2017 Comply At Work September Newsletter

Tel 01204 772977 or 07792 400 503

Comply at Work Upcoming Courses

P2-3

Car Park Safety

P4-5

Managing Remote Workers

P6-7

Check Contractor Applications

P8-9

New Fire Safety Regulations on the Way? P10-11 In the spotlight

P12

September 2017

Sn Saf ip ety pe ts P2 | Safety Snippets

Tel 01204 77 29 77 mobile 07792 400 503

Comply at Work OUR UPCOMING TRAINING COURSES….

Ask us about our special offers: Pick n mix sessions, free seminars and discounts for retained clients.

Tues 3 October Face fit testing and Train the Tester Workshop Thursday 26 October Emergency First Aid at Work 1 day Tuesday 31 October Pick and Mix sessions : Work at Height, Manual Handling, Asbestos Awareness Friday 24 November Emergency First Aid at Work 1 day Tuesday 5 December Fire Marshal 1- 4 Tuesday 12 December Health and Safety Awareness 1 day Tuesday 19 December Emergency First Aid at Work 1 day PLEASE CONTACT US ON 01204 772977 FOR FURTHER DETAILS

e-mail info@complyatwork.co.uk www.complyatwork.co.uk

Safety Snippets | P3

Sn Saf ip ety pe ts P4 | Safety Snippets

Tel 01204 77 29 77 mobile 07792 400 503

Car park safety There are a variety of factors which can affect the safety of your parking area, including its design and maintenance. Why not use our free policy template to ensure your arrangements are clear?

Any scale Accidents in parking areas are not uncommon. They may involve vehicles colliding, pedestrians slipping or being struck, security incidents, etc. Whilst you can’t control the quality of the driving, you should do what you can to make the space safe for those using it. Our car park policy identifies the common issues which affect the safety of all parking areas. To use it, delete those parts which don’t apply and adapt the remainder accordingly.

Introduction The document begins with a general statement which describes the car parks you control.

Tip 1. In the introduction explain a little about the usage of each area, its design and layout, location, size and capacity.

which could affect you including sight lines, interaction with deliveries, steep slopes, overhead hazards, roller shutters, automated barriers, emergency vehicle access, etc.

Maintenance Having checked that your parking is well designed, the next stage is to ensure that it stays in the condition intended. So, the final section of our policy looks at inspection and maintenance. Here, fill in the blanks in the pre-written statements to describe your arrangements for monitoring, maintaining and repairing your facilities.

Tip 1. In your policy specify the general inspections which you plan to implement, including a daily walk through, and formal recorded inspections you might undertake, e.g. weekly.

Tip 2. Include photographs or plans as an appendix, if desired. This may assist during policy reviews by ensuring that any changes are quickly identified and accounted for in future updates.

Tip 2. Consider what measures you may need to take to enforce your parking rules and prevent chaos ensuing. As we’ve pointed out, you might also consider putting up “car park full” signs to reduce unnecessary congestion.

Legal background

Tip 3. Include in your policy activities that will be undertaken routinely to maintain the safe condition of the car park. Depending on your workplace this may include work on drains, trees, vegetation, surfaces, ventilation systems or gates.

Section two outlines the legal requirements. For example, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require that pedestrian and vehicle routes are segregated, that suitable signs and road markings are in place and that the workplace is maintained. They also cover the safety of gates and barriers, lighting and ventilation. Some car parks are divided by hedges, others have access from a busy main road, some have a public path running through them, etc.

Our sample policy highlights a wide variety of hazards which may arise in car parks, going beyond the basic risks of moving vehicles. Use it to describe the precautions you’ve implemented, the rules which will be enforced and how your facilities will be maintained.

Call us now for your free template on 01204 772977.

To accommodate the specific concerns of your site, you will need to undertake a risk assessment. When doing so, use the list of likely hazards described in section three of our policy. We’ve included a number of issues Source Indicator

e-mail info@complyatwork.co.uk www.complyatwork.co.uk

Safety Snippets | P5

Sn Saf ip ety pe ts P6 | Safety Snippets

Tel 01204 77 29 77 mobile 07792 400 503

Managing remote workers The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health has published guidance on managing the health and safety of employees who work away from your office. What advice does it contain and is this something you should follow?

