Health & Safety Handbook

AAS-DOC-24-0002 v1.0 Jun 2024

Contents

  • Amendment Record

  • Introduction

  • Health And Safety Policy Statement

  • Environmental Statement

  • Safety Management Structure

  • General Responsibilities

  • Access and Egress

  • Accident Reporting

  • Alcohol and Drugs Misuse

  • Asbestos Ancillary Asbestos Licensing

  • Asbestos For Those in Control of Premises

  • Compressed Air

  • Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM) 2015 Responsibilities

  • Contractors

  • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

  • Covid-19 And Pandemic Management

  • Dermatitis

  • Design, Assembly, Dismantling and Alteration of Scaffold Structures and Systems

  • Disciplinary Rules

  • Display Screen Equipment (DSE)

  • Driving At Work

  • Electricity

  • Emergency And Rescue Plans

  • Fire

  • First Aid in The Workplace

  • Gas Safety

  • Hazard Reporting

  • Health Conditions

  • Health Surveillance

  • Homeworking

  • Housekeeping And Prevention of Slips and Trips

  • Information, Instruction, Supervision and Training

  • Ladders - Accessing Scaffolding

  • Legionella

  • Leptospirosis

  • Lifting Equipment and Lifting Operations

  • Lighting

  • Lone Working

  • Maintenance

  • Manual Handling

  • Method Statements

  • Mobile Telephones

  • Monitoring, Inspection and Review

  • Needlestick Injuries

  • New And Expectant Mothers

  • Noise

  • Overhead Power Lines

  • Permit to Work

  • Personal Protective Equipment

  • Portable Electrical Appliances

  • Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS)

  • Risk Assessment

  • Safety Signs

  • Scaffold Structures Handover - Inspections

  • Smoking in the Workplace

  • Stacking, Racking and Storage

  • Stress

  • Traffic Management

  • Vibrating Tools

  • Violence And Aggression

  • Visit by an Enforcement Officer

  • Waste Disposal

  • Welfare

  • Work Equipment

  • Working at Height and the Prevention of Falls on Scaffolding

  • Workplace Transport and Working from Vehicles

  • Young Persons

  • Receipt Of Health and Safety Handbook

Amendment Record

Version: 1.0

Date: Jun 2024

Author: Tracie Bentley

Version Comment: Document Published

Introduction

In compliance with the requirement of Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Amazon Access Solutions Limited is effectively discharging their statutory duties by preparing a written Health and Safety Policy. A copy of the policy and associated employee handbook, which outline our health and safety arrangements and organisational structure, are held at Amazon Access Solutions Limited’s main place of business.

Amazon Access Solutions Limited is aware that in order to ensure the health and safety policy is maintained effectively, it is essential that all references and information are up- to-date and accurate. Should any changes occur within the business, e.g. introduction of new processes or systems etc., or if changes occur that impact on the organisation of health and safety responsibilities, a nominated representative will liaise with Citation Ltd, whose Health and Safety Consultants will advise on any policy updates that are needed and arrange for such amendments to be forwarded.

The health and safety policy and management system requires constant monitoring by Amazon Access Solutions Limited’s management and reviewed particularly following changes to the business and following accidents or incidents to ensure continual legal compliance. Citation Ltd will review the policy at the time of annual inspection.

In order for Amazon Access Solutions Limited to discharge its statutory duties, employees are required by law to co-operate with management in all matters concerning the health, safety and welfare of themselves and any other person who may be affected by their acts or omissions whilst at work. Amazon Access Solutions Limited encourages all employees to inform management of any areas of the health and safety policy that they feel are inadequate or misrepresented to ensure that the policy is maintained as a true working document.

Health & Safety Policy Statement

The following is a statement of the Company‘s health and safety policy in accordance with Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

It is the policy of Amazon Access Solutions Limited to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all staff working for the Company and other persons who may be affected by our undertakings.

As a business we acknowledge that the key to successful health and safety management requires an effective policy, organisation and arrangements, which reflect the commitment of senior management. To maintain that commitment, we will continually measure, monitor, improve and revise, where necessary, our Occupational Safety and Health (OH&S) management system to ensure that health and safety standards are adequately maintained.

The Director will implement the Company’s health and safety policy and recommend any changes to meet new circumstances. The Company recognises that successful health and safety management contributes to successful business performance and will allocate adequate finances and resources to meet these needs.

The management of Amazon Access Solutions Limited looks upon the promotion of health and safety measures as a mutual objective for themselves and staff. It is therefore, the policy of management to do all that is reasonably practicable to prevent personal injury and damage to property. Also, the Company aims to protect everyone, including visitors and members of the public, in so far as they encounter our activities, from any foreseeable hazard or danger.

All staff have duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and are informed of their personal responsibilities to take due care of the health and safety of themselves and to ensure that they do not endanger other persons by their acts or omissions. Staff are also informed that they must co-operate with the Company in order that it can comply with the legal requirements placed upon it and in the implementation of this policy. We are committed to continued consultation with the workforce to enable all viewpoints and recommendations to be discussed at regular intervals.

The Company will ensure a systematic approach to identifying hazards, assessing the risks, determining suitable and sufficient control measures and informing staff of the correct procedures needed to maintain a safe working environment. We will provide, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe places and systems of work, safe plant and machinery, safe handling of materials and substances, the provision of adequate safety equipment and ensure that appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision is given.

