Health and Safety Policy

ShervGok Ltd is committed to conducting its engineering, consultancy, advisory, training and project-support activities in a manner that protects health, safety and wellbeing.

1. Purpose of this policy

This policy sets out the principles and arrangements through which ShervGok Ltd manages health and safety risks arising from its business activities.

It applies to activities undertaken in connection with:

• engineering consultancy and technical advisory work;
• geotechnical, transport, water and coastal engineering;
• dam engineering and dam safety inspections;
• road safety and infrastructure inspections;
• construction support and technical assurance;
• site visits, surveys, meetings and investigations;
• professional training, workshops and events;
• office-based and home-based work;
• business travel and driving for work;
• work undertaken through associates and subcontractors;
• activities undertaken in the United Kingdom or overseas.

This policy is supported by project-specific risk assessments, safe systems of work, method statements, emergency arrangements, client or site procedures and other controls where relevant.

2. Statement of intent

ShervGok Ltd will, so far as is reasonably practicable:

• provide and maintain working arrangements that protect the health, safety and welfare of those undertaking work for or on behalf of the company;
• identify hazards, assess risks and implement appropriate control measures before work begins;
• eliminate significant hazards where reasonably practicable and otherwise reduce risks to an acceptable level;
• comply with applicable health and safety legislation, regulatory requirements, recognised standards and relevant client or site rules;
• provide appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision;
• ensure that people undertaking work are competent for the activities assigned to them;
• provide suitable equipment, resources and personal protective equipment where required;
• protect employees, consultants, contractors, clients, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our activities;
• consult and communicate openly about health, safety and wellbeing;
• support the reporting of hazards, near misses, incidents and concerns without fear of unfair treatment;
• investigate significant incidents and apply lessons learned;
• monitor, review and continually improve our health and safety arrangements;
• ensure that commercial, programme or client pressures do not justify unsafe working.

No person working for ShervGok is expected to undertake an activity that they reasonably believe presents a serious and imminent danger.

3. Leadership and commitment

The Board of Directors accepts overall responsibility for health and safety within ShervGok Ltd.

The directors will demonstrate leadership by:

• integrating health and safety into business and project decisions;
• ensuring that suitable resources are available;
• setting clear expectations for employees, associates and subcontractors;
• considering health and safety when accepting work and defining project scopes;
• reviewing performance, incidents, risks and required improvements;
• obtaining competent specialist advice where internal capability is insufficient.

4. Responsibilities

4.1 Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is responsible for:

• approving and reviewing this policy;
• ensuring that health and safety responsibilities are clearly allocated;
• providing appropriate financial and operational resources;
• appointing competent people to manage or advise on health and safety;
• ensuring that significant business risks are identified and controlled;
• monitoring the effectiveness of the company’s arrangements;
• leading investigations into serious incidents where appropriate.

4.2 Project directors and project leads

The person leading an assignment is responsible for:

• identifying foreseeable health and safety risks arising from the scope;
• confirming the roles, responsibilities and interfaces between ShervGok, the client and other parties;
• ensuring that suitable risk assessments and work arrangements are prepared;
• verifying that assigned personnel are competent and appropriately briefed;
• obtaining information about site hazards, access requirements and emergency arrangements;
• ensuring that site rules, permit systems and relevant client instructions are followed;
• reviewing arrangements where conditions, scope, personnel or risks change;
• reporting and investigating incidents within the assignment.

4.3 Employees, consultants and associates

Everyone working for or on behalf of ShervGok must:

• take reasonable care of their own health and safety;
• consider the safety of colleagues, clients, contractors, visitors and members of the public;
• cooperate with ShervGok and relevant site operators on health and safety matters;
• follow risk assessments, safe systems of work, instructions, inductions and site rules;
• use equipment and personal protective equipment correctly;
• work only within the limits of their competence, authority and training;
• report hazards, defects, unsafe behaviour, near misses, injuries and incidents promptly;
• stop work and seek guidance where conditions are unsafe or materially different from those anticipated;
• not intentionally interfere with or misuse anything provided for health, safety or welfare;
• disclose relevant limitations where they may affect the safe performance of assigned work.

4.4 Subcontractors and suppliers

Subcontractors and suppliers are expected to:

• comply with applicable legislation and contractual health and safety requirements;
• demonstrate appropriate competence, training and experience;
• maintain suitable insurance and certifications where required;
• provide risk assessments, method statements and other safety documentation when relevant;
• communicate hazards created by their activities;
• cooperate with ShervGok, clients and other dutyholders;
• report incidents and significant concerns promptly.

