Health & Safety Policy (2024)

1.1.1) D Sankey Limited continues to recognise its health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and accompanying protective legislation, and the Directors recognise that they have a responsibility to ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken to provide and maintain working conditions which are safe, healthy and comply with all statutory requirements and codes of practice.

1.1.2) D Sankey Limited, so far as is reasonably practicable, propose to:

• The provision and maintenance of a safe place of work, a safe system of work, safe appliances for work, and a safe and healthy working environment.
• The provision of such information and instruction as may be necessary to ensure the health and safety of its employees and others, and the promotion of awareness and understanding of health and safety throughout the workforce.
• Ensuring the safety and absence of health risks in connection with use, handling, storage and transport of all articles, substances, and equipment.
• Making regular assessments of risks to employees.
• Taking appropriate preventative/protective measures.

1.1.3) D Sankey Limited will carry out an annual review of this policy to ensure that these standards of health and safety are maintained.

1.1.4) The head of D Sankey Limited that has overall responsibility for compliance with health and safety in the Company is Mr David Peter Sankey. He will:

• Ensure suitable financial provision is made for health & safety obligations.
• Provide appropriate information and instruction to employees.
• Ensure work is planned to consider health & safety issues.
• Ensure that staff at all levels receive appropriate training.
• Monitor and assess risk to health and safety.
• Understand the company policy for health and safety and ensure it is readily available for employees.
• Set a personal example.
• Actively promote at all levels the company’s commitment to effective health and safety management.

1.1.5) The person responsible for Health & Safety is Philip Faulkner-Bryant who will undertake and be responsible for:

• Monitoring the implementation of the health and safety policy throughout the company and reviewing its appropriateness by regular safety inspections carried out in various workplaces.
• Investigating accidents and implementing corrective action.
• Implementing any new Health & Safety requirements pertaining to the company’s undertaking.
• Liaising with employees and clients regarding health & Safety matters, as and when appropriate.
• Collating and reporting any accidents reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (R.I.D.D.O.R.).

1.1.6) Employees should be aware of Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 that states the following: ‘It shall be the duty of every employee while at work –

a) To take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work; and
b) As regards any duty or requirement imposed on his employer or any other person by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, to co-operate with him so far as is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with’.

1.1.7) Employees should also be aware of Working at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR) that states: ‘Employees have general legal duties to take reasonable care of themselves and others who may be affected by their actions, and to co-operate with their employer to enable their health and safety duties and requirements to be complied with’.

For an employee, or those working under someone else’s control, the law says they must –

• report any safety hazard they identify to their employer:
• use the equipment and safety devices supplied or given to them properly, in accordance with any training and instructions (unless they think that would be unsafe, in which case they should seek further instructions before continuing)’.

1.1.8) In order for all employees to comply with their legal duties, they will undertake and be responsible for:

• Reading and understanding the Company Manual, including the policy documents and carry out their work safely and in accordance with its requirements.
• Ensuring that all personal protective equipment provided under a legal requirement is properly used in relation to any instruction/training given and in accordance with this health and safety policy.
• Reporting any defects to work equipment immediately.
• Reporting to the management any incidents, which have led or might lead to injury or damage and report any accidents or near misses however minor.
• Contacting the office at the beginning and end of each task when working alone.
• Using the correct tools and equipment for the job in hand and in accordance with training and manufactures instructions.
• Co-operating with any investigation which may be undertaken with the objective of preventing reoccurrence of incidents.

1.1.9) In order to meet the legal requirements of the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations and the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations, D Sankey Limited will communicate and consult with all employees on the following issues:

• The content of this policy.
• Any rules specific to a site or job.
• Changes in legislation or working best practice.
• The planning of Health and Safety training.
• The introduction or alteration of new work equipment or technology.

This communication and consultation will take place directly with the employees via safety meetings, memos posted on the staff notice board and annual assessments.

