Audits

Audits & Inspections

Regular workplace inspections are a key method for monitoring health and safety compliance. They are used to monitor the fixed environment and observe working practices to ensure compliance with required processes, procedure and / or relevant legislation.  Structures, events and construction sites, whether temporary or permanent, require regular audited checks to ensure they remain safe and fit for purpose. These checks form part of the health and safety plan and may be called upon in the event of an issue or accident.

Such inspections can include the whole workplace or be targeted to review areas of concern.

Inspections should be carried out by someone who is competent to identify relevant hazards and risks and who can assess the circumstances.

If you already have systems in place but require our support to audit your procedures and documentation, inspect your premises and assess your level of compliance, then one of our qualified Health & Safety Consultants is able to do this for you.

RMT Solutions Ltd can carry out the following services:

·         Carry out Audits of current systems/policies and procedures according to the requirements of UK laws and the principles contained within the HSE’s guidance on management systems HSG65

·         Inspections of a specific location

·         Construction Inspections

·         Walk through detailed and thorough examination of the premises

·         Review all Health and Safety documentation

·         Spot Checks

·         Issue a full detailed report outlining all observations and recommendations

·         Produce a prioritised action plan offering guidance on how to make any required improvements

·         DDA Accessibility Audits

·         Environmental Auditing (Noise, Vibration, Dust, Traffic Management)

 

Injury Reporting

Accident & Investigation

Even with the best will in the world and the application of health and safety best practice, accidents do happen and most of the time the term accident is correct.

RMT Solutions Ltd has a reactive monitoring and workplace accident investigation service. The information gathered from our investigation could be helpful in protecting your business should you have intervention from a compensation claim or the enforcement authorities. Where accidents have resulted in injuries, illness, property damage or near misses, we identify root causes and make recommendations.

Following our investigation, the report will highlight the cause of an accident and identify any failings of the health and safety management system.

Organisations are required to ensure that accidents are investigated and that lessons learned are implemented to prevent re-co-occurrence. A structured approach to investigation can help to reduce further accidents, additional claims, loss of professional reputation and in addition a good safety record also increases productivity.

RMT Solutions Ltd can provide the following services:

·         Prepare all necessary policies and documents to comply with legislation

·         Advice on how to promote the policies to your staff

·         Examination of the area where the accident occurred and record relevant evidence (photographs, measurements, samples etc.)

·         Examination of the safety documentation relevant to the accident/incident

·         Professional accident investigation using an approved root cause analysis approach

·         Complete witness statements on your behalf

·         Interview injured parties

·         Prepare a full written report, identifying the root causes of the accident/incident and any recommendations that are required

 

 

Construction Work

CDM

 As of the 6th April 2015, the new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 came into force. These changes are far-reaching and will represent a significant change in the way that health and safety is managed in the construction industry.  The updated regulations see a change in the ‘duty-holders’ under CDM and removal of the position of ‘CDM Co-ordinator’. RMT Solutions Ltd provide the services of a CDM Consultant to the Client and/or Principal Designer, with support services available to the Principal Contractor.

 

RMT Solutions Ltd can offer you the following services:

·         Advice and assistance to enable compliance with the requirements of relevant legislation

·         Notification to the Health & Safety Executive of projects

·         Coordination of the design, planning and all preparations in relation to Health & Safety issues

·         Identification of relevant Health & Safety information to ensure it is notified to relevant parties

·         Production and maintenance of a Health & Safety file that is available to all relevant parties

·         Compile CDM construction phase plans and CDM policy

·         Attendance at meetings

·         Project Audits

 

Our CDM Coordinators undertake site visits and audits to monitor Health & Safety arrangements. They provide the advice and guidance necessary for clients to meet, and exceed, the requirements of the CDM 2007 Regulations from the outset of a project to final completion.

 

 

Display Screen Equipment (DSE)

DSE Assessments

 The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 These regulations require employers to carry out an analysis and assessment of the work station.

Work stations must meet certain basic requirements that enable them to be appropriately adjusted and used without unacceptable risks to health and safety.