5. Risk assessment and risk control

ShervGok will carry out suitable and sufficient assessments of foreseeable risks arising from its activities.

Risk assessment will normally consider:

• the hazards associated with the activity;
• who may be harmed and how;
• existing controls;
• the likelihood and potential severity of harm;
• additional controls required;
• responsibility for implementing those controls;
• the need for review or monitoring.

Controls will be selected using a proportionate hierarchy:

1. eliminate the hazard where reasonably practicable;
2. substitute the activity or method with a safer option;
3. apply engineering or physical controls;
4. use administrative controls, procedures, training and supervision;
5. use personal protective equipment as the final or supplementary level of protection.

Risk assessments will be reviewed when:

• the work or scope changes;
• new information becomes available;
• site or environmental conditions change;
• new equipment or methods are introduced;
• an incident or near miss occurs;
• the existing assessment may no longer be valid;
• a scheduled review becomes due.

6. Site visits and engineering inspections

Site visits and inspections may expose personnel to hazards including construction activity, unstable or uneven ground, excavations, traffic, water, adverse weather, restricted access, machinery, structures, isolated areas and operational infrastructure.

Before attending a site, ShervGok will seek appropriate information regarding:

• the purpose and scope of the visit;
• site ownership and control;
• known hazards and restricted areas;
• induction and competency requirements;
• access, parking and traffic-management arrangements;
• required personal protective equipment;
• weather, terrain and environmental conditions;
• communication and lone-working arrangements;
• first-aid and emergency arrangements;
• photography, security and confidentiality restrictions.

Personnel must not enter an area outside the agreed scope, cross physical barriers, interfere with equipment, climb structures or undertake intrusive work unless separately authorised, assessed and appropriately controlled.

7. Dam engineering and dam safety inspections

Dam inspections may involve hazards associated with steep slopes, water, spillways, outlet structures, confined or restricted areas, remote locations, difficult access, deteriorated structures, operational plant and changing environmental conditions.

Dam-related activities will be planned according to their scope and may require:

• coordination with the owner, operator or responsible reservoir personnel;
• review of operational conditions and emergency arrangements;
• controlled access to embankments, spillways, galleries, outlets and associated structures;
• suitable arrangements for working near or over water;
• assessment of slips, trips, falls and steep terrain;
• safeguards relating to valves, gates, electrical systems and moving plant;
• appropriate communication and rescue arrangements;
• specialist controls for confined spaces, work at height or rope access where applicable;
• competent personnel and suitable inspection equipment;
• suspension of work where conditions are unsafe.

ShervGok personnel will not enter a confined space, undertake diving, rope-access work, operate plant or interfere with operational dam equipment unless the activity is explicitly included in the scope and is supported by competent specialists, suitable risk controls and any required permit.

8. Construction and contractor-controlled sites

Where ShervGok personnel attend a construction site, they will comply with the reasonable health and safety requirements of the principal contractor, contractor, client or other party controlling the site.

This may include:

• site induction;
• signing-in and signing-out procedures;
• permit-to-work systems;
• designated access and pedestrian routes;
• minimum personal protective equipment;
• exclusion zones;
• traffic-management arrangements;
• emergency and evacuation procedures;
• site-specific communication arrangements.

ShervGok’s advisory or inspection presence does not transfer the site controller’s legal responsibilities to ShervGok. Equally, ShervGok personnel remain responsible for following applicable controls and reporting concerns within their knowledge and authority.

9. Construction design and technical advice

Where ShervGok undertakes design, review or technical advisory work, foreseeable health and safety risks associated with construction, operation, maintenance, inspection, alteration and demolition will be considered within the agreed scope.

Where relevant, outputs will:

• identify significant or unusual residual risks;
• avoid unnecessary specification of hazardous methods or materials;
• consider buildability, access and future maintenance;
• communicate assumptions, constraints and limitations;
• distinguish between matters reviewed and matters outside the commission;
• be prepared and checked by appropriately competent personnel.

10. Lone working

Lone working will be avoided where the risk assessment indicates that an activity requires more than one person or immediate access to assistance.

Where lone working is permitted, arrangements may include:

• prior approval of the activity;
• confirmation of competence and fitness for the work;
• agreed arrival, departure and check-in times;
• reliable communication arrangements;
• location and emergency-contact information;
• clear limits on the activities that may be undertaken;
• escalation procedures following a missed contact;
• access to suitable first-aid provision;
• avoidance of high-risk areas or tasks while alone.