What’s covered?

Should you use this?

The guidance describes the hazards which may affect remote workers and explains the management actions which the employer can take to protect employees .

The problem we see with this guidance is that it skirts around the issue of what is and isn’t legally required for homeworking.

It defines remote working as the times when workers work alone, not within close proximity to others, and without direct supervision. As described by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), remote working is often characterised by the use of information technology to carry out work whether at home or on the move.

Tip 1. As HSE guidance makes clear, employers are only responsible for the safety of equipment which they provide.

Hazards Remote working is popular with both employees and employers. However, there are risks which increase away from the office. Poor ergonomics, for example, are common because the employee tends to be working from furniture which is not designed for the purpose.

Security problems may be a concern if an employee is mobile and carrying an expensive laptop, smartphone, etc. Plus, employees are isolated away from sources of support which could increase stress.

In summary

Tip 2. If you’re happy to receive a long wish list from your homeworking employees, go ahead and use the checklists provided. Sometimes this is wholly appropriate, e.g. if you’re asking employees to move from the office and work predominantly from home.

A less onerous option would be to use our risk assessment template - homeworking to cover your legal responsibilities. If you would like a free copy, please get in touch.

Tip 3. If you’re offering new employees an opportunity to work from home, make it conditional on their providing a suitable and safe working environment. You could use the IOSH checklist as a summary of what is required.

Tip 4. For the wider safety aspects of mobile working we suggest that you develop a policy. If you would like a free template or further advice, please do not hesitate to get in touch on 01204 772977.

The hazardous activities affecting remote workers are grouped under five headings: (1) work environment; (2) work equipment; (3) mental wellbeing; (4) travelling; and (5) working alone.

If you are new to employing remote workers, the guidance supplies checklists to help you get started.

For example, there is an assessment checklist covering the work environment, electrics, fire, computer use, workspace and storage, along with further miscellaneous questions.

Source Indicator

e-mail info@complyatwork.co.uk www.complyatwork.co.uk

Safety Snippets | P7

Sn Saf ip ety pe ts P8 | Safety Snippets

Tel 01204 77 29 77 mobile 07792 400 503

Check contractor applications It’s come to light that some contractors claim to be receiving competent health and safety advice when they’re not.

What’s happening?

Ticking the box. It appears that some contractors aren’t being entirely honest when it comes to completing selection questionnaires. Assuming that the information isn’t going to be checked, some have started to include the details of health and safety consultants on their forms, even though they have had little, or no, contact. They claim to be receiving competent advice because in many instances this is a key requirement of the company looking to put the contractor onto its books.

Caught out. We have spoken to firms, including facilities company Mitie, which say that they became suspicious about the submissions of certain contractors as the quality of the risk assessments etc. didn’t appear to have had any input from a safety advisor. So rather than believing what they’d been told, they contacted the consultant named on the questionnaire.

Tip 1. Follow up with a call or an e-mail to the named safety advisor - especially if they’re from an external company, i.e. a safety consultancy. Ask them to confirm the level and nature of service that they provide the contractor.

Tip 2. Always tread carefully with new contractors. Use your first dealings with them to check that they’re as organised as they’ve claimed to be during the tender/ selection process. Checking training certificates for staff and managers is a good place to start.

Some contractors are being untruthful on contractor questionnaires. If you’re suspicious, i.e. because paperwork supplied is of a poor standard, contact the named advisor to clarify what deal is actually in place.

Who? In some instances, the consultant had never heard of the company that they were supposed to be advising. Others had advised them in the past and some had only fleeting dealings with them.

The risks? It’s vital that any contractors you employ are aware of their health and safety responsibilities and are competent to complete what you’re asking of them.

If they’re not, or are willing to try to get around their responsibilities, their actions could put their staff or yours at risk.

Source Indicator

e-mail info@complyatwork.co.uk www.complyatwork.co.uk

Safety Snippets | P9

Sn Saf ip ety pe ts P10 | Safety Snippets

Tel 01204 77 29 77 mobile 07792 400 503

Is new fire safety legislation on the way?

