Audits

As an organisation how do you know that your health and safety arrangements are effective in managing the risks you and your clients are exposed to:

Are you meeting all relevant health and safety related legal requirements?

Do people carry out their individual and collective H&S responsibilities as you would expect?

Where are you in relation to other organisations in your sector?

Would you be able to make a due diligence defence in relation to public liability claims?

Where do you want to be in terms of compliance – letter of the law or a high standard?

Have instructions and objectives from senior management been implemented?

Our occupational health and safety business review will aim to identify improvements in your arrangements and identify practical, pragmatic actions to help make lasting change.

General consultancy

Audit / Workplace Risk Assessment

We offer a hybrid approach where we will audit your H&S arrangements at site level, measuring compliance with all relevant legislation, while also completing a physical assessment of the workplace. This is effective in measuring compliance for one site or a whole portfolio. The outcome will a report containing a prioritised Action Plan with costings where possible and a document workplace risk assessment. Effective management information will be produced to enable you to target resources where needed. This information, reports and records can all be delivered via our online H&S management tool.

Risk Assessments

Organisations are required to protect their employees, and other who may be affected, from risks to their health and safety. We can assist you in meeting this requirement through:

·       Training workshops on practical completion of the risk assessments relevant to your business.

·       Working with you to identify and assess the risks to your business and then implement and review the relevant control measures.

We also deliver specific risk assessments required by other legislation, eg work at height, traffic management, manual handling and COSHH.

Expert Witness

Our aim is always to work with our clients to help them to meet their safety related objectives and ensure that they comply with the law. However, sometimes things can still go wrong and you may not be at fault. We offer an expert witness service where prosecutions or enforcement action is planned. We will carry out an independent investigation of the circumstances, prepare a detailed report on our findings and, where necessary, give evidence in court.

ISO 54001

Organisations may wish to progress to IOS 45001 accreditation. This can be challenging where an organisation has a number of different departments with different processes. We can assist you by reviewing your current arrangements and identifying improvements, aligning your policies to give a consist approach across the organisation and by developing new procedures where they are needed.

Mentoring

Resources for H&S management can often be limited. People may be appointed to H&S management roles who have limited experience or time. We can assist by helping you plan, budget, implement, monitor and review your health and safety objectives.

Policy and Safety Management System Development

Part of your arrangements for managing health and safety will be a set of documented processes which detail how the risks associated with your business, and identified through the risk assessment process, can be effectively controlled. We can assist you by:

·       Developing a core of documented policies which will be consistent, practical and measurable without becoming a burden on resources.

·       Develop individual policies and procedures to assist in the control of specific or unique risks to your business.

Contractor Management

Many H&S issues can result from contractor’s activities and actions. While each contractor is responsible for their own H&S, the client still has a duty, as far as is reasonable, to ensure each contractor is competent and capable to complete the work instructed. We can significantly reduce this burden through contractor appraisal processes and onboarding using an online contractor management system. In addition we can also audit contractor’s activities to measure whether they are working safely.

Investigations

Accident Investigation

Effective accident investigation will identify the underlying and root causes of accidents and reduce ill-health, lost production, property damage, enforcement action and potentially insurance costs.

We provide a methodical process with a number of key steps, including a site assessment, interview of witnesses, analysis of previous events and document evaluation. The output will be an action plan with cost effective improvements to secure lasting change.

Asbestos surveys

Catalyst has a team of competent and experienced asbestos surveyors who can complete all types of asbestos survey to the highest standard. The company has adopted a management system in line with ISO 17020 (Requirements for Performing Inspections) and the surveys are carried out to the method described in HSG264. There are three main types of asbestos survey:

Asbestos Management Survey

This type of survey is non-intrusive. The surveyor will systematically inspect all areas under your control. Where there are suspect materials identified, they be sampled and a record made of the type of asbestos, location, condition, extent and easy of contact.

A report will be prepared which contains the results of the survey:

• Any remedial work required to minimise exposure and the priority of this work.
• Survey results for each asbestos material, supported by photographic evidence.
• Asbestos register which identifies all asbestos containing materials or suspect materials.
• Marked plan identifying each asbestos material.
• Results of asbestos samples.

Asbestos Refurbishment or Demolition Survey

This is an intrusive survey. An Asbestos Refurbishment Survey will systematically inspect all areas which are subject to refurbishment. A specification of works will be needed, so that the survey can be effectively planned and we ensure that all relevant areas area included. The surveyor must gain access to all areas where works are planned, including behind wall, ceiling and floor linings.

Where a building is being demolished, then an Asbestos Demolition Survey will be needed prior to such works commencing. This is similar to a refurbishment survey; however the surveyor must inspect all areas. This will include all of the building fabric, both internally and externally, and could include below floor slabs.

The report in each case will be similar to the Asbestos Management Survey, however all asbestos materials will normally be marked for removal before the works commence.

Asbestos Re-inspection Survey

The condition of asbestos can deteriorate and buildings use and layout can change; therefore we offer an annual Asbestos Re-inspection Survey which is effective in the management of asbestos. This survey will re-assess all remaining asbestos containing materials, identify any materials that have been removed or deteriorated and provide an updated Asbestos Register.

Asbestos Remedial Work

Where asbestos containing materials need to be encapsulated, repaired or removed, we can project manage this process including specifying the works, selecting contractors, checking workplans, monitoring site work, completing air testing and pulling together an asbestos information pack including all the relevant documentation, e.g. contractor information, workplans, monitoring visits, air clearance and waste notes.

