Safetyzone Health and Safety Services were appointed to work with the Quality Manager. Their existing management system was reviewed, a plan was prepared and discussed with key people who were identified as best placed to help implement the plan. A new health and safety policy was written, approved, and signed by the MD and briefed to staff. Risk assessments were done in all areas of risk incorporating applicable legislation and consulting the workforce at risk. Adequate safety measures were implemented, and safe systems of work were written where required.

This phase was followed by staff briefing and the provision of information, instruction and training. The final stage was to establish inspections and audits to check if the safety measures were working and feed the results back into the plan for action. Full documentation was provided. A site safety committee was established with quarterly meetings attended by key people representing all levels of staff in the company. Once this stage was reached the consultancy visits became one day per month to help maintain the system and compliance with legislation.

During the process, the company needed to gain approval to OHSAS 18001, the health and safety management standard, along with ISO 14001 the environmental management standard in order to meet customer demands for these approvals. The approvals were achieved and are still in place but now as ISO 45001 the integrated management system incorporating ISO 9001 the quality standard.

It was not economical for them to directly employ a safety advisor and engaged Safetyzone Health and Safety Services. A plan was prepared including policy writing, risk assessments, safe systems of work, inspections and audits. Staff were briefed on the results of the risk assessments with the necessary information, instruction and training provided. Monthly visits maintain the inspections and audits with findings fed back into the plan for action. Full documentation is provided.