How safe are you? Specialist Services: CDM Co-ordinator Asbestos Fire Safety Legionella Noise and Vibration SPECIALIST SERVICES

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1 How safe are you? Specialist Services: CDM Co-ordinator Asbestos Fire Safety Legionella Noise and Vibration SPECIALIST SERVICES

2 Plansafe s specialist services provide the expertise to identify how safe your premises and workers are from the risk of asbestos, fire, Legionella, noise and vibration. We can carry out the necessary risk assessments required by law, and design your management plans accordingly. We offer awareness training for your workers. The Plansafe team is highly qualified in line with industry standards and has many years experience in these areas, supporting companies and other organisations throughout the UK with our professional help and guidance.

3 CDM Co-ordinator Services If you are a Client undertaking construction work which is likely to fall within the range of Notifiable Projects you are required to appoint a CDM Co-ordinator to assist you meet your legal requirements under The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations CDM is designed to improve standards of health and safety within the construction industry and the duties imposed on Clients by the 2007 Regulations are extensive and onerous. The CDM Co-ordinator is a health and safety role and has a wide range of duties, in addition supporting the Client, to perform the role professionally. These duties are very exacting and require an in depth knowledge of all other health and safety legislation that might impinge on the construction work and the finished project. Clients need the support of a CDM Co-ordinator that fully understands these duties. We at Plansafe have the knowledge and experience to be considered competent to fulfil this role. Our core business is health and safety and therefore at Plansafe we understand better than most the obligations of the CDM Regulations. As a corporate member of The Association for Project Safety we have been undertaking this work since the CDM Regulations were first introduced in 1994, when the role was known as a Planning Supervisor. We were among the first to offer training in the 2007 Regulations to Architects and Designers, Clients, other CDM Co-ordinators and Principal Contractors. It is imperative that the CDM Co-ordinator stands independently from others included on the Design Team, on whose work he may be called upon to comment. As a company we are not designers, nor do we act in any other capacity on design teams, therefore we offer complete independence. Of course our experienced CDM Co-ordinators understand the design and build processes and we pride ourselves on working in an integrated manner with the design team to the benefit of all parties. Our history of acting as CDM Co-ordinator encompasses a wide range of projects including: new build hospitals, hospital extension and renovation, extensive and numerous social housing projects, new build academies, complex emergency work including fire and storm damage, renovation and restoration of ancient monuments and historic buildings multi storey mixed commercial and residential infrastructure projects demolition works an award winning sustainable project Many of our projects have been multimillion pound developments, up to 25m, but we are equally comfortable undertaking the role of CDM Co-ordinator for smaller projects where required. The CDM Co-ordinator should bring added value to the project by ensuring that issues that might affect health and safety are identified at an early stage, highlighting deficiencies in design of the project as an operational building, working with the team to arrive at solutions to these issues; in short actively contributing to the design process. We hate to boast, but we know what we are talking about! Plansafe Solutions Ltd was the CDM Co-ordinator for the restoration of the Mid Steeple in Dumfries, for which I was Project Manager. This was a high risk contract involving the partial take down and reconstruction of this ancient monument and historic building which is sited in the High Street. I was delighted with the support and advice I received from Plansafe who performed their role with great professionalism and competence. Paul McCulloch, Capital Services Manager NHS Dumfries & Galloway Plansafe Solutions Ltd has acted in the capacity of CDM Co-ordinator for Loreburn Housing Association for a number of years. They provide a very professional and comprehensive service and add value to the work of our design teams. Their general expertise and knowledge of health and safety issues is extensive and they use this to good effect in advising us on a host of differing projects. Ahsan Khan, Chief Executive Officer Loreburn Housing Association

