Health & Safety Policy Statement of Intent Health and Safety responsibilities Health and Safety rules Warning signs Working conditions Fire precautions Accidents and Incidents Health Hygiene Protective clothing and equipment Food preparation and storage Application of rules Fire Instruction and Training Training Procedure in the event of fire Fire prevention Risk Assessment Introduction Action priority Definitions Sample Hazard Notification sheet Health & Safety Representative HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY CONTENTS 1
HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY This policy has been devised with due regard to the DCSF guidance Health and Safety responsibility and Powers (DCSF 0803/2001) STATEMENT OF INTENT 1 Parklands Campus Policy is to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions for all employees and students, providing appropriate tools, equipment, operational processes and safe systems of work covering all activities. 2 Parklands Campus accepts the responsibility for applying the above and for providing information, instruction and training at all times and for the duration necessary to achieve this purpose. 3 Other people may be affected by the activities on campus i.e. visitors, neighbours, contractors and the like, and Parklands Campus accepts the responsibility to provide appropriate levels of safety for them. 4 Parklands Campus will provide suitable facilities or make the necessary arrangements for the welfare of all employees and students whilst on campus. 5 Where risks to safety or health need to be assessed under a specific duty or Regulation, Parklands Campus will ensure that such assessment is carried out and that all actions shown to be necessary will be implemented. 6 Should any activity on campus endanger the health of any employee and students, such activities will be monitored and where necessary, arrangements for health surveillance made. 7 Parklands Campus will provide suitable information regarding the safety or safe use of our services and/or products. 8 Parklands Campus plans to minimise the risks created by work activities, products and services, organise ourselves in a way which secures involvement and participation at all levels, and measure performance against pre-determined standards. Commitment to this policy will assist Parklands Campus to develop a positive health and safety culture. 2
HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES 1 The responsibilities of all employees have been formulated to ensure that an overlapping takes place within each area. 2 Parklands Campus accepts its overall responsibility for providing instruction and training in order to ensure that the responsibilities shown are fully understood and complied with. 3 Accidents are usually caused by unsafe acts or unsafe conditions and the responsibilities placed on employees within this policy are intended to comply with legal requirements as well as reducing the likelihood of unsafe acts or unsafe conditions occurring. 4 As a consequence all employees will: Comply with Health and Safety Policy; Fully observe the Safety Rules; Report any safety hazard within their work area, or malfunction of any item of plant or equipment to the Vice Principals; Fully conform to all written or verbal instructions given to them or contained in any relevant risk assessment to ensure their personal safety and the safety of others; Conform to the dress policy, including a uniform where appropriate policies apply; Conduct themselves in an orderly and professional manner in the work place; Use all safety equipment and/or protective clothing for the appropriate tasks; Avoid any improvisations of any form which could create an unnecessary risk to personal safety or to the safety of others; Maintain all implements and equipment in good condition and report any defects to the Vice Principals as and when they occur; Report all accidents to the Vice Principals whether injury is sustained or not, before leaving duty; Attend as requested any training course designed to further the needs of health and safety; Observe all procedures concerning processes, materials and substances used; Observe and comply with the Fire Evacuation Procedure, and be aware of all fire extinguishers and fire doors. In addition to the above responsibilities, the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974, places legal duties on all employees: 5 Section 7 of the Act requires all employees: To take all reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work; To co-operate with Management to enable the employer to carry out his legal duties or any requirements as may be imposed. 6 Section 8 of the Act requires: No person shall intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse any item provided in the interests of Health, Safety and Welfare. 3
7 Regulation 12 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 further extends the duties of employees in the following manner:- Every employee must use machines, equipment, dangerous substances, transport equipment, means of production or safety device provided by the employer, in accordance with the training and instructions received, (whether this be written or verbal); Every employee must inform the employer or any other employee with specific health and safety responsibilities for fellow employees. a.) of any work situation where it is considered that the training and instruction received by themselves or a fellow employee, could represent a serious and imminent danger to their health and safety, and b) of any matter where it is considered that the training and instruction received by themselves or a 'fellow employee, could present a failure in the employers protection arrangements for their health and safety, even where no immediate danger exists. HEALTH AND SAFETY RULES This section of the policy specifies the general rules laid down for the attention of all employees. Specific rules relevant to the working environment are also included and must be complied with. These rules are prepared in accordance with legal requirements and acknowledged safe working practices. In addition to the legal duty imposed upon employees to comply with these rules, failure to observe them will be considered to be a breach of your contract of employment and will result in disciplinary action being taken. It should also be borne in mind that a breach of Health and Safety Legislation by an employee is a criminal offence and action taken by an Enforcing Officer against an individual may result in heavy penalties. Parklands Campus recognises that it is not possible to prepare in written form every possible safety rule as circumstances may vary depending upon the nature of work. However, all employees are expected to act in a sensible manner and adhere to verbal or written instruction given by the Principal. Every employee has a responsibility for himself and others in the workplace. If there are any doubts of any aspect of your responsibilities, you are required to ask the Principal. RULES COVERING HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK 1 Working Practices: Employees must not operate any item of equipment unless they have been trained and authorised to do so; However pupils under the age of 18 years must not operate any item of equipment unless they have received sufficient training or are under adequate supervision; Employees must make full use of equipment guarding or any other type of associated safety device; Employees must not clean any item of equipment that is in motion or has uncovered moving parts; Employees must not leave any item of equipment in motion while It is 4
