APT Architects

APT Partnership is an architectural practice based in the West End of London specialising in all forms of housing including affordable, student, private and specialist housing, mixed use and commercial buildings and community uses.

We have worked extensively in the private and public sectors creating high quality design solutions which reflect the social and historical context of the area and promote improved Public Spaces.

Much of our work is located within inner London Boroughs regenerating under- utilised and derelict urban sites with sustainable forms of development.

Our approach focuses on an understanding of our client’s needs bringing together our experience of dealing with the planning process and achieving commercially viable forms of design.

APT was formed in 1967 by Michael Gluckman and David Wager and for many years occupied offices in a converted warehouse in Clarendon Cross in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

From its inception the Practice grew steadily designing a wide range of projects including the High Commissioner’s Residence in Pretoria and a number of waterside schemes in St Katherine’s Docks.

There followed numerous housing, office, retail and community buildings both new build and projects such as the refurbishment of the former Railway Clearing House in Eversholt Street, one of the longest listed buildings in London.

The Practice has continued to build on this wealth of experience gained over many years and offers an exemplary architectural service as evidenced by the numerous repeat commissions from our clients.

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EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

APT Partnership is an equal opportunities employer. The aim of our policy is to ensure that no job applicant or member of staff receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, sex, sexual orientation, marital status or disability. Nor will applicants or staff be disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which are not justifiable.

Selection criteria and procedure will be reviewed regularly to ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and treated on the basis of their merits and abilities. All staff will be given equal opportunity, and where appropriate, training, to progress within the organisation. The firm encourages applications from women, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities in areas where they have been previously under-represented. The firm will advertise vacancies as widely as possible.

The person responsible for making sure this policy works in practice is Jonathan Walpole. Any member of staff who feels they have not been fairly treated in terms of this policy should contact him. Racial or sexual harassment within the company will be considered a disciplinary offence.

ENVIRONMENT POLICY

APT Partnership is aware that it has a duty to respond to environmental issues and that it has a fundamental part to play in the building industry's efforts to achieve an acceptable quality of life for future generations.

APT Partnership supports the principle of sustainable development. That is development which meets the demands of the present without compromising the abilities of future generations to meet their own needs.

APT Partnership supports

• · minimising the use of all materials and energy.
• · the use wherever possible of renewable, recyclable materials and components.
• · minimising waste and the implementation of waste free processes.
• · endeavours to increase energy efficiency.
 

APT Partnership encourages contractors during construction to

• · take action to ensure that the environment is not adversely affected.
• · reduce pollutants of all kinds.
• · minimise noise emissions.
• · be mindful of the people within the surrounding community.
• · ensure that inconvenience is minimised at all times.
 

APT Partnership is dedicated to the continuing education and training of its staff, including their responsibilities towards the environment.

 

HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

Summary

APT Partnership's procedures are implemented in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and subsequent legislation, to ensure that all staff are fully aware of the implications of the Act whether in our own offices, when visiting third parties, or on site.

When working with other organisations with their own safety requirements and working practices, APT devises an overall safety policy incorporating the requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act and the specific relevant safety practices of the client.

Each member of staff has a duty under Section 7 of the Act to take care of her or himself and to cooperate with others in maintaining standards of health and safety. Staff are not at any time expected to take what they consider themselves to be an undue risk.

All emergencies should be reported to the safety officer Jonathan Walpole in order that the appropriate action can be taken. All major accidents must be logged in the accident record book which is kept by the safety officer in the reception desk drawer alongside the First Aid Kit.

All safety matters will be reviewed at the regular staff meetings.

Detail

General Statement of Policy

It is the policy of APT Partnership to comply with the terms of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and subsequent legislation, and to provide and maintain a healthy and safe working environment. APT Partnership's health and safety objective is to minimise the number of instances of occupational accidents and illnesses and ultimately to achieve an accident-free workplace.

All staff will be provided with such equipment, information, training and supervision as is necessary to implement the policy and achieve the stated objective.

APT Partnership recognises and accepts its duty to protect the health and safety of all visitors to the company.

While APT Partnership will do all that is within its powers to ensure the health and safety of its staff, it is recognised that health and safety at work is the responsibility of each and every individual associated with the company. It is the duty of each member of staff to take reasonable care of her or his own, and other people's, welfare and to report any situation which may pose a threat to the well being of any other person.

