Smiths News policy on health and Safety at work
Download Health and Safety Policy
Smiths News takes the Health & Safety of all of its employees, customers and contractors very seriously and shall conduct its business in such a manner as does not expose its employees or customers to risks that may affect their health and safety.
The principles of our approach to Health & Safety are set out in our Policy statement below:
Board commitment
Overall responsibility lies with the Chief Executive for ensuring the Health & Safety Policy is implemented. The Company’s Board has reviewed our Health & Safety Policy and is committed to ensuring the activities of the business and our working environment are safe for our customers, employees and those connected to our operations.
Employee consultation
We strongly encourage employee involvement and commitment to achieving safety standards through regular consultation on matters affecting health and safety. The Company has a Health Safety Committee which includes employee representatives and the minutes of these meetings are communicated regularly through the Company intranet.
Information, training and support
The Company provides information, instruction and appropriate training for employees to enable them to carry out their responsibilities in a safe manner. Each level of management undertakes appropriate supervision and monitoring, in order to provide a safe working environment.
Assessing risks
Our Health & Safety team monitors practices across the Company and keeps our Health & Safety policies under continual review. This team also maintains our Health & Safety Procedures Manual, which contains details of the organisation and arrangements put in place to implement this policy. It is available to all employees through the Company intranet and in hard copy manuals which provides guidance, which includes undertaking risk assessments, emergency procedures, maintaining safe plant and equipment, avoiding hazards and taking appropriate protective and preventative measures.
Monitoring performance
Valuing our people is one of our core values. We therefore monitor and investigate all accidents and near misses in order to take appropriate remedial action to reduce the likelihood of avoidable recurrence. We continually monitor our performance with regard to all areas of health and safety. The data is monitored regularly by the Board, the Audit Committee and the National Health and Safety Committee.
We are all responsible
Every employee has a legal duty to take care of themselves and others who may be affected by their actions or omissions at work. It is therefore vital that each of you is fully aware of your responsibilities under this Health & Safety Policy. Failure to comply with this policy or other health and safety requirements may render you liable to disciplinary action. Managers and Supervisors have additional responsibilities to manage all health and safety issues within their unit as an integral part of their duties. Advice and assistance is available from specialist support departments but the manager retains full responsibility for ensuring suitable health and safety arrangements have been made locally and that individual responsibilities are clearly allocated.
This statement has been circulated to all employees and is displayed on notice boards in order to ensure full awareness of its contents.
Dennis Millard
Chairman
February 2008