

Personal Protective Equipment
Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided and maintained in working order and in good repair (including replacement and cleaning).

The use of safety helmets, safety footwear, overalls, hand and eye protection is required on all sites.

Employees are required to use PPE in accordance with the instructions given. Any defects or problems with PPE must be reported by employees to their supervisor.

Employees must not misuse PPE. Misuse (including negligence) of PPE will be treated as a disciplinary offence under our disciplinary rules and procedures.

Sub-Contracting
When selecting sub-contractors, we will ensure that hey have a written health and safety policy or, if this is not required by law, we will require them to abide by this policy.

Reference Material
The principal source of information relating to the management and execution of Health & Safety policy and required control measures during intrusive site investigations is the “Health & Safety Manual for Land Drilling – A Code of Safe Drilling Practice” published by the British Drilling Association, June 2002. This manual is a comprehensive source of information on health and safety and guidance on best practice for all those engaged in ground drilling. All our personnel are introduced to this document during their induction training and are encouraged to familiarise themselves with its contents. All project specific health and safety plans and risk assessments are produced with the aid of this document.

Monitoring
To check our working conditions and ensure our safe working practices are effective and being followed, we will monitor and review health and safety policy and practices by:

Active monitoring – monitoring feedback from our employees, site supervisors records and reports and our client’s safety inspections.

Reactive monitoring – recording and investigation occupational ill health, injury, damage to property and plant and near misses.

Overall Review
Our policy and procedures will be reviewed every 12 months or when operations change, whichever is sooner.