Resource Centre Health and Safety Policy

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Safety Policy

General Statement of policy

The policy of the Resource Centre is to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and work methods for all employees and users of the Centre.  In particular we seek to ensure that the Centre is both accessible and safe for disabled people.

We shall provide all necessary information and training to staff and maintain a programme to foster the awareness of health, safety and welfare issues.

The allocation of duties for safety matters and the specific arrangements to implement this policy are set out below.  This policy and the way in which it operates will be reviewed annually by the staff team and the management committee.

This policy was updated in January 2006.

 Signed:                                     Date:    

Director of B&H SWET Ltd (the employer)

Responsibilities

1. Safety officer
   1. The Resource Centre Management Committee delegates overall responsibility for health and safety in the Resource Centre to _________ (Company secretary) as Safety Officer.
   2. The Safety Officer should ensure that the Management Committee receives regular reports on health and safety issues, and may call a special meeting of the Management Committee where a health and safety matter requires the Committee’s urgent attention.
   3. The Safety Officer is responsible for liaising with Brighton Unemployed Centre Families Project over health and safety in areas of shared responsibility within Prior House.
   4. The Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring that the Centre has adequate cover under the Employers’ Liability Act 1969 and Public Liability insurance.

2. Safety Co-ordinator
   1. ___________ is responsible for this policy being carried out in the Resource Centre.  In her absence, ________ is responsible.
   2. The Safety Co-ordinator is responsible for arranging the following: safety training; safety inspections; monitoring of the maintenance of equipment; first aid training; and investigation of accidents.
   3. The Safety Co-ordinator is responsible for carrying out Risk Assessments of work practices, use of equipment and other hazards in accordance with HSE Risk Assessment guidelines.

3. Employees
   1. All employees have the responsibility to develop, within the staff team, measures to achieve a healthy and safe workplace and to take reasonable care of themselves and others.
   2. All employees are responsible for health and safety within their area of work.  They will put right a hazard or unsafe work practice as soon as they notice it or have it reported to them.  If a hazard cannot be put right, it should be reported to the Safety Co-ordinator and the piece of equipment or area of the Centre should be closed down until it is safe to re-use.

4. Front-desk workers
   1. The Front Desk worker is responsible for the health and safety of Centre users and must ensure that they are trained to use equipment (whether for hire or for use in the Centre) correctly and safely.  The worker should be aware of the particular needs of disabled users.

   General arrangements

5. Accidents
   1. The Appointed Person responsible for taking charge in an emergency during public opening hours is the Front Desk worker.  At other times, the Appointed Person is ________ or, in her absence, ________ or ________ (according to availability).
   2. A trained First Aider will be on duty at all times.  Two members of staff will be trained as First Aiders and undertake regular refresher training.
   3. The Appointed Person responsible for maintaining the First Aid box is the Safety Co-ordinator.
   4. The Safety Co-ordinator is responsible for reporting accidents and diseases notifiable under RIDDOR.
   5. All employees have a duty to be familiar with the First Aid manual and in particular to be aware of the techniques of resuscitation and the treatment of an unconscious person.  All employees should be aware of the recommended procedure for the treatment of injuries involving the loss of blood in order to avoid the risk of spreading infectious diseases such as HIV/Aids and Hepatitis.
   6. The First Aid box is on the wall next to the Office sink.  It contains the First Aid manual.
   7. The Accident Record book is in the Health & Safety ring-binder.

6. General Fire Safety
   1. The Safety Co-ordinator is responsible for Fire Safety arrangements; these include ensuring that there are adequate signed escape routes from the building and that Fire Action notices are kept up to date.
   2. All employees have a duty to be aware of the Fire Action instructions and the location of Fire Alarms.
   3. The Front Desk worker is responsible for ensuring that, during a fire, all users and visitors follow the Fire Action instructions and leave the building safely.
   4. The Front Desk worker is responsible for checking that escape routes and exits are clear and fire extinguishers in place daily while opening up the Centre.
   5. The Maintenance & Cleaning worker is responsible for weekly checks of smoke alarms, emergency lighting, fire exit signs and Fire Action notices (in accordance with the Maintenance checklist). 
   6. Fire extinguishers are serviced annually in February by E&E Fire Protection. Tel. 552581.

   Fire Alarms in the Centre are part of a system for the whole building and are the responsibility of BUCFP.

   The Fire Alarm break points in BUCFP areas, the Resource Centre and in shared areas will be tested by a BUCFP worker.

   The Safety Officer is responsible for liaising with BUCFP over Fire Action and the Joint Fire Safety Procedure which covers areas of Prior House shared between BUCFP and the Resource Centre, is kept up to date.

   There will be a joint fire drill once a year. A form will be completed by each organisation after the drill noting evacuation time and any problems encountered.

7. Hygiene and welfare
   1. The Maintenance & Cleaning worker is responsible for cleaning the toilet and sinks weekly and for emptying rubbish bins (in accordance with the checklist).
   2. All employees are responsible for washing up cups and plates.

8. General cleanliness
   1. The Maintenance & Cleaning worker is responsible for cleaning floors and work surfaces weekly.
   2. The Front Desk worker is responsible for keeping public areas tidy and for cleaning up any dirt or spillages.

9. Floors, gangways and position of furniture & equipment
   1. Floors, gangways and spaces underneath furniture must be kept clear of trailing cables and other obstructions.
   2. Furniture and equipment must be positioned so that it does not pose a hazard to passers-by and so that wheelchair users are able to have safe access to all equipment.  Filing cabinets and cupboard doors should be kept closed.
   3. The Front Desk worker is responsible for all public areas, the Maintenance & Cleaning worker for staff areas.

10. Safe Practices
    1. All employees should move around the Centre and open doors with due care and generally behave with consideration towards other staff and Centre users.
    2. The Front Desk worker should ensure that users behave in a safe manner and, in particular, ensure that children do not cause hazards for themselves or others.
    3. All employees should follow Manual Handling procedures and take care that users do not run the risk of injury through bad lifting techniques or failure to use trolleys.