TA-07: Site Visit Safety¶

Reference: TA-07 | Issue Date: 14/03/2026 | Review Date: Sep 2026 Applicable Standards: ISO 45001 Cl. 6.1, 8.1, 8.2 | CDM 2015 Related Documents: HPOL04, HPOL15, HPOL22, HFORM15, RA010, HREG03 (Refs 4, 13)

Role-Specific

This article applies to any CRGI staff member who attends client sites, manufacturing facilities, or construction sites. If you never leave your home office for work, you can skip this — but it's still worth reading.

Overview¶

CRGI engineers visit client sites across multiple sectors: food production, pharmaceutical, chemical processing, manufacturing, and construction. Each environment carries specific hazards that don't exist in your home office. Your safety on site depends on preparation, awareness, and following both CRGI's requirements and the client's site rules.

Before You Go¶

Risk Assessment¶

Every site visit should be covered by a risk assessment. For routine visits to familiar sites, this may be a generic assessment (RA010). For higher-risk environments or first-time visits, a specific RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement — HFORM15) should be prepared.

Before travelling, check:

Has a risk assessment been completed for this type of visit?
What are the site-specific hazards?
What PPE is required?
Is there a site induction requirement?
What are the emergency procedures?

Lone Working¶

If you're visiting a site alone, the lone working procedure applies. Before you go:

Tell someone — Inform Sean Ashton or a colleague of your destination, expected arrival time, and expected return
Check in — Agree a check-in schedule (e.g. call when you arrive, call when you leave)
Emergency contacts — Carry your phone, ensure it's charged, and have emergency contact details readily accessible
Know the limits — If a situation feels unsafe, leave. You always have the right to stop work if you believe there's a serious risk.

Journey Planning¶

Plan your route in advance
Allow adequate time — rushing leads to accidents
If driving, ensure your vehicle is roadworthy and you're not fatigued
Don't take calls while driving — pull over or use a hands-free system
In adverse weather, assess whether the journey is necessary

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)¶

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022 require employers to provide suitable PPE and workers to use it correctly.

Standard PPE for Site Visits¶

The minimum PPE for most industrial site visits:

Safety boots — Steel or composite toe cap, appropriate for the environment
Hard hat — Required on construction sites and most manufacturing facilities
High-visibility vest/jacket — Required in most industrial environments
Safety glasses — Where there's a risk of eye injury from particles, chemicals, or light
Hearing protection — In noisy environments (typically above 80dB)

Sector-Specific Requirements¶

Food production — Hairnets, beard snoods, food-safe footwear, no jewellery, hand washing requirements
Pharmaceutical — Cleanroom protocols, gowning procedures, specific footwear
Chemical processing — Chemical-resistant gloves, respirators if required, gas detection
Construction — Full CDM PPE including hard hat, boots, hi-vis, gloves. Additional items as specified by the principal contractor.

Your Responsibilities¶

Check your PPE before each visit — damaged PPE is not PPE
Use the PPE specified in the risk assessment and by the client site
Report any PPE defects or shortages immediately
If you're unsure what PPE is needed, ask before you go

On Site¶

Site Induction¶

Most industrial sites require an induction before you can work. During the induction, pay attention to:

Emergency procedures and assembly points
Site-specific hazards (machinery, chemicals, restricted areas)
Permit requirements (hot work, confined spaces, working at height)
Traffic routes and pedestrian areas
Reporting procedures for hazards and incidents

Working at Height¶

Falls from height remain one of the biggest causes of fatal workplace injuries. If your visit involves working at height (including ladders, scaffolding, platforms, or roofs):

A specific risk assessment must be in place
Use collective protection (guardrails, barriers) before personal protection (harness)
Never work at height alone
Check all equipment before use
If conditions change (wind, rain, ice), reassess
If you haven't had working at height training and you're asked to access elevated areas, refuse and contact your line manager

COSHH (Hazardous Substances)¶

If you encounter chemicals, dust, fumes, or biological agents on a client site:

Check the site COSHH assessments and safety data sheets
Use the specified PPE
Follow the site's control measures
Know the location of emergency eyewash stations and spill kits
If you're unsure about a substance, don't handle it — ask the site contact

Hazard Reporting¶

If you spot a hazard on a client site:

Immediate danger — Remove yourself from the area, warn others, inform the site supervisor
Non-immediate hazard — Report to the site supervisor and to CRGI via the Hazard Report Form (HFORM02)
Near miss — Still report it. Near misses are learning opportunities that prevent future incidents.

CDM 2015 Designer Duties¶

If you're carrying out design work under CDM 2015, you have specific legal duties as a designer (covered in detail in HPOL22). The key points:

Eliminate hazards through design where reasonably practicable
Reduce risks that cannot be eliminated
Provide information about remaining risks to those who need it
Cooperate with other duty holders (principal designer, principal contractor, client)

Design decisions you make at your desk have real safety consequences on site. Consider buildability, maintainability, and safe access in everything you design.

Emergency Procedures¶

If There's an Emergency on Site¶

Follow the site's emergency procedures — you were briefed at induction
Go to the designated assembly point
Report to the site emergency coordinator
Do not re-enter the site until authorised
Cooperate with emergency services

If You're Injured¶

Seek first aid from the site first aider
Report the injury to the site supervisor
Contact Sean Ashton to report through CRGI's system (HPROC15)
Complete a CRGI Incident Report Form (HFORM03) as soon as practical

Key Takeaways¶

Prepare before every visit: risk assessment, PPE, lone working protocol
Attend and follow site inductions — they exist to keep you safe
Wear the specified PPE, every time, no exceptions
If something feels unsafe, stop. You have that right.
Report hazards, incidents, and near misses — every time

CRGI Solutions HSQE Department | HSQEMS v2.0 | Classification: CRGI Information