Health & Safety Policy

Company Name: Henry Davies Limited
Date: 29/01/2025
Review Date: 29/01/2026

  1. General Statement of Intent

Henry Davies Limited is committed to ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of our employees, sub-contractors, clients, and the general public. We recognise that our work involves high-risk environments including live electricity, moving automated machinery, and agricultural settings and we accept our legal and moral responsibility to manage these risks effectively.

Our goal is zero accidents. We believe that no deadline, contract, or profit margin is worth risking the safety of a person.

  1. Responsibilities

The Director is responsible for:

Overall compliance with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Ensuring sufficient resources are available for safety equipment (PPE) and training.

Investigating all accidents and near-misses.

Employees and Sub-contractors are responsible for:

Taking reasonable care of their own safety and that of others affected by their acts.

Using equipment and machinery correctly and in accordance with training.

Reporting any potential hazards or defects immediately.

Never working on live circuits unless strictly authorized and under permit-to-work conditions.

  1. Key Safety Arrangements

   A. Electrical Safety & Isolation

Safe Isolation: We strictly follow the "Lock Out, Tag Out" (LOTO) procedure. Before working on any equipment, it must be isolated, locked off with a unique key, and tagged.

Proving Dead: "Proving dead" is mandatory using a GS38-compliant voltage indicator and proving unit. Multimeters are not to be used for proving dead.

Live Working: Work on live conductors is prohibited unless unreasonable in all circumstances for it to be dead (as per EAWR 1989 Regulation 14), and only then with a specific Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS) and appropriate PPE.

   B. Automated Machinery & Robotics (Warehousing/Production)

Isolation of Kinetic Energy: Staff must never enter the operational envelope of an automated machine or robot arm until the system is fully isolated. This includes discharging residual energy (e.g., pneumatic pressure or hydraulic fluids).

Interlocks: It is strictly forbidden to bypass, bridge, or tape over safety interlocks, light curtains, or emergency stops for "testing purposes" without a controlled safe system of work.

Start-up Procedures: Engineers must visually verify that the machinery area is clear of personnel before re-energising automated lines.

   C. Agricultural Environments

Biohazards: Staff must wear appropriate gloves and wash hands thoroughly to prevent zoonotic diseases (e.g., Weil’s disease) when working in barns or near slurry.

Livestock: Engineers must check with the client/farmer regarding the movement of livestock before entering barns or fields.

Dust & Fumes: Appropriate respiratory protection (minimum FFP3 masks) must be worn in dusty grain stores or areas with airborne particulates.

   D. Working at Height

Access: Ladders are for short-duration work only. Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs) or scaffold towers are preferred for installation work in high-ceiling warehouses.

Inspection: All harnesses and access equipment must be visually inspected before every use.

  1. Training and Competence

All electrical engineers must hold current ECS cards and relevant qualifications (e.g., 18th Edition).

Specific training (e.g., IPAF for scissor lifts/booms) is required before operating plant machinery.

"Toolbox talks" will be conducted regularly to refresh knowledge on specific site risks.

  1. Emergency Procedures

First Aid: A first aid kit is kept in every company vehicle.

Accident Reporting: All accidents, however minor, must be recorded in the Accident Book. Serious incidents (RIDDOR) will be reported to the HSE by the Director.

  1. Consultation

We encourage an open culture where employees can raise safety concerns without fear of reprisal. Health and safety is a standing agenda item on all company meetings.