Employees guidealigned

HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT Employees’ Guide

ohs.in.rlam@ericsson.com

Ericsson Health & Safety Policy statement

Contents Ericsson Health & Safety Policy statement HS&E consultation

3 4

Getting more information Employee safety induction

13 14

HS&E coordinators and representatives

5

Minimising the risk of fire

15

Essential information

6

Occupational health

16

The Health & Safety Policy Statement defines and

Good health and safety standards can only be

establishes our General Policy for Health and Safety

achieved with the understanding and participation

as required by the Health and Safety at Work Act

of all our members of staff. We recognise that giving

1974 with ultimate responsibility of the Managing

responsibility to everyone is the most effective way

Director. It provides details of the organisation,

of minimising Health, Safety and Environmental

the arrangements and other pertinent procedures

risks.

currently in operation.

To find out more about how you can help our

First aid

7

Incidents at work

8

Building emergency plans

9

The Ericsson policy, which you should read and

company become a role model in health, safety

understand, sets down the direction for health

and environmental controls and to understand your

and safety. It establishes the framework for the

responsibilities, please look up the HS&E policy on

management activity and relationships which will

the intranet.

deliver and maintain the control of health and safety.

The Health and Safety General Policy will be

Reporting incidents

10

Minimising risks when using DSE

11

Protecting the environment

12

The Head of Health, Safety and Environment

reviewed accordingly to meet business needs at

is appointed as the ‘Competent Person’ under

least annually.

Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 in order to assist in the application of the provisions of current health and safety legislation and in devising and applying protective measures.

Ericsson Health & Safety Policy statement

3

Health, Safety & Environmental consultation

Health, Safety & Environmental coordinators and appointed safety representatives (where appointed) Action Points

Ericsson considers consulting employees on

The organisation chart depicts that Ericsson

Health safety & environmental protection are

The role of the HS&E Coordinator/safety

health and safety matters to be very important in

is committed to consult across all levels of

everyone’s responsibility. Although managers are

representatives is to:

creating and maintaining a safe and healthy working

employment.

vested with overall responsibility for implementing

environment. By consulting employees, Ericsson

the Company’s Health & Safety Policy, it is

wants to motivate staff and make them aware of

recognised that local support have a vital part to

health and safety issues. We can become more

play in supporting day-to-day implementation.

>

Participate in the work of the safety consultation

>

Keep you informed of HS&E issues that affect your group and raise HS&E issues you are unable to resolve

>

Assist with periodic inspections of the work area

>

Identify and report on, unsafe equipment, working conditions and practices

>

Develop a positive HS&E culture by promotion and participation in safety and environmental education

>

Represent employee’s views about risk assessments and control measures.

efficient and reduce the number of incidents and work-related illnesses.

Departments are encouraged to appoint, from amongst their employees, a local HS&E coordinator

Consultation involves employers not only giving

(or “safety rep”). The number of representatives

information to employees but also listening to

required will vary with size of department,

and taking account of what employees say before

geographical spread and level of risk. Ericsson’s

they make any health and safety decisions. If a

H&S Department is available to advise on the

decision involving work equipment, processes or

appropriate level of cover.

organisation could affect the health and safety of employees, Ericsson will allow time to give the

HS&E Coordinators do not incur any additional legal

employees or their representatives information about

liabilities over and above those of other employees.

what is proposed; also give the employees or their representatives the chance to express their views.

•

Know who your HSE coordinator/ safety rep is

•

Familiarise yourself with the HS&E pages on the intranet

•

Speak to your line manager if you wish to become a HS&E coordinator and a vacancy exists.

Ericsson will take account of these views before they reach a decision.

4

Health, Safety & Environmental consultation

Health, Safety & Environmental coordinators and appointed safety representatives

5

Essential information Risk Assessment

First aid arrangements

Planning and implementation

Risk Assessment is a process we use at work and

You should ask your line manager, to see the risk

First aid facilities are available at all manned

Planning is key to the success of all management

home, for identifying hazards and risks. We then use

assessments and controls for the hazards and risks

Ericsson premises.

functions, but planning needs implementation. Of

the information gathered, to decide on how controls

that you will be exposed to, during the course of

can be put into place, to eliminate or reduce the

your work.

hazards and risks.

Hazard – Something with the potential to cause harm Risk –

Action Points •

Know how to locate your department risk Assessments

•

Follow the advice given in the risk assessment

•

Notify your manager if you have a concern that any significant risks have been overlooked

•

Find out who is your department first aider

course you can have the best planning process Qualified first aid personnel have been appointed

in the world but it will not work unless it is

throughout the organisation, details of first aid

implemented. All departments should have an HS&E

personnel are displayed at prominent locations

plan in order to implement the annual corporate HSE

within each building and available on the MUNWE

objectives.

