Health & safety guidelines for contractors
HEALTH & SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR CONTRACTORS WORKING ON-SITE
Please report to the Office on arrival each day you are working on-site.
To work on-site, you are required to supply the office with a valid Public Liability insurance certificate and if requested, a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and
method statement for the works to be undertaken.
1 Insurance
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1.1 We require all contractors to carry a minimum of £5 million public liability insurance. Copies of insurance policies must be kept with the office and be in date. Boat keys will not be issued to any contractor who has not submitted their up-to-date insurance policy document with the office.
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2 Fire Precautions and Hot Work
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2.1 We require all contractors to carry a minimum of a 2Kg powder or foam fire extinguisher with them whilst hot working. In case of fire, there are marked fire extinguisher points around the boatyard. Please do not try to tackle a fire on your own unless it is safe to do so, but always immediately notify a member of staff and anyone in the vicinity.
2.2 No hot work is to be carried out without the agreement of the boat yard management. This is including (but not limited to) grinding, burning and welding. Hot works are not compatible with paint, varnish, dust, flammables etc.
2.3 Keep your working area tidy at all times, minimise potential trip hazards and clear up potential fire hazards e.g. sawdust, waste, batteries, resins, fuel. Bilges must be free of any liquids and well ventilated in the immediate working area before hot works commence.
2.4 If working with flammable solvents, keep lids on containers whilst not in use, take care not to smoke or produce sparks in the immediate vicinity. After use remove the solvents from site or store in a suitable, secure and well-ventilated store.
2.5 Do not smoke when working in the fuel storage area or produce sparks as fuels are stored and vented here.
2.6 Please take empty containers, brushes, rags and other such items which may be contaminated with solvents away and dispose of in a responsible manner.
3 First Aid
If you need first aid come to the office. Richard and Sean are trained in first aid. There are first aid stations including eyewash and a defibrillator on site located at the river wardens building – please familiarise yourself with the location of the defibrillator and first aid stations.
4 General Safety
• Please familiarise yourself with the location of lifesaving and firefighting equipment around the boatyard.
• Please take extra care in snow and icy conditions as the pontoons can be slippery and ensure appropriate footwear is worn at all times.
• If whilst using an electrical appliance the circuit breaker activates, please notify one of our staff. Check appliance for faults and a member of staff will reset the breaker.
• Ensure your vehicle is parked in a way so as not to cause an obstruction to the Emergency Services, boat yard operations and other boat yard users. Ideally vehicles should be parked in the adjacent public car park.
• Always isolate gas, fuel and electricity before leaving a boat.
• Do not leave hosepipes running or hanging in the water and turn them off at the main tap not the end of hose valve.
• Do not remove or move supports from or adjust cradles under vessels in the yard. If this is required please notify a member of staff and this will be carried out.
• All ladders must be secured to the boat, reaching a minimum of 1metre above the access level, be in good working condition and conform to BSEN131.
• Ladders should not be used to work from. Suitable staging should be erected. If left unattended, staging should be secured to the vessel by 2 top points or dismantled.
• Suitable personal protective equipment must be appropriate and worn at all times when required.
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5 Waste Disposal – Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005
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5.1 Only a licensed waste carrier may remove waste from site, they must provide a controlled waste description and transfer note, also known as a consignment note. Any personal waste must be removed from site.
5.2 Contractors are required to remove their own waste from site unless working on behalf of West Solent Boat Builders. Any contractor found using the waste facilities for waste originating from off-site will be required to remove the waste and will be banned from site. Please dispose of all waste responsibly
5.3 Hazardous waste, including but not limited to, old tyres, fire extinguishers, fridges, dehumidifiers, paint / antifoul tins, oil containers, antifoul scrapings and other hazardous waste must be taken off-site and disposed of by a licenced waste contractor at the contractor’s cost. If requested, contractors must provide a copy of all waste transfer notes.
6 Environment
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West Solent Boat Builders is committed to promoting environmental awareness and good practice in all its on-site operations.
• Please avoid water pollution and use the facilities ashore.
• Please ensure all chemicals used are environmentally friendly.
• Never throw rubbish overboard or leave it to blow around the yard.
• Do not flush out or clean out bilges into any water source.
• If there is a leak of fuel or oil, please notify staff immediately. Spillage kits and procedures are in place to help. Always tidy up your work area after finishing the job. Please note there will be a charge to replace any used materials from the spillage kit.
7 Electricity
7.1 All contractors using electricity must do so through a registered meter for which there is a charge. Meter readings must be supplied to the office prior to commencement of work. Any contractor found to be using an unmetered supply will be charged the daily rate irrespective of the duration of their usage.
8 General Practice
8.1 West Solent Boat Builders host a large number of varied works/activities and as such kindly requests that all works carried out on-site are done so in a responsible, considerate and environmentally sensitive manner that will not intrude or have a negative impact on those around you.
8.2 West Solent Boat Builders Ltd reserves the right to terminate any work being carried out in an unsafe or inappropriate manner.
