Health & Safety - general statement of policy

Health & Safety – General Statement of Policy

QE2 Activity Centre’s policy is to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of working for all our employees and to provide such information, training and supervision needed for the purpose. QE2 Activity Centre also accepts responsibility for the health and safety of other people who might be affected by our activities.

These policies have been drawn up in line with current UK Health and Safety Legislation to help prevent Staff, Visitors and Contractors from being harmed whilst engaged in activities at the Centre.

Wayne Irish – Chair of the Management Committee

Phil Oates (BAHons) – Centre Manager

Kerry Lees – Senior Instructor

Marie Poore – Day Service Co-ordinator

Management of Health and Safety

QE2 Activity Centre recognises its responsibility to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of its employees; by providing and maintaining healthy working conditions, safe equipment and systems of working for all employees and to provide such information, instruction, training and supervision needed for the purpose.

The Centre also accepts responsibility for the health and safety of other people who might be affected by its activities

Management Committee and manager

Employees recognise their responsibility to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who might be affected by their actions.

All staff

General Health and Safety Matters

General Health & Safety Policies and Risk Assessments will be drawn up by the Senior Management Team in consultation with other staff. This will be reviewed on an annual basis. All staff have a right & responsibility to contribute to this process.

Management Committee and manager

Manager to report to Management Committee which has the responsibility to ensure that appropriate Health & Safety Policies and Risk Assessments are in place. This should be an agenda item at each AGM.

Management Committee and manager

Activity Health and Safety Matters

Activity specific Health & Safety Policies and Risk Assessments will be drawn up by Manager and Senior Instructor, in consultation with other instructional staff.

M, SI

All activity staff have a responsibility to ensure that activities are run in line with national governing body guidelines and QE2 Activity Centre policies.

All staff

Day Service Health and Safety Matters

Day Service specific health and safety policies and risk assessments will be drawn up by the Day Service Manager and Manager.

M, DSM

Training and Information

Development of specific health and safety training for all employees, including, but not limited to, manual handling, first aid, fire safety, activity development, disability issues.

M, SI, DSM

Recording and reporting incidents

RIDDOR, Accident Book, Incident book for minor incidents and near misses. Reviewed quarterly.

Personal Protective Equipment

Activity specific, general. Will be maintained in good state of repair

Working Time

35 hour working week, Lieu days for weekend work

Safe Systems of Work

Activity safety policies, day service policies, general health and safety policies

M, SI, DSM

Health Surveillance

If a member of staff suffers from any work related health issues this will be dealt with accordingly.

Young People

Work placements – young people carrying out volunteering or work placement will receive training appropriate to their level of understanding and planned involvement. Young people will shadow staff, remaining under supervision

A Risk Assessment will be carried out prior to young person starting a work placement at the centre.

M, SI, DSM

New and Expectant Mothers

Risks associated with manual handling, activity participation. Specific Risk Assessment will be undertaken for staff members who become pregnant.

See separate policy

Insurance

£10,000,000 Employers liability, held with Travelers

Risk Assessment

Grounds

Maintenance of grounds: Regular audit of grounds, pathways, overhanging trees

See maintenance checklist

Buildings

Buildings, including internal fixtures & fittings, will be maintained in good, clean condition

See maintenance checklist

Fire

See ‘Fire Risk Assessment’ Documents

Work equipment

Should be kept in a good state of repair, used only for the purpose intended and only used by appropriately trained persons. Monthly Inspections of tools

SI, all staff

Adventure activities

Preparation for activity sessions: Systems in place for setting up activities, see ‘Activity Safety Policies’ Document

Participation in activities (supervised). Appropriately qualified staff, working to NGB guidelines and the Centre’s own safety policies; equipment fit for purpose; appropriate PPE; instructional staff first aid trained.

