The management of health and safety is at the forefront of everything we do at PMJ. It is a shared ethos, hard wired into all our processes and activities. It sits behind everything, from assessing an initial design through to project completion and the issue of the O&M manuals to the client. Others have used the strapline “Safety first, second nature” but this truly does sum up our approach.
Health and safety processes don’t just begin when we arrive on site. When each project begins, health and safety questions are assessed during the tender stage. This supports the thinking that our health and safety supports the principal contractor’s health and safety, and in turn the client’s health and safety. We strive for a high standard across all projects and work based on respect. We anticipate the access and facilities to undertake our work safely, for our operatives to respect their own and their colleague’s health, safety, and wellbeing, and that all involved parties are always safe.
Installing stonework on site by its very nature – moving and positioning large irregular shapes of heavy stone, while typically at height and working from a temporary means of access – is a high-risk activity. All these risks and more, can be successfully addressed through strong well experienced management, engineering solutions and processes.
This begins during the design stage. Successfully assessing and implementing a CDM design risk assessment and leading your design intent from this outcome, is a good starting point. This does not mean that every stone needs to be less than 25KG – it means that due consideration is given as to how the architectural design can be safely built on site. With the correct advanced planning, individual stones of several hundred kilogrammes or greater can be safely delivered and installed safely.
Once the design principles have been settled, the outline building methodology has been agreed, the schedule of attendances agreed with the Principal Contractor and the site has been developed adequately, PMJ Masonry will visit the site and in conjunction with the Principal Contractor, develop the outline building methodology into an agreed construction methodology. This will in turn be recorded by way of an easily understandable set of Risk Assessments, COSHH Assessments and Method Statement – our RAMS documentation.
From our experience, these documents are treated as “live” documents throughout the duration of the project and will be open to review once site circumstances require and permit.
Safety management at site level
The successful implementation of the safety planning undertaken during the design and preconstruction phases is by far the most important stage of health and safety management.
We use several simple tools and practices to implement and maintain the highest levels of site health and safety. These include:
- Each PMJ project has a dedicated Project Director allocated to oversee all activity.
- Each PMJ site will have a full time Site Manager or Chargehand Working Supervisor. This is assessed at tender stage with due consideration to the size, complexity, programme, and specific technical challenges that a specific project needs to accommodate.
- All PMJ Contract Directors and Site Managers have the appropriate experience, the appropriate CSCS Card and maintain a CITB 5 Day SMSTS qualification.
- All PMJ Site Supervisors have the appropriate experience, the appropriate CSCS Card and maintain as a minimum a CITB 2 Day SSSTS qualification.
- All site operatives have the appropriate experience and hold and maintain the appropriate CSCS card.
- We regularly review our worker training records against project requirements and arrange the correct level of appropriate training or referrer training. This is maintained on a centrally accessible data base.
- Each PMJ site has continuous access to senior management and our external safety consultants – Worksafe Consultancy Services Ltd.
- Our RAMS documentation is drafted in equal consultation with Worksafe Consultancy Services and the project specific Site Manager.
- Our Site Mangers are briefed on their specific project by their Contract Director. While covering many aspects of the project, the safety challenges and expectations as detailed with in the RAMS documentation is of core importance during these briefings.
- Each site operative on a new project will on arrival attend a PMJ safety briefing where the RAMS documents will be explained to them in detail. Only once the Site Manager is comfortable and they are fully conversant with the content, does the operative be provided with the opportunity to sign up to the Project Specific RAMS.
- In keeping with the analysis of HSE Accident Records (and armed with the knowledge that a disproportionate percentage of accidents occur when operatives are new to a site), this enhanced risk period is flagged to operatives during induction to raise awareness of the potential risk.
- Once a PMJ induction is completed, all operatives will attend the Principal Contractors project wide site induction.
- Ongoing site safety management is maintained through several Project Management oversight and Site Manager supervisory functions.
- The appointed Project Director will attend site regularly – at periods not exceeding two weeks and review all aspects of progress. From this any appropriate additional resources, corrective measures or training will be implemented. Safety performance is a specific consideration during each site visit.
- In advance of a project commencing, the Project Director will have assessed all aspects of the project and from this will have allocated Worksafe Consultancy Services Ltd a schedule of safety visits.
- The Site Manger will undertake daily health and safety inspections as part of their daily role. Any issues arising are to be brought to the attention of the appropriate party. The Site Manger has the authority to stop any activity onsite if viewed contrary to the RAMS or unsafe in any other way.
- The Site Manager will attend the Principal Contractors Daily Activity Briefings (DABS) and pass and receive appropriate information up and down the chain of command.
- The Site Manager will arrange and undertake regular appropriate operative topic Toolbox Talks, to disseminate site safety concerns or other pertinent issues.
Health and Safety Laws
All construction companies must comply with the following core laws set out by the government, defined below:
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
- Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 (COSHH)
- Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015
Failure to comply with these requirements can have profound consequences – for both organisations and individuals. Sanctions can include fines and/or imprisonment.
Health and Safety Policy
In accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, each employer must prepare and revise policies with respect to Health and Safety at Work. To obtain our PMJ Health and Safety policy, please contact the Health and Safety team via info@pmjmasonry.com
Through adopting this safety structure and operating procedures, we have found that we can safely undertake our works without risk of injury and ill health to our operatives, people affected by our work activities and the environment, in a manner of mutual respect and understanding.