Health and Safety at Work Policy

1. STATEMENT OF GENERAL POLICY

1.1 The Company fully accepts the obligations placed upon it by the various Acts of Parliament covering health and safety.

2. MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION AND ARRANGEMENTS

Introduction

2.1. This policy has been prepared and published under the requirements of Health & Safety at Work legislation. The purpose of the policy is to establish general standards for health and safety at work and to distribute responsibility for their achievement to all managers, supervisors, and other employees through the normal line management processes.

3. MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Head of Operations

3.1. The Head of Operations has overall responsibility for the implementation of the Company's policy. In particular, they are responsible for ensuring that the policy is widely communicated, implemented and that its effectiveness is monitored.3.2. The Head of Operations is responsible for co-ordinating effective health and safety policies and controls across the organisation.3.3. The Head of Operations is responsible for:

• the production and maintenance of the Company's policy and ensuring that Department Guidelines are consistent with the policy;
• its application;
• monitoring and reporting on the effectiveness of the policy;
• the provision of general advice about the implication of the law;
• the identification of health and safety training needs;
• the production and maintenance of Health and Safety Codes of Practice for each aspect of the services within the Company.

The Head of Operations acts as the Company's formal link with the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Health Departments and other external agencies.

4. HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT PROCESS

4.1. The Company believes that consideration of the health, safety and welfare of staff is an integral part of the management process. The provision of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act will be adopted as required standards within the Company.

4.2. The Company requires managers to approach health and safety in a systematic way, by identifying hazards and problems, planning improvements, taking executive action and monitoring results so that the majority of health and safety needs will be met from locally held budgets as part of day-to-day management, although many health and safety problems can be rectified at little additional cost.

4.3. If unpredictable health and safety issues arise during the year, the Head of Operations must assess the degree of risk, in deciding the necessary resources and actions to commit to addressing these issues.

5. HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE GUIDELINES

5.1. It shall be the responsibility of the Head of Operations to bring to the attention of all members of his or her staff, the provisions of the guidelines, and to consult with appropriate Health and Safety Representatives about the updating of these guidelines. The model contents of a guideline are:

• a clear statement of the role of the department;
• regulations governing the work of the department;
• clear reference to safe methods of working, for example nursing procedures, manufacturers' manuals;
• information about immediate matters of health and safety concern, such as fire drills, fire exits, first aid;
• training standards;
• the role and identity of the Health and Safety Representative;
• names of specialist advisers who can be approached about the work of the department;
• the manager responsible for organisation and control of work;
• accident reporting procedures;
• departmental safety rules;
• fire procedures;
• policies agreed by the Company.

6. REGULAR RISK ASSESSMENTS

6.1. Managers have a continual responsibility for the elimination of hazards in order to maintain a safe working environment and will also be expected to carry out regular risk assessments in line with the Health and Safety Executive Guidelines; that is follow the 5 steps:

1. Identify the hazards

2. Decide who might be harmed and how

3. Evaluate the Risks and decide on precautions

4. Record the findings and implement the precautions

5. Review the assessment and update when necessary

7. TRAINING

7.1. Health and Safety training shall be incorporated within annual training programmes, as part of the development of a systematic training plan. Health and Safety training needs will, therefore, be identified and planned for in the same manner as other training needs.

7.2. Four areas of need shall be given special priority:

• training for managers, to equip them with an understanding of the manager's responsibilities under this policy, and the role and purpose of safety representatives;
• training for safety representatives to enable them to discharge their function;
• training for all members of staff to acquaint them with the main provisions of the law and its practical implication, the main features of this policy and key safety rules;
• induction and in-service training for staff at all levels to acquaint them fully with new requirements and hazards.

8. RECORDS, STATISTICS AND MONITORING

8.1. The Company will operate systems for recording, analysis and presentation of information about accidents, hazard situations and untoward occurrences. Information obtained from the analysis of accident statistics must be acted upon and, where necessary, bids for additional expenditure made to the Head of Operations.

9. REPORTS TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE

9.1. The responsibility for meeting the requirements of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 to the Health and Safety Executive, shall rest with the Head of Operations.

10. SPECIALIST ADVISORY BODIES

10.1. Certain bodies and the individual members of those bodies, have always had a Health and Safety role, most notably, the Health & Safety executive, or local Environmental Health Departments. If further specialist advice is required, this may be obtained by the Head of Operations from expert individuals or bodies outside the Company.

