Safety and Health Policy, Environmental Policy
& Quality Policy
General Ward & Burke Construction Ltd. has established a Quality, Occupational Health & Safety, and Environmental Management System in order to:
- comply with legislation
- continually improve quality, occupational health & safety and environmental performance to fulfil customer needs and requirements
Management has defined, documented and demonstrated its responsibilities, involvement and commitment by:
- establishing a quality, occupational health & safety and environmental management system including policy
- ensuring the availability of necessary resources
- performing management reviews
- ensuring that concerned personnel are fully aware of their health, safety and environmental responsibilities and customer needs and requirements.
Commitment and Policy
Where Ward & Burke Construction Ltd undertake the role of Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS) we have additional responsibilities for the management of the site.
The Company defines clearly the following in the Group Policy document:
- our commitment to continual improvement in both quality, occupational health & safety and environmental performance
- relevant customer goals and needs
- a framework for setting quality, occupational health & safety and environmental objectives
- we promote a commitment from all levels of the organisation to the prevention of pollution, compliance with current applicable legislation and a process of continual improvement and customer satisfaction and confidence.
This Policy has been portrayed to all employees and is on display at public locations throughout the groups facilities. Employees have been made aware of their obligations.
It shall be reviewed for continued relevance at management review meetings and amended if the organisational goals, regulatory requirements or customer expectations change.
We ensure that the Policy is understood by all employees and that it is also circulated to outside agencies (such as suppliers, customers, regulatory and public bodies) where appropriate.
The intention is to continually improve quality, occupational health & safety and environmental performance through the use of a documented management system.
The Group Policy Document has been approved by the senior management team of the Ward & Burke Construction Limited.
Planning
Stage 1: We carry out a baseline assessment and/or audit on our sites which addresses the following:
- previous and current site activities
- pertinent legislation and regulations
- use and effects of various chemicals, oils, etc.
- significant aspects
- hazards and risks (as per Safety Statement)
- requirements of ISO 14001:2004, ISO 9001:2000 and OHSAS 18001:1999
- review of accidents, incidents, potential emergency situations, complaints, corrective actions and non compliances
- review of planning applications and licences
- review of audits
- current systems in place and the opportunities for initiating a documented EMS,QMS and Safety System
- views of interested parties.
Stage 2: We then examine and assess the environmental aspects and impacts, both direct and indirect, of our activities, products and services. An environmental Aspects & Impacts Register is compiled and updated for those impacts on the environment considered significant. A documented methodology/ procedure is documented to include, where appropriate, consideration of the following:
- all emissions to atmosphere and discharges to water;
- all wastes and land contamination;
- use of land, water, fuels and energy, and other natural resources;
- noise, odours, dust, vibration and visual impact;
- effects on specific parts of the environment and ecosystems as appropriate.
The procedure takes into consideration aspects arising, or likely to arise, as consequences of:
- normal operating conditions
- abnormal operating conditions
- incidents, accidents and potential emergency situations
- past activities, current activities and planned activities.
Safety Hazards and Risk Assessment/Control
The Company identifies safety hazards, assesses the risks and implements appropriate control measures on all sites. Documented risk assessments include, where appropriate, consideration of the following:
- routine and non-routine activities;
- activities of all personnel having access to the workplace (including subcontractors and visitors);
- facilities at the workplace, whether provided by the organisation or others.
Ward and Burke Construction Ltd. ensures that results of risk assessments and the impact of the controls are considered when setting up our occupational health & safety objectives. The documented assessment will be kept up to date. The methodology for hazard identification and risk assessment shall:
- be defined with respect to it’s scope, nature and timing to ensure it is proactive rather than reactive;
- provide for the classification of risks and identification of those that are to be eliminated or controlled by measures;
- be consistent with operating experience and the capabilities of risk control measures employed;
- provide input into the determination of facility requirements, identification of training needs and or development of operational control;
- provide for the monitoring of required actions to ensure both the effectiveness and timeliness of their implementation.
Quality Planning
Quality plans for works, product and/or services as appropriate (in the form of improvement programmes) are documented at the management review. Consideration is given to:
- the objectives and targets as documented on the Group Policy document;
allocation of resources, responsibilities and authority; - group processes and procedures;
- identification, acquisition and maintenance of equipment resources;
- clarification of standards of acceptability;
- identification of verification activities;
- need for preparation of quality records.
Register of Legislative, Regulatory, Sector Codes, Group Policies and other requirements
We have identified any pertinent legislative, regulatory and policy requirements pertaining to the Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety aspects of our products, services and activities. Any legal or regulatory requirements pertinent to our customer needs (products or service) will also be addressed. The Health & Safety Officers ensure that the Company keeps this listing current and that all appropriate staff are informed of their responsibilities.
Objectives and Targets
Ward & Burke Construction Ltd. has documented the mechanism for
setting, evaluating and achieving its objectives and setting targets
at all levels within the organisation.
