Health&Safety Policy
1.Statementofgeneralpolicy
ItisthepolicyofThinkEmploymentLtd(hereinaftertheCompany)toprovideandmaintain,sofaras isreasonablypracticable,safeandhealthyworkingconditions,equipmentandsystemsofworkfor allouremployeesandlearnersandtoprovidesuchinformation,trainingandsupervisionasthey needforthispurpose.Wealsoacceptourresponsibility,sofarasisreasonablypracticable,forthe healthandsafetyofotherpeoplewhomaybeaffectedbyouractivities.
Toimplementemergencyprocedures,includingevacuationincaseoffireorothersignificant incident.
Tomanagehealthandsafetyrisksinourworkplace. Toprovidepersonalprotectiveequipment.
Toconsultwithouremployeesonmattersaffectingtheirhealthandsafety
Toprovideandmaintainsafeplantandequipment
Toensuresafehandlinganduseofsubstances
Toprovideclearinformation,instructionandadequatetrainingtoensureemployeesare competenttoundertaketheirrelevantactivities
Topreventaccidentsandcasesofwork-relatedillhealth
Toprovideasafeandhealthylearningenvironmentforalllearners,staffandvisitors
TogivelearnersappropriateinformationandaccesstoH&Sinformationatinduction
Toreviewandrevisethispolicyasnecessaryatregularintervals
2.Responsibilities
TheoverallandfinalresponsibilityforHealthandSafetywithintheCompanyisthatofRichard Hallam,ManagingDirector.
AllThinkEmployeeshavearesponsibilityto:
Co-operatewitheachotheronhealthandsafetymatters
Notinterferewithormisusinganythingprovidedtosafeguardtheirhealthandsafety
Takereasonablecareoftheirownhealthandsafetyandthatofothers
ReportallhealthandsafetyconcernstotheHeadofFacilitiesandIT
Day-to-dayresponsibilityforhealth&safetyisthatofthestaffworkinginthatcentreontheday andtoreportanyproblemstotheirLineManager
3.GeneralArrangements
3.1Accidents
AllaccidentsanddiseasesshouldbereportedimmediatelytotheHeadofFacilitiesandIT(Headof Qualityinherabsence).He/shewillthenreportcertainaccidentsanddiseasestotheinspecting authority. AllaccidentsmustberecordedwithintheAccidentBook
3.2FirstAid
TrainedandqualifiedFirstAidersinthebuildingarecommunicatedonnoticeboardswithineach centreandhighlightedatstaff/learnerinduction. Intheeventofanaccident,theinjuredperson mustgotothenearestFirstAiderfortreatment. FirstAidboxesareavailableinallcentresandare maintainedaccordingtotheFirstAidprovisionriskassessment.
3.3ManagingRisks
Risksareanythreatsorpossibleactionsthatwouldadverselyimpactontheoperationofthe Company.Managingtheserisksisaboutputtinginplaceaprocesstoavoidanyadverseeffectsto theoperationoftheCompany.
Wefirstneedtoidentifythepotentialrisks.Wedothisthroughariskassessment.Staffis responsibletocarryouttheriskassessmentintheirowncentres.Theywillidentifyhazards,which mayaffectthehealth,safetyorwelfareoftheemployees,visitorsandlearnersworkingindefined areas,andwillmakeanassessmentoftheriskthatthosehazardsmaypresentbyprovidingagrade Assessmentswillberecordedandregularlyreviewedandupdatedusingusing‘Appendix1–Risk Assessmentform’.
TheHeadofFacilitiesandITisresponsiblefortheoversightofriskmanagement Forthisreason:
ThefindingsoftheriskassessmentswillbereportedtotheHeadofFacilitiesandIT Actionrequiredtoremove/controlriskswillbeapprovedbytheHeadofFacilitiesandIT
TheHeadofFacilitiesandIT/HeadofQualitywillberesponsibleforensuringtheaction requiredisimplemented
Thestaffineachcentrewillcheckthatimplementedactionshaveremoved/reducedtherisk andreportanyproblemstotheHeadofFacilitiesandIT.
