Health & Safety Policy

Policy Statement

Squirrel Energy Group Ltd (Company No. 08349449) and Squirrel Energy Services Ltd (Company No. 12918250) are committed to ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all employees, sub-contractors, customers, and any other persons who may be affected by our work activities.

We recognise that solar and battery storage installation work carries inherent risks — including work at height, electrical hazards, and manual handling — and we are committed to managing those risks effectively through robust planning, training, and supervision.

This policy is reviewed annually and whenever there is a significant change to our operations. It is the responsibility of every member of our team to understand and comply with it.

1. Legal Framework

We comply with all applicable health and safety legislation, including but not limited to:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM)
• Work at Height Regulations 2005
• Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
• Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR)

2. Responsibilities

Directors and Senior Management

• Provide visible leadership and commitment to health and safety.
• Ensure adequate resources are allocated to health and safety management.
• Review this policy annually and following any significant incident.
• Ensure all legal obligations are met and that competent persons are appointed where required.

Site Supervisors and Team Leaders

• Conduct site-specific risk assessments and method statements (RAMS) before work commences.
• Ensure all operatives have received appropriate induction and task-specific briefings.
• Monitor compliance with safe systems of work throughout the working day.
• Report all accidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions promptly.

All Employees and Sub-contractors

• Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others.
• Use all equipment, PPE, and safe systems of work as instructed.
• Report any hazards, accidents, or near misses to their supervisor immediately.
• Not interfere with or misuse anything provided for health and safety purposes.

3. Risk Assessment

We carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments for all work activities. Specific assessments are produced for:

• Work at height — roof access, use of ladders, scaffolding, and fall arrest systems.
• Electrical work — isolation procedures, live working restrictions, and testing.
• Manual handling — panel and equipment lifting, carrying, and positioning.
• Confined spaces and roof voids — where applicable to installation routes.
• Lone working — where operatives work without direct supervision.

Risk assessments and method statements are reviewed before each project and updated whenever conditions or scope change.

4. Work at Height

Working at height is one of the most significant risks in our industry. We manage this by:

• Avoiding work at height where it is reasonably practicable to do so.
• Using collective protective measures (scaffolding, edge protection) in preference to personal fall protection.
• Ensuring all operatives working at height are trained and competent.
• Inspecting all access equipment before use and maintaining records of inspections.
• Never using ladders as a working platform for prolonged tasks.

5. Electrical Safety

All electrical installation work is carried out by qualified and competent electricians. Our electrical safety procedures include:

• Strict isolation and lock-off procedures before working on any electrical system.
• Compliance with BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) and MCS installation standards.
• Use of appropriate test equipment and PPE for all electrical tasks.
• Certification of all completed electrical installations.

6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Appropriate PPE is provided free of charge to all operatives and is mandatory on all sites. This includes, as a minimum:

• Safety footwear (steel toe-capped, slip-resistant).
• Hard hat where overhead hazards are present.
• High-visibility vest or jacket.
• Gloves appropriate to the task.
• Safety harness and lanyard where collective protection is not practicable.
• Electrical insulating gloves and face protection for live electrical work.

7. Training and Competence

We ensure that all personnel are competent to carry out their work safely. This includes:

• Health and safety induction for all new employees and sub-contractors.
• Task-specific training (e.g. working at height, manual handling, first aid).
• Maintenance of relevant qualifications including CSCS cards, IPAF, PASMA, and electrical certifications.
• Regular toolbox talks covering relevant health and safety topics.
• Annual review of training needs for all staff.

8. Accident Reporting and Investigation

All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported to a supervisor immediately and recorded in our accident book. We investigate all incidents to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

We comply with RIDDOR 2013 and report all reportable injuries, dangerous occurrences, and occupational diseases to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as required.

9. Emergency Procedures

Site-specific emergency procedures are established before work commences on each project. These cover:

• Emergency evacuation routes and assembly points.
• Location of first aid equipment and nearest first aider.
• Procedures for electrical emergencies and fire.
• Contact details for emergency services and the site supervisor.

At least one trained first aider is present on all working sites.

10. Sub-contractor Management

All sub-contractors engaged by Squirrel Energy are required to:

• Demonstrate competence and hold appropriate qualifications and insurance.
• Comply with this policy and any site-specific health and safety requirements.
• Provide their own risk assessments and method statements for approval before commencing work.
• Report all accidents and near misses to the Squirrel Energy site supervisor.

11. Welfare

We are committed to the welfare of our workforce. We ensure that suitable welfare facilities are available on all sites, including access to toilets, washing facilities, drinking water, and somewhere to take breaks. We also take the mental health and wellbeing of our team seriously and encourage open communication about any concerns.

12. Review

This policy will be reviewed at least annually, or sooner if there is a significant change in our work activities, following a serious incident, or when required by changes in legislation.