HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY
1) PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY:
1.1. The purpose of this policy is to:
a) Minimise and manage health & safety risks in the workplace;
b) Provide clear instruction & adequate training to ensure employees are competent to do their work;
c) Consult employees on matters affecting their health & safety;
d) Ensure safe handling & use of equipment and substances;
e) Detail emergency procedures, including evacuation in case of fire or other significant incident; &
f) Detail policy and procedure in case of pandemic;
2) RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
2.1. Overall responsibility for Health & Safety lies with Blaengwrach Community Council. Day-to-day responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into practice lies with the Clerk. However, all employees, users of the Council facilities and contractors carrying out work for the Council, are responsible for ensuring this policy is observed;
3) THE COUNCIL`S DUTIES TO EMPLOYEES:
3.1. the general duty of the Blaengwrach Community Council (the employer) shall be that stated in Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, that is “to ensure”, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all its employees, in particular:
a) The provision & maintenance of plant & systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe & without risk to health;
b) Arrangements for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, safety & absence of risk to health in connection with the use, storage & transport of articles & substances;
c) The provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health & safety at work of its employees
d) So far as is reasonably practicable as regards to any place of work under the employer`s control, the maintenance of it in a condition that is safe and without risks to health and the provision & maintenance of means of access to & egress from it that are safe & without such risks;
e) The provision & maintenance of a working environment for its employees that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe, without risks to health, and adequate as regards to facilities & arrangements for their welfare at work (Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Section 2(2);
3.2. The Council`s Duty to Non-Employees (including Councillors, users of the Council Facilities and Contractors carrying out work for the Council):
The general duties of the Blaengwrach Community Council (the employer) shall be the following:
a) It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct their undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in their employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health & safety;
b) In such cases as may be prescribed, it shall be the duty of every employer, in the prescribed circumstances and in the prescribed manner, to give persons (not being their employees) who may be affected by the way in which they conduct their undertaking the prescribed information about such aspects of the way they conduct their undertaking as might affect their health & safety (Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Section 3);
3.3. Considering this, Blaengwrach Community Council will:
a) inform Councillors, users of Council facilities and contractors carrying out work for the Council of its Health & Safety Policy and in addition;
b) The Council will endeavour to ensure Councillors, users of the Council facilities and contractors carrying out work for the Council do not expose employees to risks to their health & safety. As such, the Council will ensure that all independent contractors are competent to undertake the work and request that they have public liability cover. For users of the Council facilities, a Standard Hire Agreement must be completed, signed and returned, ensuring that the “user” is aware of their responsibilities, before any attendance at the Council facilities;
4) THE CLERK:
4.1. The Clerk will:
a) ensure all employees have the opportunity to participate in the development of good working practices, have all the relevant documentation relating to health & safety available, receive training where relevant and are provided with the necessary information to undertake their duties safely;
b) ensure all necessary personal protective equipment is provided to employees. That they are trained in its use and proper maintenance & storage;
c) encourage all staff to set a high standard of health & safety management;
d) ensure all contractors carrying out work for the Council comply with the necessary health & safety standards and request a copy of their public liability insurance cover; &
e) ensure that all users of the Council facilities have completed, signed & returned page 1 of the Standard Hire Agreement and have retained the remaining pages so that they are aware of their responsibilities when using the facilities;
5) EMPLOYEES:
5.1. All employees are required:
a) to take reasonable care for their own health & safety and of all other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work; &
b) as regards to any duty or requirement imposed on their employer or any other person by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, to co-operate with them as far is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with (Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Section 7);
5.2. considering this, all employees agree to abide by this Health and Safety Policy whilst working;
6) RISK ASSESSMENT:
6.1. To abide by Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Clerk will conduct an annual risk assessment of all the Community Council`s activities. This will follow the Health and Safety Executive`s five (5) steps to control health & safety risks. That is:
a) to identify hazards;
b) to assess the risk;
c) to control the risk;
d) to record the findings;
e) to review the controls;
6.2. The Health and Safety Risk Assessment will be conducted annually or more often if necessary;
6.3. In line with Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Blaengwrach Community Council will appoint the Clerk to assist in undertaking the necessary measures to comply with statutory requirements. The Council shall ensure the time available to the Clerk to fulfil their functions and the means at their disposal are adequate with regards to the size of the undertaking, the risks to which employees are exposed and the distribution of those risks throughout the undertaking;
7) COSHH (CONTOL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH):
The Blaengwrach Community Council will do the following to reduce the risk of injury from hazardous substances:
a) provide adequate Personal Protective Equipment, e.g. gloves for cleaning staff and grounds-men (see The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992);
b) keep hazardous substances in a locked place (e.g. cleaner`s cupboard, ground-man`s hut/lock-up);
c) ensure employees in regular contact with hazardous substances have the necessary training to handle them;
d) ensure adequate measures are in place to deal with accidents, e.g. first aid box;
e) ensure the Health & Safety Risk Assessment recognises the risks of handling hazardous substances and makes adequate provision; &
f) keep a file of COSHH safety data sheets in a location accessible to employees in regular contact with hazardous substances;
8) DISPLAY SCREE EQUIPMENT:
8.1. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 applies to workers who use display screen equipment daily, for a hour or more at a time. The regulations do not apply to workers who use display equipment infrequently or use it for a short time;
8.2. The Blaengwrach Community Council will:
a) address the use of display screen equipment in its Health & Safety Risk Assessment;
b) encourage employees to reduce the risks associated with using display screen equipment, e.g. taking regular breaks; &
c) provide an eye test, if the employee requests one;
8.3. Full details can be found published by the Health and Safety Executive;
9) EMPLOYER`S LIABILITY INSURANCE:
Local councils are required, by law, to insure against liability for injury or disease to their employees arising out of their employment under the provisions of the Employer`s Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. Full details can be found published by the Health and Safety Executive;
10) FIRE SAFETY:
10.1. The Blaengwrach Community Council will carry out a fire risk assessment as part of its overall Health & Safety Risk Assessment. Based on the findings of the assessment, the Council will ensure that adequate and appropriate fire safety measures are in place to minimise the risk of injury or loss of life in the event of a fire;
10.2. In particular, the Council will:
a) keep sources of ignition & flammable substances apart;
b) avoid accidental fires, e.g. make sure any “free-standing” heaters cannot be knocked over;
c) ensure “good housekeeping” at all times, e.g. avoid a build-up of rubbish that could burn;
d) consider how to detect fires and how to warn people quickly if they start;
e) have the correct fire-fighting equipment for putting a fire out quickly;
f) keep fire exits and escape routes clearly marked and unobstructed at all times;
g) ensure employees receive the appropriate training on procedures they need to follow, including fire drills;
h) inform all users of the Council facilities of their responsibilities to fire safety contained within the Council`s Standard Hire Agreement;
i) arrange for a regular inspection of all fire safety equipment by a qualified engineer;
11) FIRST-AID:
11.1. in line with the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, the Blaengwrach Community Council will ensure there is a first-aid box located in the Welfare Hall. The Hall Attendant will liaise with the Clerk to ensure that the box is adequately supplied;
11.2. the Clerk will keep a record of accidents and occasions that any first-aid etc. has been given (in the event of first-aid being given to any user of the Welfare Hall, a record should be kept by “the hirer” and a copy submitted to the Clerk of the Council, The Welfare Hall, Heol y Felin, Cwmgwrach, Neath SA11 5TB, as soon as possible after the period of hire;
11.3. Full details can be found published by the Health and Safety Executive;
12) MANUAL HANDLING:
Legislation around manual handling is covered under The Manual Handling Operations Regulation 1992. Full details can be found published by the Health and Safety Executive.