HSQE Communication Bulletin - March 2026¶
Document Reference: COMM_HSQE_03_2026
Issue Number: 1
Issue Date: 02/03/2026
Review Cycle: Monthly
Controlled By: HSQE Consultant
Document Type: Communication Bulletin
Document Control Information¶
| Rev | Changes | Date | Approved By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Initial Issue - March 2026 HSQE Updates | 02/03/2026 | Aaron Mason |
Executive Summary¶
World Water Day on 22 March anchors the month; AMWS 2025 carbon baseline due; Q1 review and clock-change driving brief.
World Water Day — Sunday 22 March¶
This year's UN theme is "Glacier Preservation — Water from Mountains", but for AMWS the local read is much closer to home: every leak we don't find, every spill we don't contain, every tank we don't reinstate cleanly directly affects local water security.
Practical commitments for the month:
- All AMWS reinstatements pressure-tested per SOP 5.1 — no exceptions
- Any visible pre-existing leak on a job site logged and reported to the client same-day
- COSHH disposal (washwater, chlorine residues) routed through hazardous waste only — never to drain
AMWS 2025 Carbon Baseline — In Preparation¶
Sean is finalising AMWS's first Scope 1+2 carbon baseline for 2025. Headline data:
- Diesel + petrol fleet consumption (Scope 1)
- Grid electricity at the yard and offices (Scope 2)
- 2025 actuals → baseline; 2026 onwards measured against it
Why it matters: Achilles UVDB Verify Category B2.11 is "Carbon Management". The auditor will ask for a footprint, a baseline year, and a reduction target. The baseline will be in APP_15 Life-cycle Analysis and APP_11 HSQE KPIs by end March.
What this means on-site: Idling, unnecessary van trips, and back-of-yard plant left running — each is a measurable contribution. Sean will share a one-pager when published.
HSE February Prosecution Theme — Manual Handling¶
A run of February HSE prosecutions highlighted manual-handling failures: heavy single-person lifts, awkward access, repetitive lifting from low levels. The fines hit small contractors hardest because their MSDs (musculoskeletal disorders) come up in claims years after the work.
SOP 8.2 reminder:
- TILE before any awkward lift — Task, Individual, Load, Environment
- Two-person lift over 25 kg, no exceptions
- Get the kerb-stone trolleys out — they live in the yard for a reason
Clock Change — Sunday 29 March¶
Clocks go forward at 01:00 on Sunday 29 March. We lose an hour's sleep and the early shift starts in daylight from the following Monday.
Operational notes:
- Vehicle pre-use checks: stowing high-vis becomes a habit, but daylight visibility on rural roads is still poor at dawn
- Site working-hours notices updated for noise-sensitive locations
- Fatigue-management: don't let "lighter mornings" become "longer days" without break compliance
ISO 14001:2026 — Final Countdown to Publication¶
ISO 14001:2026 publishes 15 April. AMWS gap-analysis work continues:
- New "management of change" clause — likely needs an explicit section in the IMS Manual
- "Externally provided processes" — touches our approved supplier process (SOP 5.3)
- Climate change amendment now folded in (already addressed via APP_06)
Sean will lead a 1-hour walk-through with Aaron and Leanne in April.
Action Items for March¶
- ✅ Carbon baseline published — APP_11 / APP_15 updated
- ✅ World Water Day commitments delivered on every active site
- ✅ Internal audits IA202605–IA202608 closed out
- ✅ Clock-change driving brief — week of 23 March
- ✅ MSD / manual-handling toolbox talk (Jason — w/c 16 March)
Looking Ahead to April¶
- ISO 14001:2026 publishes — 15 April
- Stress Awareness Month (annual)
- Achilles audit-pack final assembly begins
This document forms part of A M Water Services Limited's Integrated Management System and should be read in conjunction with the IMS Manual (MAN_01) and relevant Standard Operating Procedures.