AB Architectural Design Health & Safety Policy

This policy is part of our broader intent as a practice to give full consideration to the future Health and Safety of all who are affected by our work and the decisions we make.
It sits alongside our CDM Policy Statement which identifies our professional duties and procedures under the CDM Regulations 2007.

Common to both policies is the undertaking of our management and staff to: 

• Be Health and Safety aware.

• Comply with all applicable legislation.

• Carry out all operations in a manner which safeguards, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of our employees and others affected by our work.

• All employees should carry out their duties with proper regard to Health and Safety in accordance with the law and guidance given in the following health and safety guidelines.

• Disseminate all necessary information accordingly.

• Introduce appropriate expertise to the practice through specialist training and liaison seminars and staff inductions.

• Regularly review our work and project risk areas, evolve our policies and procedures and management structures with staff through a committed programme of improvement and procedural development.

As a professional practice we already have duties of care to clients and users of our buildings and designs. We also recognise the importance of the initiatives being taken across the Design and Construction industries to reduce injury, death and suffering that accidents cause such as the CDM Regulations 2007. These impose strict health and safety awareness duties on technical design staff and this is actively conveyed to staff to ensure statutory duties are understood and implemented.

 

INTRODUCTION

This document sets out Health and Safety policy and procedures for all Personnel of AB Architectural Design Ltd. All employees are to be given access to a copy and to have read and understood its contents. The contents of the Policy and the Guidance following are reviewed regularly and amended copies made available to all staff.
The points following are identified as areas that need careful consideration to avoid accidents occurring to staff from specific hazards and to protect long term health and welfare in the various working environments. But the environment is constantly changing and staff are asked to bring any matters of concern not mentioned involving Health & Safety to a Director. Utilising feedback from daily experience is an important part of building a best practice working Health & Safety model and we ask staff to record and pass any potential procedural improvements they become aware of to a company director.

 

OVERALL OBJECTIVES

We believe improving the construction industry’s poor record of safety at work can only be done by helping all aspects of Health and Safety management and practice under continual review. We commit the practice to this goal and to seek compliance with all Heath and Safety legislation.
Our key objective is to ensure the health and safety of all our staff, employees and those for whom we have a duty of care and to maintain our record of zero reportable accidents and incidents.

 

HEALTH AND SAFETY ORGANISATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Overall and Final responsibility for Health and Safety is that of the Directors of the company.

All employees have duties to;

• Co-operate 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 an appropriate person (as detailed in this document)

 

RISK ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES

Risk assessments covering the office premises and activities undertaken on these premises will be undertaken by a company director and the findings of such assessments will be made available to all staff via an emailed memo as well as being displayed on the company notice board. These risk assessments will identify any necessary actions to eliminate or reduce risks and the directors will be responsible for ensuring that such actions are implemented.
Risk Assessments will be reviewed annually or whenever a significant change to working practices occurs. They are available to all staff through the company notice board.

 

CONSULTATION WITH EMPLOYEES

All employees have access to the senior staff and directors through which they should raise any concerns or issues regarding health and safety. In addition the office intranet has clear instructions about who to approach and how.

 

COSHH REGULATIONS

COSHH information on the small number of substances used within the office will be displayed on the notice board. All staff are responsible for identifying substances that may be governed by the regulations and obtaining assessment documentation as necessary.

 

DESIGNER DUTIES

Under the CDM Regulations 2007 we have duties to contractors, building maintenance, staff and users of buildings and sites. These require us to consider minimising risk on all projects through a process of design risk management. Our duties and procedures are described in our CDM Policy Statement. For almost all non-domestic construction work we have obligations to make our clients aware that they have statutory duties to discharge under the regulations. We also ensure that they are advised from the outset of our commission that a CDM-Coordinator should be appointed before detailed design works can commence. The decision as to whether we outsource the role of CDM Co-ordinator or undertake it in-house will be made for each project on the basis of the resources available and the practice’s competence to perform our duties efficiently.

 

INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION

Copies of the Health and Safety Law poster will be clearly displayed in the companies’ office. Health and Safety advice should be sought in the first instance from a director. In the event that they are unable to answer a query they will seek appropriate advice from an external organisation.
Young workers/trainees and work experience students will all have a mentor appointed by a senior member of staff who will be responsible for their supervision during their period of employment.
Written Health and Safety information is all made accessible to all employees through the company’s notice board and this information is regularly checked and updated as required by a senior staff member or director.
Issues arising from end of contract reviews are minuted and notified to the company CDM manager who will ensure that all necessary information is made available to other staff either through the company notice board or through specific training sessions.

 

TRAINING

Induction training is provided by the office manager on the employees first day of employment and supplemented as required. Job specific training is then provided by the appointed mentor or team leader during the first few weeks of employment.
Training requirements are identified through several processes – regular mentor reviews, annual appraisal reviews and the CPD co-ordination meetings. Using these reviews the CPD manager will arrange internal and external training to meet company requirements. All staff may identify suitable courses and obtain permission through the company CPD procedures.

 

ACCIDENTS AND FIRST AID

The only health surveillances specifically required for staff are Risk Assessments for the use of display screen equipment which will be carried out for all employees in the first few weeks of their employment.
There is a first aid box in the kitchen at the company’s premises. All accidents should be recorded in the accident book which is kept in reception.
Any incidents reportable under the RIDDOR regulations will be reported by a director.

 

MONITORING

The correct application of the procedures detailed in this policy will be audited annually by a director who is also responsible for investigating accidents. The office manager will be responsible for investigating work related causes of sickness absences. All employees have a responsibility to act upon the findings of such investigations in order to prevent a recurrence.

 

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Fire risk assessments for the office will be undertaken and reviewed annually or when significant changes to circumstances or systems occur.
Fire Extinguishers will be visually inspected monthly and receive a full inspection and service by a qualified engineer every 6 months. Fire Alarms, detectors and systems are also serviced every 6 months.
Emergency procedures are checked and reviewed every 6 months.