If you are thinking about eating out, or ordering from a takeaway, you might want to consider checking the company’s latest food hygiene rating first. For several years now, the Food Standards Agency have been running the Food Hygiene Rating System (FHRS), in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  This is more commonly known as ‘Scores on the Doors‘.  This publicly… read more →

Celebrating Success Pleased to report that 4 delegates gained a merit and 4 delegates recently passed the CIEH Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety. The delegates, from the Hakkasan restaurant group attended the course on 3 seperate days, over a 3 week period and then took the exam the following week. We asked the course delegates if they were… read more →

Question Check that a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the water systems has taken place by a competent contractor and that records are available. Reason for This Question As an employer, or a person in control of the premises, you need to take the right precautions to reduce the risks of exposure to legionella. Possible Answers Red: Legionella risk… read more →

Question Check that a management plan exists for asbestos and question management to check they know where the asbestos locations are within their premises. Reason for This Question An asbestos management plan must be in place to comply with The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Management must be aware of locations of asbestos and information easily accessible and updated every… read more →

Question Check that there are adequate first-aid trained personnel, with records available. Reason for This Question This is important to comply with the The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. Possible Answers Red: No trained first-aiders Amber: Evidence of trained first-aiders on site, but no records available Green: Trained first-aiders on site with training records up to date Common Issues… read more →

Please contact us to discuss the support options available including sheltered housing fire risk assessments. Following the tragic death of a pensioner, Gloucestershire County Council are undertaking an investigation into how a fire happened in sheltered housing at Badger Vale Court in Podsmead. Retirement home occupant Ray Bryce died in the fire at his one-bedroom bungalow on Wednesday 6th January.… read more →

Question Have all significant findings from the fire risk assessment been communicated to employees? Reason for This Question It is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to have shared all significant findings from the fire safety risk assessment with employees. e.g. discussed and included at H&S committee meetings Possible Answers Red: No record or evidence… read more →

Question Have all staff been trained on what to do in the event of a fire, hearing the fire alarm, on fire prevention measures, and how to use fire fighting equipment, within the past 12 months (i.e. have been trained using a fire training DVD)? Reason for This Question It is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)… read more →

We would like to wish you a merry Christmas, and a safe, happy, healthy and prosperous new year! This year, rather than spending money on traditional Christmas cards, we have instead made a donation to The Stroke Association and to Crisis at Christmas 2015 for the homeless in the UK. From all of the team at DDS International Limited.  

Why would I need a free, no obligation, 30 minute visit from DDS? In today’s businesses where everyone is stretched to their capacity, basic requirements like fire safety and health & safety tend to be taken for granted. It is only when there is an incident when it becomes apparent that simple precautions being in place would have prevented the… read more →