HS&E intranet site.

Likelihood that harm will occur and the

We believe business planning to be so fundamental

possible severity of the injury or outcome

to our HS&E performance, that we audit directorate and departmental performance against them

Risk Assessments will be carried out by

annually.

departmental, trained risk assessors and will be documented.

6

Essential information

First aid arrangements

7

Manual handling of loads

Building emergency plans Action Points

The most common causes of absence through

>

injuries in the workplace are those caused by manual handling of loads, also slips, trips & falls.

Avoid lifting any object that causes you discomfort and wherever possible, use a mechanical aid.

>

Avoid carrying loads up or down stairs

>

Slips and trips can result in broken bones and be the initial cause for other incidents such as falls from height.

Follow some simple safe lifting techniques when lifting loads: >

>

8

Manual handling of loads

Make sure the task is within your capability and that you are physically fit for the job Check the load for sharp edges, heat and stability before lifting it

>

Place your legs shoulder width apart when lifting and lowering the load

>

Keep your back straight when lifting, carrying and lowering the load

Report all incidents to your manager/supervisor or HS&E advisor and log it using intranet Incident reporting procedure

>

Footwear should be suitable for the environment you work in

>

Clear up spills if you are able to, or report them and other tripping hazards to Facilities Helpdesk

For all permanently manned sites, Ericsson has

Ericsson recognises that all employees who have

developed Building Emergency Plans. These plans

volunteered to accept duties outside their normal

have been created for the safety of employees,

work are an essential part of these plans and is

customers, visitors and all others, who may work at,

committed to ensure their initial and continued

or visit, these sites.

competence through regular training programmes.

The plans are complementary to existing procedures

•

Know the geography of the building, escape routes and the route to the assembly point.

•

Know the fire evacuation procedure

•

Know the site relevant Emergency number

that are in place to satisfy statutory requirements or Ericsson directives.

All of the plans rely on the appointment of competent team members, led by a Building Emergency Officer, the teams also include a Deputy Building Emergency Officer, First Aiders and Fire

See HSE Intranet pages for more information.

Wardens.

The members of the teams have all volunteered to undertake their assigned duties in addition to their normal roles.

Building emergency plans

9

Reporting incidents

Minimising risks when using display screen equipment

Action Points • •

•

Action Points When health, safety or environmental incidents

We all use computers at work, some more than

Know how to report an incident

do occur, whether or not they result in injury, it is

others. It is important that we assess the impact on

Check that remedial actions have been carried out – you cannot assume that someone else has done it for you.

essential to identify the root cause of the incident.

health and that information and training, is offered

This will help us learn from the experience and make

to all employees. An online e-learning course is

improvements to ensure a repeat does not occur.

available on the intranet, as well as a DSE self-

Find out who your department first aider is

>

to improve our HS&E performance. Make sure you

The following points will help you to control and

Follow guidance on correct posture, reducing eye strain and workstation setup

play your part.

minimise risks, when using your computer:

>

Report immediately, any repetitive aches, strains etc, to your line manager

>

procedure or contact the Health and safety Department for assistance

>

Contact the nearest first aid person who will provide emergency treatment if required, and who will contact the necessary emergency services for more suitable treatment if required.

Reporting incidents

Request equipment via your line management, when your self assessment indicates that it is required to reduce risks to health e.g. document holders, wrist supports, headphones etc

assessment.

We all play an important role in ensuring we continue

Report all incidents via intranet incident reporting

10

>

>

Work through the DSE training presentation on the Ericsson intranet Complete the online DSE selfassessment annually or sooner if any changes are made to your workstation/location, and report any health concerns to your line manager

•

Make sure that you complete DSE assessment as minimum annually

•

Speak to your line manager regarding eyesight tests

•

Familiarise yourself with the HS&E pages on the intranet

All employees can benefit from assistance towards the cost of eyesight tests where required.

Request any further information or training, if required

Minimising risks when using display screen equipment

11

Protecting the environment

Getting more information

Ericsson values the environment highly and is firmly

Recognising risks you encounter at work or those

Action Points • •

12

Try to avoid printing, and print doublesided if you must print at all.

When purchasing items or services, check whether they are the most environmentally responsible before you order.

•

To minimise driving, use public transport, walk, cycle, or share a lift.

•

Switch off equipment when not in use

•

Enable “power save” facilities on electronic equipment

•

Order products that generate the least amount of waste and use the recycling facilities for any wastes that are generated

•

Unless carrying objects, or medically unfit, use the stairs in preference to lifts

Protecting the environment

>

committed to sound environmental practice in our daily operations as a telecommunications provider.

