Health & Safety

Ensuring Your Compliance and Safety with Oakleaf – Your Trusted Construction Partner

At Oakleaf, we are deeply passionate about the quality of service we provide and the safety of everyone involved in our projects. Unfortunately, it has become increasingly evident that many others in the industry do not share this commitment with the same rigour.

In July 2015, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations underwent significant changes aimed at reducing accidents, injuries, and sickness within the construction sector. Regrettably, these changes have been accompanied by a noticeable increase in health and safety prosecutions, affecting not only construction businesses but also clients who engage them.

As a client under the revised regulations, you carry important duties to ensure compliance. Notably, if you have one or more contractors working on your site, it is imperative that you appoint a Principal Contractor ( Oakleaf) to manage the works and a Principal Designer (Architect) to oversee that all design roles are properly fulfilled. Additionally, the Principal is required to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of any construction projects anticipated to last longer than 30 days, work involving more than 20 workers, or exceeding 500 person-days. We understand this can seem daunting, but there is no need to worry. Oakleaf takes its responsibilities seriously and will ensure fully comprehend your obligations before any works commence.

Sadly, many clients continue to fall foul of these regulations, often resulting in prosecutions alongside contractors when incidents occur. A quick search online will reveal numerous recent cases highlighting this reality.

Oakleaf, however, prides itself not only on exceptional workmanship but also on maintaining remarkably low incident rates. Over the past decade, we have recorded just one reportable injury – a statistic that many companies would envy. This underscores our unwavering commitment to safety and professionalism.

There is a well-known adage – “you get what you pay for” – and it rings particularly true in our field. Many independent contractors sacrifice compliance with legal safety standards, placing their clients at risk of prosecution and their workforce in danger. Though Oakleaf may not always submit the cheapest quote, you can be assured that we execute every job to the highest standard, safeguarding both our team and our clients.

As your Main Contractor, safety on site is not merely a priority; it is a fundamental principle. Every Oakleaf site undergoes rigorous safety inspections and audits to guarantee that our employees and subcontractors operate in the safest possible environment.

Whether working alongside architectural firms or domestic clients, we consistently adhere to CDM regulations and carry out our work safely and professionally.

Our adherence to all current health and safety regulations is supported by our partnership with Atlas Safety, our external advisers. Atlas provides us with regular health and safety training, ensuring we remain compliant and up to date with best practices.

All Atlas Safety Advisers hold, at minimum, the NEBOSH General Certificate and the NEBOSH Construction Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. They also participate in annual refresher training and continuous professional development, maintaining their expertise at the highest level.

With safety advisers strategically based throughout the South West, Atlas conducts site inspections and provides members with counsel on health, safety, and environmental matters. Their allocation of advisers is geographically based to reduce travel and enhance site familiarity.

In choosing Oakleaf, you are placing your trust in a company that values and upholds safety and compliance, ensuring you fulfil your duties under the law while benefiting from superior craftsmanship.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require further information or wish to discuss your upcoming project in detail. We would be delighted to assist and guide you through the process.