Health and Safety in British Imports Limited - Research Paper Example

Task Company Profile The company British Imports Limited is a medium sized international manufacturing establishment. The company produces, markets and distributes two main products; a plastic (resin) based items and household and industrial lighting fixtures. The company employs about two hundred people. Daily operations are conducted through the main offices, which also houses the warehouse and distribution centre. The manufacturing facilities are located at other campuses. Main Offices The main office houses various operational departments: Accounts, Customer Service, Industrial Design, Sales as well as other executive offices. These offices occupy two floors in a section of the facility. The upper floor is accessible by an elevator and a stairway. The main office has separate entry and exit points from the warehouse and distribution departments. There is a sick bay in the office. Warehouse and Distribution The warehouse and distribution departments are located within the facility and also accessible through its own entrance and exit points. The warehouse also incorporates the Shipping and Receiving docks/platforms. Steel and iron storage racks occupy three-quarters of the warehouse. Forklifts and other motorized equipments are extensively in the area. The warehouse and distribution area also has a first aid point. Employees who work in this section are order-pickers, operators of machinery, checkers, shipping and receiving personnel. The POPMA FRAMEWORK This Health and Safety document is developed using the HSG65 Policy, Organization, Planning and Implementation, Measuring Perfomance and Audit & Reviewing Perfomance (POPMA) model. Policy – the company Health and Safety statement; setting out how the company manages Health and Safety Organising – the organizational levels of responsibility within the company. It identifies the Health and Safety roles of key individuals like from Management to Employees. In particular who has overall responsibility (the boss), who maintains the safety manual, who carries out risk assessments. A detailed description should be available in the company record and provided to the all employees of the company. Planning – includes a list of all the policies or procedures that are currently in use and in place. There should be room for other procedures to be added as work or hazards change or are developed. The Health and Safety management system is dynamic and a living document. Measure – this should provide details of the measurement of safety performance. How these measurements are conducted and the person who is responsible for the safety measurements. The frequency of the measures and schedule should also be included. Health and Safety measurements should include accident and near miss rates. Audit and Review – this will detail how often will the system be audited (whether internal or external) and by who? These audits should include the monthly inspections and annual systems audits by the Health and Safety committee, Health and Safety Manager and the Managing Director. The review involves discussion of the safety performance and audits performed. The review may take place at an annual Health and Safety meeting. The scheduled monthly Health and Safety management meeting and the annual review of the performance of the company will allow the company meet its due diligence responsibilities. HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY STATEMENT This is the Health and Safety Policy Statement of British Imports Limited. Aims And Objectives: Protecting the Safety and Health of all members of this organisation by preventing work related injuries, ill health, diseases and incidences. This policy commits the company to a high standard of health and safety. The company will comply with all statutory duties on health and safety to ensure, as far is reasonably and practical, the health, safety and welfare of all employees in all our associated facilities and workplaces. Company Undertakings to Health and Safety (H&S) The company undertakes; To allow sufficient time and resources for the Health & Safety Have in place a H&S Safety Management System Manual HSG65 To hire competent person(s) to administer its Health and Safety policy To develop procedures to (and) control any health and safety risks that may arise from operations To effectively consult with all employees on matters affecting their health and safety To provide and maintain a safe work environment and ensure safe use of equipment To provide competent information, instruction and supervision for employee Provide adequate training to all employees to enable the perform their tasks safely To enforce disciplinary actions against anyone who deliberately breaches the health and safety rules and procedures; and To develop a written procedure for every task with identified work hazards To ensure that a Health and Safety committee is constituted and given the necessary powers To ensure that the Health and Safety committee has schedules and regular meetings Have a use the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR) Guideline To provide an Accident / incident book To conduct Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation (COSHH) assessment To conduct emergency evacuation drill and assessments To conduct a Health and safety induction and provide check sheet To constitute a Health and safety management planning forum To conduct Health and safety assessment for young workers To provide Health and Safety screening questionnaire To provide Personal Protective Equipment for all employees To maintain an Individual employee PPE issue record To maintain an Individual employee safety training record To conduct, review and revise this policy as regular intervals not exceeding every 12 calendar. Signature: Managing Director......................................................................... Date: .........April 28, 2009................ Last Review Date: April 28, 2009......... ORGANISATION AND RESPONSIBILTY CHART The objective of the organisation and responsibility chart is to demonstrate Control, Co-operation, Communication and Competence in the implementation of the policy. Control: to indicate and manage Health and Safety using the specialized and competent persons. Setting up committees, audit and review panels, hiring consultants e.t.c Co-operation: develops and seamless coordination of the Health and Safety Management policy and system Communication: (through the Health and Safety committee) establish a channel of information that receives and direct Health and Safety issues to the appropriate competent individual as dictated by the responsibility chart. Competence: The Company will ensure that all persons with responsibility are trained and capable and have authority to act in the manner that their responsibilities require. British Imports Limited Health & Safety Responsibilities and Organisation Chart PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION Risk Assessment and Risk Control The Health & Safety Manager is responsible for identifying all Health and Safety Risks arising from operational activities. Risk assessments will be reviewed every 12 months or when there is a significant change to the work or equipment, whichever is soonest. In conjunction with the Health and Safety committee, a risk assessment will be undertaken to identify all hazards and risks associated with the company’s activities. Actions must be taken to address and remove, reduce and control identified risks. Communication and Documentation The significant findings of risk assessments and actions taken to address the risks will be documented separately from this policy. These actions must first 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. Health and Safety Committee The committee will have regular scheduled bi-monthly Health and Safety meetings The date and agenda of the meetings will be displayed on safety boards in Warehouse and Offices Ensure that the Health and Safety Law poster is displayed at Head Office and the information contained within it is also set out in this policy The minutes of the meeting shall be displayed on all Health and Safety boards located in the Warehouse and offices. Risks to Young Persons: Risks associated with young workers will be specifically identified, and removed, reduced or controlled. Safe Work, Plant and Equipment The Health and Safety Manager is responsible for ensuring the following: (in conjunction with Warehouse Manager) that all machinery and equipment undergo effective regular maintenance as approved by manufacturer/designer and that all detailed maintenance procedures are followed all equipment (borrowed or hired) is accompanied by all appropriate maintenance records only competent persons are authorized to use and maintain this equipment all inspections and maintenance as described above are documented that Supervisors and employees are properly trained on all new or modified equipment or machinery a hazard analysis must be performed for any such machinery or equipment employees must be made aware of the result of the hazard analysis Training and Worker Development The Health and Safety Manager will collaborate with the Health and Safety committee in identifying the training needs of the workers. Training sessions will be organized and scheduled by the Health and Safety Manager The Health and Safety committee will perform and monitor post-training activities and report back to Health and Safety Manager Records of all health and safety training undertaken will be kept at Head Office. Accidents, First Aid and Work-Related Ill Health All employees are required to report all accidents, near misses and cases of work-related ill health immediately to their supervisor The supervisors must endure that appropriate First Aid or medical attention is provided where necessary and complete the accident book It is the responsibility of the appointed First aid persons to ensure that all boxes and kits on company floor or in company vehicles are checked and replenished as necessary on a regular The location of first aid boxes and names of first aiders or appointed persons will be clearly indicated at each site Supervisors must report all cases to the Warehouse Manager and Health & Safety Manager. The Health and Safety Manager will report all accidents, diseases, and dangerous occurrences to the Incident Control Centre. Emergency Procedures All Emergency procedures will be detailed and available to all workers There will be regular scheduled emergency drills to test fire and emergency evacuation preparedness; drills to test for serious/fatal injury preparedness A fire risk assessment will be carried out every 3 months; there will be scheduled regular testing and maintaining of fire extinguishers, fire alarms logs of such testing will be attached to or next to the fire extinguishing equipment Personal Protective Equipment The company will provide the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to all workers No employee should engage in any activity on the premises without the provided PPE Use of alien (not company provided) PPE is prohibited Employees are required to use PPE in accordance with the instructions given Employees must report to their supervisor(s) any defects or problems with PPE Employees must not misuse PPE. Misuse (including negligence) of PPE will be treated as a disciplinary offence under our disciplinary rules and procedures. Policy on Use of Independent Contractors or Firms The company will ensure that all independent contractors or firms have a written health and safety policy, whether required