Health & safety bulletin
Unacceptable Risks
13th August 2009
Please see below self explanatory Memo.
From: Martin Rackley, HSSE Manager, BP/Bovis Global Alliance
Date: 29.06.09
Routine site audits highlighted two serious HSSE breeches last week.
- A refrigeration engineer was servicing a chiller cabinet. Despite stating it should be isolated on the clearance certificate, he worked on it live. The fans were exposed; he was working with water and electrics; no barriers were in place to protect customers or staff.
- A steel erector climbed out of his cherry picker, disconnected his harness and balanced on open steel work at approx 6m. Stacked directly below him were the new shop glass doors.
FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION, BOTH INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND WILL BE PROHIBTED FROM WORKING ON GA PROJECTS IN FUTURE.
Lessons Learnt:
- Both contractors were experienced and knew what to do BUT chose to take a short cut.
- Lack of barriers and exposed fans in a chiller cabinet put customers at risk. Imagine if a small child had reached in to get a drink or chocolate bar.
- If hazards and control measures are identified in method statements and / or clearance certificates you must follow them - NO EXCEPTIONS.
- Working unprotected at height is the most common cause of construction deaths and will not be tolerated on our projects.
- People are responsible for their actions. Think about the consequences for you, your family and employer when considering taking a short cut. IS IT WORTH IT?
- IF IT'S UNSAFE - STOP WORK AND SPEAK WITH YOUR SITE MANAGER OR SUPERVISOR