BT Snow And Ice Policy Reviewed By CWU
BT's Snow and Ice policy has been reviewed by the CWU and the Union's Health, Safeyty and Environment Dept has reminded all Branches that it should be implemented based on local needs.
The plan states:
"All BT sites will have a risk based assessment carried out, at least annually, by BTGP’s FM supply chain (Monteray), to allow a site specific snow and ice plan to be constructed. For all sites this should be completed by end May each year.
Before undertaking any assessments the Union Safety Representative, for the building, shall be invited to contribute any local knowledge or practical advice that they feel would be useful."
As can be seen above, policy encourages CWU Union Safety Reps to be involved in local assessments and contact should be made locally with Monteray to ensure that the plans are suitable and effective.
Strong representations have been made to BT Property to get Monteray to do the local risk assessments in conjunction with USRs.
This message has been re-enforced by BT Property who have reiterated to Monteray that every effort must be made to ensure that USR's are involved in any site reviews.
The basic standards of the policy ensures that
- For occupied buildings the main footpath from the pavement to the front door shall as a minimum be gritted. Also any areas that have been identified as a specific risk. This will be delivered by whoever is identified on snow and ice plan for each site.
Guidance notes to the policy state:
- The Plan should remind everyone to take extra care in wintry conditions and consider their own and their colleagues’ safety and their personal responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which informs us:
- “So far as reasonably practicable as regards any place of work under the employer’s control, the maintenance of it in a condition that is safe and without risks to health and the provision and maintenance of means of access to and egress from it that are safe and without such risks”
The complete Ice And Snow Policy can be obtained from CWU Branch Officers covering BT workers and from the Union's members only section of their national website www.cwu.org
Source: CWU
