Occupational Health
Group turnover of £105+ million
Grounds Maintenance
Winter Maintenance (Gritting & Snow Clearance)
Arboricultural Services
Vegetation Management
Construction & Design
Ecology & Biodiversity
Pest Control
Roofing
Window Cleaning
Specialist Cleaning - Pressure Washing/Gum Removal
A leading operator in the UK - servicing 45,000+ sites across the UK
Local delivery – 1300+ local Delivery Teams, 70+ highly experienced Regional
Operations & Contracts Managers
Central operations - supported by dedicated Key Account Managers, Surveyors,
HSQE Managers and national Quality Auditors
Technology driven – value adding systems & reporting
To create and maintain external environments that are safe and enjoyable for all
Occupational Health
Our competitive advantage consists of:
● High density network of field teams (Tied and Direct),
Contract Managers, sites and customers
● Sophisticated ICT systems to schedule, deploy & monitor
work that are continually improved upon with your feedback
● Appropriately motivated and incentivised staff & teams
● Ability to deal with complex compliance requirements
● Outstanding people dedicated to World Class customer
service
“Our operational delivery model allows us to deliver efficiently,
effectively and safely – throughout the UK”
Occupational Health
Consecutive Met
Office Gold Quality
Marks
Prestigious Green Flag
Award WinnersMultiple NFRC Safety
Awards
BALI Award Winners
(25 in total)
ROSPA Gold Medal Award
(6 consecutive Gold Awards)
London Stock Exchange Voted in the as one of the ‘Top 1000’
Companies from a list of over 4.5 million. For fuelling the long-term
growth of the UK economy
Best Growing Business and
overall winner of Essex
Business of the Year 2015
Excellent Customer
Service
Occupational Health
Winners of a Queens Award
for Enterprise in Innovation
Specifically for our App Technology
Occupational Health
Occupational Health
Occupational health issues in groundcare
and treework
By Neil Huck
Occupational Health
Manual Handling Statistics
Hit by moving,
falling object13%
Fall
4%
Hit by moving
vehicle2%
Handling
38%
Trip
23%
Other
20%
Causes of Sickness over 3 Days
Occupational Health
Cumulative Strain
• Strain from mowing large areas of
grass at very steep angles
• Ride on equipment is unable to be
used safely on these angles
• Pedestrian mowers operations
leads to strain to lower back, legs
and ankles
• The operatives were supplied with
footwear with very strong ankle
support and the team was
organised to avoid long periods of
mowing on this grass
Occupational Health
Hand and Arm Vibration Syndrome
Occupational Health
Collective term for a number of injuries
● Damaged nerves, blood vessels, bone and muscles of the hands and arms
● Impaired blood circulation
● Vibration White Finger (VWF) is one form of HAVS
● Caused by prolonged and excessive vibration
Hand and Arm Vibration Syndrome
Occupational Health
First Stages
● Tingling sensation
● Pins and Needles
● May be accompanied by numbness
● Loss of sensation
● Aching digits and limbs
● Stiffness in hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders
● Blanched fingers and numbness (tips at first)
Symptoms and Effects of HAVS
Occupational Health Causes of HAVS
● Item Contractor and Location Machine details Noise ReadingVibration Reading
● 1 A&J Arb, Royston Stihl HS81RC Hedgecutter, 3 months old, their ref: HC18 77-83 3.338
● 2 A&J Arb, Royston Stihl HS81RC Hedgecutter, 3 months old, their ref: HC19 77-82 3.119
● 3 A&J Arb, Royston Husqvarna 560XP Chainsaw, 3 months old, their ref: CS32 84-93 2.917
● 4 AIS, Elsenham Station Stihl HT131 Pole Saw, 6 months old77-87 2.515
● 5 AIS, Elsenham Station Stihl MS261 Top Handle Chainsaw 14”, 6 months old 77-90 2.751
● 6 AIS, Elsenham Station Stihl HS81R Hedge Cutter, 1 year old 76-82 3.793
● 7 AIS, Elsenham Station Stihl KN130R Combi Engine/ Pole Saw, 2 years old. 82-91 4.126
● 8 AIS, Newport Station Stihl MS241 15” Chainsaw, 1 year old 74-90 7.219
● 9 AIS, Newport Station Stihl HS81R Hedge Cutter, 1 year old 77-83 3.673
Occupational Health
Common Vibrating Tools
● Chainsaws
● Strimmers
● Hedge Trimmers
● Leaf Blowers
● Grinders
● Breakers
● Drills
● Pedestrian Mowers
● Turf Care Equipment
Causes of HAVS in Landscaping
Occupational Health
● Monitoring of exposure levels
● Manufacturers records of vibration levels and hours of exposure for each machine
Hand and Arm Vibration Syndrome Prevention
Occupational Health
● Avoid long uninterrupted use of the machine
● Take frequent breaks to allow blood to flow back to hands
● Rotate the use of the machine amongst the team
● Chose machinery with low vibration levels
● Ensure machinery is regularly maintained
● Avoid smoking when using the machines
HAVS Prevention
Occupational Health
● Prolonged exposure high levels of noise can
lead to permanent hearing damage and
loss
● Plus conditions such as tinnitus
Hearing Damage From Work Based Machinery
Occupational Health
Hearing Damage
Do you know what levels of noise your machinery produces?
