Health and safety guide (for new purpose built villas this is included in the project)
Air conditioning
It is our intention to have all bedrooms
air-conditioned. Where this is not already installed,
You will be offered a subsidised fitting service. We will
also increase the contract rate where not already
included to cover additional electricity costs. Where
Air conditioning is not available we will
supply Heaters and Fans.
Pool Heating
Research has shown that clients book a heated pool
quicker than a non heated one in the low/shoulder
months. We are offering all owners a heavily subsidised
opportunity to have a pool heater fitted. We
will also pay an additional amount to cover additional
electricity used.
Internet Access
It is our intention to have as many villas as possible
with an internet connection and computer terminal.
Where there is an existing telephone line, We
will take over responsibility and arrange ADSL where
possible. All costs will be borne by company.
Digital Satellite TV
To include BBC1/2, Play station 2 and DVD, Video
player and a selection of videos.
Table Tennis table and/or all weather pool
table (subject to space).
Villa security
Full alarm system, intruder lights, key lockbox and
safes.
Insurance
In addition to the full property and contents insurance
that all owners are required by contract to have on
their property, we strongly recommend that the owner
obtains additional public liability insurance. This cover
is often included in standard house insurance or, if
not, can be added at very little additional cost.
Basic Safety Equipment
Principal safety items to be featured in all properties:
Fire extinguisher - one dry powder to European
safety standards fixed on the wall in the kitchen in
close proximity to the cooking area. This item must be
easily visible and accessible in case of a fire
Smoke alarms - one for each floor, placed on the
ceiling or above door height. They must be battery
operated with pause and test button and regularly
tested
Fire Blanket - to be fixed on the wall in the kitchen
in close proximity to the cooking area. This item must
be easily visible and accessible in case of a fire
Glass Door Stickers - approved and
sufficient for each glass door/French window, one at
adult height and one at child head height.
Cots and High chairs
These items should always be sturdy, purpose built
and in good condition. Check to ensure there are no
weak joints or sharp protruding objects. Modern safety
mattresses should be fitted to cots so that they
completely fill the base, with no gaps between the cot
frame and mattress. Cot bars should be closely
spaced.
Furniture
It is important that all chairs and tables are secure and
sturdy and not likely to give way under regular or
heavy use. Check to make sure that there are no hidden nails protruding from undersides or sharp
objects in the padding. Glass tables are to be avoided
and where used must be of toughened safety glass.
Stairways
Often a potentially hazardous area, especially for the
young and elderly. Properties with particularly steep or
with spiral staircases should always be clearly
indicated in villa descriptions. Staircases must never
have open sides and always have a securely fixed
banister rail of an acceptable safe height. Banister
rails have to be netted if the spindles are more than
10cms apart. This also applies to any exterior
staircases and balconies.
Health and Safety Guide
For Owners, Agents and Management Worldwide
Wells
Wells (including swimming pool machine rooms) are
always a source of interest and intrigue for young
people, and unless properly protected, present a
potential fatal hazard. In all circumstances, wells must
be securely covered and/or fenced off and securely
locked.
Tools and work areas
Tools and work areas - Garden implements and any
potential dangerous tools should be locked away out
of client's sight and reach. All equipment rooms,
outhouses etc should be restricted to guests and
children and must be securely locked.
Fences and railings
All unprotected drops and potential hazards, must be
securely protected by adequate fencing or railings. All
external staircases must have a secure hand rail
and/or support.
Regulations for new buildings state that all stairs,
terraces and balconies with unprotected drops must
have adequate fencing or railings built to a height of
1.2metre with gaps no more that 10cms apart. Owners
must ensure existing balconies, walls, stair banisters
and railings, with unprotected drops, are high enough
and any gaps small enough to ensure clients' safety.
Existing balconies, walls and railings can be no lower
than 90cms with gaps no wider than 11 to 12cms. Any
that are not, must be raised and the gaps closed.
Works carried out must raise the height to a minimum
of 1m and gaps closed to 10cms.
Terrace or balcony walls with concrete or other
seating set against it, must be at least 90cms higher
than the seating area to the top of the wall. All
balcony furniture should be kept away from any
railings or walls under 2m. Roof terraces with a low
wall height must be raised or a secure gate fitted at
the bottom of the steps.
All balconies, walls, stairs and railings must also be
inspected for their construction and "risk assessed" for
the potential danger to clients. Remedial work must
be completed before the contract begins and the
property re-assessed.
Play equipment
Any children's play equipment should be in good
condition, sturdy, free from rust and safe to use. No
sharp or dangerous edges. All ground surfaces should
be of soft surface material.
Swimming Pools
The following points will help to ensure that safe
practices are employed and minimise the risk of
accidents. All must be in a good state of repair, with
no loose, cracked or damaged tiles in, above or below
the water line. Ladders and steps must be secure.
