1. Statement of general policy

The Scottish Shutter Company (trading name of Rocknowe Interiors Limited) is committed to ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of all employees, contractors, visitors, and anyone else who may be affected by our activities.

We recognise that good health and safety practice is essential to the success of our business. Our aim is to provide a safe and healthy working environment, to prevent accidents and work related ill health, and to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and approved codes of practice.

2. Citation partnership

The Scottish Shutter Company works in partnership with Citation Ltd, a leading provider of health and safety consultancy and compliance services. Citation provides us with expert guidance, regular audits, and access to specialist advice to ensure we meet and exceed our health and safety obligations. Detailed procedures and risk assessment templates are maintained through this partnership.

3. Validity

This policy is valid from April 2026 to February 2029. It will be reviewed annually each April and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, our business operations, or following any significant incident.

4. Responsibilities

Overall responsibility

David Browne, as Project Director, has overall responsibility for health and safety within the company. This includes ensuring that adequate resources are allocated, that this policy is implemented effectively, and that health and safety performance is regularly reviewed.

Employee responsibilities

All employees have a responsibility to:

Cooperate with health and safety procedures and instructions.
Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Report any hazards, incidents, or near misses immediately.
Use equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) as instructed.
Not interfere with or misuse anything provided for health and safety purposes.

Right to halt unsafe work

Any employee has the right to stop work immediately if they believe conditions are unsafe, without fear of disciplinary action or other consequences. Safety always takes priority over deadlines or customer expectations.

5. Arrangements

We maintain the following health and safety arrangements:

Risk assessments: Carried out before each installation and reviewed regularly for all workplace activities. These identify potential hazards and the control measures required.
Personal protective equipment: Appropriate PPE is provided to all employees and contractors at no cost. Training is given on its correct use and maintenance.
Tool and equipment safety: All tools and equipment are regularly inspected, maintained, and replaced as necessary. Employees are trained in the safe use of all equipment they are required to operate.
Working at height: As our work frequently involves installations at height, we follow strict safe working at height procedures, including the use of appropriate ladders, platforms, and fall prevention measures.
Manual handling: Employees receive training in safe manual handling techniques to minimise the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
First aid: Adequate first aid provision is maintained at our premises and in our installation vehicles.
COSHH: We assess and control exposure to substances hazardous to health, including adhesives, sealants, and dust generated during drilling and installation. Safety data sheets are maintained for all products used and employees are trained in safe handling.
Asbestos awareness: Our installation team works in properties of all ages, including older buildings where asbestos-containing materials may be present. All installers receive asbestos awareness training. If suspect materials are identified, work is stopped immediately and specialist advice is sought before proceeding.

6. Working in customers' homes

Our installation team works in domestic environments where conditions vary and may include unforeseen hazards such as restricted access, unstable surfaces, unexpected electrics, pets, or young children. Installers are trained to assess the environment on arrival and throughout the installation.

If conditions are unsafe, work may be delayed or halted until the environment can be made safe. We communicate this clearly and respectfully to the customer. The safety of our team and the customer's household always comes first.

7. Lone working

Where an employee works alone in a customer's home or at any other location, additional precautions are taken. These include agreed check-in times, carrying emergency contact details, and a procedure for when a check-in is missed. Lone working risk assessments are carried out as part of our standard installation planning.

8. Vehicle and driving safety

Our team drives to customer properties daily, often carrying heavy equipment and materials. All company vehicles are maintained to a roadworthy standard and inspected regularly. Loads must be properly secured before each journey. Employees are expected to drive responsibly, take breaks on longer journeys, and never drive when fatigued or otherwise unfit to do so.

9. Mental health and wellbeing

We recognise that health includes mental health and wellbeing. We encourage open conversations about workload, stress, and any concerns that may affect an employee's health or ability to work safely. No one should feel they have to struggle in silence, and raising a wellbeing concern will always be treated with respect and confidentiality.

10. Reporting

All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported immediately to David Browne or the Installations Manager. All reports are recorded, investigated, and appropriate corrective action is taken to prevent recurrence.

We value near-miss reports because they help us prevent serious incidents. Reporting a near miss is never a criticism. It is a contribution to everyone's safety, and we encourage it.

Where required by the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), incidents will be reported to the Health and Safety Executive.

11. Training

All employees receive health and safety training appropriate to their role, including induction training for new starters. Training is refreshed regularly and records of all training are maintained. Specific training is provided for working at height, manual handling, COSHH, asbestos awareness, and any other area relevant to an employee's duties.

12. Review

This policy is reviewed annually each April, after any significant incident, or whenever there are changes to our operations or relevant legislation. All employees will be informed of any changes to this policy.

Signed: David Browne
Date: April 2026

Health & Safety Policy