Health & Safety
Health and Safety is of prime importance to ARL and we seek to conduct our business in such a way as to avoid harm to our employees and all others who may be affected directly or indirectly by our activities.
As such an ARL ‘Health and Safety Management System’ has been written to provide a framework around which to conduct our business safely. This document is explained to all ARL employees and is adhered to at all times. The implementation of this system throughout the company provides a systematic approach to reducing hazards and risks. Any breach of this system is regarded as a serious disciplinary matter.
This Management System is based on nationally and internationally agreed principles, defined and developed to provide the necessary strength, flexibility and appropriate foundation for the development of a sustainable health and safety culture throughout the Company. As part of this health and safety culture our employees are expected to ensure their own safety and those of their co-workers.
As an employer we are accountable for and have a duty to organise, arrange and ensure that health and safety obligations are satisfied. The implementation of a Health and Safety Management System is a useful way of fulfilling this duty. This document is designed to be a practical tool to assist the Company to achieve continual improvement in health and safety performance.
Scope
To ensure the principles of health and safety are clearly understood throughout ARL Support Services Ltd, we are committed to:
- ensuring that there are arrangements put into place for the effective planning, development and review of this health and safety policy
- ensuring that appropriate systems are developed and maintained for the effective communication of health and safety matters throughout the Company
- protecting the safety and health of all Employees within the Company by preventing work-related injuries, ill health, disease and incidents
- complying with relevant health and safety laws and regulations, voluntary programmes, collective agreements on health and safety and other requirements to which the Company subscribes
- ensuring that employees are consulted and encouraged to participate actively in all elements of the Health and Safety Management System
- continually improving the performance of the Health and Safety Management System
- provide the necessary information, instruction and training to employees and others, including temporary employees to ensure their competence with respect to health and safety
- devote the necessary resources in the form of finance, equipment, personnel and time to ensure the health and safety of employees. Expert help will be sought where the necessary skills are not available within the Company
- liaise and work with all necessary persons to ensure health and safety, and will also ensure that adequate arrangements are also in place for ensuring the health and safety of visitors
Method Statements and Risk Assessments
Prior to contract commencement we ensure that full method statements and risk assessments are completed, outlining any potential hazards and detailing how the job will be carried out. These are made available to both our clients and operatives to make certain that guidelines are followed and procedures maintained. Where necessary an ARL manager will walk the job with our client beforehand to address any concerns that they may have and to explain exactly how each step of the clean will proceed.
Safety Equipment
Most contracts will require personal safety equipment to be used to assist in the work being carried out safely. All ARL operatives are provided with any safety equipment, such as body harnesses, required for the clean and this equipment is checked and maintained on a regular basis. When working at height all our operatives wear full body harnesses fitted with an energy-absorbing lanyard that meets the current BS EN standards.
Training
A key feature in ensuring that all ARL operatives are fully aware of their responsibilities is the provision of comprehensive training. Not only does this include methods of operation and best practices, but also vital safety training. All aspects of work are covered from manual handling techniques to the safe use of ladders.
Some large access equipment is highly complex in its operation and requires appropriate certification before being used. All ARL operatives required to handle such machinery are certified to do so and operating procedures are rigorously adhered to. In line with HSE best practice our managers and employees attend regular training, first aid and health and safety courses and events and copies of certificates obtained are also made available to our clients.
