Pet's Choice Agency Induction


  1. An Introduction to Pets Choice

Pet’s Choice industry knowledge spans over 135 years and our portfolio of brands offers a variety of products for pets and wild animals under the brands; Webbox, TastyBone, Meatiful, Spike’s World, Goodwyns, Davies, Oceanic and Vitakraft.

As a trusted partner, Pets Choice provides private label goods including extruded food, wet food and retorted trays, and baked fresh meat treats. The business also offers additional services such as packaging design, fulfilment and logistics.

With a broad range of capabilities and distribution channels worldwide, Pets Choice are proud to be a major supplier to the UK grocery, independents and pet speciality sectors.

  1. Sites

Pets Choice operates from 5 manufacturing and distribution facility in Blackburn.

They are located Whitebirk Industrial Estate

Pets Choice manufactures and distributes finished goods therefore we recruit across both the production and warehouse.

  1. Emergency Evacuation / Fire Procedure

If you discover a fire, raise the alarm at once by operating the nearest break glass operating point. On  hearing  the  emergency  evacuation  alarm  (a  continuous  sounding  of  the  alarm),  you  must leave immediately without stopping to pick up any personal belongings, quickly and calmly head for the nearest safe emergency exit.

All emergency exit routes are clearly sign posted and have emergency lighting. You will be shown the emergency exits for the department you will be working in.

On exiting the building you must proceed directly to your designated assembly point where a roll call will be conducted. You must remain at your assembly point until told otherwise.

Assembly points are:

Lower Philips Road Site -

Fire Assembly Point (Main entrance gates)

Brentwood House -

Fire Assembly Point (Adjacent to the main office entrance)

Warehouse Lower Philips Road - Fire Assembly Point (Main entrance gates)

At no time must you re-enter the building until it has been deemed safe to do so by the senior office in charge.

 

Fire alarm tests are carried out every Friday when you will hear a brief sounding of the alarm. Full fire evacuation drills are carried out at regular periods.

 

  1. Site Procedures

Hearing Protection Zones –

Anyone wishing to enter a designated hearing protection zone must be wearing hearing protection. The areas of the factory in which hearing protection is mandatory will be identified by hazard warning signs. Always wear your hearing protection in these areas however brief your stay in the area may be. You will be issued with and trained on how to use hearing protection.

 

Workplace Vehicles –

Fork lift trucks and other vehicles operate extensively throughout Pets Choice, and it is therefore important that you remain vigilant and alert to vehicles at all times. Always use the correct designated access routes and never approach vehicles whilst in operation. High visibility vests must be worn where vehicles may be operating.

Pallet Trucks and other mechanical aids are ONLY to be used by trained and authorised personnel.  Under no circumstance are you to use electric powered mechanical aids unless you have been trained and been given a code to do so by the Factory Manager.  Anyone using someone else’s code or misusing the pallet trucks will be instantly dismissed.

 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) –

Any personal protective equipment issued to you at any time during your employment at Pets Choice must be used properly and any damage or loss must be reported immediately. This is a legal obligation under the Health and Safety at work Act 1974. Safety footwear must be worn at all times at all sites. Any damaged PPE will be replaced on an old for new basis.

 

Jewellery / Mobile Phones -

It is company policy that jewelry or mobile phones must not be worn or taken on the shop floor (wedding bands exempt). Therefore, it is advisable not to bring them to work at all. Managers and Supervisors have company issued mobile telephones which they are authorised to use on the shop floor for work related issues. No nail varnish or heavy make up / perfume is to be worn in any of the factories.

 

Food & Drink –

No food or drink is to be taken on the shop floor. All food and drink must be consumed in the staff canteen.

 

Workwear –

As well as ensuring you wear the correct PPE onsite, you must also ensure you are wearing the correct clothing to work in. Due to health and safety we ask that you wear full length trousers. No shorts are permitted. If you are issued any overalls from Pets Choice they must not be taken off site.

 

  1. Accident Procedure / First Aid

Any accident causing injury, however minor, must be reported and entered into the accident report book, which is kept in the first aid room. An incident in which an injury could have happened but did not, should also be reported as this may prevent an injury in the future. Accidents / Incidents should be reported to your immediate manager / supervisor and your earliest convenience.

