Health & Safety Policy

1.Our statement of intent

Drainage work means sewage, deep chambers, high-pressure water, excavations and work near roads. At Urgent Drainage Solutions Ltd we aim to do every job in a way that keeps our engineers, our customers, their neighbours and the public safe. We also meet our duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the regulations made under it.

Our director has overall responsibility for health and safety. Everyone who works for us has to follow this policy and look out for others. If something isn’t safe, they stop work.

2.Planning the work: risk assessments and method statements

• We keep written risk assessments and method statements (RAMS) for each type of job we do. Commercial clients can ask for a copy.
• When the engineer arrives, they check the site itself: access, traffic, the state of covers and chambers, services overhead and underground, the weather and who else is about. If something doesn’t look right, they change the plan or stop.
• Bigger jobs, like excavations or relining, are planned in advance and agreed with you before we start.

3.PPE, hygiene and sewage

• We give our engineers the right protective kit and train them to use it. That includes gloves, eye protection, hi-vis, safety boots and waterproofs.
• Our team is briefed on the health risks of sewage, including leptospirosis (Weil’s disease), and on washing and decontamination. Every van carries hand-washing supplies and a first aid kit.
• We keep dirty water and debris contained, clean up when we’re done and leave the area safe and tidy.

4.Manholes, chambers and confined spaces

• We lift covers with proper lifting keys and safe manual-handling techniques. Never with bare hands.
• An open chamber is always guarded with barriers or a cover, and never left unattended.
• Most of our work is done from ground level with rods, jetting hoses and cameras. We don’t go into sewers, deep chambers or other confined spaces unless the task has been planned for it, the people doing it are trained and equipped, and the right controls are in place, such as gas monitoring and a second person at the surface.

5.High-pressure water jetting

• Only trained operatives use the jetting equipment, and it’s checked before use.
• We match the pressure and nozzle to the pipe. We follow recognised industry guidance, such as the Water Jetting Association’s codes of practice.
• We manage hoses and the work area so people nearby are kept away from spray, trip hazards and dirty water.

6.Excavations and underground services

• Before we dig, we check utility records where we can get them and scan for buried cables and pipes. We follow the HSE’s guidance HSG47, Avoiding danger from underground services.
• Where needed, trenches are supported or battered back. They’re fenced off with barriers and kept clear of spoil and plant.
• If we’re working on or next to a public road, we plan it with proper signs and traffic management, and get the permissions the highway authority asks for.

7.Hazardous substances (COSHH)

• The substances we use, such as cleaning agents, drain-cleaning chemicals and relining resins, are assessed under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. We keep the safety data sheets and use the least hazardous option that will do the job.
• We never mix drain chemicals. Before we start, we’ll always ask what has already gone down the drain.
• If we think there may be asbestos, for example in old pipework or cement fittings, we stop and tell you how to get it safely tested and removed.

8.Working at height (gutters and roofline)

• We follow the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and stay off ladders where we can. For example, we clear gutters from the ground with vacuum poles.
• Ladders are only for short, low-risk jobs on firm, level ground. We inspect the ladder first and secure or foot it.
• If the work can’t be done safely from a ladder or the ground, we bring suitable access equipment or tell you scaffolding is needed.

9.Lone working

• Engineers working alone stay in regular contact with the office. We know where they are and when they expect to finish.
• Jobs that need two people, like lifting heavy covers or confined-space work, are never tried alone.
• An engineer can walk away from any situation where they feel unsafe, including aggressive or threatening behaviour. No questions asked.

10.Vehicles, tools and equipment

• Vans, jetters, cameras and power tools are maintained, inspected and serviced as the manufacturer says.
• Faulty kit comes out of use until it’s repaired.
• Loads are tied down, and we expect our drivers to drive safely and legally.

11.Training and competence

Everyone gets an induction, training for the jobs they do and supervision until they’re competent. We hold regular toolbox talks so safety stays on everyone’s mind. Any subcontractor we use has to show they work safely and are properly insured.

12.Keeping customers and the public safe

• Please keep children and pets away from the work area while we’re there.
• If we find a hazard, such as a damaged cover, a collapsing drain or a void under a path, we tell you and make it safe before we leave.
• If a job can’t be finished in one visit, we leave the site secure. We’ll explain what we’ve done and what happens next.
• Dealing with a drainage emergency before we get there? See our emergency drainage advice. Never lift heavy manhole covers yourself.

13.Accidents, incidents and near misses

We record and look into every accident, incident and near miss so it doesn’t happen again. Where the law says we must, we report incidents to the Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR. Anyone can raise a safety concern with us at any time. We’d always rather hear about it.

14.Review

We review this policy at least once a year, and any time our work, our equipment or the law changes. The date at the top shows the last review. Signed on behalf of Urgent Drainage Solutions Ltd by its director.