Legal compliance advice

The move has enabled MIRA to prioritise better the management of its activities while taking a more proactive approach to strategically planning compliance with the requirements of ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001.

Approximately 600 full and sub-contracted staff work for MIRA worldwide, which is based in Nuneaton on an 850 acre automotive technology park. It also has a smaller operation in Basildon, Essex and three offices abroad in China, India and Brazil. MIRA works with organisations from within the public and private sectors.

The organisation has used Cedrec’s expertise for more than five years, taking advantage of its auditing experience to produce and manage legal registers, and undertake comprehensive environmental and safety reviews every two years at the Nuneaton and Basildon sites.

MIRA has to ensure its operations and activities comply with many health, safety and environmental Acts and Regulations including among others COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health), the Confined Spaces Regulations and Hazardous Waste Regulations.

Tapping into Cedrec’s expertise has enabled the organisation’s health, safety and environmental (HS&E) consultant Graham Twigg, who has responsibility for providing HS&E support across a large and diverse organisation, to assess hazardous activity better and prioritise those areas were urgent compliance is required.

"Cedrec’s experienced consultants identify those areas around the organisation where there is a genuine non-compliance issue before advising on the severity. This is very beneficial, enabling us to prioritise and focus our resources on those parts of the business that are imperative and require urgent attention.”

The company also subscribes to Cedrec’s online subscription services, including the monthly bulletins, which provide legal updates and advice on a host of topical matters that MIRA might otherwise not prioritise given the vast range of compliance topics faced by the business.

This helps MIRA to remain a step ahead of the statutory landscape and proactively plan for improved long term compliance - and includes, for example, guidance on making changes under waste legislation alongside plain English advice on the new CDM 2015 Regulations.

"Cedrec are able to notify us in advance of important changes,” said Graham Twigg, "before explaining how they will impact on our business now and in the future; together with clear advice about how to comply and the various consequences. This is extremely valuable, providing an additional independent viewpoint that’s of real value.”

He added that having Cedrec on-board provides the reassurance that he and others with environmental and safety responsibilities, have the right information to plan effectively and operate properly in a difficult, complex and ever changing legal and commercial landscape.

"They are now a critical component of our health, safety and environmental assurance strategy, with the experience, expertise and online resources vital for continued compliance and improvement,” concluded Graham Twigg.

Sunderland-based Cedrec specialises in providing public and private sector organisations with help and advice in understanding, interpreting and complying with safety legislation and guidance. The company offers a range of specialist consultancy and subscriptions services. More also at www.cedrec.com.