Xmo Strata

Health & safety bulletin

Xmo Strata / Xmo Veritas Site Rules

09th April 2009

The following rules are designed to protect and educate our workforce as to latest statutory regulations and Company policy and should be adhered to and carried in company vehicles at all times:

1. The lead installer allocated a job site is deemed to be the person in charge of all other persons either directly or indirectly employed by the company on that site.
2. Safety helmets (EN397), safety glasses (EN166 3B), gloves (EN388), hi-visibility vests (EN471), and ankle-high steel toe cap boots (EN345 S1) must be worn at all times on all contracts. Harnesses (EN361) must be worn when working in MEWPs and must be secured to a suitable anchor position, with a 2m adjustable restraint lanyard (EN358).
3. Hearing protection (EN352) must be carried on the van at all times and must be worn when noise levels exceed 85dBA (when you have to raise your voice to be heard by somebody 2m away). It is also a company recommendation that hearing protection is worn where noise levels exceed 80dB. (Note that for guidance purposes noise level increases on a logarithmic scale, therefore the level doubles for each 3dBA increase). Where noise levels exceed 95dBA (noise at a night club bar), double protection must be used, i.e. both ear plugs and ear muffs. If you have any doubts about the sound levels on any site, or whilst using any plant / equipment, contact your supervisor.
4. All plant and machinery must NOT be moved unless one of team acts as the banksmen and 360° sightlines are kept - this rule applies to the reversing of any vehicle. MAKE SURE YOU SURVEY THE AREA WHICH YOU ARE GOING TO MOVE IT INTO BEFORE YOU DO SO. Do not allow ANY Xmo Strata / Xmo Veritas, sub Contractor or supplier's vehicle to enter the site blindly.
5. Always isolate plant, lock-up containers and waste skips and leave keys in the shop (note on your job sheet / clearance certificate the name of the person to whom you give the keys). Ensure all Heras fencing and other materials to be collected later are stacked safely and neatly away from any emergency exits.
6. All plant or machinery must be operated and stored within a fenced-off area - always maintain a physical barrier between the workplace and site traffic. When parking your vehicle, and where possible, use it to form a physical barrier at the ingress side of your work area. You can then also operate more efficiently out of the back doors of the van. Make sure your barriers are joined up all the way around your work area, so no one can pass through the work area.
7. Always ensure 600mm distance between moving machinery and a fixed obstruction (trapping hazard) - if unable to fence-off, restrict the free passage of persons / third parties by placing a person to act as a guard. When raising a scissor lift or cherry picker under a soffit, be aware of the trapping hazard that may be present. The lead installer must nominate a competent person to operate the equipment, the nominated person will not operate the plant unless all other persons are clear of any pinch point.
8. Carry out a thorough inspection of the MEWP as it is delivered, and/or before you use it, to ensure there are no leaks, there is no damage, missing items etc and it is in full working order; if it fails in anyway, report it immediately to your supervisor and they will authorise it's use, or not.
9. Some sites are declared a high-fire risk due to free passage of persons across the site. In these circumstances, closed waste skips will be sent to site - always keep these doors shut & locked. Always keep paper and other flammable materials in the lockable container. If an open skip has been sent to site, store the waste paper out of sight and dispose into skip just before the skip is removed from site.
10. Always complete a Work at Height Checklist before working on any access equipment. This includes steps, ladders, MEWPs, Towers, Scaffolds etc. Record the windspeed on your checklist before starting work and monitor it regularly.
11. Do not use a scaffold until the erection company has issued a handing over certificate or has fitted a plastic label (Scaff Tag) onto the scaffold clearly stating all is in order for use. Scaffolds are required by law to be inspected by the subcontracting company every 7 days after completion. If a scaffold is to be erected onto a footpath contact your immediate supervisor and ensure adequate provisions are made to ensure safe passage of pedestrians - if in doubt, or you envisage danger to pedestrians, do not erect the scaffold.
12. Smoking and use of mobile phones are banned from all areas within a petrol forecourt - ensure subcontractors, delivery drivers and any other users of the forecourt are made aware of this danger.
13. Smoking is banned in all company offices, storage units, sites and vehicles.
14. Only authorised persons are allowed to drive company vehicles. Whilst driving, operating a mobile phone is not permitted, however the second crew member can use the telephone without distracting the driver.
15. If the component you are working on is illuminated or has an electrical supply of any kind - ALWAYS check the energy is isolated before starting work, for your own safety and to avoid disruption to the site by tripping circuits. Refer to your Lock Out Tag Out checklist in your clearance certificate. The LOCK OUT part means you are safe from a sudden release of energy, because it is safely secured. The TAG OUT part means that there is some kind of visual sign that GUARANTEES to you that the energy has been, and still is, isolated and no one could have tampered with it in the meantime.