1.1.10) All employees are given training appropriate to their responsibilities in accordance with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations. Training will be provided for the following situations:

• Induction training for new employees (Health and Safety awareness, company policies, procedures, best practice, etc).
• The introduction or modification of new/existing machinery, equipment, or materials.
• A change in employee position/work activity or responsibility.
• Annual assessments.

Training is also specifically provided for work with rodenticides, hazardous substances, use of PPE and manual handling. Any training provided by the company will be formally recorded with a hard copy kept on file. A programme of refresher training will be undertaken to keep employees up to date with legislation and industry best practice.

1.1.11) The Health and Safety Co-ordinator/Representative will carry out and record formal Risk Assessments for high-risk tasks or when requested by clients or employees. Low or medium risk task assessments shall be carried out by employees throughout their work and recorded on a Pest Control Health & Safety Work Sheet. Staff shall also assess any hazard (and COSSH) considerations and adapt the work methods to minimise the risk of injury to themselves and others affected by the work.

Where the employee does not have sufficient knowledge about a specific hazard, they will take further advice from the H&S Co-ordinator Representative or David Sankey. David Sankey, the head of the Company, shall ensure all operators are provided with appropriate instruction and training on risk assessments before commencing a task.

1.1.12) Formal method statements (safe working procedures) will be prepared in writing where the risk is considered particularly high or is requested by an employee or customer. The method statements will provide site specific information on the task to be undertaken including site set up, chain of responsibility and a clear sequence of work that would be followed to undertake the given task safely.

1.1.13) Employees will always familiarise themselves with client procedures when first attending commercial or industrial sites, in particular general site access, emergency procedures, asbestos register and high risk work activities including permit to work systems. Clients site procedures and specific instructions will be always followed.

1.1.14) Wherever possible, arrangements will be made with the client or principal contractor for the use of welfare facilities at commercial or industrial sites under their management. As a minimum the following requirements will be adhered to:

• Toilet/washing facilities accessible on site.
• Eating/rest facilities accessible on site.

1.1.15) All equipment used at work will comply with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (P.U.W.E.R.). Before new equipment is introduced into the working environment, an assessment will be made by David Sankey or Philip Faulkner Bryant to ascertain that the equipment is suitable for its intended use.

• No employee will use work equipment for which they have not received specific training.
• No employee will knowingly misuse work equipment or remove any guards that are in place to minimise a specified risk.
• All work equipment will be maintained and inspected at suitable intervals either internally by a competent person or by specialist external companies.
• The frequency of work equipment maintenance or inspection will be based on manufacturers’ guidance and industry best practice.
• Any maintenance/inspections undertaken on company equipment will be formally recorded.

If any faults or damage are found on any equipment, employees must stop using the work equipment and report the fault immediately to either David Sankey or Philip Faulkner-Bryant.

1.1.16) Appropriate personal protective equipment will be issued to employees free of charge as and when necessary for work activities.

• Training will be provided for employees on the safe use of the relevant equipment before issue.
• All employees are encouraged to check and replace PPEs on their return to the head office.
• Employees have a legal duty to wear PPE as specified in relevant site rules, risk assessments and method statements.
• Employees failing to wear PPEs specified for a task may be dismissed.

Any defects or malfunction of PPE must be reported to David Sankey or Philip Faulkner-Bryant

1.1.17) The risks associated with hazardous substances will be considered for all work activities and alternative less harmful substances will be used wherever possible.

For low to medium risk activities, and before any hazardous substances are used during a work process, a Pest Control Health & Safety Sheet assessment should be made of the risks. For high-risk activities, a specific risk assessment will be produced. In case of risks to health, PPE is provided and must be used by employees.

An assessment will be undertaken by the Health and Safety Co-ordinator/Representative in line with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) of all substances and materials hazardous to health and an inventory shall be held at head office.

1.1.18) Adequate first aid provision will be made at work. A first aid box shall be suitably always marked and be easily accessible to all employees when they are at work.

