managementofhealthandsafetyfiles.docVIP

Management of Health and Safety Files Background Health and Safety Files are critical tools for enabling structures to be safely used, maintained and adapted. They contain important safety information about the structure, enabling those designing or working upon it in the future to understand and manage hazards that may otherwise not be apparent. There is consequently a legal requirement on clients to store and share Health and Safety File information (CDM 2007, Regulation 17). A range of other parties have legal duties to assist with the management of Health and Safety Files. Historically, Health and Safety Files have contained generic or inappropriate information or have been stored in a manner which makes retrieval impractical. Purpose The purpose of this document is to ensure that appropriate information is stored in UWE Health and Safety Files and that it is readily accessible for future use. Every block or area of a campus will ultimately have its own Health and Safety file consisting of a number of electronic documents. These documents will be searchable by floor, room number or subject matter. Hard copies of File information will only be retained to the end of the defects and liability period. This document provides an approved format for Health and Safety Files to ensure consistency in the layout and quality of documents provided. Scope This procedure applies to all construction work conducted by UWE. The Health and Safety File is a distinct and separate entity from operation and maintenance (OM) manuals. This procedure does not address the required content or format of OM manuals. As-built drawings are centrally collated by UWE architectural staff. The UWE contract administrator will manage the collection of these drawings separately. The only drawings that need to be maintained in the File are those that meaningfully illustrate or locate items mentioned in the File. Author Nicholas Bell BSc(Hons) MIET MIIRSM RMaPS Dip