Health & Safety Policy

General Policy Statement

The Trustees and managers of Under the Stars recognise their responsibility to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees; and that the duty extends to all other persons whilst they are on Under the Stars premises.          

It is our policy to do all that is reasonable to prevent personal injury, damage to property and to protect all persons, including members of the general public from foreseeable work hazards insofar as they come into contact with Under the Stars.

The Board of Trustees recognise that it is their duty to:-

-           Provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, taking into account any statutory requirements;

-           Provide appropriate instruction and training to enable employees to perform their work tasks safely and efficiently;

-           Make available to employees all necessary safety devices and protective equipment and to supervise their use;

-           Maintain a constant and on-going interest in health and safety matters which are applicable to Under the Stars activities; in particular by consulting and involving employees;

-           Provide and maintain, so far as is reasonably practical, safe access to the place of work

-           Provide and maintain a working environment that is, so far as is reasonably practical, safe, without risk to health and safety, and adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for welfare at work.

-           The trustees further recognise that employees equally have a duty under the law to exercise personal responsibility and to do everything practical to prevent injury to themselves and others by:

• Working safely and efficiently;
• Using the appropriate protective equipment provided and meeting all statutory obligations;
• Immediately reporting incidents that have led or may lead to injury of persons or damage to property;
• Strictly adhering to Under the Stars Policies and Procedures, directions and safety instructions for securing a safe work place;

• Assisting in the investigation of accidents with the objectives of upgrading existing measures or introducing new measures to prevent a recurrence;
• Fulfilling the duty to refrain from the wilful misuse or interference with protective equipment which has been provided by Under the Stars in the interest of health and safety and welfare, and to take reasonable care in any action which might endanger themselves or others.

HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY -DUTY OF CARE

2          Duties of Employer

-           As outlined in the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974, it shall be the duty of Under the Stars to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all employees.  This duty requires:

2.1       The appointment of a person to take overall responsibility for Health & Safety within Under the Stars

2.2       The provision and maintenance of plants and systems at work that are safe and without risk to employees health;

2.3       Arrangements for ensuring the safety and absence of risks to health, in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances;

2.4       The provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of the employees;

2.5       The maintenance of any place of work under Under the Stars control in a safe condition and without risk to health, and the provision of safe means of access to and from the place of work;

2.6       The provision and maintenance of a working environment for employees that is safe, without risk to health, and is adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for their at work.

3          Duties of Employees

It shall be the duty of every employee whilst at work to:-

3.1       Take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves;

3.2       Take reasonable care for the health and safety of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work;

3.3       Cooperate with their employer, or any other person, or any of the relevant statutory provisions so far as is necessary, to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with.

3.4       Advising staff, volunteers and the Directors in order to assist the fulfilment of the responsibilities for health and safety;

3.5       Advising on safety aspects in the design and use of plant and equipment and where necessary, the checking of new equipment before commissioning;

3.6       Carrying out periodic inspections to identify unsafe plant, unsafe working conditions and unsafe working practices, to report the results of such inspections and make recommendations for any remedial action;

3.7       Promoting and, where appropriate, participating in safety education programmes to raise the level of safety awareness within the organisation;

3.8       Investigating accidents, assessing possible causes of injury and circumstances likely to produce accidents, and the tendering of reports and advice to prevent recurrence;

3.9       Developing, revising and, when necessary, updating the organisation's policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all relevant health, safety and environmental legislation.

4          Statutory Provisions

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 there is a common duty on all persons at work to operate in a safe manner, and this duty is enforceable at law.  The breach of the relevant statutory provisions is a criminal offence.  Employees may be liable to prosecution as may other persons (e.g. manufacturers) who are in breach of any duty imposed upon them by such statutory provisions.

Under the Stars and any employee who endangers the health and safety of any other person is liable to prosecution, irrespective of whether their conduct is a breach of any specific rule or not.

5          Collective responsibilities

-           The effective implementation of the Under the Stars Health and Safety Policy requires a participation of all employees although the overall responsibility lies with the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors accepts that this accountability forms an integral and essential part of their executive responsibilities, ranking equally with all other Under the Stars commitments and objectives.

6          HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY - IMPLEMENTATION

The Board of Trustees of Under the Stars are responsible for the effective implementation of the Health and Safety Policy by:

6.1       Keeping themselves informed of all the incidents or accidents occurring on Under the Stars premises, both to Under the Stars employees and to other persons;

6.2       Keeping under review all safety measures, instructions, training and to ensure the health and safety and welfare of all employees and other persons whilst on Under the Stars premises or on or about its vehicle(s);

6.3       Being available to receive safety delegates and to attend safety meetings as required;

6.4       Making available such resources as are required in order that Under the Stars may execute its statutory duties under all health and safety legislation.

