Purpose of policy

Inertia Structures Ltd (the Employer) takes health and safety issues seriously and is committed to protecting the health and safety of its staff and all those affected by its business activities and attending its premises. This policy is intended to help the Employer achieve this by clarifying who is responsible for health and safety matters and what those responsibilities are.

This is a statement of policy only and does not form part of your contract of employment. This policy may be amended at any time by the Employer in its absolute discretion. The Employer will review this policy at regular intervals to ensure that it is achieving its aims effectively.

Who is responsible for workplace health and safety?

Achieving a healthy and safe workplace is a collective task shared between the Employer and staff. This policy and the rules contained in it apply to all staff of the Employer, irrespective of seniority, tenure and working hours, including all employees, directors and officers, consultants and contractors, casual or agency staff, trainees, homeworkers and fixed-term staff. Specific responsibilities of staff are set out in the section headed “Responsibilities of all staff” below.

Employer responsibilities

The Employer is responsible for:

• taking reasonable steps to safeguard the health and safety of staff, people affected by the Employer’s business activities and of people visiting its premises;
• identifying health and safety risks and finding ways to manage or overcome them;
• providing a safe and healthy place of work and safe entry and exit arrangements, including during an emergency situation;
• providing and maintaining safe working areas, equipment and systems and, where necessary, appropriate protective clothing;
• providing safe arrangements for the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances;
• providing adequate information, instruction, training and supervision to enable all staff to do their work safely, to avoid hazards and to contribute positively to their own health and safety at work. The Employer will give you the opportunity to ask questions and advise who best to contact in respect of those questions, if you are unsure about how to safely carry out your work; providing a health and safety induction and appropriate safety training to your role, including:-
  • – CDM regulations and CITB training for those who attend site;

• promoting effective communication and consultation between the Employer and staff concerning health and safety matters and will consult with staff directly relating to health and safety;
• if an epidemic or pandemic alert is issued, providing instructions, arrangements and advice to staff as to the organisation of business operations and steps to be taken to minimise the risk of infection;
• regularly monitoring and reviewing the management of health and safety at work, making any necessary changes and bringing those to the attention of all staff.

Any concerns about health and safety matters should be notified to the employer’s staff.

Responsibilities of all staff

All staff must:

• take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions;
• co-operate with all staff and the Employer generally to enable compliance with health and safety duties and requirements;
• comply with any health and safety instructions and rules, including instructions on the safe use of equipment;
• keep health and safety issues in the front of their minds and take personal responsibility for the health and safety implications of their own acts and omissions;
• keep the workplace tidy and hazard-free;
• report all health and safety concerns to the firm promptly, including any potential risk, hazard or malfunction of equipment, however minor or trivial it may seem;
• co-operate in the Employer’s investigation of any incident or accident.

Staff responsibilities relating to equipment

All staff must:

• use equipment as directed by any instructions given by representatives of management or contained in any written operating manual or instructions for use and any relevant training;
• report any fault with, damage to or concern about any equipment (including health and safety equipment) or its use to the Employer who is responsible for maintenance and safety of equipment;
• ensure that health and safety equipment is not interfered with; and not attempt to repair equipment unless suitably trained and authorised.

Staff responsibilities relating to accidents and first aid

All staff must:

• promptly report any accident at work involving personal injury, however trivial, to the Employer so that details can be recorded in the Accident Book and cooperate in any associated investigation;
• familiarise themselves with the details of first aid facilities and trained first aiders, which are displayed on the staff notice board;
• if an accident occurs, dial 999 and seek advice, giving name, location and brief details of the problem.

The employer is responsible for investigating any injuries or work-related disease, preparing and keeping accident records, and for submitting reports under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), where required.

Staff responsibilities relating to national health alerts

If an epidemic or pandemic alert is issued, all staff must comply and co-operate with all instructions, arrangements and advice issued by the Employer as to the organisation of business operations and steps to be taken by staff to minimise the risk of infection. Please also refer to Inertia’s Coronavirus (COVID – 19) Company Policy.

Staff responsibilities relating to emergency evacuation and fire

All staff must:

• familiarise themselves with the instructions about what to do if there is a fire which are displayed on the notice board;
• ensure they are aware of the location of fire extinguishers, fire exits and alternative ways of leaving the building in an emergency;
• comply with the instructions of fire-wardens if there is a fire, suspected fire or fire alarm (or a practice drill for any of these scenarios);
• co-operate in fire drills and take them seriously (ensuring that any visitors to the building do the same).
• ensure that fire exits or fire notices or emergency exit signs are not obstructed or hidden at any time;
• Share information with the fire wardens and colleagues working near to you.

On discovering a fire, all staff must:

• Immediately trigger the nearest fire alarm and, if time permits, call 999 and advise the authorities of the issues
• not attempt to tackle the fire.

On hearing the fire alarm, all staff must:-

• remain calm and immediately evacuate the building, walking quickly without running, following any instructions of the fire wardens;
• leave without stopping to collect personal belongings;
• stay out of any lifts;
• remain out of the building until notified by a fire warden that it is safe to re-enter.

Risk assessments, display screen equipment and manual handling

Risk assessments are simply a careful examination of what in the workplace could cause harm to people. The Employer will assess any risks and consider measures to best minimise any risk. The Employer will carry out general workplace risk assessments when required or as reasonably requested by staff. Managers must ensure that any necessary risk assessments take place and the resulting recommendations are implemented. The Employer is responsible for workplace risk assessments and any measures to control risks.

Staff who use a computer for prolonged periods of time should try, where possible,  to organise short breaks every few hours away from the computer screen, but may request a workstation assessment and/or an eye test by an optician by contacting the Employer. The Employer will then provide you with more details and make arrangements if you would like to proceed. Guidance on the use of display screen equipment can also be obtained from the Employer.

Site Visits

No employee should attend site without ensuring they have suitable protective equipment with them, boots, hi-vis vest and helmet will all be made available by the employer free of charge. All employees should consider the risks of a site before agreeing to attend, and identify any unusual risks which may require specialist equipment which the employer will provide free of charge.

The employer must be made aware of any visit, the details of which must be recorded giving an estimated time of return and contact number. At no stage should an employee be on a building site unaccompanied without prior written agreement.

Non-compliance with health and safety rules

Any breach of health and safety rules or failure to comply with this policy will be taken very seriously and is likely to result in disciplinary action against the offender, up to and including immediate dismissal.