There must be no rough edges around the pool. The
Depth markings must be clearly marked in Metres at
both ends of the pool to clearly indicate the shallow
and deep ends. All surfaces around pool must be non
slip or have a non slip coating applied especially those
with marble tiles which become lethal when wet. A
'NO DIVING' sign should be erected within easy visual
vicinity of the pool.
All pool chemicals and testing equipment should be
kept under lock and key. Records must be kept of all
chemical additions.The water and ph/chlorine/saline
levels should be checked regularly to ensure that both
water clarity and water safety are good and remedial
action taken to ensure that the pool is returned to use.
Records must be kept together with any action taken.
A full list of recommendations relating to pool use
must be placed in the villa manual and client's
attention focused on it by the representative during
the welcome meeting.
Water Supplies
Following the guidelines of the household and
drinking water directive, it is the responsibility of the
owner to ensure that there is an uninterrupted supply
of clean water to the property at all times. All hot
water systems should be checked to ensure that a
good supply of hot water is available and that it is
provided at a good pressure especially in those villa
that use a combination boiler for the hot water supply.
Any villa that relies on emersion heaters for hot water
supply must carry a warning about the temperature
that the water will reach in the villa book and the
clients attention will be drawn to it by the
representative during the welcome meeting.
In Conclusion
The precautions and requirements detailed above will
ensure that your property is sufficiently well equipped
and prepared to avert the majority of major problems
and minimise the risk of damage to holidaymaker's
and your property alike. New regulations and
requirements will be forthcoming and requirements
can constantly change. It is the owners responsibility
to maintain any changes in local law and the company
will confirm any changes as they are made aware of
them.
Gallery rooms - Rooms or bedrooms with only three
closed sides must have secure railings/banisters so
that children cannot slip through and that are high
enough to satisfy current regulations.
Doors, floors and walls
Floors must not pose a tripping hazard. Coverings
must be in a clean and level state of repair and no
carpets should have thread-bare patches or areas of
torn fabric. Wires to lamps, stereos, TV etc must not
cross areas where people walk, since they pose a
tripping hazard. Keep all other wires in a tidy position.
Walls should never have protruding and potentially
dangerous objects sticking out, such as shelf brackets,
redundant hooks and nails etc. All unused wiring,
whether live or otherwise should be properly hidden
and covered up.
All glass doors and windows lower than 80cm above
floor level should be fitted with toughened glass.
Where not, place glass door stickers and make
mention in the villa manual.
Cutlery and Utensils
Check to ensure that drinking glasses and all ceramic
items are not chipped, cracked, crazed glaze or have
exposed sharp edges. Whenever possible items such
as sharp knives should be placed in drawers, bleach
and other poisonous cleaning materials should be
inaccessible to children (check under the sink) and
preferably kept under lock and key by the maid
Gas installations
There is a duty of care placed on the property owner
to ensure that gas installation is safe. The aim is to
prevent carbon monoxide poisoning which can
occur if:
a) Gas burning fixtures are badly installed
b) Appliances are badly installed
c) Appliances have not been serviced regularly and
checked to ensure that there is insufficient
ventilation in the room and that the flue/chimney is
blocked
Internal/External instantaneous
Gas Water Heaters All properties featuring the above are obliged to get
them serviced on a regular basis and a certificate of
worthiness issued. A copy of this certificate must be
supplied for office use. It is the owners responsibility
that any alterations recommended for the compliance
of the above must be carried out by a qualified
engineer and paid for by the owner.
Audible carbon monoxide detectors should be placed
at ground level in the same room where long term gas
certificates have been issued and a ground level air
vent have not yet been installed. It would be
preferable that owners are encouraged to have these
vents installed without having to wait for the expiry of
the certificates rather than relying on Carbon
Monoxide detectors Owners should also note that a
current gas certificate is required is there are any gas
appliances operational in their villa.
Butane (calor gas) Connections
Owners should ensure that the rubber tubing
connecting the gas bottle to the cooker should be
changed regularly (a minimum once per season) and
date stamped. All externally located cylinders must be
located in an appropriate lockable and vented
cupboard to avoid direct sunlight. Only small cylinders
(maximum 15kgs) should be kept inside. All mobile
calor gas heaters are prohibited from being used.
Electrical Installation
Following EC low voltage regulation there is a duty of
maintenance placed on the owner with regard to the
quality and safety of electrical installations within the
property. In conjunction with common practice for
general safety advice, all major electrical fittings must
be professionally installed, secured and adequately
insulated. Smaller items should be inspected for wear
and tear regularly especially irons. Any iron with flex
wire that are severely twisted or have exposed wires
must be replaced or the flex renewed. It is advisable to keep a record of any inspection or test dates in
order to demonstrate that you have complied with
your duty of care. Electrical fires are some of the most
common and often occur when appliances
malfunction. It is therefore important that washing
machines, fridges, dishwashers etc are all in a good
state of repair, correctly wired and fused. All cracked,
damaged or loose sockets must be replaced
immediately staff are notified.
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