The client works in an industry with very specific manual handling requirements in certain roles; in addition, their staff work shifts and booking training courses was proving difficult.

We worked with our client across their business to provide a bespoke solution which took into account both staff availability and the specific duties within their roles. This real-world example highlights our commitment to outstanding customer service, agile problem-solving, and how our 360 approach and expert Health & Safety team can support your business.

Problem

The client wanted manual handling training for their staff but time planning was an issue, in terms of juggling shift patterns and being able to release key staff for training. They also had very specific requirements for several staff roles which they wanted to be addressed in the training.

Solution

We carried out an initial fact-finding visit to the client’s premises and met with the client to discuss their training needs, including the particular challenges involved. Armed with this clear understanding, we carried out a training audit and identified that their current manual handling training had no practical element involved, raising questions as to whether it could be considered suitable and sufficient in terms of competence.

We then created a bespoke manual handling course which emphasised their practical requirements by using their own equipment and workshop imagery, whilst also delivering the accredited IOSH Working Safely course as part of the wider Training rollout.

Results

The training content was agreed and a schedule of works planned throughout 2024, which has been extended to include both new and refresher training in 2025. The client has also recommended us to another organisation; a programme of training has already commenced there, with excellent feedback received.

Conclusion

The client fully addressed their specific compliance and safety challenges, ensuring a safer work environment and mitigating potential risks, with minimal disruption to business operations.

Contact Us

To find out more about how our 360 approach and expert teams can support your business, contact a member of our Training team at Training@skaltd.co.uk or our Health & Safety team at HealthandSafety@skaltd.co.uk

A puzzling circular problem of compliance in vacant premises. How we solved one client’s compliance issues, enabling the premises to become operational and helping them plan for the future. 

We worked with our client to produce a valid fire risk assessment for a new part of their business despite it not yet being operational, enabling them to implement a timely staggered opening schedule. This real-world example highlights our commitment to outstanding customer service, agile problem-solving, and how our 360 approach and expert Health & Safety team can support your business. 

Problem

The client, a care provider with a portfolio of residential properties, had fully renovated a vacant residential care facility. 

To obtain permission to trade, they needed a fire risk assessment as per the local authority requirements. However, fire regulations state that a fire risk assessment must be completed in an operational establishment in order to be compliant.

Background

Premises must have a valid PAS79 compliant fire risk assessment to be able to open but, as the premises was new, it had no previous valid document to present. The client also wanted to be able to initially open just the ground floor to new residents, to help with the cash flow and to test procedures, before then finishing and opening the second floor.

Solution

As we had worked with the client at their other care homes, producing generic documents and undertaking fire risk assessments, we wrote a suitably worded PAS79 fire risk assessment which was produced just prior to them opening the home. The wording and actions enabled that same fire risk assessment to remain current and relevant for the first year, so that the home could obtain approval and operate legally.

Results

Local authority approval was granted. Local authorities also accepted the document post opening, with the suggestion of a new full PAS79 compliant fire risk assessment being undertaken again within twelve months of opening. 

A plan is also now in place to update all the fire risk assessments across the group to modern PAS79 compliant documents on a rolling basis, so that each year at least three of the homes in the group will get a new PAS79 compliant fire risk assessment completed.

Contact Us

To find out more about how our 360 approach and expert Health & Safety team can support your business, contact a member of our team at HealthandSafety@skaltd.co.uk.

Disclaimer

The information and any commentary contained within these updates are for general information purposes only and do not constitute legal or any other type of professional advice. Stallard Kane does not accept and, to the extent permitted by law, exclude liability to any person for any loss which may arise from relying upon or otherwise using the information contained in these blogs. If you have a particular query or issue, you are strongly advised to obtain specific, personal advice about your issue and not to rely solely on the information or comments in these updates.

A varied and growing portfolio of property – but with no consistency regarding documentation and procedures. How we streamlined one client’s Health & Safety documentation. 

We worked with our client to produce documentation and procedures that were uniform across the business but adaptable to each individual care home, providing both flexibility and full compliance for their growing business. This real-world example highlights our commitment to outstanding customer service, agile problem-solving, and how our 360 approach and expert Health & Safety team can support your business. 

Problem

The client, a care provider with a portfolio of residential properties, had added another care home to their portfolio but due to a case of COVID the property was unable to accept any visitors. This meant they were operating without a Health & Safety Policy or any risk assessments, which would make them instantly noncompliant from a CQC perspective as well as falling foul of other regulations.

Background

The client had 6 care homes, with each facility operating autonomously under its own documents and procedures. Additionally, each registered manager was signing as the person responsible for health and safety; this was not correct as, whilst the managers had individual responsibilities and control on a day-to-day basis, the directors had the ultimate responsibility.

Solution

We produced an all-encompassing Health & Safety Policy document, along with other generic documents and risk assessments which could be easily adapted at each home, thus providing uniformity and consistency.

Results

The whole business – not just the Health & Safety department - now has documents that are produced centrally at head office and are applicable to all the care homes in the group. 

This has enabled staff that move between the care homes to provide temporary cover and training, as all procedures and documents are consistent across the group. The company have since added yet more residential premises; these have been able to operate from day one, with an applicable Health & Safety Policy and Safety Handbook as well as easily adaptable risk assessments.

Contact Us

To find out more about how our 360 approach and expert Health & Safety team can support your business, contact a member of our team at HealthandSafety@skaltd.co.uk.

Disclaimer

The information and any commentary contained within these updates are for general information purposes only and do not constitute legal or any other type of professional advice. Stallard Kane does not accept and, to the extent permitted by law, exclude liability to any person for any loss which may arise from relying upon or otherwise using the information contained in these blogs. If you have a particular query or issue, you are strongly advised to obtain specific, personal advice about your issue and not to rely solely on the information or comments in these updates.

Our strategic intervention prevented a UK-based manufacturer from facing a costly shutdown due to overlooked certifications. This real-world example highlights our commitment to outstanding customer service, agile problem-solving, and how our 360 approach and expert Health and Safety team can support your business. 

Problem 

The client, a major cheese manufacturer, was carrying out planned servicing and maintenance works on a Friday afternoon when they realised that 44 of the pressure vessels in their manufacturing plant had not been tested and certified; without this certification in place, they would have to shut down their operations for health and safety reasons. 

 Background 

The client runs its operations 24/7. Its primary manufacturing plant produces, packs, and dispatches cheese to clients all over the world, including wholesalers, catering companies, pubs, restaurants, and retail clients such as M&S and Waitrose, as well as its own cheese shop. Shutting down operations would have had a huge impact on its bottom line and damaged client relationships. 

Solution 

The client immediately rang our sister company Towergate. Knowing Stallard Kane as an expert in Health & Safety advice and solutions, they immediately put the client in touch with our team, who were able to send in engineers to test and certify the pressure vessels that very weekend and so prevent a costly shutdown. 

Results 

With the shutdown avoided, the client requested our assistance with an Asbestos Survey for their premises and a thorough Gap Analysis of their Health and Safety Management System. 

This analysis identified the need for a significant number of mid-range improvements. This led to the full-time employment of an Health & Safety Manager and the involvement of a range of department heads working to improve safety standards and protect the business going forward. 

Conclusion 

The immediate and obvious benefits to our client were our rapid response, a detailed understanding of their situation as a business and our ability to call on a wide range of experts to solve specific problems quickly and effectively. 

Contact Us

To find out more about how our 360 approach, contact a member of our team at HealthandSafety@skaltd.co.uk