16. All QA / Safety forms deemed by the company to be necessary for your duties, along with photos must be completed on time, and at the required frequency.
17. No persons should direct lifting operations (MID etc) of any kind whatsoever unless approved, trained and certified by the company. Always complete a Mobile Crane checklist before allowing a hiab or crane operator to carry out any lifting operation.
18. Sherpascopic or Sherpamatic step ladders have been issued to all crews for gaining access. Conventional type step ladders of any height are banned from general day-to-day usage, unless otherwise authorised by your supervisor.
19. Ladders may only be used for access / egress purposes, or for inspection purposes, and then only when another person is holding the bottom section, or the ladder is lashed to a structure at high-level. Always maintain three points of contact with the ladder when in use. If you need to use a ladder / steps - first seek authorisation from your supervisor.
20. Delivery drivers and subcontractors must be instructed to wear the minimum PPE i.e. helmets, hi-vis vests and adequate footwear. Subcontractors carrying out works i.e. scaffolders etc must be given this safety bulletin as a tool-box talk prior to commencing work. Any subcontractor not wearing the required minimum PPE must be told to stop work and leave the site immediately. Drivers not leaving confines of the vehicle cab are not required to wear PPE.
21. Do not work within close proximity of mobile phone masts within MID Pole Signs (radiation / micro-wave danger). Contact your immediate supervisor for details on how to arrange isolation. Note some oil companies have up to 20% of MIDs fitted with these antennas.
22. Do not work within 6m of electricity cables slung off wooden poles or within 7m of cables attached onto steel power pylons - if in doubt, ask - don't work! Do not operate tall machinery (hiabs / MEWPS) within 9m of cables slung from wooden poles or 15m from steel pylons.
23. All manhole chambers (electrical or drainage etc), vehicle inspection pits, petrol storage tanks or other type of enclosed chamber are designated as confined spaces particularly on petrol forecourts. Do not enter these areas for any reason whatsoever - contact your immediate supervisor if you are asked to do so.
24. No walking on the canopy, shop roofs or climbing inside of the canopy void space is permitted, unless expressly authorised under certain conditions and agreed in advance, with our customer and supported by a JSA/Safety Method Statement.
25. The operation of combustion engines and / or electrical drills / plant is to cease whilst fuel tankers are present on site.
26. All lead installers must ensure vans carry a spill kit, 2kg dry powder fire extinguisher and a general standard first aid kit, with eye wash and sterile gloves. Always report and sign into the forecourt shop, ascertaining any emergency procedures (muster points), welfare facilities and location of the forecourt fire-fighting equipment prior to commencing work on any petrol station. Talk through the clearance certificate procedure with the site representative. Ensure you sign-out when leaving.
27. All first aid accidents, no matter how small, must be reported immediately to your supervisor or the Operations Manager and entered into the accident book.
28. Be aware of substances that you suspect to be asbestos, if in doubt stop work and contact your immediate supervisor. Always check the site asbestos register before working in any area that could contain asbestos.
29. Please report all near-misses immediately to your supervisor or Operations Manager. These events are defined as an unplanned event that, given slightly different circumstances, could have resulted in loss, damage or injury.
30. The lead installers are responsible for ensuring the company vehicle minimum daily checks are carried out in regard to lights and brakes functional test, tyre tread within limits, spare tyre ready for use, oil and water level check, wash-wipers working. This information to be summarised on the vehicle weekly check - remember, if none of the above are up to standard, report the condition to the Operations Manager and do not operate the vehicle.
31. You may only drive vehicles over 3.5t GVW on the road if you have a valid driving license for such a vehicle (generally if you passed your standard driving test before the year 1997). However you may operate attached plant (i.e. truck mounted cherry pickers) when stationery if you are qualified.
32. All goods and relevant goods received notes must be checked and signed upon receipt of the goods, and returned to the office weekly. Do not sign the goods delivery note if the goods are damaged or not all present - therefore CHECK IT FIRST. If anything is missing or damaged IT MUST BE REPORTED IMMEDIATELY TO THE SUPERVISOR (or office if they are not available).
33. Consult your Method Statement/JSA before starting work. Always re-assess the risks posed by what you're doing before you do it. If the risks are not already identified and controlled in your Method Statement/JSA, make sure you address and control these new risks and record the new risks and control measures specifically on your clearance certificate.

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