We regard all health and safety legislation as the minimum standard and expect management to achieve their targets without compromising health and safety.

A signed copy of this statement is available on request.

Environmental Statement

We are committed to preventing pollution and to complying with all relevant environmental legislation, regulations and other environmental requirements.

We will regularly evaluate the environmental impact of our activities, products and services and we will take action to continually improve our environmental performance.

It is our policy to:

• Minimise the use of energy, water and natural resources

• Minimise waste through prevention, re-use and recycling where possible

• Dispose of waste safely and legally • Avoid the use of hazardous materials, where practical

• Work with environmentally responsible suppliers

• Prevent environmental damage and minimise nuisance factors such as noise and air pollution.

We will define environmental objectives, targets and improvement actions that are related to this policy and to our significant environmental aspects. We will regularly evaluate progress.

We are committed to providing relevant environmental training and promoting environmental awareness to employees and, where appropriate, to suppliers and to communicating our environmental performance.

We will implement processes to prevent environmental non-conformities and to ensure that we are prepared to deal with potential environmental emergencies.

This policy will be regularly reviewed and updated to take account of organisational priorities and changes, environmental legislation and best practice.

A signed copy of this statement is available on request.

Safety Management Structure

General Responsibilities

As employers we have a duty to all staff, casual workers, part-time workers, trainees, visitors and sub-contractors who may be in our workplace or use work equipment provided by us. Consideration will also be given to our neighbours and the general public.

 Management will ensure they:

  • Assess all risks to worker’s health and safety and bring the significant findings to the attention of staff

  • Provide safe plant and equipment that is suitably maintained

  • Provide a safe place of work with adequate facilities and safe access and egress

  • Provide adequate training and information to all staff

  • Have provisions in place to guarantee that articles and substances are handled and stored in a proper manner

  • Provide health surveillance to staff where it is deemed necessary

  • Appoint competent persons to help comply with health and safety law

  • Provide staff and other workers who have little or no understanding of English, or who cannot read English, with adequate supervision, translation, interpreters or replace written notices with clearly understood symbols or diagrams.

Staff Responsibilities

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 details two main sections which staff are required to comply with. These are: -

  • All staff have a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 7, to take reasonable care of themselves and any other person who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work

  • In addition to the above, Section 8 states that under no circumstances shall staff purposely or recklessly interfere or misuse anything provided in the interest of safety or welfare, lifesaving equipment, signs or firefighting equipment

  • Staff also have a duty to assist and co-operate with Amazon Access Solutions Limited and any other person to ensure all aspects of health and safety legislation are adhered to.

Staff are obliged to:

  • Always follow safety rules, avoid improvisation and comply with the health and safety policy

  • Only perform work that they are qualified to undertake

  • Always store materials and equipment in a safe manner

  • Never block emergency escape routes

  • Always practice safe working procedures, refrain from horseplay and report all hazards and defective equipment

  • Always wear suitable clothing and personal protective equipment for the task being undertaken

  • Inform the First Aider or Appointed Person of all accidents that occur.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations require all staff to:

  • Utilise all items that are provided for safety

  • Comply with all safety instructions

  • Report to management anything that they may consider to be of any danger

  • Advise management of any areas where protection arrangements require reviewing.

Sub-Contractors / Self-Employed Personnel Responsibilities

Will be made aware of the organisation’s health and safety policy, safety rules and:

  • Will be fully aware of the responsibilities and requirements placed upon them by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and other relevant legislation

  • Will comply with all instructions given by management

  • Will co-operate with Management to ensure a high standard of health and safety on all contracts with which they are involved

  • Will carry out risk assessments in relation to their activities, ensure that adequate health and safety arrangements are implemented and co-operate as necessary with all affected parties

  • Will comply with signing in and out procedures.

Information for staff

Information regarding health and safety law is provided in a number of ways:

  • Staff are provided with a copy of the ‘Employee handbook’

  • The approved poster “Health and Safety Law – What You Should Know” is displayed on the premises. This poster is advisably completed with names of responsible persons. Alternatively a leaflet version of the Health and Safety Law poster is available and should be distributed to all staff

  • Management and staff have access to our Health and Safety Management System that contains all relevant information with regard to recording and monitoring procedures.

Joint Consultation

The Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations require all employers to consult with their staff who are not represented by safety representatives, as detailed in the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations.

We recognise the importance and benefits to be gained by consultation and will maintain clear avenues of communication to ensure effective consultation between management and staff. It is the responsibility of management to ensure that consultation takes place in good time on matters relating to staff health and safety at work.

If at any time the method of consultation becomes ineffective due to the size or nature of the Company, then the organisation will recognise the rights of staff or groups of staff to elect one or more persons to act as their representative for the purpose of such consultation.

Health and safety will be on the agenda of all management meetings. Items that may be included in the meeting are:

  • Review of accident statistics, near misses and trends

  • New legislation

  • Compliance with the objectives of the health and safety plan

  • Occupational health issues

  • Introduction of new technology

  • Result of health and safety audits

  • Review of significant findings identified by reports produced by Citation Ltd

  • Completion of corrective actions

  • Review of training needs.