|
ems, the leading UK expert for independent health, safety and environmental management helps Queen’s College, London achieve top marks for Health & Safety
 As Bursar of Queen’s College London, Simon Turner’s priority is to ensure a safe and healthy place in which to work and learn. Identifying that there were major challenges in this area, Simon called health, safety and environmental specialists, ems soon after his arrival. By working with the college, ems has in three proactive steps helped provide a functioning health and safety management system. This means that Queen’s College not only complies with legal requirements, it also offers a safe and healthy learning environment for its pupils and staff.
The initial step was for ems to really listen and fully understand the college’s requirements. Only after that did ems provide Simon with an individual, custom-made and clear route map that would allow Queen’s College to start achieving their health and safety objectives. A point taken up by Simon Turner, “The ems consultant provided a completely independent and tailored view point” adding “ems helped us to set the correct priorities and establish a structured programme to achieve our aims.”
Moving Forward
After the initial review process ems were asked to provide complete fire, asbestos and water management systems. A key factor in the successful implementation of these initiatives was the in-depth risk assessments providing Queen’s College with vital information about their current status, a clear guide to areas where further actions were required and the information to achieve them.
Simon Turner again – "During this period we formed a good working relationship with our ems consultant. This gives us confidence in the reports which are presented personally, and which are clear and easy to follow." Simon further added, “We also now have independent verification that our contractors are actually performing to agreed service levels. This has given me vital time to address other strategic issues”
The overhaul of health and safety documentation, policy and procedures continued with the introduction of a comprehensive training programme. This employed presentations and training tailored to deliver the right training, to the right people. This has helped understanding of Health and Safety issues, and gets people to take ownership. By harnessing the new knowledge and existing abilities of the College staff, they are now involved directly in the H&S function. An indicator of the advances made has been an all inclusive culture of H&S awareness. The ems approach of a single, dedicated consultant to work with each client has also helped Queen’s College's growing confidence in ems.
Health and Safety culture
As a result of these changes, a stronger health and safety culture now exists within the management team at Queen's College. This has provided corporate benefit in efficiency gains and reduction of workload, plus the legal compliance that has given peace of mind. As Simon remarked "There are many demands on my time therefore I have to be able to rely on the information that I am supplied".
He added "the ems reports are clear and self explanatory and they have made it much easier for me to go directly to individuals to get something done" Set against a background of ever changing health and safety legislation and new regulations, Simon recognises maintaining the highest levels of practice can be a difficult and time consuming, “Looking forward the biggest challenge that we have is to develop with ems a system that will keep our health and safety policies current and in line with emerging legislation” stated Simon “We feel that we are well on the way to achieving this through increasingly refined and effective annual reviews that form a part of our contract with ems.”
Further information:
Tel: 01403 269375
Fax: 01403 265577
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
