A robust health and safety philosophy at work is a given. We all need to protect our employees while they are in the office or on site, and ensure they arrive home safely.

But, apart from the vital importance of a safe working environment, there are other considerations.

Recruitment for example.

Organisations that promote a safety-first culture are more likely to attract and retain talent. After all, who doesn’t want to work in an environment that has our wellbeing at its heart?

Having a well written health and safety handbook in the office, however, is not enough. The whole ethos of health and safety needs to permeate the entire organisation.

Safety cannot be dissociated from the organisation’s culture. It is not enough to merely comply with the office policy, it has to be a significant component of the company’s culture.

And it needs to start at the top.

Success comes from good leadership, active employee involvement and constant communication. When the leadership team puts an effective, relevant and sensible health and safety strategy in place, they have the power to influence the people around them and encourage the adoption of safe practices.

A safety-first culture is dependent on employees fulfilling their responsibility for ensuring that all aspects of the company’s undertakings are carried out with due regard to safety and with minimal risk to health through ongoing training and adopting rigorous safety protocols.   

Involved team members will take an active role in the business. They’ll implement new initiatives, take ownership of them and actively participate in driving change. Involving employees allows them to provide observations and feedback and offer constructive solutions to issues they may have encountered during their work.

By setting a safety-first culture, companies show that health and safety is not just a compliance requirement, it is a fundamental quality of their workplace. They recognise that the setting and implementation of risk management protocols helps create a successful, employee-centric company that creates a long-term value for the company and helps attract and retain talent.

Companies that invest in the growth and wellbeing of their employees are those that have a competitive advantage. They are able to move forward with confidence secure in the knowledge that their risks are minimised.

Safety matters in all aspects of industry and it is the responsibility of the leadership team to reinforce the importance of a safe environment and keep reminding employees of the potential health risks regularly.

At Ample Power’s recent health and safety training day HSEQ Manager Steve Challis, shared the latest business and safety updates as well as information on new projects, stressing the importance of maintaining the company’s approach to ensuring everyone goes home safe.

“Safety training shouldn’t be a one-off exercise,” said Steve. “We all forget information over time and continuous training helps embed good habits so that safety at work becomes habitual.”

Among the topics covered were working at height and lone working.

“It’s easy to forget what we’ve learned in the past, particularly when we are on site and really busy but by reiterating the potential dangers around employees working on their own or at height should not be overlooked. It is just a matter of reminding team members to check on their colleagues regularly to ensure they are safe,” said Steve.

A lot of time was spent in discussion around good housekeeping while on site and the importance of site inductions and daily briefings.

“As a company we are very strict on maintaining a clean, organised, and safe work environment through practices such as regular cleaning, proper storage, and clear walkways. Our site teams are very conscious of the need to ensure everyone on site complies with our standards,” said Steve.

Ongoing training ensures that employees stay up to date with the latest health and safety requirements. It also helps develop a sustainable habit of awareness in their roles and responsibilities to maintain a safe working environment.

An apprenticeship can be a valuable experience for those starting their careers. It can offer on the job training, an insight into the day-to-day operations of a firm and a clear route into a rewarding career.

By working alongside experienced professionals, apprentices develop practical, hands-on skills that prepare them for job roles upon completing their training thus providing a strong foundation for career success.

We sat down with two of our apprentices, Jake and Jack, to learn how they are benefitting from their apprenticeship at Ample Power.

Why have you chosen the career path you have? What do you enjoy the most? 

Jake Wallin

I enjoy all aspects of electrical works and feel it’s a great career path. I love the fact that, once I am a fully qualified electrician, there are so many opportunities to branch out into.  I am currently in my first year and not sure what area I would like to specialise in once I have finished my training, but I do know that I will be able to explore what I am good at as I go through my apprenticeship.

Jack Richards

I enjoy learning the technical and science side of the electrical aspects of a construction site. I am particularly interested in electrical installations and how they work in a variety of different projects. The industry is one that is constantly evolving as new technologies and work practices require us to constantly learn new things.

How have you benefited from your experience as an apprentice?

JW

For me the real value of my apprenticeship is, not only acquiring the technical skills I need, but also soft skills such as working as a team, problem solving and communicating with people at different levels.  At Ample Power I have learnt a wide range of technical skills such as safety protocols, building codes and regulations, and have been able to apply that knowledge within a live project.