7          Under the Stars Safety Officer

-           The Under the Stars Safety Officer is responsible for the effective implementation of Under the Stars' Health and Safety Policy within his/her area of control by:

-           Keeping himself/herself informed of all incidents and accidents within premises under his/her control and any other situation which involves staff on duty anywhere else;

-           Inspecting the premises under his/her control to check that the safety measures are being maintained and that safe systems of work are being followed in the method of work and in the work place generally, as determined in Under the Stars Policies and Procedures;

-           Instructing those under his/her control and within premises under his/her control, precisely and clearly as to their duties with regard to the safety of themselves and all other within their areas of control;

7.1       Informing employees of any hazards to health and safety encountered in the course of their work, the precautions to be taken and their duties to safeguard their health and general well-being;

7.2       Making himself/herself readily available to receive and discuss health and safety queries raised by employees under his/her control;

7.3       Maintaining an up to date knowledge of legislative and statutory requirements relevant to his/her area of responsibility and ensure they are complied with;

7.4       Ensuring that all new plant and equipment meets the acceptable safety standards prior to final purchase and commission;

7.5       Ensuring that any Contractors employed are conversant with Under the Stars Safety Policies and Procedures and adopt safe methods of work, and see that all written commissions are correctly completed and signed.

8             Under the Stars Employees

All Under the Stars employees have a duty of care to themselves and to all other persons in the workplace and therefore must

8.1       Observe all health and safety rules at all times;

8.2       Familiarise themselves with all safety operating procedures and instructions applying in any work place and in any job to which they may be allocated;

8.3       Use appropriate safety devices and equipment to ensure compliance with statutory regulations and appropriate Under the Stars Policies and Procedures;

8.4       Immediately upon detection report any defects or health hazard to their immediate manager or the Trustees;

8.5       Assist in the maintenance of good housekeeping standards at all times;

8.6       Report any accidents or plant damage immediately to their immediate manager or the Directors, whether injuries are caused or not, and assist in the investigation of the accident;

8.7       Co-operate in the work of the Council of Management and in the inspections of the work place as required.

9             Responsibilities of Contractors

All the tender documents and contracts for service that are agreed between Under the Stars and contractors will set out the contractors' responsibilities to Under the Stars for the safety of its employees, those for whom Under the Stars provides a service, and the public.  The responsibility of the contractors when working on Under the Stars premises will be to provide adequate supervision and monitoring by:

9.1       Ensuring reasonable care for the protection of their own employees;

9.2       Ensuring that all reasonable care is taken for the protection of Under the Stars's employees and those for whom Under the Stars provides a service;

9.3       Ensuring that their employees abide by any health and safety arrangements for the premises where the work is being undertaken;

9.4       Ensuring safe access and egress;

9.5       Providing that any such equipment, articles or substances provided for use at Under the Stars premises is safe and maintained as such;

9.6       Ensuring that prior arrangements are made with Under the Stars relevant to create a safe place of work.

10           Health and Safety Arrangements

The following arrangements are in place for Under the Stars to ensure that all systems, procedures and policies in respect of health and safety are designed to ensure the provision of a safe working environment and to prevent any personal injury and damage to property, and to protect all persons, including employees and members of the general public, who may be present on Under the Stars premises.

10.1     Safety Inspections

-           These will be undertaken at regular intervals by the Safety Officer.

10.2     Electrical Safety

-           This will be undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

10.3     Health and Safety Training

-           Under the Stars will provide adequate and appropriate Health and Safety Training for all employees including induction training and skills training and maintain the appropriate training records.

10.4     Accident Statistics and Reporting Procedures

-           Under the Stars will maintain all necessary accident statistics and monitor and, where appropriate, improve existing reporting procedures.

10.5     Risk Assessments

-           Risk assessments are undertaken to cover all activities within the building and whenever outside activities are undertaken.  Individual Risk Assessments are undertaken where appropriate.  The Building Risk Assessment in place for when children are in the building; this has been adopted as part of this Health and Safety policy and will be reviewed annually.

10.6     Waste Policy

-           Under the Stars will ensure that its waste is dealt with according to the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

10.7     Staff Medicals and First Aid Arrangements

-           Under the Stars will ensure that all members of staff are provided with medical inspections where appropriate and that all the requirements of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 are complied with.

10.8     Health and Safety Annual Review

-           Under the Stars will authorise the Safety Officer to undertake an annual review of all work currently undertaken in the workplace and to report findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Written:  October 2014, reviewed September 2024      Review Due, September 2025