Occupational Health
Noise Levels from “Ground Control” Commonly used Machinery
● Ride on Mower 110db
● Large pedestrian mower 112db
● Strimmer 114db
● Hedge Trimmer 112db
● Hand Held Leaf Blower 114db
● Chainsaw 120db
Hearing Damage
Occupational Health
Hearing Protection at Work Regulations
● Requires all employers to assess noise levels to which their employees are exposed to
● All equipment producing 80db and above, hearing protection will be provided
● All equipment producing 85db and above, hearing protection must be worn
Hearing Damage
Occupational Health
Mower accident
Occupational Health
Remote mower operation
• Reduced manual
handling and
cumulative strain
injuries
• Removal of
vibration
exposure
• Reduction in
hearing damage
• Removal of ride
mower turn over
risks
Occupational Health
And its still Going on!!
27/03/2017 23
Occupational Health
Construction Dust
● This is a general term used to describe different dusts that you may find on a construction site. There are three main types:
● 1. Silica dust – created when working on silica-containing materials like concrete, mortar and sandstone (also known as respirable crystalline silica or RCS);
● 2. Wood dust – created when working on softwood, hardwood and wood-based products like MDF and plywood;
● 3. Lower toxicity dusts – created when working on materials containing very little or no silica. The most common include gypsum (e.g. in plasterboard), limestone, marble and dolomite.
27/03/2017 24
Occupational Health
Health Risks
● Anyone who breathes in these dusts should know the damage they can do to the lungs and airways. The main dust-related diseases affecting construction workers are:
● Lung cancer;
● Silicosis;
● Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
● Asthma.
27/03/2017 25
Occupational Health
Giant Hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum
Occupational Health
Giant Hogweed problem
Occupational Health
Giant Hogweed problem
● Grows to a height of 3m with large leaves 600mm across
● Flowers are 400 to 600mm across with up to 1000 seed per flower head
● Found in damp areas and along water courses
● Contact with the hairs on the leaves and stem, as well the sap, will cause burning and blistering of the skin
● Long term photo sensitisation of the skin
Occupational Health
Wild Parsnip
Occupational Health
Wild Parsnip
● This is a relatively new invasive species found mainly in Kent, Sussex, and Norfolk it causes a large number of injuries in Europe and USA
● Injuries are mainly confined to grounds maintenance operatives when strimming, it makes Hogweed burns look mild
Occupational Health
Sheep and deer ticks, Lyme's disease's
Occupational Health
Injuries Invasive species of insects
Brown Tailed Moth
Occupational Health
Brown Tailed Moth
● Causes sever skin irritation and asthma with humans
● Defoliate trees and shrubs and they build a large numbers of webbing nests on trees and shrubs
● Mainly found on members of the Roseace
● At risk are grounds maintenance team members when pruning shrub beds and hedges
● Control by the use of Deltametherine insecticide and physical removal of the wedding nests
Occupational Health
Oak Processionary Moth rash
Occupational Health
OPM Caterpillars
Occupational Health
OPM NESTS
Large Oak tree in Walton on Thames Queen Elizabeth Res, with 18 nest in the
tree which had to be removed
Occupational Health
2016 Position
Occupational Health
Black Thorn health issues
Arboricultural operator pruning a large length of
mature black thorn hedge 8m high
He had one thorn in his finger 4 days later a
second one
The infection spread very quickly into his hand
The hand became septic and had to be drained
and cleaned out
Evidence has shown there is an increased
reaction to thorn strikes
Occupational Health
Drug use paraphernalia indicates the hazard to our operatives and is a growing problem
Occupational Health
Compulsory Drugs and Alcohol testing
● Alcohol miss use in the work place can cause injury and damage
● Alcohol and drug use in the work place can impair judgement when operation plant and machinery
● The effects on operatives can be a problem in the work place for days after use, putting others at risk
● Certain prescribed medication will also impair judgement and employers must be made aware of operative who are prescribed drugs or treatment
Occupational Health
Here are just a few we test for!
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Occupational Health
Training at Ground Control
Certified In-House Training;
● QCF Emergency First Aid at Work
● NPTC City and Guilds Machinery Assessments
● Rider Mower
● Pedestrian Mower
● Strimmer
● Hedge Trimmer
● Coming Soon… Brushcutter
● NPTC City and Guilds Pesticide Assessments
● PA1 Safe Use of Pesticides
● PA6A & PA6AW Knapsack Sprayer Land & Near Water
● EUSR
● Water Hygiene
● SHEA Power
● S.P.A. – UKPIA Working on Petrol Stations
● BALI ROLO Health and Safety Course
● CIWM Waste Management – Wastesmart Training
Occupational Health
GC Learning & Ground Control Certified Training
We constantly look to add to our in-house course selection and offer the current courses self certified by Ground Control;
● Behavioural Safety
● Abrasive Wheels
● CAT 4 Cable Avoidance
● Manual Handling
● Sharps and Needle sticks
Recently introduced GC Learning an online learning portal which currently holds over 100 courses ranging in subjects from health
and safety to professional skills and customer service.
Occupational Health
Training at Ground Control
We work with training providers across the country facilitate training for our staff in the following areas:
● Arboriculture
● Chainsaw Qualifications
● Utility Arboriculture Qualifications
● Basic and Professional Tree Inspection
● PTS for Rail Arboriculture
● Landscape Construction
● SSSTS & SMSTS
● CSCS
● Telehandler, 360 Digger, and other machinery
● NPTC City and Guilds Safe use of Pesticide courses we do not offer in-house
● Professional development courses we do not offer in-house
Occupational Health
Thank You!Any Questions?