Health & Safety

Health & Safety plays a major role in designing and planning a new office environment

ODAPS Ltd has a pro-active approach to Health & Safety issues. Our policy is to actively encourage and engage our clients, staff and sub contractors in Health & Safety awareness. We consider this to be essential in protecting our client's interests.

We employ a NEBOSH qualified Technical Safety Practitioner, to oversee and advise on all projects, and our designers and project managers have a sound understanding of Health & Safety matters from many years of experience and training. We continually improve this skill set with a comprehensive training budget tailored around Health & Safety.

As most projects fall within its scope we place a great emphasis on the CDM Regulations. These regulations place duties and legal obligations on the client. If these are not fulfilled, it can lead to the client being prosecuted. Our project managers have the necessary experience and training to act as CDM Co-ordinator and Principal Contractors as stipulated by the regulations. We also ensure only skilled and competent workmen are permitted onto our sites.

Quite apart from the personal cost, on site accidents can do serious damage to your business, ultimately costing you money and even your reputation. Even on the smallest of projects it is essential that you assess the competency of people carrying out the work.

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

ODAPS builds better client relationships by ensuring clients understand CDM Regulations

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 were introduced to improve the construction industries poor track record of site accidents. Any project which has more than five people on site at any one time, or lasts for more than 30 working days, or more than 500 man-days falls within the scope of the CDM Regulations.

The regulations clearly identified the client as having ultimate responsibility for on site Health & Safety issues, and imposed legal obligations and duties upon this person. Therefore, it is essential for anyone undertaking building or refurbishment works to asses the contractor they appoint for their competency.

To assist the client, the regulations identified three key roles:

• The Designer. Whose responsibility it is to inform the client of his duties and obligations, such as the requirement to appoint a CDM Co-ordinator.
• The CDM Co-ordinator. The client legally has to appoint a CDM Co-ordinator. This person oversees the H&S in general, assessing the contractor and ensuring that he fulfils his obligations.
• The Principal Contractor. The client legally has to appoint a principal contractor, who is responsible for the day-to-day management of H&S on site.

ODAPS can fulfil all these roles, to provide maximum benefit to our clients

Throughout the office design and construction process, all Health & Safety responsibilities are handled in-house

In contrast with most companies, who outsource their Health & Safety responsibilities, we have adopted a policy of keeping these in house, thus retaining full control but with flexibility. Our office designers, project managers and site staff have extensive training and experience in Health & Safety issues.

From the very start of a project we will undertake Design Risk Assessments on proposed schemes. These are then followed up with Pre Tender Health & Safety documents, Construction Phase Health & Safety documents, through to a Health & Safety Completion Manual presented to the client upon completion of the project.

To summarise our in house capabilities:

• NEBOSH qualified H&S officer.
• ODAPS ltd is registered with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)
• All sites managed by a holder of the CITB Site Managers Safety Certificate.
• Ability to undertake CDM Co-ordinator and Principal Contractor roles.
• Design Risk Assessments on all designs.
• Risk Assessments and Method Statements on all construction processes.
• All our project managers have the Construction Skills Certificate Scheme black card.
• All our sites are covered by 1st aid trained staff.

As can be seen, our clients benefit from a comprehensive range of in house skills and services.