[henryfitz]

Hello

Was looking for a bit of help,as usual

I have  been told by my insurance firm that i need to have a safety statement in place before they will insure me. Has anyone any idea where or how i go about getting one?

[David Slater]

Hello

Was looking for a bit of help,as usual

I have  been told by my insurance firm that i need to have a safety statement in place before they will insure me. Has anyone any idea where or how i go about getting one?

Safety Statement?

Do they possibly mean a H&S Policy Statement?

A Policy Statement is the overall Policy for the company which sets out who is responsible for what and who is ultimatley responsible for H&S within that company.

Its not something you can 'copy and paste' from somebody else.

You need to refer to the HSE website for further guidance.

www.hse.gov.uk/

[bluez]

henryfitz try keystone Insurance they are up your direction drogheda or dundalk somewhere, very helpful and good value. Safety statement give me your contact details or email and I will send you one that you can adjust for your use, Based on Irish h&s law.

[bluez]

David,

I know that this is your specialist subject and that you are good at it but isnt it more important that you implement the policy rather than worry about where you got it?

Very few people have the skills to write a policy from scratch and create a comprehensive policy for health and safety(i dont, that is why Ispent so much ime and money etting one done), most have some element of outside source weather that is the hse or a safety consultant or another window cleaner who has used those sources.

brian

[*Derek*]

Keystone are my insurance brokers. I find there service excellent and highly reccomend.

[henryfitz]

Hi

Thanks bluez,here is my email milestones@eircom.net. If i can be of assistance anytime let me know

I will try keystone insurance when they open.

[bluez]

You have mail

[Glen]

henryfitz try keystone Insurance they are up your direction drogheda or dundalk somewhere, very helpful and good value. Safety statement give me your contact details or email and I will send you one that you can adjust for your use, Based on Irish h&s law.

Hello Bluez and Henryfitz, I'm based in Ireland too - could you possibly email your adaptable safety statement to g.halcyon@gmail.com Thanks in anticipation..

[bluez]

Sure Glen.

[Glen]

Thank you very much Bluez.

Do you know if any other health & safety documentation is required in Ireland such as a risk assessment , method statement and health & safety policy as is in the UK ?

[*Derek*]

There all need for some jobs, Mostly commercial.

[Glen]

There all need for some jobs, Mostly commercial.

So the safety statement alone is insufficient?

[David Slater]

David,

I know that this is your specialist subject and that you are good at it but isnt it more important that you implement the policy rather than worry about where you got it?

Very few people have the skills to write a policy from scratch and create a comprehensive policy for health and safety(i dont, that is why Ispent so much ime and money etting one done), most have some element of outside source weather that is the hse or a safety consultant or another window cleaner who has used those sources.

brian

Hi Brian,

I didnt mean to imply that you cant use somebody elses H&S Policy, merely that its probably going to be very specific to that individual company and if they've spent money getting it done for them by a consultant, its going to be VERY specific to that company or possibly too generic.

If you dont know what a Policy Statement is, or you dont have the knowledge to adapt it, its probably pretty useless...and could land someone in hot water if something happened.

I look at it this way - I could photocopy my driving licence and send it across to someone to use.....without driving lessons, that licence isnt going to be much good.


The HSE site has standard Policy statements free of charge here - www.hse.gov.uk/business/policy-statement.pdf

They have lots of risk assessments and why you need them and how you should fill them in here - www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg163.pdf

Theres LOADS of stuff for window cleaners and its all in plain English and easy to understand.. and its FREE

Some window cleaning stuff -
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc613.pdf
http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/roof.htm

The HSE have an excellent website and its easy to read and understand. They even have Discussion Forums if you need a bit more advice.
They spell most things out very clearly and include contact numbers for further assistance if you dont understand something.
If people really want to comply with H&S I'd suggest spending a little bit of time on their site just reading up on some stuff....then you'd be able to adapt somebody elses Policy Statement with confidence because you know what it is and why you need it.

Our taxes are paying for the site and the staff....we might as well use it 

Regards,
Dave.

[bluez]

I agree David, but for someone starting out they need a starting point and the hse in the uk is not the best place to start for someone in Ireland even though the laws are very similar. A quick look at someone elses safety statement should prevoke the correct questions about the safety policy and all of the other relevent documentation required.

For a stand alone one man operation the requirements for safety statement and policy are not terribly difficult.I personally would prefer to see a guy with insurance and working on compliance with h&s rather than working without insurance.

Quick Explaination of terms that might be helpful for newer guys.

Safety Statement - your businesses one page statement regarding safety in the workplace
Safety Policy - your businesses comprehensive document that considers all potential risk possible 100 plus pages depending on your type of work and work space.

Risk Assesment - your businesses written assesment of the risks involved in each specific job usually a one to two page sheet.

Method Statement - Your businesses written detailed descripion of how work will be carried out describing the tools and the access equipment and sometimes why such items are being used. one to two page doc.

Sorry if this is a bit simplistic to many on here who re well up on this stuff but I would have loved a clear breakdown when I started so hope this helps. By the way this is only my interpretation of h&s it is open to others to question, disagree, add or otherwise.

[henryfitz]

Hi
happy new year hope you have all recovered
and thanks very much for sending me the safety statement ...1 problem ,my pc wont open the attachment,it says create an association document in the control panel?anyone any ideas how to do this please.

[bluez]

I have copied it to the e mail itself and sent it again.