Better Safe, than Sorry.
Health and Safety isn't about producing mountains of paperwork, signature sheets and red tape.
Health and safety is about behaving in a way that means you can return home to people that love you at the end of the working day. As a Health and Safety manager I see my role as guiding people towards doing the right thing, thinking before doing, assessing their own safety and that of others.
Encouraging people to realise that preventative measures, taking extra time to set up and check equipment is safe and correct, having and using the right equipment for the work, is all good practice for ensuring that everyone stays safe and well, is all part of the job; but accidents, can and do happen. The unexpected can occur and it can happen to anyone. There is no predicting what could happen only preparing for and preventing what may happen.What I do at Scott Anson Painters and Decorators as a Health and Safety Officer?
o Dedicated Health and Safety Manager
Scott Anson Painters and Decorators Ltd. has a dedicated Health and Safety officer. The company has invested in a NEBOSH NGC as the first step to having a trained and competent Health and Safety professional on staff.
o Site specific risk assessments / method statements
We produce site specific risk assessments for all projects prior to starting, using site specific information from the client, principal contractor in order to minimise risk to our workforce and others for whom we have a duty of care.
o Vehicle and ladder checks
Regular Vehicle and ladder checks assist us in taking care of the two greatest hazards for our staff. As all of our staff drive many thousands of miles each year there is a greater risk of incident than the average driver. Vehicles are inspected by the drivers each week. Any work at height carries a risk and so our staff conduct checks on ladders, steps and hop ups at each use and we have recorded 3 monthly checks on all out ladder stock.
o PPE provision and checks
We provide PPE for all our staff and conduct regular checks on dust masks. Our staff also undergo regular Asbestos Awareness Training and Dust Mask Face Fit testing.
o CITB Green Laborers card as a minimum requirement for employment
Our sub-contractors must have a valid CSCS card and all of our staff have a Skilled worker card as a minimum requirement.