HSE International ISSUE 96 | Page 17

“We recognise that we could all reduce our carbon footprint and we do try to reduce the impact on the environment at any given opportunity” High standards of safety and environmental responsibility Unsurprisingly, Ian takes a very serious approach towards health and safety. Customer safety is the most important thing for his business and making sure everyone goes home safe and sound each night is his top priority. North West Access & Sales are keen to promote a safe working environment and they have developed a culture that shows they take workplace safety seriously. All staff undertake a health and safety induction when they first join the company and all equipment is maintained to the highest standards. Safety is number one at all times. “Working at height is very dangerous and the reason we invested in Pop Up Products and Power Towers products was the innovation and safety of the machines. In dealing with both companies for many years, neither has had a RIDDOR or fatality with any of their products. That has got to fill us and our customers with confidence.” As soon as machines come in, they are put through a strict maintenance schedule. They are quarantined, then put through a service, and all machines are given an inspection sheet. A risk assessment is then carried out to ensure that they are fit for purpose. Finally, all machines are put through a LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) test. “The LOLER certificate is so important but my lifting engineer Ian Horton has to know that if he is putting his name on something, it’s not going to fail. He is signing off that machine so every time the LOLER test is done, he has to be 110 per cent confident that everything is right with it. Each machine goes through 3 different schedules before receiving a ticket and being given the OK. With our standard of quality control, it’s put through the mill.” Over the next 12 months, North West Access & Sales is aiming to achieve the OHSAS 18001 safety standard which will reflect its Health and Safety Management Systems, alongside the ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems standard. “We want to make sure that we are demonstrating health, safety and environmental best practice, indicating exactly what we intend to do. Our Mission Statement says it all: North West Access & Sales is dedicated in supply [