Health, Safety and Welfare Policy
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HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
1. STATEMENT OF GENERAL POLICY
1.1. The Company fully accepts the obligations plac
ed upon it covering health and safety. The
Company requires its Chief Executive to ensure that
the following policy is implemented and
to report annually on its effectiveness. The Act re
ferred to in the following Policy Document is
The Safety, Health and Welfare Act 2005 (No. 10 of
2005) which came into operation on 1
September 2005, except the provisions of section 4(
2), other than as that subsection applies
to the repeal of the Safety, Health and Welfare at
Work Act 1989. Section 4(2) partly came
into operation on 1 November 2007 and 1 January 201
3, insofar as it relates to certain
provisions of enactments set out in Part 1 of Sched
ule 2.
2. MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION AND ARRANGEMENTS
Introduction
2.1. This policy has been prepared and published un
der the requirements of Health &
Safety at Work legislation. The purpose of the poli
cy is to establish general
standards for health and safety at work and to dist
ribute responsibility for their
achievement to all managers, supervisors, and other
employees through the normal
line management processes.
3. MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Chief Executive
3.1. The Chief Executive has overall responsibility
for the implementation of the
Company's policy. In particular he is responsible f
or ensuring that the policy is widely
communicated and that its effectiveness is monitore
d.
Directors and Senior Managers
3.2. These managers are wholly accountable to the C
hief Executive for the
implementation and monitoring of the policy within
the area of their specified
responsibility.
Safety Officer
3.3. The Safety Officer is a nominated manager resp
onsible for co-ordinating effective
health and safety policies and controls across the
organisation.
3.4. The Safety Officer is responsible for:
• the production and maintenance of the Company's p
olicy and ensuring that
Department Guidelines are consistent with policy;
• its application;
• monitoring and reporting on the effectiveness of
the policy;
• the provision of general advice about the implica
tion of the law;
• the identification of health and safety training
needs. The safety officer also acts
on behalf of the Chief Executive, as the Company's
formal link with the Health
and Safety Executive, Environment Health Department
s and other external
agencies;
• the production and maintenance of Health and Safe
ty Codes of Practice for each
aspect of the services within the Company.
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3.5. 3.5 Responsibilities for Specific Workplaces
W
ORKPLACE
SENIOR MANAGER
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE
SENIOR MANAGER FOR
HEALTH AND SAFETY IN
THEIR DEPARTMENTS
Xxxxx Department
etc
Director of Xxxxx
All Xxxxx Department
Managers are accountable
to the Director of Xxxxx for
their respective areas
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 pro
vision of The Safety, Health and
Welfare Act 2005, associated Codes of Practice and
E.C. Directives will be adopted
as required standards within the Company. Responsib
ility for health and safety
matters shall be explicitly stated in management jo
b descriptions.
4.2. The Company requires managers to approach heal
th and safety in a systematic way,
by identifying hazards and problems, planning impro
vements, taking executive action
and monitoring results so that the majority of heal
th and safety needs will be met
from locally held budgets as part of day-to-day man
agement, although many health
and safety problems can be rectified at little addi
tional cost.
4.3. For major additional expenditure, cases of nee
d will be submitted by Directors to the
Chief Executive.
4.4. If unpredictable health and safety issues aris
e during the year, the Chief Executive
must assess the degree of risk, in deciding the nec
essary resources and actions to
commit to addressing these issues.
5. HEALTH, SAFETY AND
W
ELFARE GUIDELINES
5.1. It is the policy of the Company to require dep
artmental managers to produce
appropriate health and safety policies or guideline
s. These should embody the
minimum standards for health and safety for the dep
artment and the work organised
within it.
5.2. It shall be the responsibility of the manager
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 updatin
g 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 e
xample 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 Re
presentative;
• names of specialist advisers who can be approache
d about the work of the
department;
• the manager responsible for organisation and cont
rol of work;
• accident reporting procedures;
Health, Safety and Welfare Policy
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• departmental safety rules;
• fire procedures;
• policies agreed by the Company.
6
. IDENTIFICATION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS
-
ANNUAL AUDIT AND REGULAR RISK ASSESSMENTS
6.1. It is the policy of the Company to require a t
horough examination of health and safety
performance against established standards in each d
epartment,
at least
annually.
