INTRODUCTION
Punvic Express recognises the need for each of its employees and contractors to be provided with a safe and healthy work environment. It is therefore company policy to make every reasonable effort to meet the needs of accident prevention, injury protection, and the promotion of health, safety and welfare of all employees/contractors.
OBJECTIVES
• To provide facilities designed to minimise risk and develop safe working practices to ensure that the risks to personnel are minimised.
• To minimise any adverse impact of its activities to all employees, contractors and the public.
• That safety systems are in place before any operation is carried out and that if safety was compromised, operations are to be suspended.
• To regularly audit and continually improve occupational health and safety standards and procedures.
• To employ and engage competent, adequately trained personnel.
• To have all personnel recognise their responsibility and identify and eliminate hazards and to prevent injury to themselves and others.
• To promote a proactive approach to health and safety and to encourage personnel to participate in the development of Occupational Health and Safety
programmes.
• To provide adequate levels of health care and rehabilitation for all personnel.
• To share occupational health and safety experience with all personnel and relevant external organisations and suppliers.
• That its contractors and third parties clearly understand and adhere to occupational health and safety standards and, where necessary, assist in
achieving this
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
Punvic Express is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for all staff and contractors. This will best be achieved by following occupational health and safety procedures, which are monitored, reviewed, implemented and audited to achieve best practice.
Punvic Express commitment to occupational health and safety for its employees and subcontractors is as important as the Company’s commitment to outstanding service to customers.
There can be no compromise with occupational health and safety. The Company undertakes to regularly review this policy to take into account any
changes in legislation.
DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT
The Directors and Management of Punvic Express recognise their responsibility for providing the safest possible working conditions for all employees and sub-contractors.
The Directors and Management also commit to undertake the following:
• Comply with the requirements of Statutory Authorities in the manner of Occupational Health and Safety.
• Establish and support infrastructure, which will enable a co-operative effort by management and personnel for the prevention/reduction of workplace accidents and injuries.
• Provide effective training and instruction for all employees and sub-contractors to enable them to perform required tasks competently and safely.
OPERATIONS & FLEET MANAGERS
Operations and Fleet Managers will commit to undertake the following:
• Be responsible for safety, health and working conditions of employees under their control
• Report any hazards identified and initiate corrective action where appropriate
EMPLOYEES
All employees are required to comply with occupational health and safety policies, programmes, safe work procedures and practices to ensure their own health and safety and that of others.
Each employee may take action within their competence and responsibility to report or make recommendations as is necessary to avoid, eliminate or minimize hazards in regard to working conditions, work methods or work procedures.
All employees commit to undertake the following:
• Expected to co-operate willingly in the objective of making a safe and healthy workplace.
• Required to observe and practice safe work methods.
• To ensure that where safety equipment is provided, it is at all time used correctly.
• To report any unsafe work conditions to management.
• To co-operate in reasonable workplace changes designed to assist in rehabilitation of fellow workers.
CONTRACTORS AND SUB-CONTRACTORS
All contractors and sub-contractors engaged to perform work on behalf of Punvic Express are required as part of their contract or agreement, to comply with the occupational health and safety policies, and safe work procedures. Failure to comply or observe a directive will be a breach of agreement and sufficient grounds for termination of the contract or agreement.
REVIEW
This policy will be reviewed when required by changes to legislation, or when company operations require it. If at any stage the above policy is altered, all personnel will be consulted and notified in writing of the applicable changes.
REHABILITATION POLICY
Every endeavour is made to provide employees with a safe and healthy working environment.
Should injury or illness occur, Inov8ive will facilitate an employee’s return to work in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 and Workers Compensation Act 1997.
It is Punvic Express’s policy that:
• Should injury occur, the rehabilitation process will be commenced as soon as possible after the incident occurs, consistent with medical advice.
• Returning injured employees to the workplace, on suitable duties, under medical guidance, is to be the normal expectation.
• Punvic Express will ensure that suitable duties are made available to all partially incapacitated employees. This is to be an integral part of the rehabilitation
process.
• Consultation will be maintained with our employees, and their representatives in development and operation of the rehabilitation programme, consistent with the need to keep all details confidential.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY AIM
It is recognised that the inappropriate use of drugs and alcohol by employees, contractors and sub-contractors can lead to major deficiencies in an individual’s work performance and is a contributing factor in industrial accidents and road fatalities. The aim of this policy is to eliminate hazards associated with drivers effected by drugs or alcohol whilst working on behalf of Punvic Express.
PROCEDURE
Punvic Express regards an individual’s dependence on alcohol or other drugs as a potentially treatable condition and as such, allowances for treatment will be made as is for any other illness.
• Drivers who feel they are developing or already have a problem with drug or alcohol dependence, are encouraged to report their concerns to management for referral to appropriate treatment. These discussions will remain confidential at all times.
• Where management detects a deterioration of a driver’s performance it should be remembered that there may be medical a reason for this. Following a driver interview with regard to performance, a driver may ask to seek medical advice.
• The decision to undertake treatment is the responsibility of the individual concerned
• Where a driver refuses to accept assistance where drug and alcohol abuse is proven and the driver experiences a subsequent recurrence of such abuse whilst in employ/engagement, this will result in termination of contract.
• The drug and alcohol policy does not exist to protect or exempt drivers from statutory or legal requirement, these apply regardless.
• Any employee or sub-contractor that presents for work under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be subject to disciplinary action.
