Health & safety bulletins
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30th December 2010
Accidents
The bulletin shows how accidents can happen when performing even the most basic of tasks. Concentration can lapse when you think you are doing something relatively safe, and you end up “asleep at the wheel”.
23rd December 2010
Fatal Fall
This incident highlights the reasons why suitable barriers are imperative around work areas, especially at night or when the site is unmanned. It also highlights the need to ensure you have adequate illumination to carry out all works - if you are struggling to see, stop and arrange additional illumination.
16th December 2010
Confined Space Entry
Confined space work is very hazardous and should never be carried out without specific controls being put into place. If you ever find you need to access any area with restricted movement, or restricted airflow (including manholes, pits or chambers), do not enter and contact you supervisor.
10th December 2010
World War II Bomb
Although we are extremely unlikely to come across unexploded World War II bombs, if you are on a site where excavation works is being carried out it is always a potential hazard. If you spot anything that may be a bomb, evacuate the site and notify the emergency services.
07th December 2010
Winter Driving Incident
This bulletin highlights the reasons we recommend the use of the van as a barrier wherever reasonably practical - in this case the fencing did not stop the car, it only stopped when it hit a truck.
02nd December 2010
H&S Non-compliance
Any breach of health and safety rules is a serious offense and not only could result in an accident, it could result in disciplinary action. There is no excuse for breaking H&S rules, if you can't do the job following the rules, then don't do it - contact your supervisor.
25th November 2010
ExxonMobil Safety Letter
We are pleased that our ‘safety awareness’ statistics (based on near miss and potential incident reporting) this year are on track to significantly improve on last year's numbers.
22nd November 2010
Winter Driving
In the winter months driving becomes even more hazardous, and it can take longer to get to your destination. Ensure you allow extra time to check and clear the vehicle before leaving.
18th November 2010
Winter Working
Our workload normally increases dramatically in the last couple of months of each year, as customers spend budgets before the end of the year. This puts pressure on everyone to get the job done, which can increase the risk of an accident. This is compounded by the additional hazards caused by the weather.
11th November 2010
Head Injury
This demonstrates what can happen if safety procedures are not suitable for the task or are not followed.
04th November 2010
Lost Time Incident
This incident highlights the need to review all JSAs and identify any missing steps or problems.
28th October 2010
Back In Time To Winter Nights
It's that time of year again! Dark, cold mornings, frosted cars and icy roads.
21st October 2010
Wind Conditions
This incident highlights the need to always carry out Last Minute Risk Assessments (LMRA) on each site, taking into account local site conditions, including the weather.
14th October 2010
Safety Knives
In January 2010, we banned the use of fixed blade knives on all Xmo Strata sites.
07th October 2010
Focus On Working At Heights
Always inspect your harness before use and ensure it is fitted correctly. If your harness is worn or damaged, stop and contact your supervisor for a replacement.
30th September 2010
Unsecured Load
This incident highlights the need to ensure that all loads are secure before lifting or handling them.
23rd September 2010
Fuel Bowser Pressure Valve
This incident highlights the need to always get instruction / training for the plant you are using. When receiving hired plant on site, always ensure the documentation and instructions are with the plant; and read them before you allow anybody to use it. If you have any problems with the documentation (e.g. test certificate is out of date, or you don't understand operating instructions) contact your supervisor immediately.
16th September 2010
HSE Focuses On Safe Maintenance
Safe maintenance is at the heart of a new European wide campaign - Healthy Workplaces.
9th September 2010
Unsafe Circuit Breaker
Unfortunately it is not uncommon to find electrical installations on some dealer sites in poor condition, this example shows the need to always be vigilant when working near electrical equipment, and never assume the existing installation is correct or safe.
2nd September 2010
Safety - It's In Your Hands
Xmo Strata has implemented a number of initiatives to minimise the risk of blade cuts, having identified in 2008 that they equated to 66% of incidents resulting in harm.
26th August 2010
LOTO Testing
This highlights the need to always test any equipment you isolate to ensure it is actually dead before working on it. Just because you have isolated and locked something off, it doesn't necessarily mean the equipment is now safe to work on.
19th August 2010
Posters
These posters are designed to highlight the reporting of near misses and potential incidents so that we can learn from them and thereby reduce accidents.
12th August 2010
Grinders
All tools must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, and no components / guards may be removed or modifications made. If any tools have been damaged or safety shields / guards are missing, contact your supervisor for a replacement.
5th August 2010
Insect Stings
Please see enclosed self explanatory bulletins from Esso where two workers have been stung by a bee or a wasp, both of the stings resulted in the worker needing medical attention.
29nd July 2010
Fall From Ladder
This incident highlights the reasons why we banned freestanding ladders several years ago and invested in sherpascopic and podium steps.
22nd July 2010
Customer Bulletin - Fire Safety
It is not often that we issue bulletins specifically for the attention of our customers, so we thought we'd make an exception for our 200th one. Generally these are aimed at our employees and approved subcontractors and made available for customers' reference and awareness.
15th July 2010
Violation Of Shell Life Saving Rules
Mobile phones are banned from all petrol stations, and whilst driving, as not only are they a potential ignition source, they also are a significant distraction.
8th July 2010
Exxonmobil June Safety Overview
We are pleased to see that after our significant campaign and incentive scheme run last year, that we are continuing to see near misses and potential incidents reported and that the quality of the reports is very high.
