Countrywide Environmental Services
Oxford House
12-20 Oxford Street
Newbury
Berkshire
RG14 1JB

POLICY STATEMENT ON HEALTH & SAFETY

FIRST WRITTEN: November/2007
DUE FOR REVIEW: 3 years after date above

Issue No 2
11/2010

SECTION 1 Statement of management's commitment and general policy
SECTION 2 Company policy/regulations
SECTION 3 Responsibilities
SECTION 4 Review and evaluation

Section 1. STATEMENT OF MANAGEMENT'S COMMITMENT

The Company will;-

1.1. provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from work activities;
1.2. consult with employees on matters affecting their health and safety;
1.3. provide and maintain safe plant and equipment;
1.4. ensure safe handling and use of substances;
1.5. provide information, instruction, induction training and supervision;
1.6. provide suitable welfare provisions for employees;
1.7. take any reasonably practicable steps to ensure the health and safety of all persons, other than Company employees who might be affected by Company operations, whether they are at work or not;
1.8. ensure all employees are competent to do their tasks, and to give them adequate training;
1.9. prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill-health;
1.10. maintain safe and healthy working conditions;
1.11. review and revise this policy as necessary at regular intervals;
1.12. monitor working conditions, investigate accidents and keep records.

signed: ________________________________ date: _____________________

Manager

Section 2. COMPANY POLICY / REGULATIONS

2.1. HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ETC. ACT 1974
As a company we understand our general duty of care under this Act and also the specific duty under Section 6 to provide information to customers concerning products used in pest control operations. We have fulfilled our duties under Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the 1974 Act in respect of the provisions of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (and updates).

2.2. THE CONTROL OF PESTICIDES REGULATIONS 1986
We are committed to fulfilling our obligations under these regulations in respect of our activities in storing, supplying and using pesticides. Particularly, we will take all reasonable precautions, with regard to storage and transport, to protect the health of human beings, creatures and plants and to safeguard the environment. We recognise the need for adequate training of employees to ensure they are competent for the duties they will be called upon to perform.

2.3. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1990
We are aware of our general duty of care regarding the environmental and particularly the disposal of waste materials.

2.4. THE CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH REGULATIONS 2002 (COSHH)
We have implemented the relevant sections of these regulations which cover the following areas:
• assessment of risk
• provision of control measures
• use and maintenance of control resources
• provision of information, instruction and training
• monitoring of exposure
• health surveillance
Product Safety Data sheets for all products, used in our pest control activities, are on file.

2.5. Records of our day to day pest control operations are being kept and employees have been trained according to our activity needs. Additional training will be given to pest control operators according to requirements.

2.6. We have copies of all relevant codes of practice and we have access to technical backup from a company giving both biological and chemical technical support.

2.7. Other risk assessments have been carried out, and recommendations actioned, in relation to the following topics as appropriate;
• fire risk
• Manual handling
• Electrical Risks
• Welfare and related requirements
• Slips, trips and falls
• First Aid facilities

Section 3. RESPONSIBILITIES

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1. The manager of Company/Authority Name is responsible for overall co-ordination of pest control activities and record keeping in general, and for ensuring that safe systems of work are used.

3.2. The manager is responsible for ensuring that the Company complies with all current legislation concerning health and safety at work.

3.3. The manager is responsible for ensuring that pesticide products and equipment is stored safely on site and that safe systems are provided for transporting pesticides to customers' premises.

3.4. The manager is responsible for ensuring that product safety data sheets are on file for all pesticide products used.

3.5. The manager is responsible for ensuring that pest control operatives are properly trained to perform the required tasks and that adequate, safe, well maintained equipment (including PPE) is provided.

3.6. The manager is responsible for updating existing risk assessments when significant changes in working practices demand it. He is also responsible for carrying out other risk assessments appropriate to activities, when and if these become needed.

3.7. Overall and final responsibility for health and safety is that of the person signing section 1 of this policy.

EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITIES

3.8. All Company employees must:
i. take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves, their colleagues and of all other persons who could be affected by their acts or omissions;
ii. make full and proper use of the protective controls eg protective clothing, provided;
iii. exercise their awareness, alertness, self-control and common sense at work;
iv. co-operate with the Company, supervisors, managers and all other persons so far as is necessary to enable them to fulfil their obligations under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, other relevant legislation and good practices;
v. report promptly to their supervisor or the managing director of the Company all hazards, potential hazards, defects in equipment and any short-comings in the Company’s work systems or procedure;
vi. not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare.
vii. obey all the safety rules, regulations and procedures contained in this policy statement and in other Company documents;
viii. act in a manner consistent with how they have been trained;
ix. all Company employees are asked to sign the master copy of this policy statement as an indication of their commitment to carry out the obligations outlined above.

Signed: ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------

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3.9. All Company employees are responsible, whilst at work for their own safety, for preventing hazards arising, for reporting health & safety concerns and for indicating any possible hazards to colleagues and customers. Additionally, each person is responsible for advising someone before absenting themselves from work, either short or long term, of any hazards likely to occur in their absence. It is the responsibility of each individual to refrain from activities which might bring about unacceptable negative attitudes to safety at work.

Section 4. REVIEW AND EVALUATION

4.1. This policy statement will be reviewed every three years by the manager when he will decide if a re-write is required. It is the responsibility of the manager to ensure that the statement is up to date and that all employees are made aware of its contents.

4.2. Changes in personnel or work systems requiring a change to this statement will be written onto this page, in the master copy, kept in the manager's office.