Details of all First Aid trained staff are provided on the main notice boards. First Aiders may also be identified easily as they wear a green hi Vis vest. The First Aid treatment room is situated in the main employee entrance clocking –in area at Gladstone Street. Facilities are also available within the main office block at the Lower Philips Road site and in the main transport office area at the warehouse, Lower Philips road site.

 

  1. Staff Facilities

Canteen areas with basic food preparation facilities and snack machines are provided. Chilled water stations are also available. For chub production staff, toilets and washing facilities are situated at the bottom of the stairs to the staff changing rooms. Facilities for treats packing staff are available in the main treats area. Facilities for extruder (Lower Philips Road) are located near the staff changing room. Warehouse washing facilities are located either side of the transport office; the canteen is located above wash rooms. Brentwood House facilities are available at each level.

 

  1. Health and Safety Policy

Pets Choice Ltd is committed to perusing excellence in everything it does and this includes the management of health and safety. We expect ALL at Pets Choice to share this commitment and to work together to achieve it including our customers and stakeholders.

Pets Choice (know as the company) recognises its Health and Safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and accompanying protective legislation. The directors recognise that they have a responsibility to ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken to provide and maintain working conditions  which are safe, health and comply with all statutory requirements and approved codes of practice. The company, so far as is reasonably practicable, proposes to pay particular attention to:

Providing, managing and maintaining a working environment which are, So far as reasonably practicable, safe and in which risks to psychological and physical health are controlled. Providing adequate and appropriate facilities and arrangements for welfare at work and whilst on location. Providing, managing and maintaining our workplaces and equipment so that they are, so far as reasonably practicable, safe and that risks to health are controlled. Consulting with and involving all our staff in matters relating to their own health and safety. Identifying hazards and conducting formal risk assessments in order to minimise the risk for all activities undertaken by Pets Choice.

Ensuring that control measures and emergency procedures are: in place; effective; properly used; monitored and maintained.

Providing information, instruction, training and supervision at all levels necessary to ensure that staff are competent to supervise or undertake their work activities and are aware of any related hazards and the measure to be taken to protect against them.

Providing the necessary organisation, expertise and resources, including communication and consultant, planning, monitoring, inspection and auditing procedures to ensure that there is effective management of health and safety throughout every level of the operation. Giving adequate information on relevant hazards to any person whose health and safety might be affected by them. Keeping up to date with best practice in relation to health and safety and complying with all relevant legislation and authoritative guidance.  Monitoring the safety performance of contractors who work for us.

 

Where there are no existing policies or guidance, we expect our staff and contractors to meet the highest relevant standards and to comply with relevant legislation. Where no standards or legislation exist, we will work with our staff and contractors to develop systems which comply with best practice and eliminate or minimise the risks so far as reasonably practicable.

 

We undertake to continually review and develop our safety management systems, with the overarching aim of conducting our activities in a manner which does not affect the health and safety of any staff, contractors, visitors or members of the public, or adversely affect the environment.

 

In order to meet its obligations towards the general public and all lawful visitors to the company’s

premises, the company will pay strict attention to its duties under the Health and Safety at work Act

1974 and Occupiers Liability Acts 1957 and 1984.

 

This policy has been prepared in compliance with section 2 (3) of the Health and Safety at Work Act

1974 and binds all directors, managers and employees, in the interests of employees and customers. We request that our customers and visitors respect this policy, a copy of which can be obtained on demand.

 

  1. Quality Policy

Pets Choice Ltd aims to provide defect free products to its customers on time and within budget.

The organisation operates a Quality Management System that has gained BS EN IS0 9001: 2008 certification, including aspects specific to the manufacture and distribution of pet foods.

The management is committed to:

  1. Develop and improve the quality management system
  2. Continually improve the effectiveness of the Quality Management System
  3. The enhancement of customer satisfaction

 

The management has a continuing commitment to:

  1. Ensure that customer needs and expectations are determined and fulfilled with the aim of achieving customer satisfaction
  2. Communicate throughout the organisation the importance of meeting customer needs and all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements
  3. Establish the Quality policy and its objectives
  4. Ensure the management set and review the quality objectives, and reports on the internal audit results as a means of monitoring and measuring the processes and the effectiveness of the Quality Management System
  5. Ensure the availability of resources

 

All personnel understand the requirements of this Quality Policy and abide with its contents. The Organisation complies with all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements.