Since the Grenfell fire tragedy in June 2017 there has been a great deal of talk about the introduction of stricter fire safety legislation. This has included sprinkler systems becoming mandatory in certain types of premises.

This is a possibility, but it certainly won’t happen immediately. Any lessons that can be learned from Grenfell won’t be made public until hard facts are identified, so any changes brought in because of this incident are likely to be years away.

The government is tied up with Brexit that making changes to fire and safety legislation is not one of its top priorities at present.

Despite some calling for new fire safety legislation after the Grenfell tragedy, you shouldn’t expect to see changes any time soon. It will be a while before any lessons from the tragedy are identified and can influence legislation and we will inform our clients when we know more.

Source Indicator

e-mail info@complyatwork.co.uk www.complyatwork.co.uk

Safety Snippets | P11

Sn Saf ip ety pe ts P12 | Safety Snippets

Tel 01204 77 29 77 mobile 07792 400 503

Q&A - driver licence expiry Q. We’ve heard that when looking at driver licences as part of the regular checks we carry out on our drivers, we need to ensure that the licence is within date. Don’t they last until your 70s?

A. Photocard licences carry an expiry date which is ten years after they are issued. You’ll find this date after the figures “4b” on the front of the card. This is the date when the photocard needs to be renewed, i.e. a new photo is needed. It must also be updated in between when other details change, such as names or addresses.

Note. The licence underlying the photocard still exists until the age of 70 after which it needs to be renewed every three years.

Warning. It’s estimated that over two million drivers have an outof-date photocard. Failure to renew one before its expiry date, or when critical information changes such as an address, can lead to a £1,000 fine.

Tip. Although paying any penalty for having an out-of-date card will be the responsibility of the individual, when you’re checking cards etc. point out to staff that they should keep their cards in date.

Source Indicator

e-mail info@complyatwork.co.uk www.complyatwork.co.uk

Safety Snippets | P13

Comply at Work

in the spotlight In the Spotlight – Sept 2017 Congratulations to our retained clients, DAS systems on achieving CHAS and P & J Electrical (NW) Ltd on achieving SMAS accreditation.

Also to Carrs Pasties, SDH Building services and Red Rose Groundcare Ltd on successfully completing the three day IOSH Managing Safely course. Well done everyone!

We welcome many new retained clients this month, including:

Faith in Nature Ltd, Radcliffe PPS Design & Build Ltd , Hindley Green CP Grimshaw Tree & Woodland Services, Standish Geo ConSite Investigations Ltd, Stockport JE Walker Plumbing and Heating Ltd, Withnell, Chorley DPE Systems Ltd, Bolton Electrical Waste Recycling Group Ltd, Kirkheaton, Huddersfield Holland and Ingham Ltd, Stockport Choice Electrical Ltd, Farnworth

What our clients say about us…

“We had been looking for a Health & Safety Consultancy company for several months, but the few ones I got in touch with never seemed able to meet our criteria and never offered that personal touch.

Finally, when I discovered Comply at Work through a Google search, it appeared we may have found the company we had been looking for, which became obvious as soon as we started working together.

After reviewing our requirements, Sue sent us a few proposals on how we could achieve the CHAS accreditation we were seeking. Sue stayed personally in charge and guided us through from the additional training that was needed and any additional documentation.

Needless to say, we are extremely satisfied with the results. A big thanks to Sue and all the staff at Comply at Work.”

David Pierce, Managing Director, Red Rose Groundcare Ltd

Training Tuesdays…. We are looking to schedule some Tuesdays each month to developing and delivering training sessions. These are typically short sessions of one and a half hours up to half or a full day’s training. If there is a particular topic you may be interested in, please let us know and we can look at developing a session for you.

Please keep an eye on the training list at the top of this this monthly newsletter for upcoming dates for Manual Handling, Asbestos Awareness, Work at Height, Lone working, Accident Investigation, General Health and safety, COSHH and Fire Safety/ Fire Marshalling to name but a few.

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