Getting Some Experience

Over the next few months many organisations will offer school children the opportunity of work experience. Spending sometime outside the classroom learning about a particular job or area of work provides a wonderful opportunity for youngsters to learn a little bit about what it really is like to work and what sort of skills employers are looking for.

The experience can vary considerably in terms of the preparation that employers invest in the placement. Those who take the time, hope that it will be a positive experience for their student. Having been involved in work placements over many years I have found it can be a very rewarding experience.

Accidents involving work experience students are rare. Companies are usually required to provide evidence of their risk assessments, particularly in relation to the young person, and part of student’s project will always include an overview of the health and safety policy and procedures. But providing good work experience and getting the safety message right can sometimes prove tricky. It should always be part of the whole experience and highlight the genuine hazards and risks relevant to that workplace, not an excuse to either belittle health and safety or turn safety warnings into a mantra to be trotted out at every opportunity.

As an employer, when you offer work experience placements to students you have the same responsibilities for health and safety and welfare as for the entire workforce. Under health and safety law, the students are regarded as employees for the duration of their placement. The HSE have published a booklet entitled The Right Start – HSE guide for work experience. It provides good advice for employers.

 

At Stepping Stones for Business we can help to ensure that your work experience risk assessment is appropriate and relevant. Phone 0333 321 0131 or email info@ssfb.co.uk for more information.

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Every day, in every way ….

ISO9004:2009 is the guidance document for ISO9001. It explains the paragraphs of the standard in reasonably plain English and takes the implementation of the standard beyond compliance. It’s not only an important standard for anyone implementing the ISO9001 quality standard, it also provides some really useful guidance for anyone who just wants to look at their business with fresh eyes and improve performance.

The standard defines eight key quality management principles that are fundamental to the success of any business:

  • Customer focus
  • Leadership
  • Involvement of people
  • Process approach
  • System approach to management
  • Continual improvement
  • Decision making based on facts
  • Mutually beneficial supplier relationships

Each month we take one of the principles and look at the key benefits and how they can be applied in any business.

Principle 6 – Continual Improvement

We are all familiar with the mantra ‘Every day, in every way I am getting better and better’. Attributed to the French pharmacist, Emile Coue in the 1920’s. the saying can be applied equally well to work. Continual improvement of an organisation’s overall performance should be a permanently objective for any company.

Applying the ISO9004 principles of continual improvement should lead to:

  • Employing a consistent organisation-wide approach to continual improvement of the organisation’s performance.
  • Providing people with training in the methods and tools of continual improvement.
  • Making continual improvement of products, processes and systems an objective for every individual in the organisation.
  • Establishing goals to guide, and measures to track, continual improvement.
  • Recognizing and acknowledging improvements.

Key benefits:

  • Performance advantage through improved organisational capabilities.
  • Alignment of improvement activities at all levels to an organisation’s strategic intent.
  • Flexibility to react quickly to opportunities.

To find out more about the principles of good quality management and how it can help your business drop us an email or call us on 0333 321 0131.

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Jubilee Fever

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The Big Lunch at Goring and Streatley – the longest street party in the country?

It’s official – Goring and Streatley have been granted permission to close their High Streets and the river bridge on the 3rd June. Hosting the only Jubilee party spanning 1 km and two counties, the Big Lunch will definitely be a weekend to remember. Before the Big Lunch, there will be a grand parade, Thanksgiving service and while everyone is still in festive mood, there will be a carnival procession and Jubilee concert.

At a meeting this week, to confirm the planning and safety arrangements with the West Berkshire Highways and emergency services, the organisers were praised for their plans and preparation for the road closure. The chairman commented that the detail of the written plans and risk assessments, created under the guidance of Stepping Stones for Business, were ‘light years’ ahead – much to the delight of SSFB Managing Director, Rebecca Russell.

The organisers for each event are responsible for planning their events and drafting the risk assessments. Safety considerations are an important element for the planning of any event. On an event of this scale it’s critical. The duty of care to all participants to ensure they enjoy a safe, exciting and fun filled day is a great burden to organisers. Stepping Stones for Business are the appointed safety advisors and we are proud to be involved with the organisation.

To find out more visit the Goring-on-Thames website

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Link CCTV Pass Audit with Flying Colours

Link CCTV Systems have once again passed their ISO9001 audit with flying colours. SSAIB is a leading certification body that specialises in certification schemes for the security and fire safety services.

Link CCTV Systems offers CCTV installation and maintenance nationwide. They achieved ISO9001 four years ago and consistently receive outstanding feedback from the SSAIB auditor. Having ISO9001 gives Link CCTV a competitive advantage and allows them to compete and win large contracts.

Link CCTV Systems has been a client of Stepping Stones for Business (SSFB) for over five years. Having provided the ISO9001 consultancy and support for Link to achieve certification to the standard in 2008, SSFB now provides an integrated approach to their business management systems, providing quality, safety and environmental consultancy.

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