Technical Services
Expert Witness
The UK is becoming an increasingly litigious and blame culture. In the Construction Industry, the UK’s most dangerous major industry, things can go wrong (or are alleged to have gone wrong).
Recent legislative changes – the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 and the Health and Safety Offences Act 2008 in particular - make both companies and individual directors more vulnerable.
C-MIST’s professional and experienced advisors can support client’s through such difficult times through investigation, reports, advising the legal team and, where necessary, court appearances.
Defence case histories:
- Planning Supervisor accused when a contractor struck a gas main.
Verdict: not guilty. - Factory accused when a contractor fell to his death through a fragile roof.
Verdict: not guilty. - Hotel accused when a guest fell to his death from an upper window.
Verdict not guilty. - Care home accused when a patient fell to his death from an upper window.
Verdict: not guilty. - Construction Safety Advisor accused when a steel fitter fell to his death.
Verdict: not guilty.
Risk Assessment
As an employer you have a statutory duty to ensure your safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do. This involves risk assessment.
Accidents and ill health can have a huge impact on people’s lives and can also damage your business. Recognising hazards and associated risks to health and safety will help protect you and your organisation. It will have a positive impact on your health and safety performance and you will also be complying with the law.
C-MIST’s Safety Advisors can provide you with practical advice and risk assessment services to enable you to meet your obligations.
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Fire Safety
Fire statistics in 2006 show that fire and rescue teams attended to over 400,000 fires. It is important to be aware of possible fire hazards in the workplace and take steps to protect those within them.
Fire safety legislation requires owners or anyone with legal responsibilities for premises to manage the risks from fire. Domestic premises do not normally fall within the requirements of the legislation, however there are exceptions for those who manage properties of multiple occupancy (HMO) and care homes.
Compliance involves taking reasonable steps to prevent fire and reduce the detrimental effects of fire.
Duty holders’ responsibilities include:
- fire safety risk assessments
- identifying fire safety measures
- implement a fire plan
- maintaining records and carrying out reviews
C-MIST’s Safety Advisors can provide you with practical advice and fire safety services to enable you to meet your obligations.
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Disability Discrimination Act
The Act was introduced in 1995 to enforce the rights of disabled people. Compliance will affect all types of businesses and organisations, as an employer or as a provider of services to the public.
Many businesses in the first instance will have written policies and procedures to ensure that they have already taken such steps as are reasonable, to comply with the provisions of the Act.
We can provide:
- A comprehensive survey and report including costs
- Practical solutions for access problems
- Advise on materials, products and aids to assist your clients or customers
- Full project management support – quality, cost and programme controls
We can also assist with the development of procedures which an employer is required by law to include in their employment policy.
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Asbestos
About the same number die each year from Asbestos related diseases in the UK as are killed on the roads and the number is still rising! The workforce most at risk today of developing an asbestos related disease are construction workers involved in renovation, alteration or demolition of existing contaminated structures.
The law requires that owners or anyone with legal responsibility for nondomestic premises manages the risk from asbestos. This involves taking reasonable steps to locate and record any asbestos in their property (or presume it is asbestos). The likelihood of anyone being exposed to the asbestos must then be assessed and a plan prepared to manage the risks identified.
C-MIST's Asbestos Services include
- Guidance on legislative compliance
- Surveys (Type 1, type 2 or type 3)
- Assessments
- Asbestos Management Plans
- Oversight of removal work
- Air Monitoring
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