Assessmentswillbereviewedwhenworkactivitychangesoreveryyear,whicheveristhe soonest
Appropriateinternetfiltersareinplaceinallcentres.Staffandvolunteersarerequiredtofollowthe Company’sStaffHandbookinrelationtotheuseofinternet.Thepasswordtothecomputers’ administratoraccountmustbekeptconfidentialandnotsharedwithanyunauthorisedpersons.
Learners,volunteersandvisitorsarenotallowedtousetheirownmemorystickswiththecentre’s computersorpluginanyotherelectronicdevices.Staffarenotexpectedtohavetheneedoftheuse ofamemorystickorotherremovabledevices.Shouldtheyfeeltheyneedtouseone,theymustseek authorisationfromtheHeadofFacilitiesandIT.
Stafflogindetailsmustbeknownbythemselvesalone.Shouldanyoneelseknowstheirlogin details,staffmustchangethemimmediately.Shouldtheysuspecttheiraccount(s)has/havebeen hacked,theymustinformtheHeadofFacilitiesandITimmediately.ShouldtheHeadofFacilities andITnotbeavailable,theymustinformanothermanager.
TheHeadofFacilitiesandITwillbenotifiedofanysuspiciousactivityontheCompany’ssystem (loginactivitiesoutsideworkinghours,forexample)andwillinvestigatetheconcerns.
Staffmustinformtheirlinemanageriftheyremaininthecentreoutsideoftheirworkinghoursor accessthecentreoutsideaworkingday(weekends,bankholidays).
3.4EmployeeConsultation
Wewillconsultstaffroutinelyonhealthandsafetymattersastheyariseandformallywhenwe reviewhealthandsafety.
3.5 Safeplantandequipment
Thestaffareresponsibleforidentifyingallequipmentneedingmaintenanceandwillreportto theHeadofFacilitiesandIT
TheHeadofFacilitiesandITFacilitieswillberesponsibleforensuringthateffective maintenanceproceduresaredrawnupforcomputerandITequipment
TheHeadofFacilitiesandITwillberesponsibleforensuringthatallidentifiedmaintenanceis actioned
TheHeadofFacilitiesandITwillcheckthatnewequipmentmeetsHealthandSafetystandards beforeitispurchasedandinstalled
AllportableelectricalequipmentwillbetestedinaccordancewithHSEandcontractual requirements.
3.6 Safehandlinganduseofsubstances(COSHH)
ItwillbetheresponsibilityoftheHeadofFacilitiesandITtoidentifyallsubstanceswhichneeda COSHHassessment
COSHHassessmentswillbeconductedbytheHeadofFacilitiesandITineachcentreusing manufacturers/suppliers’guidelineswhereverpossible
AllAssociatesandstaffwillbegivenfullinformationonCOSHHassessmentresults
Assessmentswillbereviewedannuallyorwhenworkactivitychanges,whicheveristheearliest
3.7 Information,instructionandsupervision
AllAssociatesandstaffwillberesponsibleforpassingonanyinformationrelevanttoHealthy andSafeworkingpractices
HealthandSafetyadviceisavailablefromtheHeadofFacilitiesandIT
Furtherinformationconcerningmanuals,handbooksandguidancecanbeobtainedfromHead ofFacilitiesandIT
ArrangementsforthesupervisionofyoungworkerswillbemadeandmonitoredbyHeadof QualityinconjunctionwiththeappropriateCentrestaff
TheHealthandSafetyLawposterisdisplayedinallofourlocations
4.DisseminationofHealth&SafetyInformation
Inductiontrainingforstaff,learnersandvisitorswillbeprovidedbyanappropriatelytrained person.Jobspecifictrainingwillbeprovidedbytheappropriatememberofstaff
Eachmemberofstaffwillberesponsibleforupdatingtheirowntrainingrecordsinconjunction withtheirLineManager
Trainingwillbeidentifiedthroughthe‘DevelopmentReview’process Trainingwillbearrangedandmonitoredbytheseniormanagementteam(SMT)
AlearnerfactsheetthathighlightsHealthandSafetyprocedures/guidelinesissharedwith learners
5.EnvironmentalProtection
Allwaste,otherthanhouseholdtypewaste,mustbedisposedofinacontrolledway. Donotput emptychemicalcontainersinwastepaperbinsorawheeliebin. Donotpourwasteorexcess chemicalsdowndrains. ConsultyourLineManagerifyouareinanydoubtaboutthedisposal procedureforanything.Alwaysabidebyinstructionsaboutdisposal,asadvisedonpackagingor givenbyspecialistsuppliers.