The technique to be adopted for such examinations w
ill be the 'Safety Audit'. The
Audit requires review of:
• standards laid down in the policy;
• departmental guidelines;
• relevant regulations;
• environmental factors;
• staff attitudes;
• staff instructions;
• methods of work;
• contingency plans;
• recording and provision of information about acci
dents and hazards and
the assessment of risk.
6.2. The information obtained by the Audit will be
used to form the basis of the plan for the
department for the following year. Audits must be c
ompleted by July of each year.
6.3. The responsibility for ensuring that audit act
ivity is carried out as part of this policy
rests with the Chief Executive and will be carried
out by the Safety Officer. Although
the Audit remains a management responsibility, mana
gers are required as part of
this policy to seek the involvement of the appropri
ate Health and Safety
Representative in the conduct of the Audit.
6.4. It is the management's responsibility to ensur
e that any deficiencies highlighted in the
Audit are dealt with as speedily as possible.
6.5. In addition to carrying out Safety Audits, it
is the responsibility of the department
manager to check, at least quarterly, all portable
equipment, including electrical
appliances, in their area, and to ensure that all p
roblems are immediately dealt with.
6.6. Managers have a continual responsibility for t
he elimination of hazards in order to
maintain a safe working environment and will also b
e expected to carry out regular
risk assessments
in line with the Health and Safety Executive Guide
lines; 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 precaution
s
5. Review the assessment and update when necessary
7. SAFETY REPRESENTATIVES
7.1. The Company will support Safety Representative
s in carrying out their role and give
all reasonable assistance. Safety Representatives w
ill be encouraged to discuss
specific health and safety issues with the relevant
Head of Department. They may
also formally report hazardous or unsafe circumstan
ces to the Head of Department
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and will be formally notified of the remedial actio
n taken or be given a reason why
the action cannot be taken.
8. TRAINING
8.1. Health and Safety training shall be incorporat
ed 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 fo
r in the same manner as other
training needs.
8.2. Four areas of need shall be given special prio
rity:
• training for managers, to equip them with an unde
rstanding of the
manager's responsibilities under this policy, and t
he role and purpose of
safety representatives;
• training for safety representatives to enable the
m to discharge their
function;
• training for all members of staff to acquaint the
m 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 al
l levels to acquaint them
fully with new requirements and hazards.
9. RECORDS, STATISTICS AND MONITORING
9.1. The Company will operate systems for recording
, analysis and presentation of
information about accidents, hazard situations and
untoward occurrences Advice on
systems will be provided by the Safety Officer, in
conjunction, where appropriate with
specialist advisory bodies for example local Enviro
nmental Health Departments, and
the responsibility for the operation of these syste
ms rests with managers and
supervisors at all levels. Information obtained fro
m the analysis of accident statistics
must be acted upon and, where necessary, bids for a
dditional expenditure made to
the Chief Executive
10. REPORTS TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE
10.1. The responsibility for meeting the requiremen
ts of The Safety, Health and
Welfare Act 2005 shall rest with the Chief Executiv
e as delegated to the Safety
Officer.
11. SPECIALIST ADVISORY BODIES
11.1. 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 specia
list advice is required, this may
be obtained by Managers from expert individuals or
bodies outside the Company.
12. THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
12.1. It is the policy of the Company to provide Oc
cupational Health Services. Such
services are provided confidentially to the individ
ual employee and include
counselling on health and associated matters, inves
tigation of hazards and
accidents, environment studies, health interviews a
nd employment medicals.
13. FIRST AID
13.1. It is the policy of the Company to make provi
sion for First Aid and the training of
'First Aiders' in accordance with the First Aid Reg
ulations (1982). The Safety Officer
is responsible for ensuring the Regulations are imp
lemented and for identifying
training needs.
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14. FIRE
14.1. The Chief Executive is responsible for ensuri
ng that the staff receive adequate fire
training, and that nominated fire officers are desi
gnated in all Company premises.
The Chief Executive delegates these responsibilitie
s to the Directors.
14.2. In addition the Company will nominate a Fire
Officer (this may be the Safety Officer
or someone external to the Company)
• 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 trainin
g;
• assist in the investigation of all fires in the C
ompany's premises and to submit
reports of such incidents.
15. CONDEMNATION AND DISPOSAL OF EQUIPMENT
15.1. Procedures for the, condemnation and disposal
of equipment are set out in the
Company's Standing Financial Instructions. Managers
introducing new equipment
should have new equipment checked by the Safety Off
icer.