Display Screen Equipment (DSE) is sometimes referred to as Visual Display Units (VDU) or Computer Workstations and includes laptops, touch-screens and other similar devices that incorporate a display screen.  Only a health and safety competent person must assess all users of this equipment and employers must take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of all people using such equipment.

Any item of computer-related equipment including the computer, display, keyboard, mouse, desk and chair can be considered part of the DSE work station.

A poorly equipped and arranged work station is a major contributing factor in the development of many work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs). Conditions can be both short and long term but in most cases cause a lot of avoidable pain, discomfort and stress. Other associated symptoms include temporary eyestrain and headaches, and fatigue/stress.

The hazards associated with DSE work stations must therefore be properly assessed so that they are adequately equipped and adjustable to suit the user’s needs.

 

RMT Solutions Ltd can offer the following services:

·         Carry out a full and comprehensive assessment of all your workstations within your company

·         Assess instances of bad seating and posture, looking at the general environment

·         Provide advice and guidance on how to complete a DSE assessment, to allow you to carry out assessments as and when required

·         Guidance in complying with current legislations

·         Provide recommendations for improving desk lay out and general ergonomic awareness

·         Prepare a full detailed report with corrective actions for all workstations

 

 

 

Fire

Fire Safety

On 1st October 2006, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into force. It repealed most existing Fire Safety legislation and placed new duties on all employers. It applies to almost all premises (factories, warehouses, offices, shops, hotels, hostels, care homes, schools and landlords etc) and requires the employer or person in control to manage any fire risk in the premises and ensure everyone on the premises or nearby can escape safely if there is a fire.

RMT Solutions Ltd offer advice and support in fire safety arrangements to meet the legal requirements.

The services we offer include:

·         Fire arrangements section within an organisation’s Health and Safety Policy

·         Stand alone Fire Policy

·         Stand alone Emergency Plans

·         Fire Risk Assessments and review of current assessments

·         Advice on Fire precaution

 

General consultancy

Health & Safety Manuals

Under UK laws, all organisations with 5 or more workers must have written arrangements in place for the planning, organisations, control, monitoring and review of their health and safety measures. As part of this, companies must have documents in place to ensure that their personnel are informed and up-to-date concerning the relevant safety information.

As an employer, you need to consider the possible ways employees may be harmed and take steps to minimise these risks. Employers also need to consult staff on health and safety matters, provide proper safety training and communicate effectively about the possible work risks and how to avoid them.

Safety compliance is best achieved by having a full health and safety manual specific for your workplace. Having the safety manual alone is not enough. The onus is on ensuring its contents are communicated to staff. Staff also need to acknowledge that they have read and understood its contents.

RMT Solutions Ltd can offer the following services:

·         Health and Safety Policy

·         PPE issue and receipt documentation

·         Sub-contractor assessment documentation

·         Training documentation (employee information sheets, training sign of sheets, training matrix, induction forms etc.)

·         Machinery and work equipment registers, check sheets and maintenance logs (ladders, vehicles, electrical equipment, forklift trucks etc.)

 

 

 

 

 

Method Statements

Method Statements

A work method statement, sometimes called a “safe system of work”, is a document that details the way a work task or process is to be completed. The method statement should outline the hazards involved and include a step by step guide on how to do the job safely. The method statement must also detail which control measures have been introduced to ensure the safety of anyone who is affected by the task or process.

Method Statements are frequently requested as part of a tender process which allows the company to gain an insight into your organisation and the way it operates. They allow your company to demonstrate how it can provide goods and services in a safe and high quality manner.

By planning the activity or process before actually commencing it, it allows the opportunity to walk through the various stages or milestones, and therefore forecast or anticipate where likely issues or risks may appear. Suitable mitigation measures can then be sought, or in certain circumstances and where the method permits, alternative ways of working introduced.