6.ElectricalEquipment
TheElectricityatWorkRegulations1989
Thelegislationcoversallplacesofwork. Ifelectricityistreatedwiththerespectitdemands,itis perfectlysafe. TheCompanyhasadutytocomplywiththeprovisionsofthelegislation. Employees alsohavelegalresponsibilitiesundertheregulations. Employeesmustcomplywiththeregulations astheyrelatetomatterswithintheircontrol. Weareallresponsibleforthesafeandproperuseof electricalequipment. Themanagementareresponsibleforensuringthatthesupplyofequipmentis safebyorganizingperiodicinspectionsbycompetentpersons
Guidance:
Alllearners,staffandvisitorsmustalways:
Followmanufacturers’instructionswhenusingelectricalequipment.1. Positionsockets,leadsandplugsinsuchamannerastoprotectthemfromdamagefrom pedestriansetc.andnotasaresultofthiscauseatriphazard
3.
2. Ensurethatnewappliancesarefittedwithanundamagedplugwithafuseofthecorrect amperage.
4.
NotifytheHeadofFacilitiesandITtoreplaceblownfuseswithnewfusesofthecorrect amperage.
5. Never:
Ifafaultofanytypeissuspectedonanypieceofelectricalequipmentitshouldbeswitchedoff, unpluggedandisolatedinorderthatitcannotbeusedandtheHeadofFacilitiesandIT informed.
1
2
Carryoutanyrepairsbeyondreplacementofbulborfuse NB alwaysswitchoffandunplug whenreplacingtheabove
Putelectrician’stapeetc onadamagedcable(see5above)
A Routineforinspectingplugsandcablesforlooseconnectionsandfaults:
1
Switchoffandunplugtheequipment
Runyourhandalongthelengthofthecable,canyoufeelafault?2. Isthecablegrippedcorrectly?Examineclosely.3. Istheplugintactorisitdamagedinanyway?4.
Ifafaultofanytypeissuspectedonanypieceofelectricalequipmentitshouldbeswitchedoff, unpluggedandisolatedtopreventitfrombeingused. AManagermustbeimmediatelyinformed.
B.Rulesforuseofextensionleadsandportableequipment:
Ensurethatextensionleadhasacurrentindateinspectionstickerinplace1. Followthemanufacturer’sinstructions2. Ifnototherwisestatedinthemanufacturer’sinstructions,fullyunwindtheextensioncable.3. Ensurethattrippinghazardsetc.arenotcreatedbyyourpositioningofthecable.4. Carryoutchecksoutlinedin"A"above.5.
Ifafaultofanytypeissuspectedonanypieceofelectricalequipmentitshouldbeswitchedoff, unpluggedandisolatedinorderthatitcannotbeused.
7.PortableElectricalEquipment
Allportableelectricalequipment(anythingwithaplug)willbeinspectedortestedregularly accordingtheHSEguidance. Allnewelectricalequipmentshouldbevisuallycheckedandensure thereisnodamage. AllelectricalequipmentshouldbePATtestedonanannualbasis;asticker, indicatingthatithasbeentested,andthedatewhenitisdueforitsnexttestidentifiesequipment thathasbeentested.Suitablytrainedstaffmayvisuallyinspectequipment,leads,cablesandplugs forwearordamage. Staffandlearnersshouldnotbringpersonalelectricalequipmentintothe building.
Undernocircumstancesshouldanyonecontinuetouseanappliancethathasabadlyfittedplugor attempttorepairit.
