Responsibility
This document is owned and operated by the Head of Health and Safety and Field Operations.
It is the responsibility of all sub-contract managers to ensure their teams are operating in accordance with this code of conduct.
Code of Conduct
1. Appearance and Uniform
Uniform should be clean and tidy. ID cards must be displayed. CSCS/ECS cards must be carried and available to show when required. Headwear should be in keeping with the uniform (no baseball caps). If in doubt, discuss this with management. Hair and beards should be tidy.
PPE is to be worn where required.
Contractors should wear branded clothing. Preferably black work trousers, polo shirts and duties.
Shoe covers must be worn on carpets and finished flooring.
2. Conduct Around Sites
Contractors are expected to arrive on-site at 9 am unless agreed in advance in writing. Should there be any reason they can't, they should notify their manager or the site contact. ASK4 should be made aware prior to the start time.
Contractors are expected a full day unless agreed in advance in writing and confirm to the Field Engineer when they are leaving a site.
Professional language appropriate for a work environment should be used, with no swearing or shouting allowed on sites. Radios or music players are not allowed unless prior approval is granted by the site and as such, do not present a risk to the health and safety of any individual.
Safety signage or warning systems should be displayed properly and well maintained.
No smoking on or around sites.
Vehicles should be parked where the client has instructed you to or off-site in suitable parking bays if no parking is available.
Contractors must not discuss problems or suggest reasons for problems to customers. If asked about something that you are not there to do, direct the customer to our support centre. Discussions around such matters can be misinterpreted by clients and may cause confusion and distress.
Contractors must not discuss commercially sensitive matters with clients under any circumstances.
Contractors must not engage in any non-work related communications with clients and/or residents, which is likely to damage the reputation of ASK4.
Contractors must not apportion blame to a site when talking to a customer.
Work areas should be kept tidy. No trailing cables or other hazards are to be left about. If required, the work area should be isolated to prevent injury.
3. Site Processes
All contractors must sign in when arriving at a site. Keys should be signed out and returned in a timely manner. All keys must be returned to the site office and not passed between contractors or taken off-site. Any key or fob must be kept securely so it cannot be lost or stolen. It is the responsibility of the person who signed for the key to keep that key secure.
If a site pass is given, then it must be worn and visible.
Contractors must adhere to any site rules communicated to them at induction or when signing in.
Contractors must follow written instructions. If in doubt, check with your assigned contact.
Calling cards should be used where appropriate.
Access procedures must be followed. The site will communicate these.
ASK4 access process must be followed.
All rubbish must be removed from site as soon as possible and no later than prior to leaving. Rubbish must be taken away and disposed of. Only use site bins when given express permission by the site manager.
At sites where customers are in residence, noisy work should be limited to working hours (to be advised by the site).
Contractors should adhere to times specified on the RAMS and must not leave the site until cleared by the assigned contact.
4. Communication and Administration
Names of subcontractors must be supplied to ASK4 in advance.
Contractors are required to undertake DBS checks. A new one must be provided upon starting work with ASK4. These are required to be renewed every two years.
When collecting stock from our warehouse, contractors should give 48 hours' notice. Names of people collecting should be provided, and photographic ID will be requested.
Risk and issue logs must be kept and reported back to the contact specified on the work pack.
If any problems arise on site, these must be reported to the site and ASK4 at the time of the event or as soon as possible. It's important that ASK4 are made aware of any problems so they are best equipped to deal with a subsequent complaint or claim. A timeline and further information may be requested.
Work documents must be handed back to the contractor's office and completed and signed at the first possible opportunity following the completion of the job so that they can provide ASK4 with updates.
Labelled photographs must be supplied at the first possible opportunity following completion of the job, as these are required by ASK4 so that they can add them to site files and support the site once it is handed over.
A job is not complete until all administrative deliverables listed on the work pack have been completed satisfactorily.
5. Health and Safety
All contractors have a duty to look after the health and safety of themselves and those around them. They must not behave in a manner that may endanger others. They must use the equipment provided to them in the correct manner.
Subcontractors are expected to produce their own risk assessment and method statement (RAMS) for every job. These must be read and understood and must be available to present to site on request. ASK4 or other agencies may carry out site audits throughout the duration of the works. RAMS must be available for examination.
A dynamic risk assessment should be done prior to commencing works in order to identify any new hazards that may not have been foreseen.
Contractors must attend a site induction or briefing where required.
When carrying out works that are liable to breach passive fire protection, HSA 027 must be followed and the breach log must be completed accurately and immediately.
Only approved products should be used, and safety data sheets must be provided upon completion of job. Anyone installing passive fire protection must be able to provide proof of competence.
Accidents and near misses must be reported to site and added to the risk and issue log. The contractor's own process should also be followed.
Contractors must provide someone with a suitable first aid qualification.
6. Training and Supervision
Contractors are expected to provide a supervisor for all jobs.
It is expected that contractors should have undertaken the necessary training to align with the requirements of our clients and their sites. This training includes but is not limited to:
- CSCS/ECS
- Asbestos awareness
- Working at height
- Emergency first aid (or first aider to be provided).
By nature of the trade, we expect a contractor to have a level of competence which allows them to carry out a given job to a high standard. A contractor should:
Provide and maintain their tools in a good state of repair;
Select, provide and use appropriate tools for the specified job. This would apply to selecting the most appropriate drill, bit and plugs for a particular wall type, or the most appropriate diagnostic tool for fault resolution.
If the tools or fixings are unavailable, this should be raised as soon as possible.
7. Information Security
Adherence to Information Security policies and procedures. Some practical examples of behaviours that matter are:
Never leave equipment unattended in an unsecured state. For example, always lock your laptop or mobile device screen to prevent unauthorised access to ASK4's information.
Do not leave ASK4-owned documentation unattended.
Follow any work pack instructions to the letter to ensure correct security best practice is adhered to.
Lock any doors to provide access to ASK4 equipment behind you.
Raise any concerns about information security with your line manager or site contact.
The above list is not exhaustive, so use our common sense to ensure that ASK4's information is protected.