Devise and monitor safe systems of work in the utilities sector

This Standard is about identifying safe systems of work in the utilities sector and monitoring their application. It could apply for work in a single utility or in a multi-utility environment. Safe systems of work can include, but are not restricted to, safe working methods, access control procedures and use of tools and equipment.
It includes checking risks and hazards against risk assessment specifications, specifying safe systems of work, making sure the people you are working with understand the safe systems of work, ensuring compliance with specified safe systems of work and dealing with hazards as they arise.
This Standard is for supervisors, first line managers or the competent person on site who are responsible for the implementation of safe systems of work in their area of responsibility in the utilities sector.

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1. review risk assessment specifications against your own risk assessments and planned work processes to make sure they include all relevant risks and hazards
2. take appropriate action in line with organisational procedures if any risks or hazards have not been identified within risk assessment specifications
3. identify safe systems of work that comply with risk assessment specifications and job specifications
4. check materials, tools and equipment comply with safe systems of work
5. select working methods that conform to safe systems of work
6. communicate risk assessment information and safe systems of work to the people you are working with at appropriate times
7. monitor the use of specified safe systems of work by those you work with on an ongoing basis
8. make sure all access control procedures to work sites are in place and operated in line with organisational procedures
9. deal with identified hazards or risks within your area of responsibility in line with organisational procedures
10. correct any non-compliance with safe systems of work of those you are working with in line with organisational procedures
11. take appropriate action when specified safe systems of work are not being used in line with organisational procedures
12. seek advice about risks and hazards and communicate any hazards or risks that you cannot remove in line with organisational procedures
13. monitor and review the effectiveness of safe systems of work and implement any adjustments in line with organisational procedures
14. maintain required records relating to risk assessments and safe systems of work in line with organisational procedures

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1. relevant health and safety regulations, procedures and guidelines relating to yourself and others including duty of care, hazardous substances, personal protective equipment (PPE), use of equipment and machinery, confined spaces, excavations, lifting machinery, manual handling and other relevant industry specific regulations
2. network engineering legislation, regulatory frameworks, codes of practice, associated permits, compliance agency standards, principles and processes relevant to the network being worked upon
3. relevant environmental legislation and environmentally responsible work practices and organisational policy and their importance, including waste disposal standards
4. roles and responsibilities of yourself, those you supervise, colleagues and those you report to in maintaining safety
5. the impact of pollutants and how to protect people and the environment
6. accepted methods of interaction with colleagues and the general public in relation to risks and hazards at work
7. organisational procedures and guidelines relating to welfare, smoking, eating, drinking and taking drugs
8. how to analyse risks and hazards and carry out and review risk assessments
9. relevant working methods and how to identify those that are safe
10. procedures for safe working
11. organisational access control procedures
12. how to identify and specify safe systems of work
13. communication methods and procedures including how to verify understanding of others
14. when and how to check team members’ compliance with safe systems of work and procedures to follow to address non-compliance
15. the potential impact of not addressing hazards and how to take corrective action when unexpected hazards occur
16. responsibility for corrective action when potentially dangerous events occur
17. the types of adjustments that can be made to improve the effectiveness of safe systems of work
18. how evaluation of safe systems of work can be used to illustrate levels of performance
19. organisational reporting and recording procedures and how to capture the information required
20. organisational information systems and how to use them and comply with data protection requirements

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3

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2028

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Current

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Original

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Energy & Utility Skills

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EUSUMS1

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Engineering, Utility Managers

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1123

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Utility; utilities; gas; water; power; sewerage; drainage; network; multi-utility; working environment; hazards; work safely; assessment specification; assessment analysis; safety legislation and regulations

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