• Head Office – the first aid box is in the rest room. Qualified First Aiders is Shannon Sankey.
• On Project Sites – wherever possible arrangements are made with client or principal contractors to use their first aid facilities.
• Where this is not possible, all staff will carry a first aid box in their vehicle which will contain adequate supplies. Any products used must be replaced immediately from the head office and first aid box replaced at intervals specified by the use-by date.

1.1.19) All accidents must be recorded in the company’s accident book. However, certain accidents are
reportable to the HSE’s Incident Contact Centre under the ‘RIDDOR’ scheme. The Health and Safety Co-ordinator, Philip Faulkner-Bryant, must be notified as soon as practicable after incidents causing the following injuries:

• any work-related injury that leads to an employee being absent from work for more than 7 working days (not counting the day on which the accident happened).
• fracture other than to fingers, thumbs, or toes.
• amputation
• dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee, or spine
• loss of sight (temporary or permanent)
• chemical or hot metal burn to the eye or any penetrating injury to the eye.
• injury resulting from an electric shock or electrical burn.
• unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.
• any other injury: leading to hypothermia, heat-induced illness, or unconsciousness; or requiring resuscitation; or requiring admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.
All accidents/incidents will be investigated by Mr David Sankey and any action taken because of an investigation will be formally recorded.

1.1.20) Before any work commences on a client’s site, we will request from the client if asbestos is known to be present or, if relevant, to view the site-specific asbestos register (the position and condition of any asbestos that may be in the area where you will be working should be recorded in the asbestos register). Due to the nature of our works on older buildings, staff could be at risk of exposure to asbestos.

1.1.21) Manual handling risks should be considered prior to each work activity. The method of work should be adapted to minimise manual handling risks wherever possible, including use of alternative lifting and carrying methods. All employees are advised not to manually handle loads which they feel incapable of moving safely.

1.1.22) It is the Company’s policy to take account of fire hazards in the workplace. All employees have a duty to conduct their operations in such a way as to minimise the risk of fire. This involves.

• Compliance with the Company’s no smoking policy.
• Keeping combustible materials separate from sources of ignition.
• Avoiding unnecessary accumulation of combustible materials.

Employees are responsible for keeping their operating areas safe from fire and are trained in proper fire prevention practices and emergency procedures detailed in the fire log. The person with responsibility for the maintenance and testing of fire alarms and firefighting equipment is David Sankey. A fire log is maintained and updated in the head office.

In the event of the fire alarm being activated, or in any other emergency (e.g., bomb scare), all employees must leave the building by the nearest available exit and assemble at the designated assembly point in the car park.

1.1.23) The safety of members of the public and other contractors is always considered whilst on site. Any work area that could place others at risk due to the Company’s activities will be closed off by appropriate means (e.g., safety signage, barriers, tape) to restrict access. If appropriate, a staff member will patrol the area below our working area and exclude members of the public, clients, staff, and contractors.

1.1.24) The UK government have classified Pest Control operatives as keyworkers during the global pandemic. D Sankey Limited will:

• Monitor the current situation and advice from government and professional bodies in respect to the ongoing coronavirus.
• Minimise the number of people on site.
• Make sure our employees can spot symptoms.
• Tell workers with symptoms to quarantine immediately • Explain new procedure and provide training where necessary.
• Consider the protected characteristics of our employees when making decisions and prevent discrimination.
• Any staff member travelling from a county that the British Foreign Office currently requires quarantine must self-isolate for 14days before returning to work.

1.1.26) This policy has been prepared in furtherance of section 2(3) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and binds all staff. We request that our customers and visitors respect this policy, a copy of which can be obtained on request.


Signed: Mr David Peter Sankey, Director. January 2024.

Version xix

D.Sankey Pest Control Ltd
Unit 7, Riverside, Bellbrook Business Park, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 1QQ.