Policies Guide

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Policies Guide – old-2

This page has been created to assist pest control companies and local authority pest control departments in producing policies, procedures and statements as required by legislation and the demands of good business practice.

Users of the downloads are advised to tailor the documents according to their own organisation’s complexity and scope.

Please use the links above to navigate to the documents you are interested in producing. Then, all you need to do is read the on-screen instructions and download the accompanying PDF file.

NOTE: The following advice, summaries of system requirements and template statements are provided as aids to customers. They are intended to be suggestions on how to fulfil principals of good business practice and to comply with legal requirements.

Killgerm Chemicals Ltd does not accept responsibility for omissions or errors arising as a consequence of using these documents. It is the customers’ responsibility to ensure that their activities are legal and that Company documentation is appropriate.

We would advise customers to contact Government Agencies such as the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency for advice on fulfilling particular requirements.

EFK Tube Disposal

Following the implementation of the WEEE Directive on 1st July 2007 there will be a recycling fee applied to each fluorescent tube and each electrical item that we supply.

The revenue generated from these fees is then passed on to Recolight, who will recycle end of life electrical units.

To dispose of tubes and machines at no charge please visit recolight.co.uk, click on ‘open collection points’ and search by postal code, then telephone to make your arrangements.

The following fees will apply:

fluorescent tubes – 10p each
electric flykillers – 20p each and 10p for each tube it contains

Health & Safety

There is a need to have a written health and safety policy statement for Companies employing five or more employees. The primary legislation which applies is the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and regulations made under it, i.e. Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (risk assessments), Health & Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996, and Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977.

The Health & Safety Executive offer advice and free booklets on the relevant topics. Their web site is www.hse.gov.uk. Please use the links below to download a policy on health & safety.

Quality Management

Many organisations have applied the BS EN ISO9001:2008 Quality Management System to assure the quality of their products and services. They have successfully been assessed by a third party accreditation body and granted a certificate accordingly.

Pest control companies who have not achieved formal certification to a nationally recognised standard should try to answer positively when questioned about this topic. Most responsible pest control companies have management systems, including the keeping of records, to ensure that they are able to meet their customers’ requirements. In many circumstances these systems will engender the quality system elements present in the BS EN ISO9001:2008 International Standard.

It is legally admissible for a firm to claim to apply the disciplines of BS EN ISO9001:2008 provided that no impression is given, in that event, of registration by an independent body.

A claim that any product or service meets BS EN ISO9001:2008 is invalid, since the standard does not specify particular product or service requirements. The specification of the product or service in question are matters for the customer and the supplier to decide. BS EN ISO9001:2008 does not determine the quality – fitness for purpose – of the product or service provided to a customer; it is a measure of the supplier’s capability to meet specified requirements.

A summary of the attributes of a formal quality assurance system, (based on BS EN ISO9001:2008) are shown in the downloads below.

Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

Environmental management systems are designed to enable all types and sizes of organisations to improve their environmental performance. The ISO 14001 International Standard is the EMS most widely chosen by industry. Another scheme also used is the EMAS- Eco-Management and Audit Scheme.

Details concerning requirements of these schemes can be obtained from the British Standards Institute, Tel: 0208 996 9001 or National Quality Assurance Ltd, Tel: 08700 135145.

Environmental Policy Statement

Companies are being asked by customers to make a written statement about their environmental protection policy. Currently there are two environmental management systems i.e. EMAS and ISO 14000. Details about these schemes are included on another section of this page.

Particular Killgerm customers may feel that a formal, third-party assessed environmental management system is inappropriate to their needs at this time. However, it is considered good business practice to have a statement of this type, and some customers requiring pest control services may require to see a statement of intent regarding environmental matters. This, in some cases, may be a condition of contracted arrangements. A suggested basic format is shown in the downloads below.

COSHH Requirements

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) apply to the use of non-agricultural pest control products. The decision to use a chemical control method once a pest infestation has been properly identified, will invoke the need to carry out a COSHH assessment.

Outcomes will demonstrate how risks are controlled. Please see the following pages for additional details and examples of assessments:

Insurance Obligations

Companies which employ anyone, need by law, to have employers’ liability compulsory insurance and a certificate should be displayed at the place of work. HSE have a free leaflet Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance Act 1969. A guide for employers HSE no. 40. HSE books.
(Tel: 01787 881165 or from https://books.hse.gov.uk).

Health & Safety Law Poster

A Company employing anyone needs to display the poster (ISBN 978 07176 63149) at the place of work in a prominent position or alternatively provide all employees with the information in leaflet form.