Great Portland Estates is committed to managing health and safety to a consistently high standard.

The Group employs a Safety, Health and Environmental Manager, reporting directly to the Property Director, Robert Noel, to manage and review health and safety compliance. A Health and Safety Management System designed to comply with ISO 18001 requirements is maintained for all properties managed by the Group and includes on site inspections by external consultants and reviews of risk assessments with all procedures updates at least annually. Our Senior Building Manager also carries out regular building audits to monitor compliance with the Group’s health and safety procedures.

A Health and Safety Working Group which is chaired by Mr Noel meets on a quarterly basis, and monitors performance, the achievement of key objectives, the results of safety audits and inspections, accidents and near misses, changes in legislation, the development of new procedures, and the allocation of resources to health and safety.

During the year 212 hours of health and safety training was provided to employees covering general health and safety management, first aid at work, stress management and terrorism. Additionally induction training, which includes health and safety issues, is provided to all new employees.

Asset manage

As one of the significant health and safety risks to the business is the control of contractors, a contractor and consultant selection scheme is in place. The Company runs a Permission toWork system for contractors which includes contractor vetting, reviewing of contractor risk assessments and monitoring of contractors’ performance on site. Major contractors have service level agreements as an integral part of their contract and scoring on health and safety performance has been included within these agreements.

All accidents and incidents occurring in areas managed by the Group are recorded and reported and appropriate action is taken. A formal investigation of all accidents is conducted by the Safety,
Health and Environmental Manager. During the year ended 31 March 2008, there were two reportable accidents arising from Group’s activities.

Recycle

Prior to acquisition, detailed surveys are undertaken of new properties to ensure that, where possible, hazardous materials and health and safety risks are identified and are dealt with as soon as practicable on completion.

Develop

At our construction sites, our Safety, Health and Environmental Manager liaises closely with CDM Coordinators and Project Managers to assist in ensuring that health and safety is managed
effectively on site. All consultants are required to complete a competency review in line with Health and Safety Executive guidance under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. Where building works are being carried out with tenants in situ, our Building Managers regularly attend site to ensure that health and safety concerns are brought to the attention
of contractors and dealt with in a timely fashion.

Health and safety statistics

CR Health and Safety objectives set for 2008 include:

• to provide a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors working on the portfolio and visiting members of the public, and all others affected by the activities of the Company.

Download our 2008 Health and Safety objectives and targets pdf
Download our progress against our 2007 Health and Safety objectives and targets pdf