by law or not. The Health and Safety Manager, Warehouse Manager will ensure that all independent firms and contractors will follow and respect the Health and Safety Policy MEASUREMENT AND PERFORMANCE The Health and Safety Manager will ensure that regular monitoring of the working conditions of the plant and equipment must be carried out to determine the effectiveness of the Health and Safety policy. Active Monitoring — shall be conducted by using feedback from the all employees, supervisors’ records and reports, and Health and Safety committee inspections. Reactive Monitoring — recording and investigating occupational ill health, injury, damage to property and plant, and near misses. Disciplinary Rules and Procedures Disciplinary actions will be recommended against anyone who contravenes this Health and Safety Policy Disciplinary actions and procedures will be enforced by the Managing Director AUDITING AND REVIEWING PERFORMANCE The company will use the services of an external consultant to conduct a review of the health and safety procedures The consultant will be a competent person with accreditation with the Health and Safety Executive of the United Kingdom The company will review this Health and Safety policy and procedures every 12 months. TASK 2 An incident occurred on the company premises. The incident resulted in a critical injury by one person that required medical attention. The incident was investigated and reported upon by the HSE. RIDDOR ASSESSMENT A Warehouse Supervisor entered the accident report into the Accident book. The Health and Safety Manager filed a Report of Injury (Form F2508) with the Incident Contact Centre. The accident log and HSE report details amongst other things the following; 1. The injured worker has been employed at the same position for 3 years. 2. The injured worker was at the end of his shift 3. No authorised forklift operator was not available; hence young worker was last person to use forklift 4. The worker was at the end of his current shift of duty 5. There was no supervisor or Manager around at the time of the accident 6. The worker was taken to hospital by fellow workers 7. No first aid treatment was administered 8. The supervisor completed the accident book without talking to the injured worker A RIDDOR assessment determines that the Immediate Cause of Injury is; (1) Slip and fall: The injured employee backed into a stationary forklift packed in the Pick-Up area and fractured his right shoulder. A RIDDOR assessment determines that the Underlying Cause of Injury is; 1) Negligent behaviour by worker and supervisor: failure by the workers to conduct their duties in safe manner; failure of the supervisor to ensure availability of competent forklift operator Recommendations to Prevent Future Occurrence In light of the immediate and underlying cause of injury to the worker, the following are recommendations to prevent future occurrences; 1. All employees should receive training on use of space and restricted areas 2. Sections of the Pick-Up area should be clearly marked as RESTRICTED to motorized equipment 3. All motorized or powered equipment should have designated park locations away from high human traffic when not in use 4. Only competent and authorized employees are to operate equipment or machinery 5. The young worker should undergo further training and be recommended for disciplinary action. Based on the RIDDOR assessment, the following elements of POPMA were not implemented according to the Health and Safety Policy of the company; 1) Organising: the supervisor failed to ensure the presence of a competent and authorized fork-lift operator at the end of the shift 2) Auditing and Reviewing Performance: the supervisor did not report or enforce a breach of the Health and Safety policy. TASK 3 Accident: A customer service employee in the main offices has reported severe backaches and has been off work for up to 2 weeks. RIDDOR ASSESSMENT: The Customer Service Manager entered the accident report into the Accident book. The Health and Safety Manager filed a Report of Injury (with Form F2508) with Incident Contact Centre. The accident log and Injury report details amongst other things the following; 1. The injured worker has been employed at the same position for six months prior to injury 2. The injured worker was recently transferred from the packaging department 3. The injured worker had a history of work related back injuries, hence her redeployment The RIDDOR assessment determines that the Immediate Cause of Injury was, 1. Injured worker aggravated back when she sat down suddenly in her work seat 2. Injured worker’s office furniture was not properly positioned The RIDDOR assessment determines that the Underlying Cause of Injury was: 1. Repetitive strain Injury 2. Negligent behaviour by injured worker 3. Lack of disclosure of previous back injury Based on the RIDDOR assessment, the following elements of POPMA were not implemented according to the Health and Safety Policy of the company: i. Organising: an ergonomic assessment was not carried out to enable to equip the worker with the appropriate furniture to do her work ii. Planning and Implementation: No risk assessment were conducted to determine the suitability of the office equipment and space iii. Auditing and Reviewing Performance: the company did not take into account that the worker had reported backaches prior to her redeployment. References “What is RIDDOR?”. Health and Safety Executive. Updated 08.12.08. April 28, 2009 3.00 GMT from International Labour Organisation. (2001). Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems, ILO-OSH 2001 Geneva, International Labour Office. Additional Resources and Readings from National Specialist Contractor’s Council. http://www.nscc.bbsnet.co.uk Health and Safety Tips http://www.healthandsafetytips.co.uk> Read More