Watson-Marlow Limited health and safety policy 

Watson-Marlow is the world leader in its field and approved to BS EN ISO 9001 for:

Design, development, manufacture and in-house repair of peristaltic pumps and accessories. Supply of associated products. Development and manufacture of tubing.

To safeguard the health, safety and welfare of all its employees Watson-Marlow is committed to operating the business in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (the Act) and all applicable regulations made under the Act. Health and safety and commitment to continual improvement will always be a priority;

• Health and safety are management responsibilities ranking greater than responsibilities for production, sales, costs, and similar matters;
• It is the duty of management to see that everything reasonably practicable is done to prevent personal injury in the processes of production, and in the design, construction, and operation of all plant, machinery and equipment, and to maintain a safe and healthy place of work;
• It is the duty of all employees to act responsibly, and to do everything they can to prevent injury to themselves and fellow workers. Although the implementation of policy is a management responsibility, it will rely heavily on the co-operation of those who actually produce the goods and may be at risk;
• It is the responsibility of all managers to ensure there is no conflict between the demands of safety and other demands of the job. However the Manufacturing Director has prime responsibility for health and safety, and is a point of reference where a conflict may occur;
• The aim of our health and safety policy is to provide a framework for setting, agreeing and reviewing occupational health and safety objectives and targets to improve performance.
• Our health and safety management system is monitored by internal audit and will be assessed externally.

Organisation structure

The Watson-Marlow organisation structure with respect to Health & Safety (shown below) is primarily the management structure augmented by the Safety Officers and committee who regularly assess the working environment and circulate minutes of findings recorded at quarterly meetings.

Responsibilities

The Managing Director, Directors, Senior Managers, Managers, Departmental Heads and Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that:

• The Company's Health & Safety policy is implemented and that, as far as is reasonably practicable, a safe working environment exists in their areas of responsibility;
• The activities carried out in their areas of responsibility are conducted in such a manner as to minimise the risk to health and safety;
• Training needs are recognised and that adequate training is provided to minimise risks to health and safety.
• The Health and Safety Committee are responsible for monitoring consulting and advising on health and safety matters.

Note: Supervisors and the Maintenance Department are particularly responsible for ensuring, as far as is reasonably practicable, the maintenance of free access to and from all areas, and that all passageways and fire escape routes are kept clear of obstructions.

Staff Responsibilities

In compliance with Section 7 of the Act, all employees have an obligation to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and other persons who may be affected by their actions or omissions at work, and, as regards any duty or requirement imposed on the Company by or under any statutory provision, co-operate with the Company to enable any such duty to be complied with.

All staff must:

• Observe safety rules and, where necessary, wear appropriate safety equipment and use safety devices as provided;
• Abide by instructions issued in the interests of minimising risks to health and safety;
• Report any hazardous situation to their Supervisor who, in turn, shall advise the Site Manager or the Health & Safety/COSHH Officers.
• Be fully aware of the action to take in the event of a fire;
• Co-operate in suggesting to their Supervisors any improvements which could be made to minimise risk to health and safety.

Note: EVERYONE must note that the Act is law and that if the action of ANY person at work puts at risk the health and safety of themselves or other persons, or, if ANY person fails to co-operate in complying with statutory provisions, then it is possible that a criminal offence will have been committed.

Policy implementation

This policy will be implemented by following the safe systems of work contained in the following processes.

Processes

• Risk assessment
• Prevention of falls and falling objects
• Manual handling and protection of backs
• Chemicals hazardous to health
• Machinery and moving parts
• Electrical safety
• Accident reporting
• Fire and fumes
• Contractors
• Workplace monitoring