1st July 2010
Sun Induced Skin Cancer
At this time of the year, we all enjoy the sun, but need to be acutely aware of the effect it can have on our skin. Over exposure to the sun is the biggest cause of skin cancer, one of the most common cancers in the UK; there are two main types, malignant melanoma of the skin and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and they are extremely common.
24th June 2010
Peer On Peer Audits
At our safety awareness day in December, we announced the introduction of peer on peer audits where site operatives audit each other using the F1.3.1 audit form that was previously only used by the management team. The objective of this is to encourage more time “talking” about safety issues, as opposed to ticking boxes.
17th June 2010
Off the Phone
Distractions now join alcohol and speeding as leading factors in fatal and serious injury accidents.
10th June 2010
Line Of Fire
Recent observations on site have identified that many contractors, including our employees, arrive on a live site, put on their PPE and walk across the forecourt to sign-in.
3rd June 2010
Live Site Works
Most of the sites we work on are 'live' - they are open for business and have members of the public driving on and off site. Frequently the public do unexpected or illogical things, including attempting to enter barriered off work areas.
27th May 2010
Sharing Lesson Learnt - Mobile Phone On Forecourt
Gigi Petane (an Xmo site surveyor) has reported a potential incident that he feels others can learn from and has agreed to me sharing.
20th May 2010
Contractor Fall
Although the BLL incident happened in New York and had nothing to do with us, the risks associated with work at height are the same as those we face every day.
13th May 2010
Scaffold Board Failure
This highlights the need to always check materials and plant before use; even brand new items can have potentially dangerous faults.
06th May 2010
Hand Injuries In 2009
As you are all aware, Xmo Strata rules require gloves to be worn at all times whilst on site and all JSAs identify the minimum rating of the gloves to be worn for each task. If you have concerns or disagree with any rating on the JSAs or require a new hand protection checklist card please let your supervisor know.
29th April 2010
LOTO Incidents
In March, Xmo teams were undertaking re-imaging work on a filling station that was being developed. Prior to the team attending, and as part of the overall site scope, a nominated electrical contractor had attended site to isolate the electrical feeds.
22th April 2010
Xmo First Quarter Safety Review
I am pleased to confirm that we've had our best ever start to a New Year by identifying 67 hazard spots/potential incidents/near misses and have suffered no accidents or incidents resulting in anyone being harmed. At the time of identification we were able to mitigate 34 potential hazards totally, and reduce the risk on a further 12 (a residual risk analysis is included later).
15th April 2010
Chesterfield UK Lessons Learnt
Whilst Xmo Strata were not involved in any way, the Chesterfield incident is a reminder that barriers must always be used to protect the work area, and any hazards must be identified and addressed - if somebody on this site had spotted this hazard and corrected it they would have prevented an injury.
08th April 2010
Xmo Strata Site Rules
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.
01st April 2010
Restricted Work Incident
Please see below a self explanatory safety alert. Although the incident didn't involve Xmo Strata, it is pertinent to the work we interface with on some of our sites.
25th March 2010
Asbestos In Fuses
We don't normally have to deal with cartridge type fuses, but if you should find one, especially if it is damaged, be aware that it could contain asbestos.
18th March 2010
Accidents Can Happen at Home
As you are all aware, we work very hard to encourage instinctively safe behaviour from all of our employees and approved subcontractors. The most recent behavioural safety courses that we've delivered have tried to encourage safety at home as well as at work.
11th March 2010
Smoking & Knife Ban
As you are all aware, smoking on the forecourt is not allowed under any circumstances, this bulletin gives guidance on the suitable locations to smoke.
4th March 2010
Reward and Recognition & Fencing and Site Boundaries
Please see enclosed self explanatory bulletins from Coteba, which we are pleased to fully support.
25th February 2010
Good Safety Practice Saves Money
It is a fairly common belief that safety costs money, but HSE studies indicate that good safety practice does make good commercial sense, so who do we believe?
18th February 2010
Preparation And Job Planning
As part of sharing lessons learnt, Andy and Todd Wyer, who are diligent Xmo workers with good safety awareness, have agreed to me sharing information on a potential incident and the lessons learnt by them while auditing a site recently.
11th February 2010
Forecourts - Take Care
This bulletin describes a serious injury to a worker who was just walking across a live forecourt. This is an activity we carry out every day and we can become overconfident or “asleep at the wheel” whilst working.
4th February 2010
Ceiling Collapse
Please see the link to a self explanatory bulletin from the Global Alliance which does not relate to a job that Xmo were involved with, but is very pertinent to the works we are undertaking for some customers.
29th January 2010
ISO Accreditations
I am pleased to confirm that we have passed all of the ISO audits (ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001) recently undertaken both in the office and on site.
28th January 2010
Even Safety Equipment Can Be Unsafe!
Please see the links to self explanatory bulletins issued by London Underground and Network Rail respectively.
21st January 2010
BP/Bovis Global Alliance Newsletter
Please see self explanatory safety newsletter from the BP/Bovis Global Alliance.
14th January 2010
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones should never be used on a forecourt or whilst driving. Leave you mobile in your vehicle or where relevant in the site hut.
7th January 2010
Addressing Hazards At Source
At our annual health & safety awareness day on 11th December, we celebrated the success of some of our top performing teams at the Hilton Hotel, Maidstone.