The Gazette 1990

GAZETTE

PRIL

1990

safety measures are incorporated in

the normal operations of the Firm

in such a way that they become

second nature:

a. To define the organisation and

structure of health and safety

within the firm;

b. To outline measures to prevent

accidents, to ensure the health and

safety of employees, visitors,

contractors and others on the

premises;

c. To ensure the smooth and

efficient operation of the practice.

These objectives will be achieved

by an active policy of education/

promotion of industrial health and

safety as an integral part of each

employee's duties.

Implementation of Health &

Safety Policy

To implement the policy the

following measures will be

adopted: —

a. clearly defined accountability

areas, under the control of

supervisors, will be assigned

throughout the premises;

b. an effective system of incident

recording (no matter how minor)

and corrective action will be

operated;

c. an effective self inspection (of

own accountability areas) checklist

system will be operated by

supervisors;

d. the Firm's safety rules to which

everyone must adhere will be

developed and reviewed on an

ongoing basis;

e. an effective safety training

programme will be developed;

f. a fire safety programme and

emergency evacuation panel will be

developed.

g. The general policy statement will

be reviewed from time to time.

Responsibility for Safety

General

Safety is the responsibility of

management. Accident prevention

and safety are no less than any

other managerial function. For the

safety policy to be effective

everyone must be involved. Each

employee (including Solicitors,

Clerks, Typists, Security etc) has a

duty under the Health & Welfare at

Work Act 1989 to exercise personal

responsibility or in other words to

take reasonable care for his/her

own health and safety and for the

health and safety of others,

a. employees must not knowingly

endanger themselves or others

who may be affected by their acts

or omissions at work;

b. employees must co-operate with

management in relation to safety

and must comply with the firm's

safety rules;

c. employees must never interfere

with fittings or machinery or other

safety devices;

d. employees must wear/use

protective clothing/equipment

when necessary or provided.

Responsibility for Safety

Particular

a. the Senior Partner is ultimately

responsible for the execution of the

above policy. He will delegate

responsibility for each department

to the Solicitor in charge who may

further delegate responsibility to

Supervisors;

b. each Solicitor will report to the

Senior Partner in relation to safety

and health measures;

The role of the solicitor in charge

is crucial in any safety programme.

Implementation of Duties and

Responsibilities of Solicitors in

Charge:

a. to communicate the Firm's

safety and health measures to the

workforce;

b. to meet subordinates and

supervisors each month to confirm

that routine unsafe practices and

conditions have been eliminated. To

discuss the more difficult problems

and agree solutions;

c. to ensure that adequate safety

training where necessary is

provided by the firm for employees;

d. to ensure that new employees

are properly briefed in safety and

health procedures;

e. to carry out occasional hazard

spot checks using self inspection

checklists.

f. to enforce the safety and health

rules through routine day to day

supervision of personnel and

processes to ensure safe practices

and procedures;

g. the operation of the incident

recording and corrective action

technique, recording and reacting

to all incidents no matter how

minor.

Safety Committee

The Safety & Health Committee

will consist of a Senior Partner,

Partners and representatives of

each Department.

KERRY TOWN

OLD ESTABLISHED

LAW PRACTICE

FOR SALE

PROMINENTLY SITUATED

BOX NO. 45

The Committee may co-opt

whichever member of staff is

considered necessary to the

furthering of a sound safety and

health policy.

The primary duties of the Safety

& Health Committee are to: —

a. acquire reference material and be

in a position to provide technical

advice on difficult safety problems;

b. to acquire copies of relevant

safety at work statutes so as to be

in a position to provide technical

advice and safety legislation;

c. to monitor the operation of

safety and health procedures

within the organisation;

d. to monitor safety performance

within each Department and

submit periodical reports to the

Senior Partner.

General

Health & Safety of Personnel

The management will maintain a

suitable first aid box for use by

members of the staff. Management

will provide a clean hygienic work

environment for staff. Members of

staff are to ensure that manage-

ment are informed of any situation

which could develop into a health

or safety hazard.

Employees will ensure that they

conduct themselves in such a way

that they will not create a health or

safety hazard which could be a

danger to their co-workers.

Safe Working Practices

Employees must not report for

work under the influence of alcohol

or other addictive substance. Any

member of staff reporting in such

a condition will be suspended from

duty for their own safety and for

the safety of their co-workers.

All machines acd lights should be

switched off at the close of work

each evening. They should also be

switched off when any cleaning or

maintenance is in progress.

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