Enright Access Solutions Ltd is one of the latest successful companies to join a leading edge scheme, designed to help industry improve its safety record.

The Liverpool based firm recently received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practise amongst UK contractors.

Enright Access Solutions’ is principally involved in the Services of Providing Health & Safety Inspections, Repair of Access Equipment as well as providing training and Sales of all types of Access Equipment.

Specialising in the Health & Safety Inspections of Access Equipment to all types of industries, Enright Access Solutions Ltd’s most recent clients have included major players such as Dairy Crest.

The company’s application for SAFEcontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business.

“At Enright Access Solutions we are fully aware of the need for good and safe practices for our customers, allowing them to be assured of our intention to work as partners in their Company removing all concerns regarding our operation on their premises… vital in today’s work place, we are glad to be given the opportunity”.

SAFE contractor accreditation is expected to enhance the company’s ability to attract new contracts and its commitment to safety will be viewed positively by its insurers when the company liability policy is up for renewal.

SAFEcontractor is applicable to most sectors although it is particularly relevant to food manufacture, property, facilities management, retail and leisure sectors, all of which are big users of contract services.

John Kinge, Head of Risk at SAFEcontractor said, “Major organisations can no longer run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies”.

“More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that has done. The firm’s high standard has set an example, which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector”.

Under the SAFEcontractor system, businesses undergo a vetting process, which examines health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice. Those companies meeting the high standard are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via a website, www.safecontractor.com 

Employer-organisations who sign up to the scheme can access the database, enabling them to vet potential contractors before they even set foot on site. These employers agree that, as users of the scheme, they will engage only those who have received accreditation.

Over one hundred and fifty major nation-wide businesses, from several key sectors, have signed up to use the scheme when selecting contractors for services such as building, cleaning, maintenance, refurbishment or electrical and mechanical work.

Just to let you all know…

From 6 April 2012, subject to Parliamentary approval, RIDDORs over three day injury reporting requirement will change.

From then the trigger point will increase from over three days to over seven days incapacitation (not counting the day on which the accident happened).

For further information call us on 0151 922 3976.

One in five construction sites fail safety inspections

One in five construction sites failed safety checks during the first five days of an intensive inspection initiative in Merseyside and Cheshire.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited a total 167 sites in the two counties between 20 and 24 February, but 32 were found to have working practices that could put workers at risk.

The inspections were carried out as part of a month-long drive across Great Britain to improve health and safety in one of the country’s most dangerous industries. Inspectors are targeting sites where refurbishment or repair work in being carried out, with the aim of reducing the risk of death, injury and ill health.

The primary focus is on high-risk activity including working at height and ‘good order’, such as ensuring sites are clean and tidy with clear access routes. Attention is also being paid to structural stability, public protection, fire safety issues and asbestos.

During the visits in Merseyside and Cheshire, HSE inspectors issued 29 Prohibition Notices stopping work activities immediately and 15 Improvement Notices requiring changes to be made to working practices. Half of the notices related to unsafe work being carried out at height.

Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of deaths and major injuries in the construction sector in Great Britain, with more than five incidents recorded every day.

The purpose of the initiative is to remind those working in construction that poor standards are unacceptable, and could result in enforcement action.

Neil Jamieson, HSE Principal Inspector for Construction, said: “The majority of the sites we visited were meeting acceptable  standards but sadly one in five weren’t, putting the lives and health of  workers at risk.

“The fact that half of the enforcement notices we issued related to  work at height shows that companies still aren’t doing enough to tackle one of  the biggest causes of death and major injury in the sector.

“Implementing simple, inexpensive changes, or just a moment of  extra thought, could prevent someone being killed or seriously injured.  Employers should create an atmosphere where workers can raise concerns without  fearing for their jobs.”

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today announced that its cost recovery scheme, Fee for Intervention, is going ahead but will now not start in April 2012.

The scheme sets out to recover costs from those who break health and safety laws for the time and effort HSE spends on helping to put matters right – investigating and taking enforcement action.

Law-abiding businesses will be free from costs and will not pay a penny.

Gordon MacDonald, HSE’s programme director, said:

“The Government has agreed that it is right that those who break the law should pay their fair share of the costs to put things right – and not the public purse. “The Government intends to proceed with the FFI scheme as recommended to ministers by HSE’s Board in December in response to the formal consultation that took place last Summer.

“Discussions are still taking place on the technical details of the scheme, which we expect to conclude soon.

“Therefore, FFI will not be introduced in April but at the next available opportunity, which is likely to be October 2012.”

HSE is taking advantage of the extra time to work further with businesses to improve their understanding of the scheme and how it will affect them. Detailed guidance for employers and organisations will be available on HSE’s website ahead of implementation.

A practice run of the new processes and procedures underpinning the scheme is already underway in HSE and will continue until the scheme is implemented.