The Guardian - October 2008
Supporting the Arctic Survey
The S2 Partnership is proud to announce our sponsorship
of the Arctic Survey. This sponsorship demonstrates our ongoing commitment
to the environment in a practical and scientific way.
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| The Arctic Survey Route |
The Arctic Survey is a pioneering scientific endeavour that will capture,
for the first time, detailed information about the thickness of the
Arctic sea ice cap and subsequently determine, with unprecedented accuracy,
when it will disappear. It aims to measure the thickness of the ice
cap along a complete transverse from Point Barrow, Alaska to the North
Pole.
Using state-of-the-art impulse radar technology, weighing just 4kg,
the thickness of ice floes that make up the ice cap will be measured
to produce over 5 million individual thickness measurements. This will
directly determine the actual thickness of the ice cap through solid
results and factual analysis.
The environmental implications of this project are huge; the data collected
will be analysed by scientists from NASA, Cambridge University, the
US Navy and the European Space Agency. They will evaluate how many years
are left until the polar ice cap becomes a seasonal feature. This data
is of global importance as the ice cap's disappearance could accelerate
climate change, sea level rise and habitat loss. Through media coverage
and the publication of results in November 2009, the Arctic Survey will
expose the issues surrounding climate change and the importance of acting
now before the Arctic sea ice ceases to exist.
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| Polar Bears |
Pen Hadow |
The expedition will be carried out between February and June 2009,
by a small team of experienced polar explorers. The team will be led
by Britain's foremost Polar explorer, Pen Hadow, who was the S2
Partnership's keynote speaker at the recent launch of their Health &
Safety and Environmental web-based product RiskWise2. S2
are inspired by the determination of Pen and his team and their dedication
to undertake such an ambitious task. As a consultancy service, we provide
advice and assistance to our clients to ensure environmental improvements
through practical solutions. Our commitment to the Arctic Survey will
raise awareness regarding global environmental issues and locally within
the commercial property sector. This confirms our environmental credentials
through the acknowledgment of our Corporate Social Responsibility and
ISO 14001 Accredited Environmental Policy.
To find out more information on how The S2 Partnership
are supporting the Arctic Survey, please contact Lorraine Harrison on
01954 267788 or e-mail lorraine.harrison@s2partnership.co.uk
Corporate Social Responsibility - CSR
What is CSR?
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| Corporate Social Responsibility |
CSR is the concept that organisations have an obligation to consider
the interests of clients, employees, shareholders, communities and the
environment in all aspects of their operations. The organisation will
identify the impact the company's activities have in these key areas
and set targets and actions to reduce negative impacts. These actions
go above and beyond the compliance with legal requirements and establish
the economic, social and environmental policies and practices required
to ensure the sustainability of the organisation and of the planet.
CSR and the S2 Partnership
The S2 Partnership is committed to improving its own CSR
performance through the formalisation of its own CSR policy and the
generation of an annual CSR report. The S2 Partnership's
CSR policy is based on its core business values of - Our Clients, Our
Employees, Our Global Environment and Our Local Communities; these core
values have enabled the S2 Partnership to become the successful
Health, Safety and Environmental Consultancy it is today.
The S2 Partnership's Core Values:
Our Clients
- Establishing long lasting open and honest relationships with our
clients
- Providing innovation in the delivery of Health, Safety and Environmental
Consultancy
- Embedding statutory compliance into our client's business operations
- Promoting industry best practice and innovation
- Assisting our clients to successfully implement an environmental
management system accredited to ISO14001:2004
Our Employees
- Developing competent professional staff
- Committed to continuous professional development (CPD)
- Committed to flexible working
- Committed to employee well-being
- An enjoyable work life balance
Our Global Environment
- Reduce our local environmental impacts
- Reduce our global environmental impacts through the reduction of
CO2
- Promote relevant scientific research such as the Arctic Survey
into the affects of Global Warming
- Continuously improve our environmental performance through our
accredited ISO14001:2004 environmental management system
- Continuously improve our client's environmental performance through
the delivery of innovative and cost effective solutions based on the
delivery of our environmental impact assessments
Our Local Community
- Enhance our local communities
- Support our employees charitable activities
- Promote environmental awareness to local schools
Key CSR highlights for 2008
Our Clients
- Nominated for a Premises & Facilities Management (PFM) Award
in the category of e-Business with Jones Lang LaSalle. The e-Business
category recognises the innovative use of new technologies to improve
business processes.
- Introduction of Environmental Impact Assessments to assist our clients
achieve ISO 14001:2004
Our Employees
- S2 Partnership staff have undertaken 112 days of training
during 2008
- S2 Partnership have a commitment to a University student
placement scheme within the field of health, safety & environmental
- S2 Partnership are committed to a training scheme for
young persons
- S2 Partnership are committed to reducing CO2
emissions and operate an 'Environmental Grant' scheme to assist staff
in purchasing low CO2 emission cars
- 16% of staff have taken up the opportunity to work flexible part
time hours
- 91% of staff are actively involved with professional CPD
Our Global Environment
- The S2 Partnership has implemented an environmental
management system accredited to ISO14001.
- Environmental impact assessments identified opportunities for reducing
our CO2 emissions and improving our recycling and re-using
programme.
- The S2 Partnership has provided sponsorship to the Arctic
Survey’s forthcoming expedition to the North Pole. The Arctic
Survey will be conducting a scientific assessment of the detrimental
affects of global warming and thinning of the polar ice.
