8 steps to safety

1. Personal Safety Awareness

• Follow local site rules at all times
• Always wear correct PPE and inspect before use
• Ensure work areas are safe to enter
• Hold handrails where provided
• Do not cross barriers and obey safety instructions and signage
• Keep your work area tidy, putting tools, equipment and other materials away at end of every shift
• Familiarise yourself with emergency exits and protected areas
• Walk, don’t run!
• Stay alert!  Personal safety awareness at all times – concentrate!

 
2. Working with Pressure

Working with pressurised systems shall only commence when:

• Safe and suitable equipment has been provided
  • Equipment provided shall be suitable for its intended purpose
  • Shall not have been modified in any way from its original design without following a documented Management of Change process
  • Equipment can be operated safely without further risk – without having to lift in place, climb up ladders or operate through pipework or structures for example
• The operating conditions are known and understood before the job commences
  • Know what liquid or gas is present
  • Know what the pressure and temperature is
  • Ensure operating instructions are available for the equipment/activity to be undertaken including actions in an emergency
• Protective devices are fitted and functional
  • Ensure all protective devices and isolations are in place prior to starting the job
  • Where these devices/isolations are by others then record evidence that they are as per the job plan and functional
  • Do not tamper with or otherwise alter protective devices or isolations once set
• Maintenance and inspection routines in place and records kept
  • All equipment required for the safe working on pressure systems shall be maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions
  • Personnel using equipment must inspect equipment/system prior to use to confirm fitness for purpose, looking for signs of wear and corrosion
• Personnel competence
  • All personnel undertaking work on pressurised systems shall have a demonstrable competence for the activity to be undertaken
  • A Suitable and sufficient risk assessment is in place prior to the job commencing alongside written procedure for the activity

 
3. Driving Safety

Drivers must be authorised and:

• Follow the rules of the road as appropriate for the country of operations e.g. UK ‘Highway Code’ including remaining within national speed limits or a speed appropriate for the driving conditions at the time
• Observe safe driving practices
• Seat belts are installed and worn by all occupants
• Never use mobile phones or radios whilst driving
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs or if suffering from fatigue
• Ensure vehicle is fit for purpose, inspected before use and confirmed to be in safe working order
• Drivers are authorised, traineed, certified and medically fit to operate the class of vehicle
• Passenger numbers should not exceed manufacturer’s design specification
• Loads are secure and do not exceed manufacturer’s design specification or legal limits

4. Lifting & Mechanical Handling 

• A lift assessment must be completed and the lift method and equipment determined by a trained and competent person
• Operators of powered lifting devices are fully trained and certified for that equipment
• Rigging of the load is carried out by a competent person(s)
• Lifting devices and equipment is certified for use within the last 12 months
• Load does not exceed the dynamic and static capacities of the lifting equipment
• Any safety devices installed on lifting equipment are operational
• All lifting devices and equipment have been visually examined before each lift by a competent person(s)
• Stop the operation if any deviation or complication becomes apparent

5. Manual Handling

• Determine whether a mechanical alternative is available or possible to avoid manual handling where practicable

If unavoidable;

• Assess the properties of the load
• Carry out a manual handling risk assessment
• Use proper lifting techniques
• Consider the working area and the environment
• Stop all manual handling operations immediately if any complications or deviations become apparent

6. Working at Height

• A risk assessment must be completed to develop a safe system of work

Then PREVENT a fall by using;

• A fixed platform with hand rails, verified by a competent person

• Use air bags or netting preferentially
• Use approved fall arrest equipment ensuring it has been properly maintained, is correctly anchored and will arrest the fall before impact
• Check for fragile surfaces and assess environmental conditions before commencing work
• Ensure that a rescue plan is in place for colleague(s) injured whilst working at height
• Do not use ladders unless absolutely necessary and only for short durations

7. Use of Work Equipment

• Ensure a risk assessment is completed before starting the job
• Select the correct equipment/tools for the job and inspect before use
• Consider alternatives to use of knives, and if no alternative, select the right one for the job
• Avoid wearing rings or bracelets
• Ensure guards are fitted and in good condition prior to using machinery
• Isolate prior to maintenance or change of equipment component
• Have the correct PPE available and use it
• Ensure that you are trained and competent to use the tools or equipment
• Never attempt to bypass equipment safeguards or modify in any way

8. Management of Change

Additional work outwith the agreed scope of work should not be undertaken by ICR personnel unless authorised by Operations Management.

Where there is significant change to an activity, organisation, process or equipment then it shall proceed only when:

• A risk assessment has been conducted by all impacted by the change
• A plan has been developed that covers the change, that clearly defines the timescale for the change and includes all control measures to be implemented
• The plan has been authorised by the responsible person
• The change and the plan to manage the change has been communicated to all involved
• The results of the proposed change shall be monitored and the job stopped if unsafe