practice
policy statement on health and safety
As employers and a practice of designers, we are aware of our detailed and wide ranging responsibilities currently outlined under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act (2005) particularly as it relates of our design decisions for both constructors and end users.
We acknowledge the crucial role a positive health and safety policy plays in our practice and we are committed to maintaining high standards for health and safety in our workplace, in our design and in all work related activities. Good health and safety practices are vital to an effective, responsible and profitable organization.
Our policy is to have a standard which promotes good health and is a safe working environment both in our practice and in our design in so far as is practicable. Implementation of this policy will not fully succeed without active participation of all members of staff.
Maintaining our policies with respect to health and safety is a continual process in which we recognise the key issues, set performance standards, evaluate our actual performance against these standards, take corrective action when required and identify opportunities for improving.
The partners are responsible for the health and safety policy in this practice. We have appointed a member of staff as the safety officer who aids the partners in the implementation of the policy. It is the practice’s policy:
- Provide and maintain a safe place of work, safe plant and equipment, safe systems of work as well as safe handling, storage and transportation of articles and substances. We maintain a safety plan which is read by all employees when they start at this office. The safety plan deals not only with site visits and the issue of personal protective equipment but also with how to work safely in the office.
- Provide sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to enable employees to perform their work safely. We train our staff in good health and safety practices in seminars which are outsourced from specialist companies as well as capitalising on the experiences of senior members of staff. Architectural staff attend RIAI CPD courses and one partner and associate have specific responsibility to review health and safety files that are maintained for each project. These files record the health and safety implications of the design decisions made and use standard RIBA Risk Assessment criteria. Evidence of CPD attendances is available upon request.
- We have acted as PSDS on numerous projects heretofore; as a matter of external auditing we have decided to subcontract the PSDP role when requested to specialist firms.
- Provide all necessary protective clothing and safety equipment and ensure it proper use.
- Encourage employees to adopt safe driving practices at all times and particularly when driving on company business.
- Encourage employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle and good safety practices outside of working hours.
- Maintain a continual interest in health, safety, welfare and environmental issues applicable to the practice.
- Discuss and consult with employees on how best to maximize accident prevention and implement safe working practices.
As the implementation of a policy requires active participation from everyone, the employee’s responsibilities are to:
- Read and digest the staff handbook particularly the safety policy statement and the safety plan.
- Comply with the statutory health, safety, welfare and environmental requirements and those in the practice’s statements.
- Doing all that is reasonably practicable to prevent injury or illness to themselves or other persons.
- Report and assist in the investigation of accidents, diseases or dangerous occurances with the aim of introducing corrective measures.
- Work safely and efficiently using protective clothing and equipment provided; complying with the instructions of managers and supervisors.
- Familiarise themselves with the relevant site safety procedures with visiting construction sites or premises not belonging to the practice; and ensuring personal compliance with those procedures.
All employees are responsible for playing their part in the implementation of this policy.
This policy statement along with the safety plan is displayed above the photocopier in the office in a key location. A copy of the statement and safety plan is issued to every member of staff upon commencement of employment.
The partners review and amend this statement annually and on foot of legislative changes to ensure that it is updated responsibly.
No formal notices or legal proceedings have been taken against this practice in respect of either our role as employers nor as designers.
As employers and a practice of designers, we are aware of our detailed and wide ranging responsibilities currently outlined under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act (2005) particularly as it relates of our design decisions for both constructors and end users.
We acknowledge the crucial role a positive health and safety policy plays in our practice and we are committed to maintaining high standards for health and safety in our workplace, in our design and in all work related activities. Good health and safety practices are vital to an effective, responsible and profitable organization.
Our policy is to have a standard which promotes good health and is a safe working environment both in our practice and in our design in so far as is practicable. Implementation of this policy will not fully succeed without active participation of all members of staff.
Maintaining our policies with respect to health and safety is a continual process in which we recognise the key issues, set performance standards, evaluate our actual performance against these standards, take corrective action when required and identify opportunities for improving.
The partners are responsible for the health and safety policy in this practice. We have appointed a member of staff as the safety officer who aids the partners in the implementation of the policy. It is the practice’s policy:
- Provide and maintain a safe place of work, safe plant and equipment, safe systems of work as well as safe handling, storage and transportation of articles and substances. We maintain a safety plan which is read by all employees when they start at this office. The safety plan deals not only with site visits and the issue of personal protective equipment but also with how to work safely in the office.
- Provide sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to enable employees to perform their work safely. We train our staff in good health and safety practices in seminars which are outsourced from specialist companies as well as capitalising on the experiences of senior members of staff. Architectural staff attend RIAI CPD courses and one partner and associate have specific responsibility to review health and safety files that are maintained for each project. These files record the health and safety implications of the design decisions made and use standard RIBA Risk Assessment criteria. Evidence of CPD attendances is available upon request.
- We have acted as PSDS on numerous projects heretofore; as a matter of external auditing we have decided to subcontract the PSDP role when requested to specialist firms.
- Provide all necessary protective clothing and safety equipment and ensure it proper use.
- Encourage employees to adopt safe driving practices at all times and particularly when driving on company business.
- Encourage employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle and good safety practices outside of working hours.
- Maintain a continual interest in health, safety, welfare and environmental issues applicable to the practice.
- Discuss and consult with employees on how best to maximize accident prevention and implement safe working practices.
As the implementation of a policy requires active participation from everyone, the employee’s responsibilities are to:
- Read and digest the staff handbook particularly the safety policy statement and the safety plan.
- Comply with the statutory health, safety, welfare and environmental requirements and those in the practice’s statements.
- Doing all that is reasonably practicable to prevent injury or illness to themselves or other persons.
- Report and assist in the investigation of accidents, diseases or dangerous occurances with the aim of introducing corrective measures.
- Work safely and efficiently using protective clothing and equipment provided; complying with the instructions of managers and supervisors.
- Familiarise themselves with the relevant site safety procedures with visiting construction sites or premises not belonging to the practice; and ensuring personal compliance with those procedures.
All employees are responsible for playing their part in the implementation of this policy.
This policy statement along with the safety plan is displayed above the photocopier in the office in a key location. A copy of the statement and safety plan is issued to every member of staff upon commencement of employment.
The partners review and amend this statement annually and on foot of legislative changes to ensure that it is updated responsibly.
No formal notices or legal proceedings have been taken against this practice in respect of either our role as employers nor as designers.
