Health, Safety and Environment Committee

 

Subject:    Construction (Small Works) Policy

 

Origin:      Health, Safety and Environment Office

                                                                                                             

 

CONTENTS                

 

1.         University Policy                                                                                       

 

1.1       Purpose of the policy

1.2       Scope of the policy                                                                                      

 

2.         Duty holders

 

2.1             Health, Safety and Environment Manager

2.2             Heads of Department

2.3             Assistant Director Facilities Services

2.4             Competent Person – Small Works

2.5             Departmental Safety officer

2.6             Employees

 

Appendix  – Code of Practice For Building and Engineering Services Infrastructure Related Work Undertaken by Departments.

 

1.         Policy

Loughborough University recognises its duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to provide a safe and healthy working environment by the control of small works affecting buildings or building services. To this end no work shall be carried out on University buildings or which affects building services unless it meets the standards set out in the Code of Practice for Buildings and Engineering Services Infrastructure Related Work Undertaken by Departments (the Code of Practice)

 

1.1             Purpose of the policy

 

This policy shall ensure that standards of health, safety and welfare are maintained whenever minor work is organised or carried out by departments other than the Facilities Management Department.

 

1.2             Scope

 

This policy applies to all work affecting the fabric of university buildings or which disturbs the building’s services, including some minor works covered by the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2007.

NB all major construction projects that are notifiable under the CDM regulations 2007 must be arranged through the University’s Facilities Management Department.

 

Any reference to department or departments shall be deemed to include all schools, departments, sections, centres, institutes, , services providers, associations, federations, units, registries, occupiers, licensees and similar organisations who occupy buildings belonging to or leased on their behalf by Loughborough University.

 

Head of Department shall also include the respective head of all schools, departments, sections, centres, institutes, , services providers, associations, federations, units, registries, occupiers, licensees and similar organisations who occupy buildings belonging to or leased on their behalf by Loughborough University. 

 

2.         Duty Holders

Health, Safety and Environment Manager

The Health, Safety and Environment Manager is responsible for ensuring that a register of departmental nominees for the role of Competent Persons - Small Works is maintained. The HS and E Manager shall liaise with the Director of Facilities Management and  Heads of Department to identify suitable competent persons. 

NB failure of a department to nominate a Competent Person - Small Works shall indicate that the department has chosen for all work covered by The Code of Practice  to be managed by the Facilities Management Department.

Heads of Department

Where appropriate, Heads of Department are responsible for ensuring that a suitable person from the department is appointed to the role of Competent Person - Small Works.

Responsibility for any work undertaken by the department and the suitability and competence of the ‘Competent Person – Small Works’ shall rest with the Head of Department.

Assistant Director Facilities Services

The Assistant Director Facilities Services shall receive advance notification of planned work from the Competent Person - Small Works and identify matters requiring further comment or guidance from members of Facilities Management with specialist technical knowledge (Authorised Persons).

The Assistant Director Facilities Services  shall ensure that departments are provided with guidance where appropriate and may liaise with the relevant Head of Department to delay the start of any project until agreement is reached on compliance with the Code of Practice . 

Where agreement cannot be reached each case must be referred to the Director of Facilities Management for authorisation to proceed with the works.

Competent Person – Small Works

This person has 4 main roles

  1. To initiate small Works Notification documentation in compliance with the Code of Practice and to forward the document to all relevant parties including their Departmental Safety Officer.

2.   To liaise with the Assistant Director Facilities Services to agree           exemptions to the Code of Practice or to undertake changes in planned work on the basis of advice received from the Assistant Director of            Facilities Service.

  1. To monitor that work undertaken in departments is conducted in accordance with the written works notification document and associated risk assessments and method statements.
  2. To bring to the attention of the Head of Department any matters arising that prevent compliance with the Code of Practice. 

Departmental Safety Officers (DSOs)

The DSO and Competent Person – Small Works shall liaise where necessary to  shall ensure that risks to staff students or visitors arising from the works being carried out on the premises are adequately controlled. 

Employees

Employees shall not organise or carry out work in contravention of the Code of Practice.

Author: Cathy Moore

Revision: 1   (Dated October 2008)

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