APT Partnership will provide every member of staff with the training necessary to carry out their tasks safely. However if a member of staff is unsure how to perform a certain task or feels it would be dangerous to perform a specific job then it is the member of staff's duty to report this to his or her supervisor or the safety officer. An effective health and safety programme requires continuous communication between staff at all levels. It is therefore every member of staff's responsibility to report immediately any situation which could jeopardise the well-being of her or himself or of any other person.

All injuries, however small, sustained by a person at work must be reported to the partners. Accident records are crucial to the effective monitoring and revision of the policy and must therefore be accurate and comprehensive.

APT Partnership's health and safety policy will be continually monitored and updated particularly when changes in the scale and nature of its operations occur. The policy will be updated at least every 12 months.

 

Safety Personnel

The person with overall and final responsibility for health and safety in APT Partnership is partner Christopher Gutteridge. The person responsible for overseeing, implementing and monitoring the policy is the safety officer, Jonathan Walpole.

Consultation

APT Partnership sees communication between staff at all levels as an essential part of effective health and safety management.

Communication

The management of APT Partnership will endeavour to communicate to staff their commitment to safety and to ensure that staff are familiar with the contents of the company health and safety policy. APT Partnership communicates with its staff orally, in writing, by this policy statement, and by example.

Cooperation & Care

If we are to build and maintain a healthy and safe working environment, cooperation between staff at all levels is essential.

All staff are expected to cooperate with the safety officer and to accept their duties under this policy. Disciplinary action may be taken against any member of staff who violates safety rules or who fails to perform his or her duties under this policy.

Staff have a duty to take all reasonable steps to preserve and protect the health and safety of themselves and all other people affected by the operations of the firm.

Workplace Inspections

It is the policy of APT Partnership to comply with the Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992.

Regular inspections of the workplace will be conducted by Christopher Gutteridge. In addition inspections will be conducted in the relevant areas whenever there are significant changes in the nature and / or scale of our operations.

Workplace inspections will also provide an opportunity to review the continuing effectiveness of the policy and to identity areas where revision of the policy may be necessary.

Work Equipment

It is the policy of APT Partnership to comply with the law as set out in the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992.

APT Partnership will endeavour to ensure that all equipment used in the workplace is safe and suitable for the purpose for which it is used. All staff will be provided with adequate information and training to enable them to use work equipment safely.

The use of any work equipment which could pose a risk to the well-being of persons in or around the workplace will be restricted to authorised persons. All work equipment will be maintained in good working order and repair.

All staff will be provided with such protection as is adequate to protect them from dangers occasioned by the use of work equipment. All work equipment will be clearly marked with health and safety warnings where appropriate.

Manual Handling Operations

It is the policy of APT Partnership to comply with the law as set out in the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.

Manual handling operations will be avoided as far as is reasonably practicable where there is a risk of injury. Where it is not possible to avoid manual handling operations, an assessment of the operation will be made. This will take into account the task, load, working environment and the capability of the individual concerned. An assessment will be reviewed if there is any reason to suspect that it is no longer valid.

All possible steps will be taken to reduce the risk of injury to the lowest level possible.

Display Screen Equipment

It is the policy of APT Partnership to comply with the law as set out in the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992.

APT Partnership will conduct health and safety assessments of all workstations at which staff use VDU screens as part of their usual work, and will ensure that all workstations put into service after 1 January 1993 meet the requirements set out in the Schedule to the Regulations.

The risks to users of VDU screens will be reduced to the lowest extent reasonably practicable. VDU screen users will be allowed periodic breaks in their work. Eyesight tests will be provided for VDU screen users on request. Where necessary VDU screen users will be provided with the basic necessary corrective equipment such as glasses or contact lenses.

Fire Safety

APT Partnership's fire safety policy and procedures take account of special fire hazards in specific areas of the workplace and, where appropriate, have been compiled with the assistance of the local fire service.

The local fire service inspection staff are responsible for ensuring compliance with fire safety and prevention codes, for reviewing company practices and procedures, inspecting and testing fire fighting, prevention and protection equipment and for advising on safe practices and procedures.