unattended; Employees must report to their Line Manager immediately, any fault, defect or malfunction on any item of equipment, fixture or fitting which could cause danger to anyone; Employees must not carry out any repairs or maintenance work of any description unless authorised to do so; Employees must use all liquid substances and cleaning materials etc., in accordance with written instructions, returning them to their designated area after use. WARNING SIGNS AND OTHER NOTICES Employees must comply with all warning signs and safety notices displayed on the premises, and are expected to read staff notice boards where additional information may be displayed; Employees must understand and adhere to specific safety instruction notices, which may be displayed near or adjacent to lifts, stairs, or any other facility provided in the Home. WORKING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENT Employees must make proper use of all facilities and equipment provided them; Employees must keep stairways and passageways clear and work areas in a neat and tidy condition; Employees will dispose of all domestic, and food wastes in the manner prescribed, using the disposal methods and equipment provided; Employees must clean up all spillages promptly and provide warning signs to alert others to wet or slippery floor areas. FIRE PRECAUTIONS Employees will make themselves aware of the location of fire fighting equipment and all escape routes from the premises; Employees must not obstruct or cause obstruction to any such equipment or escape route; Employees must not use fire-fighting equipment for any other purpose from that which it is intended; Employees must report any deficiency the above, to the Principal or a Vice Principal immediately; Employees will be expected to undertake training on the actions to be taken in the event of a fire emergency, and to know what actions they will be expected to take; Employees must consider the safety of those in our care in all instances of a fire and understand assembly and evacuation procedures and know who is responsible for giving instructions. 5
ACCIDENTS/INCIDENTS Employees must seek attention or advice for any injury received on the premises. No matter how slight this must be reported to the Principal or a Vice Principal and recorded before leaving duty; Employees must notify the Principal or a Vice Principal of any incident that causes damage to persons or property. HEALTH Employees must report any medical condition or any other problem that they are suffering from which may affect the safety of themselves or others; Employees must co-operate with the Principal where a medical condition may require further examination to safeguard the health of other staff or residents. HYGIENE Employees must maintain high standards of personal hygiene at all times, especially in food preparation areas. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EOUIPMENT Employees must use the protective clothing/equipment provided for each task for which its use has been deemed necessary. FOOD HYGIENE. PREPARATION AND STORAGE Employees must follow all the prescribed rules for food hygiene; Employees must ensure that all food is stored correctly and take all precautions against it becoming contaminated; Employees must ensure that all utensils are properly cleaned after each use; Employees must ensure that the correct temperature controls in refrigerators etc. are retained by checking and recording appropriately (at least daily). APPLICATION OF RULES Employees must report any breach of deficiency in any of these safety rules to their Line Manager 6
FIRE INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING TRAINING In the event of fire the safety of everybody on campus depends on the ability of staff to respond promptly. It is important therefore that all staff members are trained in fire awareness, are aware of the Fire Precautions applicable to the whole campus, and action to be taken in the event of fire. The aim will be to ensure that everybody has received practical demonstration and instruction appropriate to their responsibilities in the event of an emergency. As far as is possible all employees and pupils will be made aware of evacuation procedures, and those who are willing are to be encouraged to participate in fire training. Instruction and training will be given by a competent person at such intervals as will allow every member of staff to be instructed at least once in each 12 month period. Instruction and training will provide for the following: The action to be taken upon discovering a fire; The action to be taken on hearing the fire alarm; Raising the alarm; Location of alarm call points and indicator panel; The correct method of calling the Fire Brigade; Knowledge of escape routes; Appreciation of the importance of fire doors and the need to close them in the event of fire or the alarms sounding; How to remove those requiring assistance in an emergency. Such details as are necessary to show training and instruction have been given and understood will be recorded in each employees, personal record file. In all premises one nominated person will take overall responsibility for organising staff training. At a conspicuous position a printed notice will be displayed giving the action to be taken on discovering a fire or hearing the alarm, the escape routes and the assembly point. RISK ASSESSMENT Under the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 Parklands Campus is required to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment on any equipment, materials or activity that may be considered to pose a risk to health. The risk assessment must identify hazards and the significant risks arising from those hazards. It must also be determined whether existing precautions are adequate or that more controls need to be added. Even where control measures are provided, they may fail and consequences of exposure to the hazard may be serious, but the probability of failure may be insignificant. Both probability and consequences of failures will need to be estimated and assessed. The following ranking of probability will be used: HIGH Risk of injury (serious, disabling or fatal) 7
MEDIUM LOW Lost time injury, foreseeable hospital treatment or illness Minor injury, treatment required, lost work time DEFINITIONS The following terms are used in the assessment process and are defined as follows: Risk Assessment Hazard Risk Extent of Risk Consequences Control Measures Residual Risk Risk assessment is the process of determining whether the control measures are sufficient to ensure that the residual risk posed by a particular hazard is acceptable and the law is complied with. Something with the potential to do harm. The likelihood of a hazard producing a harmful effect if control measures arc not taken. A combination of the length of time persons are vulnerable to the hazard including the number and types of those persons. The worst-case results of an accident which could be caused by a hazard. The actions required to safeguard persons and comply with statutory provisions. The degree of risk which remains once control measures have been taken. 8
HEALTH & SAFETY REPRESENTATIVE Parklands Campus has a Health & Safety representative as required by HSCER 1996. The role of this person is to: To take up with the Employers concerns about possible risks and dangerous events in the work place that may affect the employees they represent; To take up with the employers general matters affecting the Health and Safety of the employee they represent; To represent the employees who elected them in consultation with Health and Safety inspectors; To ensure all Action for Children s Health and Safety Audits are completed To carry out workplace inspections in accordance with Action for Children Policy To attend Corp H&S meeting as required To inform the Principal of any failures linked to this policy Your Health & Safety Representative is: Angela Norris-Heyes Action For Children has an overarching health and safety manual which is made up of a document set which Parklands campus shall refer to for all specific health and safety responsibilities. 9