Our Local Community
- Our staff have been involved in a variety of local charitable activities
including sponsored runs and swims for Leukaemia & Cancer Research,
voluntary work for the Samaritans and voluntary community youth projects.
Signs - Myths and Realities
Safety signs are now a common sight in workplaces and public buildings.
When used properly they give a clear message of warning or information
to persons at work or members of the public. The hazard warning triangles
and the circular red prohibitions are now very familiar to all.
Myth - Every possible risk needs a Safety sign!
There can be a tendency for some companies to be over zealous with
signs as the HSE has recently highlighted (www.hse.gov.uk/myth/index.htm).
There are concerns that in some workplaces signs to warn of hazards
are becoming more and more common place to the extent that there is
too much visual information and important messages are being missed.
Some managers may see placing a sign as a substitute for dealing with
and controlling the real risk, thinking that a sign will protect them
from enforcement action or litigation - but this is not helpful.
Risk Assessment
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| Signs - Myths and Realities |
Signs used properly will give clear information regarding a particular
risk but other ways of removing or controlling that risk must be considered
first. In many ways like PPE, safety signs should be seen as one of
the last resorts to risk control or a means to support other management
controls. Your risk assessments will decide when signs are necessary.
Signs are important to highlight (by using bright and clear images)
newly discovered or temporary risks before a long term solution can
be implemented - such as damaged flooring or defective equipment. Temporary
wet floor signs too are invaluable especially immediately after cleaning
or in wet weather. However, those sites that display wet floor signs
every day are doing themselves no favours as building users invariably
will not see or will ignore the advice that a floor is slippery. Instead,
building management should look at long term solutions such as improving
the cleaning regime or the floor coverings.
Standards
There is no place for hand written signs in a building - other than
perhaps in the very short term while a new sign is ordered. The colour
and design of safety signs is long established (by British Standard
BS 5378: Parts 1 and 3:1980 Safety Signs and Colours).
Like traffic signs these are familiar to us all, the colour coding
is based on the subliminal messages understood by colour.
Regulations
The Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996
implement a European directive to encourage the standardisation of safety
signs throughout the member states of the European Union so that safety
signs, wherever they are seen, have the same meaning.
These Regulations require employers to provide specific safety signs
whenever there is a risk that has not been avoided or controlled by
other means, e.g. by engineering controls and safe systems of work.
Where a safety sign would not help to reduce that risk, or where the
risk is not significant, there is no need to provide a sign.
More than just a sign
The Regulations cover various means of communicating health and safety
information. These include the use of illuminated signs, hand and acoustic
signals (e.g. fire alarms), spoken communication and the marking of
pipework containing dangerous substances. These are in addition to traditional
signboards such as prohibition and warning signs. Fire safety signs
(i.e. signs for fire exits and fire-fighting equipment) are also covered
(www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg184.htm)
Downloads
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| Signs - Myths and Realities |
There are many companies that supply safety signs and signs can now
be downloaded free from the internet. However, you need to beware that
some sites are US based so the signs, although familiar looking, may
not be fully compliant with our legislation
Advice for site managers
- Be aware of where safety signs are displayed in your buildings
- Make sure they are relevant to risks identified by your risk assessments
- Be sure that they are compliant in design and colour with the British
Standard
House of Lords Science and Technology
Committee 'Waste Reduction' Report
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee have pushed the
Government to reduce high waste levels of companies. In the Committee's
report, 'Waste Reduction', the Government have been called upon to restructure
the local authority waste targets from a high focus on domestic waste
that is sent to landfill and towards more support of the commercial
and industrials sectors.
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| Waste Reduction |
Committee recommendations also include steps the Government should
take to encourage businesses, of all sizes to reduce waste, making them
more competitive through savings they could make.
Sustainability among businesses (and the products they produce) is
also discussed in the report which suggests variable VAT rates for companies,
dependant on the type of resources and materials used. Companies favouring
sustainable materials would benefit from a more economically attractive
proposition. This in turn could push businesses to adapt the way they
operate and manufacture goods, changing business models and encouraging
a more sustainable consumption by the purchaser.
The report states that businesses will have to be made aware of the
financial benefits of reducing waste and the ways in which best to do
this through Government guidance.
Waste reduction was also a key topic as opposed to re-using and recycling,
the Government must now focus on the reduction of industrial waste which
equates to a large percentage of the waste in the UK the report states.
For more information on how The S2 Partnership can advise
on Waste Management, please contact Rob Bagley on 07765 256175 or e-mail
rob.bagley@s2partnership.co.uk.
Newsletter Spotlight - Premises
& Facilities Management (PFM) Awards 2008 - e-Business Award - Finalist
One of the S2 Partnership's key clients, Jones Lang LaSalle,
has been selected as a finalist in the PFM Awards 2008, in the category
of e-Business.
The e-Business category recognises the innovative use of new technologies
to improve business processes. Through their use of the S2
Partnership's RiskWise risk management web-tool, Jones Lang LaSalle
have not only significantly reduced their overall risk liabilities but
have also benefited from greater levels of staff engagement in the risk
management process.
The S2 Partnership is proud to partner with Jones Lang LaSalle
in this important project.
The Award ceremony will be held on 4 November 2008, when the winner
will be announced.
New Recruits
The S2 Partnership is pleased to announce the appointment
of Simon Finch, who will further consolidate the growth and expansion
of the company. Simon joins S2 from CPM Asset Management
where he was head of Health & Safety and M & E Compliance. He
is joining our Health & Safety team and will work mainly in and
around the London area.