RMT Solutions Ltd can offer the following services:

·         Produce bespoke Method Statements to reduce the risks involved

·         Advice and guidance on completing the Method Statement process

·         Monitor and review of all your current Method Statements

 

 

LOLER

LOLER

Although lifting equipment is useful for moving heavy and awkward loads and reducing the risks associated with the manual handling of loads, it is not without its risks. These include crushing injuries from the movement of heavy loads, injuries from falling loads and injuries arising from the failure of equipment in use. The use of lifting equipment is subject to the provisions of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). In brief, these regulations require that the lifting equipment provided is:

·         Strong and stable enough for the particular use and marked to indicate safe working loads

·         Positioned and installed to minimise any risks

·         Used safely, i.e. the work is planned, organised and performed by competent people; and

·         Subject to on-going thorough examination and, where appropriate, inspection by competent a competent person

Employers are responsible for providing and maintaining personal protective equipment under the PUWER regulations. Complying with Heath and Safety regulations can be a complex and costly exercise at the best of times.

LOLER requires man riding equipment and Lifting Accessories to be thoroughly inspected every 6 months and Lifting Equipment every 12 months. This frequency may vary according to the environment in which the equipment is working.

RMT Solutions Ltd can provide the following services:

·         Competent person to carry out full inspections of equipment

·         Produce Lifting Plans

·         Review Lifting Plans

·         Advice and guidance

 

Health & Safety Policies and Procedures

Health and Safety Policies & Procedures

A Health and Safety policy details the company’s commitment to health and safety, who is responsible for health and safety and how it will be managed, and the responsibilities of company employees in terms of health and safety.  The Health and Safety policy of a company should consist of three main divisions:

·         The statement of intent (company goals, objectives and targets for health and safety)

·         Organisational Responsibilities (the duties of management and employees)

·         Arrangements for implementation (what measures the company will take to achieve their aims).  This is business specific and should include the existing health and safety issues onsite.

The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 place a duty on employers to:

·         Prepare a written Health & Safety Policy Statement (when employing five or more persons)

·         Set out the Organisation and Arrangements for implementing the Health & Safety policy

·         Revise and update their Health & Safety policy on a regular basis

·         Bring the Health & Safety policy and arrangements to the notice of all employees

 RMT Solutions Ltd can offer you the following services:

·         Prepare a suitable health and safety policy tailor-made for your company

·         Review existing health and safety policy

·         Advise on employer responsibilities

·         Maintain and monitor your health and safety policy and amend/update accordingly to ensure it remains suitable and sufficient

We can also offer you the following tailor-made policies for your company:

·         Environmental Policy

·         Fire Safety Policy

·         CDM Policy

·         Employee Alcohol and Drugs Policy

·         Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy

·         Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Policy

·         Accident and Investigation Policy

·         Incident Reporting Policy

·         Workplace Violence Policy

·         Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Policy

 

 

Risk Assessments / COSHH / Vibration / Noise

Risk Assessments

The health and safety risk assessment process should not be a complicated one, depending on the type of organisation you are, there will be different requirements for the types of risk assessment you need.

Every company with 5 or more employees must have written risk assessments, which have been carried out by a ‘competent person’ who has been appointed by the employer. This can be the employer, an employee or a third party, such as RMT Solutions Ltd. The risk assessment must be readily available to all employees and kept up to date.

A risk assessment looks at all your company’s work activities and considers what could go wrong and put employee’s health and safety, or lives at risk. The workplace risk assessment then recommends what action should be taken to either eliminate or, if not possible, reduce the risk as far as reasonably possible.

 RMT Solutions Ltd can offer you the following services:

·         Undertake general workplace and task specific health and safety risk assessments

·         Training and coaching employees to complete risk assessments

·         Creation of task instructions and safe working procedures

·         Audit. review and monitor your existing risk assessments and procedures

·         Undertake on-site risk assessments

 We will identify hazards and make recommendations to reduce the risk of injury to site users.  We carry out a variety of different assessments including:

·         Lone Working

·         Office

·         COSHH Assessments

·         Manual Handling

·         DSE Assessments

·         DDA Assessments

·         Working at Height

·         Confined Spaces

·         Permits to Work

·         New and Expectant Mothers

·         Shift Working

·         Premises and Workplace

·         Young Persons

·         Fire

·         Noise

·         Driving

 Our services are flexible and tailored to meet your company’s needs.