We are working to ensure that we minimise the

>

impact on the environment when undertaking any of our activities and strive to preserve the beneficial qualities of the environment in which we undertake our activities by: >

Continually improving the efficiency of our resource usage

>

Minimising waste generation through the application of reduce, reuse and recycle practices wherever practicable and by ensuring that unavoidable waste is disposed of responsibly

>

Managing our diverse range of activities so that impact to air, water, land, sound, visual quality, or flora and fauna is minimised

>

Working with our employees to adopt sound environmental work practices, and by providing adequate training and resources to ensure practices are carried out Insisting that our contractors and suppliers meet the same stringent environmental standards we have set for ourselves and Being open and responsive to the environmental concerns of the community and government.

we may present to the public and the environment are important and for this reason we aim to train our employees to the highest standards. For example, your job may require you to understand subjects such as risk assessment, first aid, fire precautions, rooftop safety, tower climbing and rescue or managing safely.

Getting more information

13

Employee safety induction Action Points •

Ask your line manager if you have not received an HS&E induction

•

Understand the Company’s Directives

•

Read the department’s risk assessment

•

14

Carry out your workstation assessment

•

Observe our “clear desk/clear screen” directive

•

Park on site only if authorised to do so, keep within designated bays, and be alert to other traffic movements.

•

Undertake online HS&E, Fraud and Security training modules

•

If you are a manager, read our separate Manager’s Guide to HS&E

•

If you are a manager, book to attend the essential Managing Safely course

Employee safety induction

Minimising the risk of fire Action Points

Information and Guidance We go to great lengths to avoid and detect fires in

Fires can be prevented in the workplace by following

You will be given safety induction training at work;

To support our policies and procedures we produce

premises as well as ensuring that personnel can

a few simple precautions:

this should be completed as soon as possible but

information and guidance. This can be found on the

evacuate rapidly in an emergency situation. The fire

within two weeks from joining the Company. As a

HS&E intranet pages.

procedure in your place of work will be covered as

minimum you will be told about:

part of your induction training and you will be given a fire instruction leaflet on your first day. Regular alarm

> Welfare facilities

tests and drills will familiarise you with the actions in

> Emergency procedures > Incident Reporting

the event of an emergency

>

Adopt a clear desk policy and prevent rubbish accumulating

>

Follow the no smoking policy in buildings

>

Avoid bringing electrical appliances into work unless your line manager approves and adds them to the electrical inspection register

>

Never carry out any hot work such as soldering in buildings unless you have a hot work permit.

> Computer workstation safety > Housekeeping standards > Departmental rules > Your support network and where to obtain further advice

•

Make sure that you know your department fire warden

•

Know what to do in case of fire

•

Work through the online Fire e-learning module

•

Understand the colours, shapes and symbols of warning signs – heed them.

Minimising the risk of fire

15

Occupational health Action Points Our approach to Occupational Health is to empower

Non-occupational factors include lifestyle matters

staff to make well-informed decisions that will

such as:

•

You must report all sickness absence by telephone to line manager

•

Report any ill-health symptoms to your manager that you feel may have been caused or exacerbated by work

•

Contact HR if you require advice and support on company policies and procedure as well as legislative requirements

Employees must report sickness absence by

•

Make “healthy lifestyle” choices!

telephone to their line manager.

•

Only lift heavy items if you have been trained, and have seen a manual handling assessment

•

Support our occasional health promotion campaigns

enable them to take responsibility for their health and absenteeism levels. The role of a manager is

>

Poor diet

to provide a steady flow of information, to make

>

Misuse of alcohol and drugs Smoking

sure that staff are not made ill by the work they undertake.

Occupational Health risks at Ericsson include:

16

Occupational health

>

Ergonomics (upper limb disorder and back pain), musculo-skeletal

> >

Radio frequency emissions Pressure from physical and psychological demands of job (stress and tiredness)

>

Weather exposure outdoors (skin)

>

High level of telephone or computer use (hearing and eyes)

>

Shift-working

>

Car-driving

>

Hereditary predisposition

>

Lack of activity/exercise

> >

Excessive sun exposure Poor sleep quality

Occupational health

17

We trust you have found this guide informative, but there is a lot more information on what we do to ensure your safety and health whilst at work, as well as minimising our impact on the environment.

Please visit the HS&E pages on the intranet to find out more.

Comments are welcomed from anyone having constructive suggestions for improvements to the Company’s Health Safety & Environmental organisation, arrangements and documentation.

Please email them to the HS&E Manager.

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Occupational health

Occupational health

19

ohs.in.rlam@ericsson.com