 

 

 

 

 

Legionella surveys

We offer Legionella Risk Assessments which will:

• Look at your organisations activities and the risks presented by legionella to your business, people, clients and customers.
• Evaluate compliance with the Approved Code of Practice L8: Legionnaire’s disease: The control of legionella bacteria in water systems and the current technical guidance HSG 274.

The legionella risk assessment will be completed by an expert who is experienced in the water systems associated with your organisation. All decisions made will be evidence based, eg supported by physical observations, photographs/videos and the records available. The following key areas will be considered:

• Water systems present and those which present higher risk as they produce aerosols, eg cooling towers, evaporative condensers, whirlpools and spas, as well as other systems which may generate aerosols such as hot and cold water systems and showers.
• The condition of those systems and specifically those that enable growth of the organism, eg water storage, rust and organic materials, lack of cleaning and maintenance.
• The existing control measures to minimise growth of legionella and dispersal of droplets.
• The organisational arrangements for effectively managing legionella, including appointment of dutyholders and their competence for their role.

Accredited Training

We offer a hybrid training approach to establish or support a competency framework and then build on this through practical workshops to both develop people and improve health and safety.

Flexibility is also essential to ensure effective use the time available, this is particularly important where traditional face to face training is difficult, e.g. during Covid-19. Therefore all our training will use blended learning, i.e. a mixture of classroom, practical workshops, individual learning, webinar and digital resources.

Accredited Training

 

A series of accredited NEBOSH and IOSH training courses which provide a recognised formal qualification to all levels of management and employees. The courses are delivered by a training expert with experience in your sector so that they are relevant to your organisation and use specific examples, case studies and exercises relating to your workplace.

The training can be delivered in a block or over a number of days depending on what suites best. We will reduce classroom time as much as possible and use online learning wherever possible. Each course is a standalone, however there also provides a development route.

Practical Workshops

These workshops are intended to support the formal training outlined above to:

• Assist people in understanding their individual roles.
• Provide training on specific issues, subjects and policies.
• Establish and support a strong safety culture.
• Assist in personal development.

The training can be delivered using a mixture of workshop, practical application, individual learning, and feedback by webinar. Courses will be specific to your own workplace, policies and working practices. They can be split into smaller sessions to fit around other work demands.

We can deliver everything from Asbestos Awareness through Fire Safety to Permit to Work and Manual Handling

 

 

Fire

Fire Risk Assessment

The requirement for organisations to complete a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is contained in The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This applies to all employers and occupiers for the areas and activities under their control, as well as to both commercial and residential landlords.

The fire risk assessment will be completed in accordance with the standard specified in PAS79 and the sector specific guidance contained in the relevant government guide.

The assessment will be completed by one of our experts who has specific experience of the type of property and activities taking place. The outcome will be a documented Fire Risk Assessment which has evaluated all areas under your control and measured your risk controls in terms of legislative compliance. The output will be a report with prioritised Action Plan contained practical and cost-effective recommendations for improvement.

Further information is contained within our Specification – Fire Risk Assessment.

Residential Fire Risk Assessment

 

There are currently four different types of fire risk assessment, however we concentrate on two types.

 

Type 1 - Fire Risk Assessment – This is a non-intrusive assessment of common areas and other areas under the landlord’s control and would be appropriate for most purpose build blocks of flats. Where there are compartmentation or firestopping issues then a more intrusive assessment will be needed. Risers, void spaces and loft spaces will be included in the assessment, as well as a cross section of flat entrance doors.

 

Type 4 – Fire Risk Assessment – Also known as a Passive Survey, this is a destructive assessment of both common parts and flats which would normally be reserved for properties where there are deficiencies in compartmentation or fire stopping, or the history of construction work is unknown and/or where the structural protection may not support a stay put policy. This type of assessment would not specifically include external wall systems, and further investigation inspection of these may be needed. Each Type 4 Survey will be separately scoped out depending on the circumstances and deficiencies already identified. Normally this type of assessment will consider the following:

• Compartmentation and firestopping in all risers, vertical shafts and void spaces.
• Any loft or attic spaces or void areas.
• Compartmentation between individual flats, both vertically and horizontally.
• Between flats and common area, and specifically protected routes.
• The standard of compartmentation above ceilings in protected routes and between these areas and adjoining flats.
• Penetrations through flats into common areas or the external envelope, e.g. soil and vent pipes.

 

Construction Work

CDM

The objective of Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 (CDM) is to improve the H&S of construction related work by ensuring key individuals are responsible for H&S during the design, planning and construction phases of developments and the maintenance and use post completion. Even if you are unaware of these duties, you may still be responsible. We offer a number of CDM related services, including acting as Principal Designer, reviewing your CDM arrangements and completing site checks to measure whether works are proceeding safely and as planned

Residential Care Homes

We have extensive experience in relation to dealing with the specific challenges involved in residential care. In particular, we understand the environment in which you operate and what the key risk are. Depending on the type fo service offered, this could include ligature risk, absconding, medicine error and violence. 

Therefore our services are tailored to your specific needs. This includes H&S audit and assesssments, fire risk assessments, legionella assessments, asbestos surveys. food safety and infection control.

Addditional qualifications and memberships:

Membership

Affilitate of the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE)

Member of the Expert Witness Institute (EWI)

Qualifications

Disaster Planning (Emergency Planning College)

Post Graduate Diploma in Food Safety

Diploma In Public Sector Management (Caledonian University)

Prevention of Communicable Disease (Centre for Communicable Disease)