Participation in activities (unsupervised). Potentially hazardous equipment (eg archery) locked away. Visitors instructed not to use other equipment (eg climbing wall)

M, SI

Lone worker

Leave details of movements with other staff, mobile phone contact with other staff, give information to visiting staff

Safe working practices

Working at height

See ‘Working at Height Policy’ Document

WAH activity related : Climbing wall, zipwire – activity working practices
Maintenance: Using ladders – appropriate training

Manual handling issues

Training, identify specific problem areas, strategies to minimise risks

Work environment

Material condition of buildings, ventilation, lighting, cleanliness of buildings

Maintenance checklist, maintenance programme, daily cleaning for Centre building,

Slips & trips

Maintenance checklist, provide appropriate signage , visitors warned of hazards of woodland paths

M, SI

Welfare facilities

Provision of toilets, washing facilities, eating and rest facilities for staff

Electricity

Monthly recorded check carried out for tools. Yearly PAT testing for the whole site. Fixed wiring inspected every 5 years by a suitably qualified electrician.

Gas supply

Gas tanks maintained by Calor. Boiler (GreenHouse and Gold) Inspected annually by qualified person. Annual inspection of pipework and heaters by competent person

Asbestos

Asbestos Survey carried out by Envirochem Ltd, September 2015. See Asbestos Register Folder.

Machinery & equipment

Provision & use of work equipment

Equipment should be used, maintained and stored correctly. Specialist equipment should only be used following an appropriate level of training. PPE provided where appropriate (ear defenders, goggles, face masks). See separate safety policy and risk assessment

Lifting operations & lifting equipment

See Manual Handling policy

Display screen equipment

See Display Screen Equipment Policy

Electrical equipment

See Portable Appliance Inspection Policy

General health issues

Manual handling

See Manual Handling Policy. Recognition of need to minimise lifting, moving and handling transactions, provide aids where appropriate and training for all staff

M, SI, DSM

Smoking

“No smoking” policy on site

Stress

Demands – consideration of staff abilities when timetabling

Control – level of autonomy in running sessions, within guidelines

Support – all staff have access to manager and colleagues at all times

Relationships – not being subject to unreasonable behaviours

Role – clearly defined roles and responsibilities

Change – management and communication of organisational change.

Infections

When working closely with clients there may be a risk of infection. This can be minimised by adopting the following precautions:

Vaccination against Hepatitis B

Cover open wounds & grazes with waterproof dressings

Make full and proper use of appropriate PPE

Seek medical attention as soon as possible following a potential exposure incident

Violence at work

Working with a diverse and challenging client group there may be a potential threat of violence. In practice this has not been a common problem at the Centre. Staff can help to diffuse potentially violent situations by remaining calm and unthreatening; listening and talking; or by removing other people from the area.

Centre staff should do what they can to support visiting staff but, in matters of challenging behaviour, visiting staff retain responsibility for their clients.

M, SI, DSM

Noise at work

Noise in hall – caused by too many people, or loud individuals. Management by monitoring and taking individuals or groups out of hall. PPE provided when using tools

Hazardous substances

Control of substances hazardous to health

Cleaning materials – use low risk, non hazardous cleaning materials COSHH Folders kept near COSHH cupboards containing SDS and Risk Assessment

See separate Safety Policy and Risk Assessment

Flammable substances

Petrol – for the motorboat should be put into the motorboats fuel tank immediately.

Fuel storage onsite is a locked metal container away from the main buildings and is marked ‘Highly Flammable’.

Flamable paints, solvents or other chemicals are stored in a locked cupboard in the workshop building.

Biological hazards

Legionella bacteria. See ‘Leiginaires Disease Safety Policy’ document.

Farm Animals – Visitors to the farm are told by accompanying staff to ensure they wash their hands. Hand washing stations are located around the farm itself.

M, all staff

Lead n/a

Radiation n/a

Transport

Workplace transport, guidance to staff and visiting groups about need for care when travelling to & from river.

Transporting dangerous substances

Petrol – only to be transported in correct fuel containers

First aid

All staff first aid trained minimum of 8 Hour Emergency First Aid at Work or equivalent. Centre responsible for maintaining up-to-date qualifications. First aid kits available on activity sessions. Additional first aid kits available at Centre

Food safety

Food preparation areas (Centre kitchen and cabin kitchens) kept clean. Maintenance checklist. Food standards agency, Local authorities LA Inspection 2019 5 star

Product safety

AALA inspection, HCC approval. See activity safety policies

M, SI, All staff

Revised 01/20 PJO