Health & Safety
The Safety and Welfare of our People
Artel Scaffolding has always been committed to safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of our employees and others who may be affected by our works. We have a dedicated Health, Safety, Environmental, and Quality Department (HSEQ) led by our Health and Safety Director Mick Bradbury. Through quality training, reporting, process, and safe practice our HSEQ Department ensures that the safety of every individual is of first and foremost importance.
Comprehensive Training
Artel has a comprehensive training programme across our workforce. All our Artel operatives are CISRS qualified and our Site Supervisors are SSSTS/SMSTS qualified. In addition, Artel’s apprenticeship scheme allows us to develop the skills of those who are new to the industry and move them forward through a vocational training programme – from Labourer to Advanced Scaffolder.
We review the training needs of all our operatives on a regular basis and ensure that the appropriate levels of training are delivered whether it be mandatory CPD to maintain existing qualifications or progression to the next CISRS level.
To ensure the safety of our drivers and other road users, all our Artel drivers also have ongoing CPC and FORS training.
Reporting with SafeTime and Inspect7®
Another important way Artel maintains a competitively high level of safety is by using partner company SafeTime and their inspection software Inspect7®. SafeTime’s revolutionary inspection device – a visible tagging system attached to your scaffold – makes sure your weekly scaffolding inspections are carried out efficiently, competently and on time.
Qualified independent inspectors update their weekly report to the Safetime inspection device and clients and our HSEQ department can view the inspection information in real-time, with a full online audit for your records. The SafeTime app also reports when the next inspection will need to take place, so we always meet legal inspection requirements.
This visible tagging system is also a useful way of ensuring those who need access to the scaffold/temporary work know that it has been inspected correctly and therefore safe to use.
We have recently extended the use of Inspect7® to cover all tools – including site tools, those of our operatives and operative’s harnesses. Proactive Monitoring is also carried out through Inspect7® and the reports feed directly back to clients.
Safety Communication on Site
Alongside weekly inspections which are carried out by registered independent inspectors, the HSEQ Department, led by dedicated Health and Safety Director Mick Bradbury, will also visit the sites on a regular basis. We ensure that the most up to date legislation is adhered to and monitor its effect on the works and the site team.
Company policies and procedures are also communicated via safety alerts, site memos and Toolbox Talks so that sites are always in touch and up to speed.
Safety Equipment and PPE
Like all reputable scaffold companies, Health and Safety is paramount to our operation but at Artel we strive to go that extra mile to ensure the safety of all concerned.
We operate a 5 point PPE policy which goes above and beyond the requirements of some of our clients. Our operatives are supplied with superior quality safety helmets, specially designed for working at height.
Tethered Tools are mandatory for all our scaffolders and we were one of the first scaffolding companies to introduce this back in 2014.
Safelinx Board Retainers are fitted as standard on all our projects to reduce trip hazards for those using the scaffold.
Scaff Gap is fitted, where appropriate, to bridge the gap between scaffold boards created by the inside standards.
And PAT Testing of all our site equipment is carried out by our qualified team of in-house PAT Testers.
Reduce Risk Through Design
Artel reduces risk through our planning and design. We have a dedicated in-house specialist scaffold design team, which is comprised of highly skilled, qualified engineers. We ensure bespoke TG20:21 compliant designs are issued for all projects where a Compliance Sheet will not meet requirements and have the ability to pre-plan site requirements strategically.