4 Asbestos the hidden killer If you work on buildings that were built or refurbished before the year 2000, you are likely to come across asbestos, dubbed the hidden killer by the Health and Safety Executive. Work-related asbestos diseases cause the death of some 4,000 people every year. That is more than are killed on the roads, and the number is still rising. If you are responsible for maintaining non-domestic properties, you have a duty to manage the asbestos risk. Otherwise, you could be in breach of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, which require you to undertake a survey of your premises to identify whether or not they contain any asbestos. If they do contain asbestos, you must then prepare a written plan to explain how you intend to control the risk to health. At Plansafe we provide the necessary expertise, through the services of our professionally qualified asbestos surveyors, to identify how safe your premises are from the risk of asbestos. If asbestos is present, we can design your management plan for coping with it. Plansafe is a member of the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA), instigated by the Health & Safety Executive to promote best practice in asbestos training. We offer training to UKATA standards. This is a specialist area of work. Identifying asbestos is not straightforward. It was used in a wide range of products and comes in a variety of guises, including vinyl floor tiles, insulation board, boilers, flues and heaters. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral with great properties of fire resistance and insulation, which has been used to great effect in many kinds of building work. However, the very properties that make it such a useful material also make it deadly under certain conditions, with its fibrous dust causing dangerous diseases. Although the use of all types of asbestos is now banned, the legacy remains in most 20th century buildings. The presence of asbestos does not necessarily mean that it has to be removed. It is only a risk to health when it releases its fibres. If the material is in good condition and in a place where it will not be disturbed, then it can be effectively managed. If it is in poor condition, or likely to be disturbed, it is better to remove the asbestos although, under certain circumstances, it can be repaired or sealed. Making sure you comply Plansafe s Asbestos Services will guide you through the Regulations, making sure you comply. Our surveyors will assess the level of survey required for your premises, then carry it out in line with Health and Safety Executive guidance. At present this includes 3 types of survey, Type 1 surveys (location and assessment) involve a visual inspection only. Type 2 surveys (standard sampling, identification and assessment) are also visual, but small samples are taken and sent for analysis. Type 3 surveys (full access sampling and identification) are fully intrusive, only necessary if you are planning refurbishment or demolition. HSE are intending to change these categories, Plansafe will always meet the standards required by HSE. Following the survey, we will create an asbestos register, to record the location and condition of the materials and to allow them to be monitored, with an assessment of the risks. The register enables anyone working on the building at any time to identify the location of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). We can then go on to prepare an asbestos management plan, to make sure your organisation carries on meeting its legal requirements and to provide continuing monitoring of the ACMs. At Plansafe, we carry out surveys and provide management plans for a wide range of properties and premises, from large commercial storage units to country estates, from schools to social landlords, and from ships to farm buildings. Following the survey we will create an asbestos register and submit this to you along with our report. Our report will advise on the condition of the asbestos materials and register their location to assist you with future monitoring of their condition, everything to ensure that you have peace of mind that Plansafe has helped you meet all your legal duties with regard to asbestos in your work premises. Over recent years Plansafe Solutions Ltd has undertaken asbestos surveys, and condition surveys of the asbestos containing materials identified, over the whole of the University of Cumbria. We have found Plansafe staff to be most professional and accommodating and are of great assistance in maintaining compliance within the campus. Mark Atkinson, Senior Estates Manager University of Cumbria

5 Fire Safety In Scotland, England and Wales a new fire safety regime has placed the responsibility for fire safety in the workplace firmly in the hands of each individual business and organisation. The principles of risk assessment and the requirement to take steps to prevent fire and mitigate its effect now form the basis for fire safety. The main legislation for this is the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and, in England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order Both came into effect in October 2006, placing a legal obligation on owners and employers to carry out their own fire risk assessments and to provide emergency plans and staff training. Fire certificates are no longer issued and those previously in force have no legal status. The responsible person must take ownership of the management of any risk in their premises. This is where Plansafe Solutions can help. Our skilled and experienced staff can provide fire risk assessments, safety advice and training, all tailored to the individual needs of your premises. Performing a thorough risk assessment and acting on the findings will help to reduce risks, ensure compliance with legislation and could save lives. The new law applies to nearly all nondomestic premises, along with Houses in Multiple Occupation that require a licence. Clients who have already benefitted from our experience in this field include housing associations, engineering and manufacturing companies, colleges, care homes and day care centres, along with high street shops. Plansafe s specialist fire safety services will give you and your business or organisation the confidence of knowing that you are meeting all your responsibilities in this vital area. By using our services, you can enjoy the reassurance that you are fully complying with duties under the fire safety regime. Plansafe Solutions act as our Health and Safety Consultants. As such they made available to us their in-house fire specialist to undertake our Fire Risk Assessment. Through him Plansafe helped us develop a clear understanding of its recommendations and made the exercise a positive one for our organisation. Russell Marchant, Principal & Chief Executive Barony College

