Duty of Care | Bluechain Consulting

Duty of Care Statement

1. Purpose and commitment

Bluechain Consulting Ltd is committed to protecting the health, safety, security and wellbeing of everyone working for, or affected by, our activities.

As an international consultancy providing economic, financial, institutional and market development advisory services, particularly in the water, sanitation and wider development sectors, we recognise that our responsibilities extend beyond conventional office environments. Our work may involve international travel, field research, stakeholder consultations, visits to utilities and infrastructure facilities, and assignments in locations with varying health, safety and security conditions.

We are committed to taking all reasonably practicable measures to prevent work-related injury, illness and foreseeable harm, in accordance with applicable health and safety legislation, including the UK Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and relevant laws in the countries in which we operate.

Our approach is based on prevention, proportionate risk management, effective communication, shared responsibility and continuous improvement.

2. Scope

This statement applies to Bluechain's business activities and to employees, directors, associate consultants, subcontractors, interns and volunteers, where relevant, subject to their respective roles and applicable legal obligations.

We also recognise our responsibility to consider the health and safety of clients, local partners, research participants, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our activities.

The policy covers work undertaken:

At Bluechain's offices and home-working locations.
At client and partner premises.
During domestic and international business travel.
During field research, stakeholder engagement and site visits.
At water, sanitation and other infrastructure facilities.
In remote, isolated or potentially higher-risk environments.

3. Organisational responsibilities

Bluechain Consulting Ltd will:

3.1 Risk management

Identify, assess and manage foreseeable risks associated with its activities, applying control measures proportionate to the nature and severity of those risks. Risk assessments will be reviewed when circumstances change or new information becomes available.

3.2 Safe working arrangements

Provide appropriate information, guidance, supervision, equipment and training to support safe working practices, including for remote and lone workers.

3.3 International travel and fieldwork

Establish appropriate procedures for assessing and managing the health, safety and security risks associated with international assignments and fieldwork. Where relevant, these will consider:

Country-specific travel, health and security conditions.
Road transport and travel arrangements.
Communicable diseases, environmental hazards and access to healthcare.
Conditions at project sites, treatment facilities and other infrastructure.
Lone working, communications and emergency contact arrangements.
Access to emergency assistance and medical evacuation where appropriate.

3.4 Health and wellbeing

Promote a working environment that supports physical and psychological wellbeing, including reasonable workload management, prevention of work-related stress and appropriate arrangements for addressing bullying, harassment and other harmful conduct.

3.5 Insurance and emergency preparedness

Maintain appropriate insurance arrangements, taking account of legal requirements, the nature of assignments and relevant contractual obligations. Where applicable, this will include consideration of travel, medical assistance, emergency evacuation and liabilities associated with international work.

Establish suitable emergency procedures and ensure that personnel understand the actions to take in the event of an accident, illness, security incident or other emergency.

3.6 Information and communication

Communicate relevant health, safety and security requirements to personnel before undertaking assignments and provide updates when risks or operating conditions change.

4. Responsibilities of personnel

All personnel working on behalf of Bluechain are expected, in accordance with their roles and applicable legal duties, to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their activities.
Follow applicable company, client and site-specific health and safety procedures.
Participate in relevant risk assessments, briefings and training.
Report identified hazards, unsafe conditions, accidents, near misses and security incidents promptly.
Inform the appropriate manager when circumstances arise that may materially affect their ability to undertake work safely.
Cooperate with reasonable safety measures and emergency arrangements.

Personnel are encouraged to raise safety concerns without fear of retaliation. Where a situation presents an immediate and serious risk, personnel should move to safety, where they can do so, and notify the responsible manager as soon as practicable.

5. Risk assessment and approval of assignments

Bluechain will adopt a risk-based approach to planning and delivering its work. General risk assessments will address routine activities, including office work, home working, business travel and meetings. Additional assignment-specific risk assessments will be undertaken where the nature of the work, location or operating conditions warrant them.

These may address risks arising from:

Travel to locations affected by political instability, conflict, crime or civil unrest.
Road travel and transport safety.
Exposure to wastewater, sanitation facilities or environmental hazards.
Visits to infrastructure, treatment plants or construction sites.
Communicable disease outbreaks and limited healthcare access.
Working alone or in remote locations.
Extreme weather, natural hazards or other significant local conditions.

The responsible project manager or designated director will ensure that identified controls are agreed and appropriate arrangements are in place before higher-risk activities begin. Where risks cannot be adequately controlled, work will be modified, postponed or cancelled.

6. Working at client and partner premises

Bluechain recognises that health and safety responsibilities may be shared between organisations when personnel work at client or partner premises.

Working at an external location does not automatically transfer Bluechain's responsibilities to the host organisation.

Before relevant assignments begin, Bluechain will seek appropriate information about:

Site-specific hazards and working conditions.
Applicable health, safety and security procedures.
Emergency and evacuation arrangements.
Relevant training, induction and access requirements.
The respective responsibilities of Bluechain and the host organisation.

Bluechain will cooperate with clients, partners and other relevant organisations to coordinate safety measures and address identified risks.

Personnel must comply with applicable site rules and promptly raise concerns where arrangements appear inadequate.

7. International travel and emergency arrangements

For overseas assignments, Bluechain will take a proportionate approach to travel risk management informed by relevant official travel advice, local knowledge, client or partner information and assignment-specific circumstances.

Where appropriate, arrangements will include pre-travel briefing, designated emergency contacts, communication and check-in procedures, suitable transport and accommodation, relevant health advice and confirmation of applicable insurance coverage.

Personnel will be informed of relevant procedures for reporting incidents and obtaining assistance. Bluechain will make reasonable arrangements to respond to significant incidents, support affected personnel and coordinate with clients, insurers, local services or other appropriate organisations.

8. Reporting, monitoring and continuous improvement

Accidents, near misses, significant health and safety concerns and relevant security incidents should be reported promptly to the designated manager or director. Bluechain will assess incidents, determine whether external reporting is legally required, and identify appropriate corrective or preventive actions.

The company will periodically review its risk assessments and safety arrangements, taking account of operational experience, changes in working conditions, feedback from personnel and lessons learned. Relevant personal and medical information will be handled confidentially and in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.

9. Governance and review

Overall accountability for implementing this statement rests with the management of Bluechain Consulting Ltd. The designated director will ensure that appropriate responsibilities, resources and procedures are established and that personnel are informed of relevant requirements. This statement will be reviewed at least annually and following significant changes in the company's activities, applicable requirements or risk profile.