Site inspections involving significant water hazards, confined spaces, work at height, remote access, unstable ground or other high-risk conditions will not normally be undertaken alone.

11. Driving and travel for work

Work-related travel will be planned with appropriate consideration of the journey, driver, vehicle, weather, fatigue, time pressure and destination.

Persons driving for work must:

• hold a valid and appropriate driving licence;
• use a vehicle that is roadworthy, insured and suitable for the journey;
• comply with applicable road-traffic law;
• not drive while impaired by alcohol, drugs, fatigue, illness or medication;
• avoid handheld mobile-phone use while driving;
• allow sufficient time and take appropriate breaks;
• consider postponing or changing travel where weather, fatigue or other conditions create unacceptable risk;
• report significant work-related road incidents and near misses.

Public transport, overnight accommodation or remote participation should be considered where these provide a safer and proportionate alternative.

12. Overseas travel and international assignments

International assignments may introduce additional risks, including unfamiliar laws, climate, travel conditions, security issues, disease, language barriers and limited access to emergency assistance.

Planning may include:

• country and regional risk information;
• entry, visa and work-authorisation requirements;
• travel and medical insurance;
• vaccination and health advice;
• security and local-transport arrangements;
• accommodation and communications;
• emergency, evacuation and consular arrangements;
• local client and site responsibilities;
• heat, weather and environmental exposure;
• cultural and legal considerations.

International travel may be postponed, amended or cancelled where risks cannot be managed to an acceptable level.

13. Office and home working

Office and home-working risks will be managed proportionately and may include:

• display-screen equipment and workstation setup;
• seating, posture and repetitive work;
• lighting, temperature and ventilation;
• electrical safety;
• slips, trips and falls;
• manual handling;
• fire safety and emergency access;
• workload, isolation, stress and wellbeing;
• secure storage of work equipment and documents.

Workers are expected to report significant home-working concerns and cooperate in implementing reasonable control measures.

14. Display-screen equipment

Persons who regularly use display-screen equipment will be encouraged to:

• adjust their workstation to support good posture;
• position screens to reduce glare and strain;
• use suitable seating and input devices;
• change activity and take reasonable breaks;
• report pain, discomfort or visual concerns promptly;
• complete a workstation assessment where appropriate.

15. Training, competence and supervision

Work will be allocated only to people who have, or are appropriately supervised while developing, the competence required for the assignment.

Competence may be established through:

• qualifications and professional registration;
• relevant knowledge and experience;
• training and continuing professional development;
• site-specific induction;
• familiarity with applicable procedures and equipment;
• supervision, mentoring and technical review.

Additional training will be provided where a task, site, client or legal requirement demands it.

16. Personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment will be selected based on risk assessment and site requirements.

Depending on the activity, this may include:

• safety footwear;
• high-visibility clothing;
• safety helmets;
• eye protection;
• gloves;
• hearing protection;
• weather-protective clothing;
• personal flotation equipment;
• respiratory protection;
• specialist fall-protection equipment.

Personal protective equipment must be suitable, correctly fitted, maintained and used as instructed. It does not replace the need to eliminate or reduce hazards through higher-level controls.

17. Work equipment

Equipment provided or used for ShervGok activities must be:

• suitable for its intended purpose;
• maintained in a safe condition;
• inspected where necessary;
• used only by competent and authorised persons;
• stored and transported appropriately;
• removed from use where defective.

Personnel must not operate specialist client, contractor or site equipment unless specifically authorised and competent to do so.

18. Manual handling

Unnecessary manual handling will be avoided where reasonably practicable.

Where items must be moved, consideration will be given to:

• the nature of the task;
• the load and its stability;
• the working environment;
• individual capability;
• the need for assistance or mechanical aids;
• safe storage and transport.

19. Working near water

Work near rivers, reservoirs, dams, coastlines, drainage infrastructure and other water bodies will be specifically assessed.

Controls may include:

• safe access and egress;
• edge protection or exclusion zones;
• personal flotation devices;
• rescue equipment and emergency arrangements;
• weather, tide, flow and water-level information;
• appropriate footwear and clothing;
• buddy systems and communication arrangements;
• suspending work in unsafe conditions.

20. Work at height

Work at height will be avoided where reasonably practicable. Where it cannot be avoided, it must be planned, risk-assessed and undertaken using suitable access equipment and competent personnel.

ShervGok personnel will not improvise access arrangements, climb unprotected structures or use unsuitable equipment to gain a better inspection position.