It is drawn up based on the findings of a combination of
the following:
- Baseline assessment
- Environmental Aspects & Impacts Evaluation
- Audits
- Management Review
- Hazard Identification & Risk
- Accidents and incidents
The objectives shall:
- comply with all legislative and regulatory requirements
- be consistent with the organisation's Group Policy Statement
- take into account it’s technological options,financial,business and operational requirements and the views of interested parties
- address a commitment to continual improvement in ongoing performance.
Management Programme
Planning is carried out at the management review for the upcoming year
and the results of previous plans are assessed and reviewed. The objectives
and targets of the organisation are compiled with the input from all
interested parties.
Special emphasis shall be placed on new Projects involving
processes, products and services changes or upgrades. These shall be
addressed in separate plans and programmes where appropriate.
Structure and responsibility
Senior Management have approved and promoted the Group Policy Document. The HSE Manager has taken responsibility for document control on the system. He reports to the Director.
Management Representative:
The HSE Manager’s responsibilities include:
- the implementation and maintenance of the ISO 9001:2000, OHSAS 18001:1999 and 14001:2004 standards;
- for compliance with any pertinent legislation and the conditions of any pertinent licences;
- proposing new areas for continual improvement;
- reporting on the performance of the management systems to Management;
- promote and maintain awareness of customer requirements, needs and expectations.
Site Representatives are nominated for Quality, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental responsibilities.
Resources-Human, Physical and Financial
The need for sufficient and adequate resources are reviewed and provided for all aspects of the Companys business. The effectiveness of the use of these resources is reviewed at management review meetings and addressed where necessary. Any resource related problem shall be communicated to the Director. Personnel independent of those having direct responsibility for the work being performed are assigned to verification activities such as reviews and audits. The number and calibre of personnel engaged in inspection, testing and auditing activities are at a level sufficient to provide confidence in and effectiveness of the management system. Independent Consultants may be used as required to verify compliance with documented plans and objectives. Quality, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental responsibilities are documented as appropriate.
Accountability and Responsibility
Ward & Burke Construction Ltd. has defined and documented the responsibilities, authority and interrelationships (in the form of either job descriptions and/or organisational charts) of all the key staff who perform work in any way related to the Quality, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental systems, including those who require the organisational freedom to:
- provide sufficient resources and personnel for implementation;
- initiate action to ensure compliance with policy;
- initiate, recommend or provide solutions to those problems;
- verify the implementation of those solutions;
- control further activities until any quality and environmental deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected;
- act in emergency situations;
- initiate, recommend or provide solutions through established lines of reporting;
- verify the implementation of solutions;
- initiate action to prevent the occurrence of non conformities relating to occupational health & safety and environmental issues, product , process and service, process and quality management systems;
- control further processing or delivery of non conforming product or service until the deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected;
The purpose is to create a positive attitude in the organisation for continual improvement and giving the Client confidence.
Values and Motivation
Employees at all levels are made aware of:
- the importance and requirements of ISO14001:2004, OHSAS18001:1999 and ISO9001:2000;
- the necessity for compliance with the Group Policy and objectives and targets;
- the Environmental Aspects & Impacts-Hazards & Risks of their work activities;
- the benefits of improved performance;
- their roles in complying with ISO9001;2000, OHSAS8001:1999 and ISO14001:2004, Group Policy, Objectives and Targets;
- the consequences of departure from the agreed and documented procedures.
Knowledge, Skills Competence and Training
We have documented how we address training. This includes the identification of training needs which are based on the necessity to achieve quality, occupational health & safety and environmental objectives and targets. Training procedures take into account risk responsibility, ability and literacy. Training records are maintained for all sites. Personnel assigned to specific tasks shall be competent and qualified on the basis of appropriate education training and/or experience and shall be given the appropriate training in order to fulfil their roles/tasks in a competent and responsible manner. Employees are made aware of:
- the importance of conformance to policies and procedures and requirements of the management systems;
- the consequences (actual or potential) of their work activities and the benefits of improved performance;
- their roles and responsibilities in achieving conformance to the policy, procedures and system, including emergency preparedness and response requirements;
- the potential consequences of departure from specified operating procedures.
Communication, Consultation and Reporting
Ward & Burke Construction Ltd. has documented the mechanism for receiving, documenting and responding to communications from internal or external sources relating to any aspect of the Quality, Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Management Systems (including Aspects & Impacts, Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment). This includes any concerns on environmental issues from the public, employees, interested parties or customer concerns. Employee involvement and consultation will be documented. Employees will be:
- involved in the review and development of policies and procedures;
- consulted in the event of changes that impact on workplace health and safety;
- represented on health & safety matters;
- informed as to who is their employee occupational health & safety representative and specified management appointee.
Quality, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental responsibilities
are communicated throughout the Organisation.
Results of monitoring, auditing and reviews are reported
to the relevant authority.