11. FIRST AID

It is the policy of the Company to make provision for First Aid and the training of 'First Aiders' in accordance with the First Aid Regulations (1982).

12. FIRE

12.1. The Head of Operations is responsible for ensuring that the staff receive adequate fire training, and that nominated fire officers are designated in all Company premises.

12.2. In addition, the Company will nominate a Fire Officer (this may be someone external to the Company). They will;

• report and advise on the standard of fire safety in the Company's premises and the standard of fire training of its staff;
• undertake overall responsibility for fire training;
• assist in the investigation of all fires in the Company's premises and to submit reports of such incidents.

13. FOOD HYGIENE

13.1. Those Managers who have responsibility for food acquisition, storage, processing and serving, and staff induction and training, are responsible for ensuring that these functions are undertaken to the necessary legal standards. Any suspected outbreak of food poisoning or other unexplained and possibly food related incidents must be reported to the Head of Operations.

14. LIFTING AND HANDLING

14.1. The Head of Operations is responsible for informing staff of safe lifting techniques.

15. NON-SMOKING ON COMPANY PREMISES

15.1. The Company has agreed that there will be no smoking in its buildings. The overall aim is to reduce smoking and so save life, reduce risk of fire, prevent unnecessary illness and chronic disability.

16. CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH

17.1. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) require the Company to identify those substances which are in use and which are hazardous to health (as legally defined) and to assess the risk of those substances. The Company must also provide and use controls to prevent exposure to substances hazardous to health; maintain controls by monitoring exposure, or by health surveillance of employees; and provide information, instruction and training for employees on all these matters. The Head of Operations is responsible for implementing these Regulations.

17. COMPUTER INSTALLATIONS AND VISUAL DISPLAY UNITS

18.1. All new computer installations must adhere to the British Standard Specifications and comply with the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992. All new employees operating Visual Display Units (VDUs) are issued with a copy of the Health and Safety Executive Booklet entitled 'Working with VDUs'. New employees who regularly use VDUs will be required to undergo sight screening.

18. CONTROL OF WORKING TIME

18.1. The Company is committed to the principles of the Working Time Regulations. No member of staff is expected to work more than 48 hours per week (including overtime) unless there are exceptional circumstances and the member of staff agrees to the work. Similarly all other requirements of the regulations e.g. in relation to breaks, night workers etc. will be complied with.

19. HEALTH AND SAFETY AND THE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE

19.1. The Health and Safety at Work Act requires each employee 'to take reasonable care for the Health and Safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by their acts and omissions' and co-operate with management to enable management to carry out their responsibilities under the Act. Employees have equal responsibility with the Company for Health and Safety at Work.19.2. The refusal of any employee to meet their obligations will be regarded as a matter to be dealt with under the Disciplinary Procedure. In normal circumstances counselling of the employee should be sufficient. With a continuing problem, or where an employee leaves themself or other employees open to risk or injury, it may be necessary to implement the formal stages of the Disciplinary Procedure.

20. VISITORS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

20.1. The Company wishes to ensure that as far as is reasonably practicable, the Health, Safety and Welfare of visitors to Company establishments will be of the highest standard.20.2. Any member of staff who notices persons acting in a way which would endanger other staff, should normally inform their Head of Department. If the danger is immediate, common sense must be used to give warning, call for assistance or give aid as necessary. It is equally important not to over-react to a situation.

21. CONTRACTORS

21.1. The Company wishes to ensure that as far as is reasonably practicable, the Health, Safety and Welfare of Contractors working in the Company's establishments will be of the highest standards. In addition, Contractors and their employees have an obligation so far as is reasonably practicable to ensure all equipment, materials and premises under their control are safe and without risks to health.

21.2. Contractors must also observe the Company's Fire Safety Procedures when on site. These obligations will be explained verbally upon arrival to our offices. Any member of staff who judges there is a risk where contractors are working, should inform their Manager immediately.

21.3. The Company's Manager letting the Contract will be responsible for monitoring the Health and Safety performance of the Contractor and the Contractor's performance will be a factor in deciding whether or not to invite the Contractor to tender again.

We are committed to reviewing our policy and procedures annually. This policy was last reviewed in January 2024.