Health and Safety Policy Statement

Metals Technology Testing Limited is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all its employees, visitors, contractors, and any other interested parties who may be affected by our activities. As a UKAS accredited laboratory, we recognise our responsibility to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and codes of practice.


We are committed to the continual improvement of our occupational health and safety (OH&S) performance and the prevention of injury and ill-health. This policy will be reviewed at least annually, or sooner if there are significant changes to our operations or legal requirements, and will be communicated to all persons working under the control of Metals Technology Testing Limited.


1. Our Commitment to Health and Safety

Metals Technology Testing Limited is committed to:


  • Protecting workers from work-related injury and ill health: By identifying, assessing, and controlling hazards and risks associated with our laboratory activities, including but not limited to biological, chemical, physical (e.g., radiation, noise, ergonomics), and psychological hazards.


  • Providing safe and healthy working conditions: Including the provision of safe plant and equipment, safe systems of work, and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).


  • Fulfilling legal and other requirements: Ensuring compliance with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.


  • Eliminating hazards and reducing OH&S risks: Through a systematic process of hazard identification, risk assessment, and implementation of control measures, following the hierarchy of controls.


  • Continual improvement of the OH&S management system: By regularly monitoring, measuring, analysing, and evaluating our OH&S performance, and taking corrective actions as necessary.

  • Consultation and participation of workers: Ensuring that workers and their representatives are consulted on, and actively participate in, the development, planning, implementation, performance evaluation, and actions for improvement of the OH&S management system. This includes the establishment of a Health and Safety Committee where appropriate.


  • Providing adequate resources: Ensuring that sufficient financial, human, and time resources are allocated to implement and maintain the OH&S management system effectively


  • Ensuring competence: Providing appropriate training, information, instruction, and supervision to ensure all workers are competent to carry out their duties safely.


2. Responsibilities for Health and Safety

2.1. Top Management (e.g., Laboratory Director/Manager)


  • Demonstrate leadership and commitment with respect to the OH&S management system.


  • Take overall responsibility and accountability for the prevention of work-related injury and ill health, and the provision of safe and healthy workplaces and activities.


  • Ensure that the OH&S policy and OH&S objectives are established and are compatible with the strategic direction of the organisation.


  • Ensure the integration of the OH&S management system requirements into the organisation's business processes.


  • Ensure that the resources needed for the OH&S management system are available.


  • Communicate the importance of effective OH&S management and of conforming to the OH&S management system requirements.


  • Ensure the OH&S management system achieves its intended outcomes.


  • Direct and support persons to contribute to the effectiveness of the OH&S management system.


  • Ensure and promote continual improvement.


  • Support other relevant management roles to demonstrate their leadership as it applies to their areas of responsibility.


  • Protect workers from reprisals when reporting incidents, hazards, risks and opportunities.


  • Ensure the organisation establishes and implements a process(es) for consultation and participation of workers.


2.2. Managers/Supervisors


  • Implement the health and safety policy within their areas of responsibility.


  • Ensure that risk assessments are carried out, reviewed regularly, and control measures are implemented and maintained.


  • Provide appropriate information, instruction, training, and supervision to their teams.


  • Monitor health and safety performance within their departments.


  • Investigate accidents, incidents, and near misses, and implement corrective actions.


  • Ensure safe working practices are followed and personal protective equipment (PPE) is used correctly.


  • Report any identified hazards or deficiencies in health and safety arrangements.


2.3. All Employees/Workers


  • Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.


  • Co-operate with management4 on all health and safety matters.


  • Comply with all health and safety rules, procedures, and instructions.


  • Use equipment and substances in accordance with training and instructions.


  • Report any accidents, incidents, near misses, or hazardous conditions immediately to their supervisor/manager.


  • Not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety, or welfare.


  • Attend all mandatory health and safety training.


3. Key Health and Safety Procedures and Arrangements


To fulfil our commitment, Metals Technology Testing Limited will implement and maintain documented procedures for:


  • Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Control: Systematic identification of OH&S hazards, assessment of associated risks, and determination of necessary controls, adhering to the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE). This will specifically address chemical, biological, physical, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards inherent to laboratory work.


  • Legal and Other Requirements: A process for identifying, accessing, and evaluating compliance with applicable legal requirements.


  • Objectives and Planning: Establishing, implementing, and maintaining OH&S objectives at relevant functions and levels, and planning actions to achieve them.


Resources, Competence, Awareness, and Communication: 


  • Resources: Ensuring adequate resources are available for the OH&S management system.


  • Competence: Determining the necessary competence for workers doing work under its control that affects OH&S performance, and ensuring workers are competent on the basis of appropriate education, training, or experience.


  • Awareness: Ensuring workers are aware of the OH&S policy, their contribution to the effectiveness of the OH&S management system, the implications of not conforming, and incidents/outcomes of investigations.


  • Communication: Establishing a process for internal and external communications relevant to the OH&S management system.
  • Documented Information: Controlling documents and records required by ISO 45001 and for the effectiveness of the OH&S management system.


  • Operational Control: Planning, implementing, and controlling processes needed to meet requirements, and to implement the actions determined in risk assessment, including: 
  • Management of change.


  • Procurement of goods and services (e.g., ensuring safe equipment and chemicals).


  • Contractors management (ensuring contractors comply with our OH&S standards).


  • Emergency preparedness and response (including fire, chemical spills, biological containment breaches, power failure, first aid).


  • Performance Evaluation: Monitoring, Measurement, Analysis, and Evaluation: Processes for regularly monitoring, measuring, analysing, and evaluating OH&S performance.


  • Management Review: Top management conducting reviews of the OH&S management system at planned intervals to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness.


4. Consultation and Participation


Metals Technology Testing Limited is committed to the active consultation and participation of workers at all levels in the development, implementation, and review of our OH&S management system. This will be achieved through:


  • Regular team meetings where OH&S is a standing agenda item.


  • Encouraging workers to report hazards, near misses, and suggest improvements.


  • Involving workers in risk assessments and incident investigations.


5. Review and Communication

This policy will be formally reviewed by top management at least annually, or when there are significant changes to operations, legislation, or as a result of incident investigations or audit findings.


This policy will be communicated to all employees upon induction and regularly thereafter through training, internal communications, and by being prominently displayed within the laboratory and made available on the company intranet/shared drive.