21. Confined spaces

Entry into a confined space will not be undertaken as a routine ShervGok activity.

Where confined-space entry is essential to an agreed commission, it must be:

• specifically identified within the scope;
• avoided where remote inspection is practicable;
• subject to specialist risk assessment;
• managed under a suitable permit-to-work system;
• undertaken by trained and competent personnel;
• supported by suitable monitoring and rescue arrangements.

22. Hazardous substances

ShervGok will seek to avoid exposure to hazardous substances where possible.

Where exposure is foreseeable, relevant information will be obtained and controls implemented. This may include consideration of contaminated soil or water, dust, asbestos, fuels, chemicals, biological hazards and substances present within client or construction environments.

Personnel must not disturb suspected asbestos-containing materials or unidentified hazardous substances.

23. Health, wellbeing and work-related stress

ShervGok recognises that health and safety includes physical and psychological wellbeing.

The company will seek to manage foreseeable work-related stress by considering:

• workload and working hours;
• role clarity and competing demands;
• support, communication and supervision;
• control over work and decision-making;
• working relationships and professional conduct;
• change and organisational uncertainty;
• lone and remote working;
• travel and project pressures.

Individuals are encouraged to raise concerns early so that reasonable support and adjustments can be considered.

24. Alcohol, drugs and medication

No person may undertake work while impaired by alcohol, illegal drugs, misuse of medication, fatigue or any other condition that makes the activity unsafe.

Individuals should seek appropriate advice where prescribed or over-the-counter medication may affect driving, site work, concentration or the safe use of equipment.

25. First aid

ShervGok will assess its first-aid needs according to the nature of the work, number of people involved, location and foreseeable risks.

Arrangements may include:

• access to suitable first-aid equipment;
• identification of trained first-aid personnel;
• use of client or site first-aid arrangements;
• personal first-aid kits for remote or travelling work;
• emergency-contact information;
• communication and evacuation arrangements.

26. Fire and emergency arrangements

Personnel will be informed of relevant emergency procedures for offices, client premises, training venues and project sites.

This may include:

• alarm and evacuation procedures;
• assembly points;
• fire exits and escape routes;
• emergency contacts;
• first-aid arrangements;
• site-specific rescue procedures;
• incident escalation and communication.

Emergency routes and equipment must not be obstructed or misused.

27. Incident, near-miss and hazard reporting

All work-related injuries, illnesses, dangerous occurrences, environmental incidents, property damage, near misses and significant hazards must be reported promptly.

Reports should include, where known:

• what happened or could have happened;
• the time and location;
• people involved or potentially affected;
• immediate action taken;
• relevant photographs or evidence;
• recommended follow-up action.

Incidents will be investigated proportionately to identify immediate, underlying and organisational causes—not merely to assign blame.

Statutory reporting will be completed where the applicable legal reporting threshold is met.

28. Consultation and communication

ShervGok will consult those undertaking work about risks and controls that affect them.

Consultation may occur through:

• project planning discussions;
• risk-assessment reviews;
• briefings and toolbox talks;
• site inductions;
• training and professional-development activities;
• incident reviews and lessons learned;
• direct reporting to a director or project lead.

29. Monitoring and review

Health and safety performance may be monitored through:

• review of risk assessments and project arrangements;
• site observations and feedback;
• incident and near-miss records;
• training and competency records;
• equipment inspections;
• subcontractor performance;
• client feedback;
• periodic management review.

This policy will be formally reviewed at least annually and additionally where:

• the company’s activities materially change;
• the company begins higher-risk construction activities;
• new legal or regulatory requirements apply;
• a significant incident identifies a weakness;
• monitoring indicates that arrangements are ineffective.

30. Stop-work authority

Every person undertaking work for ShervGok has authority to stop or decline an activity where they reasonably believe:

• there is a serious or imminent risk of harm;
• required controls are absent or ineffective;
• they lack the necessary competence or equipment;
• conditions differ materially from the agreed plan;
• the activity falls outside the authorised scope;
• continuing would breach applicable law or site rules.

Work must not restart until the concern has been reviewed and appropriate controls have been agreed.

31. Policy approval

This policy has been approved on behalf of ShervGok Ltd by its Board of Directors.

32. Contact

Health and safety questions, concerns, incident reports or requests for further information should be directed to:

ShervGok Ltd
1 Lancaster Gardens
Coventry
England
CV6 6HF

Email: info@shervgok.co.uk