Health and Safety Policy
Part 1 – General Statement of Policy
This document is the Health and Safety Policy of Ivinghoe Village Hub
Our policy is to:
a) Provide healthy and safe working conditions, equipment and systems of work for our employee(s), volunteers, committee members and hirers
b) Keep the village hall and equipment in a safe condition for all users
c) Provide such training and information as is necessary to staff, volunteers and users. It is the intention of Ivinghoe Village Hub Committee to comply with all health and safety legislation and to act positively where it can reasonably do so to prevent injury, ill health or any danger arising from its activities and operations.
Ivinghoe Village Hub Management Committee considers the promotion of the health and safety of its employees at work and those who use its premises, including contractors who may work there, to be of great importance. The management committee recognises that the effective prevention of accidents depends as much on a committed attitude of mind to safety as on the operation and maintenance of equipment and safe systems of work. To this end, it will seek to encourage employees, committee members and users to engage in the establishment and observance of safe working practices.
Employees, hirers and visitors will be expected to recognise that there is a duty on them to comply with the practices set out by the committee, with all safety requirements set out in the hiring agreement and with safety notices on the premises and to accept responsibility to do everything they can to prevent injury to themselves or others. Signed: (On behalf of the Management Committee signed
original signed copy on file
Name:
Position:
Date:
Part 2: Organisation of Health and Safety
The Village Hub Management Committee has overall responsibility for health and safety at The Ivinghoe Village Hub. The person (s) delegated by the management committee to have day to day responsibility for the implementation of this policy is/are:
Original signed copies on file.
Name:
Telephone No
Address:
Name:
Telephone No:
Address:
It is the duty of all employees, hirers and visitors to take care of themselves and others who may be affected by their activities and to co-operate with the management committee in keeping the premises safe and healthy, including the grounds.
Should anyone using the Ivinghoe Village Hub come across a fault, damage or other situation which might cause injury and cannot be rectified immediately they should inform the person above, or the Bookings Secretary, as soon as possible so that the problem can be dealt with. Where equipment is damaged a notice should be placed on it warning that it is not to be used, and a note made in the damage report book.
The following persons have responsibility for specific items:
First Aid box __________________________
Reporting of accidents __________________________
Fire precautions and checks __________________________
Training in use of hazardous substances and equipment _________________________
Risk assessment and inspections __________________________
Information to contractors __________________________
Information to hirers __________________________
Insurance __________________________
A plan of the Ivinghoe Old School Community Hub will be attached showing the location of electricity cables, gas pipes, fire exits, fire extinguishers, fuse box, stop cock, boiler, stairs, loft access and any other features which may have a bearing on safety.
Part 3: Arrangements and Procedures
3.1 Licence
The Ivinghoe Old Village Hub will have a Premises Licence authorising the following regulated entertainment and licensable activities at the times indicated:
Indicate activities:
a. The performance of plays
b. The exhibition of films
c. The performance of live music
d. The playing of recorded music
e. The performance of dance
3.2 Fire Precautions and Checks
Inserted here will be a copy of the risk assessment including the evacuation procedure, the location of the nearest telephone and a map showing the fire exits, fire fighting equipment, assembly point(s).
Person on the management committee with responsibility for testing for the fire risk assessment:
Local Fire Brigade contact name: _____________________________________
Fire Brigade contact tel: __________________________________________
Company hired to maintain and service fire safety equipment:
Name: ___________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________
Tel No.: __________________________________________________________
Location of service record: ___________________________________________
List of Equipment and its location. For example:
Item and Testing Regime:
Residual Current Device Emergency Lighting
Fire Exits – main hall Fire fighting appliances
Electrical installation
Procedure in case of accidents
The location of the nearest hospital Accident and Emergency/Casualty dept is: _____________________________________________________________________
The location and telephone no. for the nearest doctor’s surgery is: _____________________________________________________________________
The First Aid Box is located in: _____________________________________________________________________
The person responsible for keeping this up to date is: _____________________________________________________________________
The accident book/forms are kept with this file. This must be completed whenever an accident occurs.
Any accident must be reported to the member of the management committee responsible, who is: _____________________________________________________________________
The person responsible for completing RIDDOR forms and reporting accidents is: _____________________________________________________________________
The following major injuries or incidents must be reported on RIDDOR forms:
• fracture, other than to fingers, thumbs or toes
• amputation
• dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine
• loss of sight (temporary or permanent)
• any penetrating injury to the eye (including chemical)
• injury from electric shock/burn leading to unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours;
• any other injury leading to hypothermia, heat – induced illness or unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or requiring admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours
• unconsciousness caused by asphyxia or exposure to harmful substance or biological agent
• acute illness requiring medical treatment or loss of consciousness arising from absorption of any substance by inhalation, ingestion or through skin
• acute illness requiring medical attention which may have resulted from a biological agent or its toxins or infected material.
