Health & Safety Policy Statement

The directors of WC Willis & Co Ltd believe that a safe working environment is the right of any employee and the avoidance of accidents will contribute to the well being of our staff and have a positive effect on the running of the business.

Our general policy is

1. To provide adequate control of the health and safety risks to our employees by carrying out and regularly reviewing formal risk assessments.
2. To always consult with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety.
3. To ensure that any plant and equipment used in the business is safe and well maintained.
4. To ensure that any hazardous substances are stored and handled appropriately.
5. To provide information, training and supervision for all employees.
6. To ensure that all employees are competent to do their jobs, provided with adequate training and given personal protective equipment where appropriate.
7. To prevent accidents and cases of work related ill health.
8. To provide a safe and healthy working environment and to provide adequate financial resources to maintain these conditions.
9. To provide adequate welfare facilities for all employees.
10. To review and revise the company safety policy at regular intervals
11. To commit to continuous improvement in Health & Safety.

Responsibilities

1. The Directors are responsible for ensuring that this policy is maintained and that the company's operations are carried out in such a way as to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all employees and others affected by the operation of the business.
2. Overall and final responsibility for health and safety is with the Directors of the business.
3. Day to day responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into practice is with the Director responsible for operations.
4. Employees also have a responsibility to;
   1. Co-operate with supervisors and managers on health and safety matters
   2. Use any safety equipment provided to them for their health & Safety
   3. Not interfere with any equipment provided to safeguard their health & safety
   4. Take reasonable care of their own health and safety
   5. Report all health and safety concerns to an appropriate person(as detailed in this policy statement)

Health & Safety Risks arising from our work activities

• Risk assessments will be carried out by the departmental manager under the direction of the Director responsible for operations
• The findings of the risk assessments will be reported via the departmental managers to the employees
• Actions required to remove or control any risks will be approved by the Director responsible for operations and the departmental managers
• Departmental managers will be responsible for ensuring actions required are implemented
• The Director responsible for operations and the departmental manager will check that the implemented actions have removed or reduced the risks
• Assessments will be reviewed every 12 months or when the work activity changes whichever is soonest

Consultation with employees

• Consultation with employees is provided by using the line management structure to provide information to staff and to receive information back from them.

Safe Plant and Equipment

• Departmental managers will be responsible for identifying all equipment requiring maintenance
• Departmental managers will be responsible for ensuring effective maintenance procedures are drawn up
• Departmental managers will be responsible for ensuring that all maintenance is implemented
• Any problems found with equipment should be reported to the departments manager
• The departmental manager will check that new equipment meets health and safety standards before it is purchased

Safe Handling and Use of Substances

• The Director responsible for operations and the departmental manager will be responsible for identifying all substances which need a COSHH assessment
• The departmental manager will be responsible for ensuring that all actions identified in the assessment are implemented
• The departmental manager will be responsible for ensuring all relevant employees are informed about COSHH assessments
• Assessments will be reviewed every 12 months

Information, Instruction and Supervision

• The Health & Safety Law poster is displayed on the main notice board and health and safety advice is available from your departmental manager or the Director responsible for operations
• The departmental manager is responsible for ensuring that any of our employees working at locations under the control of other employers will be given relevant health & safety information

Competency for Task and Training

• Induction training for all new employees starting with the company will be provided by the departmental manager
• Job specific training will be given or arranged by the departmental manager
• Specialist training required for the operation of moving machinery will be given or arranged by the departmental manager
• Training records will be kept by the Director responsible for operations.
• Training will be identified, arranged and monitored by the Director responsible for operations

Accidents, First Aid and Work Related Ill Health

• The first aid box will be maintained by the person responsible for first aid
• The First Aider is detailed on the notice board
• All accidents and cases of work related ill health are to be recorded in the accident book. The book is kept with the first aid box.
• The Director responsible for operations is responsible for reporting accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the enforcing authority

Monitoring

• To check our working conditions and ensure our safe working practices are being followed, we will carry out active monitoring and periodic reviews
• The departmental manager is responsible for investigating accidents
• Accidents involving serious injury will also be investigated by the Director responsible for operations
• The departmental manager is responsible for investigating work related causes of sickness absence
• The departmental manager is is responsible for acting on investigation findings to prevent recurrence

Emergency Procedures

• The Director responsible for operations and the departmental manager are responsible for ensuring the fire risk assessment is undertaken and implemented
• Escape routes are checked and kept clear by departmental managers every day
• Fire extinguishers are maintained and checked by external contractors annually
• Emergency Evacuation will be tested every 6 months