Status: Draft / Final / Changes authorised by:
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1.INTRODUCTION
1.1Name of the organisation has a responsibility to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions in all its premises, and to ensure that they comply with all statutory requirements and codes of practice.
1.2This policy sets out how we manage health and safety to the benefit of our staff, and of anyone else working in or visiting our premises.
1.3The Name of Governing Body has overall and final responsibility for health and safety. The Title of relevant managerhas day-to-day responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into practice.All managers, staff and volunteers are individually responsible for their own health and safety and that of others, which may be affected by their actions or lack of action.
1.4The following principles underline our approach to health and safety:
- Ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all our staff, volunteers and members of the public where they have access to or contact with clients in places where the organisation provides services
- Comply with all appropriate legislation and approved codes of practice
- Ensure that the premises are kept safe
- Ensure absence of risks to health and safety in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances
- Provide information, instruction, training and supervision, to ensure health and safety at work
- Monitor and regularly review these practices, and ensure that all staff are consulted and kept informed about them
1.5The health and safety policy should be read in conjunction with other Name of Governing Body policies including:
- Code of conduct
- Induction
- Confidentiality
- Purchasing
2.DEFINITIONS
2.1Health and safety policy statement: Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers with five or more persons have a duty to bring to the attention of their employees a written statement of their policy regarding Health and Safety at work. (See Appendix 5A).
2.2Risk assessment: Assessing risk involves identifying hazards that staff, volunteers and visitors may encounter in order to ensure relevant precautions are taken.
2.3Hazard: Hazards can cause harm in the daily activities of the organisation.
2.4Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH): The law requires employers to control exposure of their staff and visitors to hazardous substances that may damage their health.
- RELEVANT LEGISLATION
This is just an indication of some of the relevant legislation that the organisation needs to take into consideration:
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
- The Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981
- Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997
- Fire Precautions Act 1971
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR)
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)
- Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
- Health and Safety Consultation with Employees Regulation 1996
- The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995
4.POLICY AND PROCEDURE
4.1Trustees have overall responsibility for health and safety, and by law must consult employees on all health and safety matters through a safety representative (either union appointed/elected or non-union elected).
4.2Title of relevant manageris responsible for ensuring the day-to-day implementation of the health and safety policy.
4.3Title of relevant managerwill report to the governing body annually regarding health and safety matters, and ensure sufficient resources are available to provide any health and safety equipment, personal protective equipment, any necessary training in manual handling, and the provision of eye tests and spectacles when required for those who habitually use display screen equipment.
4.4We have appointed Title of relevant managerwho is responsible for implementing the health and safety policy by:
4.4.1ensuring induction is adequate (location of first aid boxes, fire fighting equipment and fire exits shown, copy of the policy given) and that staff and volunteers understand theirroles within the health and safety policy;
4.4.2maintaining safety records and accident statistics;
4.4.3ensuring full fire drills are carried out at least twice every year, providing fire drill reports and ensuring fire alarms are tested once a week;
4.4.4arranging general health and safety training for staff if necessary and more specific training for fire officers and first aiders;
4.4.5remaining up-to-date with changes in health and safety legislation and communicating them to relevant staff;
4.4.6delegating risk assessment responsibilities and ensuring they are met.
4.5Managers are responsible for promoting responsible attitudes towards health and safety within their teams by:
- ensuring all new members of their teams receive induction and training on health and safety as appropriate;
- following up on any action identified during risk assessments.
4.6Staff have a duty to co-operate with Name of the Organisationin providing a safe and healthy working environment by:
4.6.1preventing injury to themselves, their colleagues, and others affected by actions or omissions of their work;
4.6.2not interfering with anything provided to safeguard their health and safety;
4.6.3reporting immediately all health and safety concerns, incidents or accidents to Title of relevant manager;
4.6.4nominating safety representatives of their choice to raise issues relating to health and safety at work on their behalf.
4.7Safety representatives should:
4.7.1communicate with staff on health and safety matters;
4.7.2investigate potential hazards, dangerous incidents at the workplace, and accidents, and represent staff when dealing with trustees/director on any matters arising;
4.7.3investigate complaints from staff they represent on matters concerning staff health, safety and welfare at work and represent staff when dealing with trustees/director on any matters arising;
4.7.4carry out inspections at least quarterly;
4.7.5request and receive information concerning health and safety;
4.7.6attend meetings of the health and safety group.
4.8Safety representatives are allowed paid time off work to perform functions or receive training as necessary.
4.9Health and safety group:(if applicable)
We have established a health and safety group to support the implementation of all relevant duties. The make-up, responsibilities and reporting arrangements of the group will be decided by the trustees/director.
5.IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING
5.1Title of relevant manager/trustee regularly monitors the health and safety policy and ensures that health and safety is being reviewed throughout the organisation at least once a year.
2.1Trusteesreceive a report on health and safety issues written by Title of relevant manager/trusteeevery quarter/monthand review health and safety annually.
5.3 Key responsibilities in relation to health and safety across the organisation are:
Area / Responsibility / Post responsible/person name/place or frequency
Risk assessment / Undertaking risk assessments and
Reporting findings of risk assessments / All managers/supervisors
Implement actions required from previous step / Member(s) of health and safety group and Managers
Review assessment annually or if significant changes take place / Member(s) of health and safety group and the Director/safety officer
First aid / The first aid person is/are / Staff member
The first aid box is checked every three months and immediately after an incident has occurred by/ and kept at / Designated first aider
(Location of the first aid box)
Recording of all work accidents and related ill-health cases will be done by / Managers
The accident records (need to be individual sheets) are kept at / Director’s office
Reporting accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the enforcing authority / Director/safety officer
Investigating accidents and work related cases of sickness absences / Safety officer and safety representatives
Information & instruction / Displaying health and safety poster and/or statement / Staff member
Inducting new staff on health and safety / Managers
Keeping health and safety training records / Managers
Identify and arrange training / Managers
Consulting staff / Safety officer/safety representative
Emergency
procedures / Undertaking fire risk assessment and implement actions needed / Member(s) of health and safety group
Check escape routes / Every employee
Daily
Check and maintain fire extinguishers / By: member(s) of health and safety group
Annually
Testing alarms / By: director/safety officer/ member(s) of health and safety group
Weekly
Testing emergency evacuation / By: director/safety officer/ member(s) of health and safety group
Every six months
Equipment
maintenance / Maintaining equipment (such as photocopier, computers) / Manager
Problems found with equipment will be reported to / Staff member
Checking new equipment meets health and safety standards before purchasing it / Managers/director/safety representative
6.APPENDICES
6.1The following statement will be printed out and displayed for all to see.
- Appendix 5A: Health and safety statement
Note: This policy has been partly adapted from the sample policy of the Health and Safety Executive.
Appendix 5A
Health and safety statement
The Name of the Organsationwill do the following:
- Provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from our work activities
- Consult with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety
- Provide and maintain safe premises and equipment
- Ensure safe handling and use of substances
- Provide information, instruction and supervision for employees
- Ensure all staff are competent to do their tasks, and give them adequate training
- Prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health
- Maintain safe and health working conditions
- Review and revise this policy as necessary at regular intervals
Signed
Title of relevant manager/trustee
Dated