1
6
. FOOD HYGIENE
16.1. Those Managers who have responsibility for fo
od acquisition, storage, processing
and serving, and staff induction and training, are
responsible for ensuring that these
functions are undertaken to the necessary legal sta
ndards. Any suspected outbreak
of food poisoning or other unexplained and possibly
food related incidents must be
reported to the Safety Officer
17. LIFTING AND HANDLING
17.1. Managers are responsible for informing staff
of safe lifting techniques. The Safety
Officer will identify specific training needs. The
HR Office / Head Office will ensure
training in lifting and handling is provided to sta
ff who require it.
18. NON-SMOKING ON COMPANY PREMISES
18.1. 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 r
isk of fire, prevent unnecessary
illness and chronic disability. The rules relating
to smoking on Company premises
are available from the HR Department / Head Office.
19. CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH
19.1. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Regulations (COSHH) require the
Company to identify those substances which are in u
se 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 preve
nt exposure to substances
hazardous to health; maintain controls by monitorin
g exposure, or by health
surveillance of employees; and provide information,
instruction and training for
employees on all these matters. The Safety Officer
is responsible for implementing
these Regulations.
20. COMPUTER INSTALLATIONS AND VISUAL DISPLAY UNITS
20.1. All new computer installations must adhere to
the British Standard Specifications
and comply with the Health and Safety (Display Scre
en Equipment) Regulations
1992. All new employees operating VDUs are issued w
ith a copy of the Health and
Safety Executive Booklet entitled 'Working with VDU
s'. New employees who
regularly use VDUs will be required to undergo sigh
t screening.
21. CONTROL OF
W
ORKING TIME
21.1. The Company is committed to the principles of
the Working Time Regulations. No
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member of staff is expected to work more than 48 ho
urs per week (including
overtime) unless there are exceptional circumstance
s. Similarly all other
requirements of the regulations e.g. in relation to
breaks, night workers etc. will be
complied with.
22. HEALTH AND SAFETY AND THE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE
22.1. The Safety, Health and Welfare Act 2005 requ
ires each employee 'to take
reasonable care for the Health and Safety of himsel
f and of other persons who may
be affected by their acts and omissions' and co-ope
rate with management to enable
management to carry out their responsibilities unde
r the Act. Employees have equal
responsibility with the Company for Health and Safe
ty at Work.
22.2. The refusal of any employee to meet their obl
igations 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 contin
uing 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 Dis
ciplinary Procedure.
23. PEOPLE
W
ORKING ON COMPANY PREMISES NOT EMPLOYED BY THE COMP
ANY
23.1. Persons working in the Company premises who a
re employed by other
organisations are expected to follow Company Health
and Safety Policies with
regard to the safety of Company employees, their ow
n personal safety (and that of
other parties such as the general public if appropr
iate) and their method of work.
This responsibility will be included in contracts o
r working arrangements. Similarly
seconded Company employees working in other host pr
emises will be expected to
follow the host employers Health and Safety Policy.
24. VISITORS
AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
24.1. The Company wishes to ensure that as far as i
s reasonably practicable, the Health,
Safety and Welfare of visitors to Company establish
ments will be of the highest
standard.
24.2. Any member of staff who notices persons actin
g in a way which would endanger
other staff, should normally inform their Head of D
epartment. If the danger is
immediate, common sense must be used to give warnin
g, call for assistance or give
aid as necessary. It is equally important not to ov
er-react to a situation.
25. CONTRACTORS
25.1. The Company wishes to ensure that as far as i
s reasonably practicable, the Health,
Safety and Welfare of Contractors working in the Co
mpany's establishments will be
of the highest standards. In addition, Contractors
and their employees have an
obligation so far as is reasonably practicable to e
nsure all equipment, materials and
premises under their control are safe and without r
isks to health.
25.2. Contractors must also observe the Company's F
ire Safety Procedures. These
obligations will be drawn to the attention of the C
ontractors in the contract document
issued to them. In addition a Company Manager will
be identified in the contract as
having authority to stop the work of Contractors wh
o are placing themselves, other
staff, or visitors at risk. Any member of staff who
judges there is a risk where
contractors are working, should inform their Manage
r immediately.
25.3. In tendering, Contractors will be asked to co
nfirm they have a written Health, Safety
and Welfare Policy. The Company's Manager letting t
he Contract will be responsible
for monitoring the Health and Safety performance of
the Contractor and the
Contractor's performance will be a factor in decidi
ng whether or not to invite the
Contractor to tender again
The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but it is too low and we reach it !
Michaelangelo