Health and Safety

Revised and updated 1st September 2016

As an employer we undertake the following duties:

To provide safe access and work-stations, and a safe working environment, and safe access for all visitors, volunteers and clients.
To define safe use of equipment- for example care of electrical apparatus, guillotines and cutting instruments, and provide office chairs with adequate back support.
To name one person as Safety Officer to monitor safe methods throughout, and alert volunteers to unsafe practices, and where necessary to provide consultation and training.
Undertake twice-yearly risk assessment, measure the effectiveness of control measures and monitor improvements where necessary.
Record any significant findings of the risk assessment and measures taken, and arrange their planning. control, and monitoring; and review the control measures adopted.
Co-operate and coordinate safety measures with other occupants and organisations in any shared building, including fire alarm and evacuation procedures, and assembly points, and ensure all visitors and workers are aware of these.
Check and remove risks to pregnant mothers, or adjust their required duties.
Take account of an employee’s or volunteer’s capabilities when assigning tasks.
Additional steps where we have more than five employees: – record the control measures in item 5 and disseminate the information in writing; and publish a full outline of this safety policy and of our intention to provide safe working conditions, to each employee.

They must take reasonable care of their own and other people’s safety at work
They must abide by any statutory conditions or requirements pointed out to them
They must only use machinery or dangerous substances if they have received training
They must inform the employer of any dangerous situations that come to their attention, and require to be trained if necessary
They must inform the employer of any shortcomings in safety arrangements (e.g. inadequacy of fire escapes).