Fabrication yard benefits from external H&S and environmental expertise

Heerema Fabrication Group’s (HFG) fabrication yard in Hartlepool has improved the quality of its health and safety and environmental systems after bringing in experts Cedrec to produce a new legal register.

The move has enabled Heerema Hartlepool to stay ahead of important changes in legislation and step-up the proactive planning of long term compliance with the requirements of British standards, specifically ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001.

With more than 800 people on site, Heerema Hartlepool operates around two purpose-built construction facilities located at Victoria Harbour in Hartlepool, consisting of two fabrication halls which cover 76,401m² with a 355 metre, 15,000 tons capacity quayside for large load-outs.

The yard, which fabricates constructions for the offshore oil and gas and energy-related industries, is currently constructing topsides for GDF Suez E&P UK Ltd for Cygnus gas field in the North Sea.

The company sees the subscription and consultancy services, which it has been taking from Cedrec since July 2012, as integral to the operation of safe H&S and environmental practices and works closely with the Sunderland-based firm for expertise on legislation matters.

These range from procedures for reporting injuries, diseases and dangerous reporting  of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences (RIDDOR), on-site contractors’ health and safety, workplace exposure limits, classification of shot blast waste, health surveillance and monitoring, flood risk assessment for new buildings and asbestos management among others.

QASHE engineer Peter Geddis, who is part of a team responsible for H&S and environmental management, says Heerema Hartlepool has benefited from Cedrec’s expertise over the last two years.

“Using Cedrec to produce a new legal register and provide regular updates has been an enormous benefit, freeing up more time and enabling us to devote more effort and resources to other areas.

“Cedrec understands our business and its expertise in identifying and sifting through legislation to establish the important information and sections that are relevant is particularly useful. The service provided is very proactive and in tune with our requirements, providing peace-of-mind.”

 The proactive advice and guidance provided ensure Heerema Hartlepool is one step ahead of the statutory landscape and better placed to develop strategic plans for long term compliance.

This includes, for example, guidance surrounding changes to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), PPE regulations, Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations alongside assistance and guidance on interpreting EU legislation.

Cedrec has improved Heerema Hartlepool’s ability to comply with H&S and environmental legislation, providing easy-to-understand analysis and interpretation says Peter Geddis, adding: “We have been impressed by their expertise and ability to deliver quickly, while the team is always helpful, professional, approachable and fun to work with.”

Indeed, the success of the working relationship at Hartlepool has led Cedrec to securing work for A&P Group on Tyneside after an audit carried out by Heerema Hartlepool revealed that the ship repair, conversion and marine services firm could benefit from similar expertise.

Cedrec has produced legal registers for A&P, whose safety manager Jeff Fowler says: “We have seen a difference since bringing onboard Cedrec, whose expertise and ability to provide easy-to-understand, easily digestible interpretation and analysis of complex and highly technical legislation is so beneficial and ensures compliance with legal requirements.

“The summaries and subtext breakdowns they provide are clear, comprehensive, well indexed and up-to-date; and can if necessary be expanded out further by the user to reveal more detail and analysis. All this ensures that teams are now more aware of the legislation and better armed with the right advice that can be applied in their day-to-day work.”

 In the future, standards will only become more complex and difficult for organisations like HFG and A&P Tyne to comply with. So the adoption of services provided by Cedrec can only increase as those with responsibility for environmental and H&S legislation struggle to stay abreast of developments and rely on external expertise and support.

Jeff Fowler concludes: “For example, forthcoming changes to ISO14001 and BS OHSAS 18001, with a new safety standard ISO 45001 just announced, will mean that we will have to comply with more stringent requirements.

“So I can only see further reliance on specialists like Cedrec if we’re to keep up with the changes and the implications they will have for our business and operations.”