6 Plansafe has acted as Health and Safety Consultants to the Crichton Development Company Ltd/The Crichton Trust for many years. As such its trained staff undertook Legionella Risk Assessments for fourteen properties on our estate. These provided comprehensive advice in relation to our responsibilities and the measures we should adopt to control risk. We are confident that with the support and direction of Plansafe, we are managing this issue properly and effectively to comply with legislation. John Edwards, Property Development Manager Crichton Development Company Limited Legionella Legionella is an organism found mainly in warm water environments. It can cause an uncommon but serious type of pneumonia, Legionnaires disease. People catch the disease by inhaling small droplets of water suspended in the air which contain the Legionella bacterium. Legionella is widespread, living mostly in water such as ponds, where it does not usually cause problems. Outbreaks of the disease occur from hot and cold water systems, such as plumbing, shower heads, water storage tanks and cooling towers, where temperatures are warm enough to encourage growth of the bacteria. To prevent outbreaks of the disease, businesses and organisations must comply with Regulations requiring them to manage and maintain the systems properly. Those affected range from local councils to health authorities, and from private care homes to sports facilities. Although it is impossible to guarantee that Legionella will not exist in a water system, it is possible to reduce the risk of it spreading, through pro-active management and effective control programmes. Plansafe can help you reduce the risk and ensure your compliance with the Regulations. Our expert staff will identify and assess the sources of risk, providing the suitable and sufficient risk assessment required by law. This will include assessing the risk to health, identifying the control measures to be taken to reduce the risk. Where prevention is not practicable, the assessment may include engineering measures to control exposure and other measures to reduce the risk, such as water treatment. The assessment will also include a management regime to ensure continual compliance and regular reviews.

7 Noise and Vibration Hearing damage caused by exposure to noise at work is permanent and incurable. It continues to be a significant problem in the UK. There are many new cases of people receiving compensation for hearing damage each year, with considerable costs to industry, society and, most importantly, the people who suffer the disability. Hand-arm vibration is vibration transmitted from work processes into workers hands or arms, often by using equipment and machinery. Regular and frequent exposure to this can lead to permanent health problems. It can cause a range of conditions, including vibration induced white finger. It is the duty of employers to prevent or control such risks to their workers health and safety. The Regulations governing these areas are the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 and the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations Plansafe can provide the expert help that employers need to guide them through the complexities of the legislation, carry out the necessary risk assessments and provide awareness training for employees. It is a service that we can provide to clients in a wide range of businesses and organisations, in many different environments, from factories, joiners shops and printworks, to classrooms, cafes and event venues. For both noise and vibration, our risk assessment gives the employer detailed information and guidance to allow them to take the action needed to prevent, or adequately control, the exposure of their workers to the risks. An assessment can only be considered adequate if the exposure is determined by observations of specific work practices. For noise, this includes the exposure time and the sound magnitude, preferably by measurement. For vibration, it includes the hands-on time and the vibration magnitude, also preferably by measurement. Our high performance meters enable us to measure accurately the levels of daily exposure to noise or vibration. Don t leave noise and vibration to chance, it can damage your employees health, quality of life and work efficiency. Contact Plansafe to carry out the necessary assessments. Plansafe Solutions Ltd has acted as our health and safety consultant for many years advising us on a wide range of matters, including noise and vibration. Their highly professional staff undertook a complete assessment of noise and vibration issues, worked with us to identify suitable controls and trained our staff so that they have the knowledge and skills to keep themselves safe and healthy. Both our staff and our Board appreciate the quality of the advice and service that Plansafe provide. Bill Faerestrand, Operations Director Penman Engineering Ltd

8 Plansafe Solutions 49 Buccleuch Street Dumfries DG1 2AB tel/fax: Plansafe Solutions also offers: Plansafe Health and Safety Services Plansafe Expert Witness Plansafe Integrated Management Systems Plansafe Training Services