POD’s Health and Safety Commitment Standards
Introduction
At POD we are committed to constantly improving our health and safety management system. If we put health and safety at the heart of everything we do, we can ensure the safety of our residents, employees, contractors, the public, and each other. We know that to achieve this goal we must always strive to: -
Continuous Improvement:
Health and safety standards are continually reviewed and updated. We encourage feedback from all stakeholders to enhance our practices and address any concerns promptly.
Emergency Plans:
Our comprehensive emergency plans are designed to protect everyone on our properties. We conduct regular drills and provide clear instructions to ensure swift and effective responses to emergencies.
Preventing Accidents and Injuries:
By implementing rigorous safety protocols and regular training programs, we strive to minimise the risk of accidents and injuries on all our properties.
Maintaining a Safe Environment:
We ensure that all our properties comply with health and safety regulations. Regular inspections and maintenance are conducted to uphold the highest standards of safety.
Promoting Health and Wellbeing:
We believe in fostering a culture of health and wellbeing. This includes providing resources and support for mental and physical health, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and ensuring access to safe communal spaces.
Fire Safety
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 it is a legal requirement to conduct a Fire Safety Risk Assessment of a building.
- POD will arrange for a Fire Risk Assessment to be carried out annually for all buildings in each of the developments it manages. This will be undertaken by an appointed Competent Person. POD will also instruct and supervise any works required, as a result of a Fire Safety Risk Assessment.
- Members of the Fire Services (Fire Officers) can enter any apartment blocks to inspect the building, regardless of whether there has been a fire. They may ask to see the Fire Safety Risk Assessment and issue enforcement notices to improve fire safety if needed.
- POD has a robust digitalized programme of monitoring and maintaining fire equipment including detection, firefighting and protection systems via a process of Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM).
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPS)
If you would potentially have difficulty evacuating a building unaided in a reasonably prompt manner during an emergency situation, please contact our POD Support team via support@podmanagement.co.uk.
For example, this may not be possible for a person with mobility, sight, neurodiverse, mental health or hearing conditions, or a person impacted by other circumstances such as underlying health conditions, pregnancy or a short-term injury.
A PEEP will then be created, with consent and in collaboration with the resident in question. This PEEP document will then be securely stored within the building’s secure information box (SIB) commonly known as a fire information box. You will usually find this box near to the building’s entrance. In the event of an emergency, this information will then be used by the attending fire services to aid in their operational response.
We will regularly issue reminders to all residents that you can notify POD if you may require assistance when evacuating your building in an emergency.
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 it is a legal requirement that all blocks of apartments (including managed estate areas) must have a Health and Safety Risk Assessment carried out on the communal areas.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have determined that the Health and Safety Regulations apply to communal areas - so if a cleaner, gardener, managing agent or contractor enters them to do work, then a risk assessment must be undertaken.
Communal areas are not simply the internal parts of the building. They also include the roof, structure and other external areas. When carrying out a Health and Safety Risk Assessment, all areas including gardens, grounds, plant rooms, meter cupboards and lift motor rooms must be included.
Health and Safety Risk Assessments
Managing Contractors
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 there are distinct legal requirements to consider when it comes to instructing and managing contractors.
POD operates an approved contractors list where all contractors are required to provide their Health and Safety policy, proof of adequate insurance, evidence of 3rd party health & safety accreditation approval, risk assessments (including where necessary COSHH assessments, work at height assessments and any other relevant assessments) and if necessary, method statements for the work being undertaken.
Once a contractor has been selected and appointed, POD will ensure the following:
All available health and safety information e.g. asbestos register, fire safety information, accident reporting procedure is available.
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Ensuring contractors submit specific risk assessment and method statements, via POD’s permit to work system, which address the hazards presented by their works where they deviate from normal generic risk assessments supplied as part of the vetting procedure.
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Certain types of work require attention because of the risks involved. These include: ‘hot’ works such as those involving the use of naked flame, welding or working with gas, electrical work or works at height e.g. window cleaning, redecoration and roof works
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Identifying any adverse trends/concerns that may become apparent during any works
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Ad-hoc monitoring, via POD’s contractor spot checking SOP, and providing feedback on a contractor’s health and safety performance.
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All contractors are issued a copy of POD’s “Contractors Promise” and required to agree and adhere to it at all times. This document relates to the contractor’s behaviours when on site which is critically important because it establishes a foundation of trust, accountability, and commitment to maintaining a safe working environment. This is vital for the overall success and sustainability of business operations.
Contractors are regularly monitored and ‘spot checked’. Any contractors found to be putting themselves or others in danger because of unsafe working will be at risk from being removed from our approved contractors list.