The Organisation constantly monitors its quality performance and implements improvement when appropriate.

This Quality Policy is regularly reviewed in order to ensure its continuing suitability. Copies of the Quality Policy are made available to all members of staff. Copies of minutes of Management reviews, or extracts thereof, are provided to individual members of staff in accordance with their role and responsibilities as a means of communicating the effectiveness of the Quality Management System.

 

  1. Manual Handling Information

FACTS

 

1.                  The majority of back injuries are strains to muscles and soft tissue damage, heavy lifting and a poor lifting technique can result in damage to the spine over a period of time. Manual handling activities cause over 35% of all three day injuries in the workplace. Before lifting, Plan your lift using the guidelines below.

Find out as much information about the load as possible, e.g. weight, movement in load. The location the load is to be placed

Appropriate handling aids available – e.g. trolleys, lifting equipment Do you need assistance in order to lift the load safely

Are there any obstructions on your route

Once the load has been lifted, can you see clearly

 

LIFTING TECHNIQUE

Try and use the following approved lifting Technique: Position of the Feet

Ensure your feet are apart in order to give a stable base

Consider clothing; try to avoid any tight clothing which may restrict your movements Consider your footwear; flat shoes are advised. Heels are not ideal.

 

Posture

If you are lifting from a low level, ALWAYS bend your knees

Be sure to keep the back and spine as straight as possible. Keep arms straight and tucked into the side

Keep your shoulders level and facing the same direction as the hips

 

Grip

Use your palms of your hands to grip underneath the object rather than using the fingers If there is a risk of cutting yourself, you must wear any protective equipment provided e.g.

protective gloves

Make sure your grip is secure before lifting the object

Keep close to the load

Try to keep the load as close to your body as possible

Lift smoothly keeping control at all times

Move feet, avoid twisting the trunk of the body when turning side to side

 

 

  1. C.O.S.H.H (Control of substances hazardous to health)

The control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) regulations are designed to safeguard you when you come into contact with potentially hazardous substances. These regulations mean that when you are involved in tasks which require you to use potentially hazardous substances, there are strict guidelines that you must follow –

 

Never use materials unless you have been trained to do so.

 

Always read the container label first and follow the correct procedures. Always wear the correct PPE.

Safety data sheets for substances are available – know where to find this information.

 

Never use chemicals that are not clearly labelled and never put them into other containers. Never mix chemicals together.

Always return chemicals to the COSHH store or designated area when you have finished. Treat empty chemical containers with the same caution as you would a full one.

Always wash your hands after using chemicals. Report any spillages to your supervisor immediately.

If you are unsure about any aspect – STOP and ASK FOR Guidance. You will be trained how to use any substance that is covered by COSHH. For your own safety do not carry out activities using chemicals of any kind until you have received training and have signed the training record.

 

Examples of the effects of hazardous substances include –

 

Skin irritation

Sore eyes or nasal passages

 

Breathing difficulties as a result of inhalation Losing consciousness as a result of toxic fumes Infection from bacteria (biological agents)

 

If you experience any of these or other symptoms, report this to your supervisor immediately.

 

 

  1. Declaration

 

Please read carefully through the following three statements, in signing you are stating that you have read them and agree to adhere to them whilst working at Pets Choice.

 

I understand the conditions of employment outlined in this induction and will co-operate fully with the company policy and procedures.

I am aware that I must stay within the confines of the working area described as my department and that I should not enter any part of the premises, unless I am instructed to do so by my immediate supervisor or a member of the management team.

 

I am aware  that  I  should  not  carry  out  any  task  without  first  receiving  suitable  and  adequate training. Following such training I will be fully aware of the relevant risks that have been identified during the latest relevant risk assessment.

 

 

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Document name: Pet's Choice Agency Induction
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15th February 2023 2:50 pm GMTPet's Choice Agency Induction Uploaded by No-Reply Major Recruitment - onlineterms@major-recruitment.com IP 83.166.165.60