management of health & safety

 

Management of health & safety

general statement of intent

·         Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre recognises its responsibility to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of our employees; by providing and maintaining healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of working for all our employees and to provide such information, training and supervision needed for the purpose.  We also accept responsibility for the health and safety of other people who might be affected by our activities.

·         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. 

 

organisation (people and their duties)

General Health & Safety matters

Management committee ß Manager ß  Deputy Manager (Health & safety representative) ß other staff

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

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.

Activity specific Health & Safety matters

Management committee ß Manager ß  Senior Instructor ß other staff

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

All activity staff have a responsibility to ensure that activities are run in line with national governing body guidelines and QE II SJ Activities Centre policies.

 

Manager:                 Phil Oates (BA Hons)

Deputy Manager:     Pete Dunnings, IOSH

Senior Instructor:     Kerry Lees

Arrangement (systems and procedures)

  • 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. 

 

  • Formulation of written safe systems of work (activity safety policies)

 

  • Development and utilisation of permit-to-work systems (activity, process & equipment specific)

 

  • Provision of suitable protective equipment

 

  • Provision of first-aid/emergency procedures, including aspects of fire safety/prevention

 

  • Fire safety & prevention, emergency procedures

 

  • Maintenance schedules for activity equipment, buildings and grounds

 

  • Cleaning programmes for buildings

 

  • Copies of activity safety policies on website. Hard copy of safety policies held at Centre, copies available for staff on request 

 

  • Annual review of general safety policy and activity safety policies by staff team; opportunity for discussion and revision  

 

  • maintenance of records, monitoring of accident book

 

  • accident reporting and investigation

 

 

 

Management committee/ manager

 

 

 

 All staff

 

 

 

 Manager/ Deputy Manager

 

All staff  

 

 

Manager/Committee

 

 

Manager/   Senior Instructor

 

 

All staff

 

 

 

 

 

 

M, DM, SI

 

 

 M, SI

 

 M, DM, SI

 

 

Manager

 

Deputy Manager

 

 

M, DM, SI

 

Deputy Manager

 

Manager

 

Manager

 

 

 All staff

 

 

Deputy Manager

 

Deputy Manager

Risk assessment

See separate entry

   

M, DM

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, DM,  SI

Consultation with employees

General Health & Safety Policies and Risk Assessments will be drawn up by Manager and Deputy Manger, in consultation with other staff.   This will be reviewed on an annual basis.   All staff will be involved in this process.

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

Annual review of general safety policy and activity safety policies by staff team; opportunity for discussion and revision 

 

M, DM

 

All staff

 

M, SI

 

All staff

Recording and reporting incidents

RIDDOR

Accident book

Incident book for minor incidents or near misses

 

 

DM

Personal protective equipment

Buoyancy aids provided for water based activities

Helmets provided for climbing & ropes course activities

Goggles, ear protection available for maintenance

 

M

Working time

37 hour week, set lunchtimes,

Lieu days for weekend work

 

M

Safe systems of work

See activity safety policies

AALA inspection

HCC approval

BCU centre approval

IoL membership

 

M, DM,

SI

Health surveillance

 see separate policy

 

 

 

M

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

M, DM

Pregnant women

Risks associated with manual handling, activity participation.

 

M

Insurance

£10,000,000 Employers liability

Held with St Paul’s

 

M

Premises

Work environment

 

 

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

 

Maintenance checklist

Maintenance programme

 

Daily cleaning for Centre building

Cabin cleaning before visitors arrive

Staff room, resource room

 

 

 

DM

 

 

M

Slips & trips

Maintenance checklist

Provide appropriate signage

 

DM

Working at heights

Activity related : Climbing wall, zipwire

 

Maintenance:

Roof

Using ladders

Activity working practices

 

 

Training

SI

 

 

DM

Welfare facilities

 

 

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

 

 

M

Electricity

 

 

 

Maintenance checklist

 

 

DM

Gas supply

 

 

 

Gas tanks maintained by Calor

Annual visual inspection of pipework

 

 

DM

Asbestos

 

 

 

Low risk – roof

No access to roof

 

DM

Machinery & equipment

Provision & use of work equipment

Equipment should be used, maintained and stored

 

Specialist equipment should only be used following an appropriate level of training

 

M

Lifting operations & lifting equipment

See Manual Handling policy

 

 

 

 

M

Display screen equipment

See Display Screen Equipment Policy

 

 

 

 

 

M

Electrical equipment

See Portable Appliance Inspection Policy

 

 

 

 

M

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

 

M, DM, SI

Smoking

“No smoking” policy on site

 

 

 

M

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 commun-ication of organisational change.

 

M

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

 

 

DM

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. 

 

 

SI

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

 

 

 

SI

Hazardous substances

Control of substances hazardous to health

Cleaning materials – use low risk, non hazardous cleaning materials

 

 

M

Flammable substances

Petrol – fuel should be transferred to boat immediately and not stored on site. 

Fuel for strimmer kept in locked container away from main buildings.

Paint -  kept in locked container in store

 

M

Biological hazards

 

Legionella bacteria – low risk

Farm animals – advise pupils of risk & need to wash after touching animals at farm

M, DM

All staff

Lead

 

 

n/a

 

Radiation

 

n/a

 

Fire

Fire precautions

 

See fire safety folder

 

 

 

 

 

DM

Certification

 

Transport

Workplace transport

 

Guidance to staff and visiting groups about need for care when travelling to & from river

 

 

 

M

Transporting dangerous substances

 

Petrol – only to be transported in correct fuel containers

M

First aid

All instructional staff first aid trained.

Centre responsible for maintaining up-to-date qualifications

 

First aid kits available on activity sessions

Additional first aid kits available at Centre

 

DM

Food safety

Food preparation areas (Centre kitchen and cabin kitchens) kept clean

 

Maintenance checklist

 

Food standards agency

Local authorities                LA Inspection 15/6/07

 

M

 

 

DM

Product safety

AALA inspection

HCC approval

BCU centre approval

IoL membership

 

See activity safety policies

 

 

 

M, SI

All staff

Risk assessment

Area of potential risk

Control measures in place

 

Grounds

Maintenance of grounds

Regular audit of grounds, pathways, overhanging trees

See maintenance checklist

 

M, DM

Buildings

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

See maintenance checklist

 

M, DM

Fire

See fire safety folder

  

M, DM

Work equipment

Should be kept in a good state of repair,

used only for the purpose intended and

only used by appropriately trained persons 

 

M, DM, SI

Adventure activities

Preparation for activity sessions

systems in place for setting up activities, 

see safety policies

 

M, SI

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.

 

M, SI

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

 

M, SI

Safe working practices

Working at height

Training

WAH safety policy

 

M, DM, SI

Manual handling issues

Training

Identify specific problem areas

Strategies to minimise risks

 

M, DM, SI