JR

Being an apprentice has been a beneficial experience for me. I’ve been able to do things that I’m really interested in, and I have been able to work with so many different people. My apprenticeship has helped me to develop skills and knowledge that I wouldn’t have picked up otherwise. Theoretical knowledge is great to understand the theory behind the processes we undertake but out on a construction site I get to see these how these processes actually work.

What advice would you give to anyone starting out in the electrical industry?

JW

Listen and always do your best. I think enthusiasm and a willingness to learn are the most important things if you’re thinking about an apprenticeship. If you come into work every day keen and with an open mind, you’ll learn so much more than you’re expecting.

JR

Be patient and take your time, be open to endless possibilities and always listen to advice given. It can be quite daunting at first because you often feel you don’t have the skills required to do the job but in time you get to develop these skills and become a lot more confident in your role.

It is estimated there are around 100,000 potentially contaminated sites in England and Wales totalling approximately 300,000 hectares of land affected.

Much of these affected spaces are as a result of land contaminated by historical industries such as former mines, steelworks, landfills and manufacturing processes involving harmful chemicals having taken place on the land itself or on adjacent land.

Although many of these potentially contaminative industries have largely disappeared, there is still enough of a risk of contamination left behind to warrant investigation before any redevelopment work can be started.

Thorough due diligence at the pre-planning stage of a development is key to properly assessing the risk of contamination on a site. Most site investigations/property transactions will include ground investigation with bore holes and soil samples taken from the site as well as a comprehensive desktop study.

These reports give us vital information including previous land usage, soil type and compactness as well as the mineral contents of the samples tested.

We need to know if there has been any pollution of discharge incidents on the site is the site potentially affected by contamination and could the development result in unacceptable risk. We also need to be aware of designated sites for nature reserves or areas of special scientific interest.

Should there be a concern, local authorities require clients to carry out a risk assessment, before work can begin, to identify and assess the sources, pathways and receptors which must be carried out by a suitably qualified person or company.

Once the report has been produced the next question concerns the risks. Are they acceptable or will the remediation make these risks acceptable? We determine if the proposal could be made acceptable or, where not practical, if we should consider whether planning permission will be refused.

If contamination is discovered on an active site, a stop works notice must be issued and a risk assessment carried out.

Work can only recommence after the risk assessment has been completed, a remediation plan has been approved, and the contamination has been addressed to a safe level. Remediation of contaminated land may also require an authorisation under environmental permitting legislation.

Refurbishment projects generally require a unique set of skills and expertise compared to new builds. Refurbishment involves working with existing structures, which can present challenges such as outdated electrical installations, unexpected structural issues or inadequate plumbing. This often demands a higher level of problem-solving skills and adaptability. It necessitates careful planning and execution to integrate new elements with the existing building, which can be more complex than starting from a blank canvas.

Our site teams are highly experienced and familiar with these types of projects. We recently completed a refurbishment project in Plymouth and, while it was not without its challenges, it was handed over successfully.

The client wanted to turn an existing workshop into a lorry service centre and refurbish the office space to accommodate their workforce. We were required to install five service pits, to include two ATF lanes with shaker plated and break testers. This involved digging the pits to fit the prefabricated metal service pits. The site team also needed to remove the three existing roller shutter doors and replace them with new larger sectional doors as well as cutting out and installing seven new sectional doors.

An existing glass atrium was replaced with a full height glass wall, opening up the interior to let in more light, and reconfigured the office space to adjust the current layout and create two large parts stores – one on the ground floor and one on the first floor.

The yard area needed to be extended, and the entrance increased to 7 metres to make it bigger and more accessible for lorries, and a new wash ramp was installed. A palisade fencing was erected around the site for security.

As a refurbishment project, the biggest challenge for the team was having to deal with the existing electrical installation, which was to be maintained, within a tight time frame. Our highly experienced team of electricians successfully replaced old electrical panels and updated the wiring, making sure everything met regulations.

Overall, the project was delivered on time with building control signing it off promptly. The client and architect snag lists were dealt with quickly and there was a very clean exit without any pending issues left.

“Working with Ample Power is a pleasure; nothing is ever too much trouble, working with us we overcome any hurdle a project like this throws up. Ample Power are flexible, honest, transparent and dedicated to quality from the labourer to the Directors and everything in-between. They manage and control site safety to the very highest standards. The finished product is exceptional as is attention to detail. They remain our preferred supplier for future projects new build or refurbishment” Bob Cartwright, Project Director – Truck Operations, Greenhous Group.