The person with responsibility for the maintenance and testing of fire alarms and fire fighting equipment is the freeholder of the premises. The freeholder is responsible for the provision and maintenance of fire prevention and detection equipment.

All staff have a duty to report immediately any fire, smoke or potential fire hazards to the fire service (dial 999). All staff have a duty to conduct their operations in such a way as to minimise the risk of fire. This involves taking care when smoking (when and where this is permitted), keeping combustible materials separate from sources of ignition and avoiding unnecessary accumulation of combustible materials.

Fire Detection Equipment

Smoke detectors and manually operated fire alarms are located at strategic points throughout the workplace. If a smoke detector sounds, it is the responsibility of any member of staff present to activate the alarm and evacuate the building.

Fire Fighting Equipment

Fire extinguishers are located at strategic points throughout the workplace.

Staff are expected to tackle a fire themselves only if it would pose no threat to their personal safety to do so. If the situation is dangerous or potentially dangerous the member of staff should activate the alarm and evacuate the building immediately.

Fire Doors

Fire doors designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke throughout the workplace have been installed at strategic points. Fire doors are designed to close automatically after opening and must never be blocked, jammed or tied open.

Fire Exits

Fire exits are located at strategic points throughout the workplace. Exit doors and corridors must never be locked, blocked or used as storage space. Emergency lighting has been installed in exit corridors, above emergency exit doors and throughout the workplace in case of power failure. Lifts also have emergency lighting installed although they should not be used in the case of an emergency evacuation.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in the workplace.

Emergency Evacuation Procedure

In the event of the fire alarm being activated or in any other emergency situation (such as a bomb scare), all staff must leave the building by the nearest available exit and assemble at the designated assembly point. The designated assembly point is:

As agreed with the freeholder

This will be clearly displayed on a prominent notice board. Practice fire drills will be conducted by the freeholder of the premises to ensure employee familiarity with emergency evacuation procedures.

Accident Investigation & Reporting

It is the policy of APT Partnership to comply with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95).

APT Partnership sees accident investigation as a valuable tool in the prevention of future incidents. In the event of an accident resulting in injury a report will be drawn up by the partners, or a person appointed by them, detailing:

• * Circumstances of the accident including photographs and diagrams where possible.
• * Nature and severity of the injury sustained.
• * Identity of any eyewitnesses.
• * Time, date and location of the incident.
• * Date of the report.

All reports will be submitted to the firm's lawyers who will advise on liability, proceedings and quantum of damages. The lawyers will then submit the report to the firm's insurance risk advisors for assessment. A follow-up report will be completed after a reasonable period of time examining the effectiveness of any new measures adopted.

Accident Procedure

First aid stations are located in areas where staff are concentrated around the workplace. All first aid stations are clearly marked and are easily accessible by all staff during working hours. Where appropriate first aid station are equipped with a standard first aid kit. Accident records are compiled and stored by the partners.

Safety Rules - General

All staff should be aware of, respect, and adhere to, the rules and procedures contained in this policy statement.

• 1. All staff shall immediately report any unsafe practices or conditions to the relevant authority.
• 2. Any person under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicating drug which might impair motor skills or judgement, whether prescribed or otherwise, shall not be allowed on the job.
• 3. Any person whose levels of alertness and / or ability are reduced due to illness or fatigue will not be allowed on the job if this might jeopardise the health and safety of that person or any other person.
• 4. Staff shall not adjust. move or otherwise tamper with any electrical equipment, machinery or air or water lines in a manner not within the scope of their duties, unless instructed to do so by a senior member of staff.
• 5. No member of staff should undertake a job which appears to be unsafe.
• 6. No member of staff should undertake a job until she or he has received adequate safety instruction and is authorised to carry out the task.
• 7. All injuries must be reported to the partners or a delegated representative.
• 8. Suitable clothing and footwear will be worn at all times. Personal protective equipment shall be worn wherever appropriate.
• 9. All staff are expected to attend departmental safety meetings.
• 10. When lifting an object off the ground, staff should assume a squatting position, keeping the back straight. The load should be lifted by straightening the knees, not the back. These steps should be reversed for lowering an object to the ground.

Safety Rules - Working Environment

• 1. Work place must be kept clean and tidy.
• 2. Any spillage must be cleaned up immediately.
• 3. Waste materials and rubbish must be removed routinely.