Safe Work Practices and Procedures
Has the company prepared safe work procedure (JSAs) relevant to its operations?
Yes.
Does the company have any permit to work systems?
Yes. We are the only approved pest management contractors used by BP Australia under the ACP initiative. This requires the use of the AIP System when working at service stations and fuel depots. BP Audit Amalgamated Pest Control annually to ensure our level of compliance to AS/NZ 4801 meets their internal standards. We currently have an average grading of over 95% in meeting our HSSE requirements.
Is there a documented system for incident reporting and investigation?
(Does the contractor have a procedure by whick subcontractors and staff can report safety hazards for those sites it services?)
Yes. This system is maintained electronically across a company wide database with reminders and escalation systems in place to ensure prioritised attention is given to incidents and near misses.
Are there procedures for maintaining, inspecting and assessing the hazards of plan operated / owned by the company?
Apart from standard electrical test/tag requirements, none of the equipment used on-site requires the rigour be pre-start checks. Field equipment inspected on a regular basis using a standard equipment checklist. Depending on vendor requirements, basic vehicle roadworthy checks can be done on a daily/weekly basis.
Are there procedures for storage and handling of hazardous substances?
Yes. A chemical usage and handling policy exists that specifies all products needs to be stored, mixed, used and disposed of in accordance with company, manufacturer, client and legal requirements. All storage in field operations is considered minor storage and insufficient quantities of hazardous substances are transported or stored to require placarding or other hazardous goods signage. We also have a general goods storage and handling procedure.
Is there an MSDS Register available?
Yes. All vehicles and storage areas have an up-to-date MSDS folder for reference. All current MSDS information is maintained on the company Extra-net site for download at any time.
Are there procedures for identifying, assessing and controlling risks associated with manual handling?
Yes. Manual handling is addressed during the induction process of every person that joins the APC group. Our Safe Work Method Statements address the issue of manual handling. It is also the subject of a toolbox talks which are conducted with staff on a periodic basis.
Does the company provide relevant PPE for workers?
Provision of PPE is the responsibility of the sub-contractor that visits the site. The service operations performed (unless it is fumigation) do not need any specialised PPE requiring certification or calibration. All PPE used is replenished on a regular basis and considered consumable items (e.g. disposable masks, replacement cartridges).