Relevant examples of reportable dangerous occurrences include:
• electrical short circuit or overload causing fire or explosion
• collapse or partial collapse of a scaffold over 5m high
• unintended collapse of a building under construction or alteration, or of a wall or floor
• explosion or fire
Safety Rules
All hirers will be expected to read the whole of the hiring agreement and should sign the hiring form as evidence that they agree to the hiring conditions. All new hirers will also be given information/training by the booking secretary about safety procedures at the hall which they will be expected to follow (e.g. fire evacuation procedures, use of trolleys to move equipment, use of equipment) and will be shown the location of the accident book and health and safety file.
Explain whether you have carried out risk assessments, including those for hazardous substances and fire. List any hazards identified through the risk assessment and any procedures to be adopted in order to minimise risk. These could be printed as a separate sheet on coloured paper which is handed to hirers with the hiring agreement, so as to draw attention to them. For example:
“It is the intention of Ivinghoe Village Hub Management Committee to comply with all health and safety legislation and to act positively where it can reasonably do so to prevent injury, ill health or any danger arising from its activities and operations. Employees, hirers and visitors will be expected to recognise that there is a duty on them to comply with the practices set out by the committee, with all safety requirements set out in the hiring agreement and with safety notices on the premises and to accept responsibility to do everything they can to prevent injury to themselves or others.
The committee has carried out risk assessments. The following practices must be followed in order to minimise risks:
• Make sure that all emergency exit doors are clear and unlocked as soon as the hall is to be used and throughout the hiring
• Do not operate or touch any electrical equipment where there are signs of damage, exposure of components or water penetration etc.
• Do not work on steps, ladders or at height until they are properly secured and another person is present
• Do not leave portable electrical or gas appliances operating while unattended
• Do not bring onto the property any portable electrical appliances which have not been Portable Appliance Tested.
• Do not attempt to move heavy or bulky items (eg stacked tables or chairs) - use the trolleys provided
• Do not stack more than five chairs
• Do not attempt to carry or tip a water boiler when it contains hot water. Leave it to cool. • Do not allow children in the kitchen except under close supervision (e.g. for supervised cookery lessons or, in the case of older children, for supervised serving of food at functions). Avoid over-crowding in the kitchen and do not allow running.
• Wear suitable protective clothing when handling cleaning or other toxic materials
• Report any evidence of damage or faults to equipment or the building’s facilities to __________________________________________________________________
• Report every accident in the accident book and to __________________________ .
• Be aware and seek to avoid the following risks:
- creating slipping hazards on stairs, polished or wet floors – mop spills immediately
- creating tripping hazards such as buggies, umbrellas, mops and other items left in halls and corridors
- use adequate lighting to avoid tripping in poorly lit areas
- risk to individuals while in sole occupancy of the building
- risks involved in handling kitchen equipment e.g. cooker, water heater and knives
- creating toppling hazards by piling equipment e.g. in store cupboards.
Contractors
The management committee will check with contractors (including self-employed persons) before they start work that:
• the contract is clear and understood by both the contractors and the committee
• the contractors are competent to carry out the work e.g. have appropriate qualifications, references, experience
• contractors have adequate public liability insurance cover
• contractors have seen the health and safety file and are aware of any hazards which might arise (e.g. electricity cables or gas pipes)
• contractors do not work alone on ladders at height (if necessary a volunteer should be present)
• contractors have their own health and safety policy for their staff
• the contractor knows which member of the committee is responsible for overseeing that their work is as asked and to a satisfactory standard
• any alterations or additions to the electrical installations or equipment must conform to the current regulations of the Institute of Electrical Engineers.
Insurance
Give details of the company providing the Ivinghoe Old School Community Hub Employer’s Liability and Public Liability insurance cover:
Name and address of insurer_____________________________________________________
Telephone no of insurer __________________________
Policy No. __________________________
Date of Renewal __________________________
Any risks excluded or special conditions users should be aware of ___________________________
Review of Health and Safety Policy
The management committee will review this policy annually. The next review is due in (month)_______________ (year)____________________
Committee members with responsibility for aspects of health and safety will report to the committee regularly, including any accidents, faults, misuse by hirers or other matters which could affect the health and safety of users or employees.
Address and telephone number of organisations that can give advice on health and safety:
The Health and Safety Executive (The HSE also have regional centres whose contact details can be obtained from their telephone line).
The Fire Authority
The Local Environmental Health Department