8.Monitoring
Itwillbetheresponsibilityofallmembersofstaffandassociatestoregularlymonitorhealth andsafetypractices
TheHeadofFacilitiesandITisresponsibleforinvestigatingaccidentsandwork-relatedcauses ofsicknessabsences
HeadofQualityisresponsibleforactingoninvestigationfindingstopreventrecurrence
9.EmergencyProcedures
Itistheresponsibilityofalllearners,staffandvisitorstoensuretheirownknowledgeof emergencyprocedureswhilstonclientpremises
Itistheresponsibilityofalllearners,staffandvisitorstoensuretheirclients’knowledgeof emergencyprocedureswhilstonneutralpremises
10.FireandEvacuation
Theriskassessmentincludesafireriskandiscarriedoutannuallyasaminimum
Escaperoutes/assemblypointsaredocumentedanddisplayedalongsidetheHSEposterand arecommunicatedatstaff/learnerinductions
Fireextinguishersaremaintainedonanannualbasis(maintainedorreplaced)
Audibletestsofalarmsystemsarecarriedoutinaccordancewiththelandlord’sprovisionand recordedappropriately
Emergencyevacuationwillbetestedannually. Thetestwillbereviewedandanynecessary actionswillbedocumentedandaddressed
WhereworkonpremisesoperatedbyaFacilitiesCompanyorBuildingManager-theywill maintaintheserecords.
Staff,visitorsandlearnerssigninandout.
Allcentreshaveatleasttwotrainedfiremarshals.
1. ensuringtheevacuationplansandfireexitsignsremaindisplayedandvisible
Thefiremarshalsareresponsiblefor: carryingoutinformalriskassessmentsoftheirallocatedcentre,actingonanyidentified hazards(removeobstructionstofireexits,ensurefireexitsareoperationaletc.)andreporting anyissuestotheHeadofFacilities
2. Incaseofafire,thepersondiscoveringthefireshouldsoundthealarmandshoutfireonthe waytotheassemblypoint.Allstaff,visitorsandlearnersshouldevacuatethebuildingusingthe nearestfireexit,ifsafetodoso(i.e.thefireisnotclosetothefireexit;otherwise,tousea differentfireexit),andheadtowardstheassemblypoint.Nooneshouldputthemselvesatrisk underanycircumstances–onlytacklethefireifitissafetodoso.Thefiremarshalswill: weartheiryellowfiremarshaljacket1. checkallvisitors/learners/staffhaveevacuatedthebuildingbydoingaquicksweepofallareas (kitchen,toilets,communalareas,classroomsetc)
2. checkthatallconglomeratetotheagreedassemblypoint 3 taketheregisteranddoarollcall 4 contactthefirebrigadeandindicatetothemontheirarrivalwherethefireislocated 5 informtheHeadofFacilitiesandIToftheincident 6 ensurenoonere-entersthebuildinguntilthefirebrigadeindicatesitissafetodoso 7 TheHeadofFacilitiesandITkeepsarecordoffiremarshalsandtheirtrainingdetails
Ifacentreissituatedwithinapremisesupervisedbyanexternalagency,staffneedstofollow theproceduresalreadyinplaceandagreedwiththisagency.Theirproceduresmustbemade availabletoallstaffusingtheirpremise.
11.Reviewofthepolicy
ASeniorLeaderwillreviewthispolicyannuallyormorefrequentlywheretherearesignificant changesincircumstances.
To be disseminated to: All Staff / Service Users
Authorised by:
Head of Facilities and IT
Amendments:
Policy Ref: 002
Issue Date: January 2019 Review Due: Dec 2024
Dec 2019 – Emergency procedures now includes ‘significant incident’
Nov. 2020 – Added fire marshals; added more information in relation to risk management
Nov 2021 - Mojo Helpdesk Portal changed to Zoho Desk; Head of Operations changed to Head of Quality; section 10: added fire procedure from an external agency
Dec 2022 - Replaced “tutors” with “staff” and “Zoho Desk” with “Head of IT”; specified that the Company is Think Employment Ltd.
Jan. 2024 - Replaced "Facilities Manager" with "Head of Facilities and IT", and "Senior Manager" with "Senior Leader"
