General Guidelines


It is the policy of the Group, so far as is reasonably practicable, to:

1. establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment throughout all sites and locations and placements where staff may be required to operate;
2. establish and maintain safe working procedures among staff, clients and any contracted or seconded parties;
3. make arrangements for ensuring safety and absence of risks to health in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances;
4. ensure the provision of sufficient information, instruction and supervision to enable all employees, clients and contractors to avoid hazards and contribute positively to their own health and safety and to ensure that they have access to health and safety training as appropriate or as and when provided;
5. maintain all areas under the control of the Group in a condition that is safe and without risk to health and to provide and maintain means of access to and egress from that place of work that are safe and without risk;
6. formulate effective procedures for use in case of fire and for evacuating any such site as may be under Group control;
7. lay down procedures to be followed in case of accident;
8. teach safety as part of staff duties where appropriate;
9. provide and maintain adequate welfare facilities and to make recommendations to the Group as appropriate.

Responsibility of the Managing Director and Board

The Directors are responsible for implementing this policy within the Group. In particular they will:

1. monitor the effectiveness of the safety policy and the safe working practices described within it and shall revise and amend it, as necessary, on a regular basis;
2. prepare an emergency evacuation procedure and arrange for periodic practice evacuation drills (normally at least twice per annum) to take place at each place under Group control where practicable and in accordance with prevailing fire legislation as appropriate and for the results of these to be recorded;
3. make arrangements to draw the attention of all staff employed departmental safety policies and procedures and of any relevant safety guidelines and information issued by the Group;
4. make arrangements for the implementation of the Group's accident reporting procedure and draw this to the attention of all staff as necessary;
5. make arrangements for informing staff, clients and contractors, of relevant safety procedures;
6. ensure that regular safety inspections are undertaken. (A Health & Safety team will inspect all sites prior to commencement and routinely each month.);
7. arrange for the withdrawal, repair or replacement of any item of furniture, fitting or equipment identified as being unsafe by the Health and Safety inspection team;
8. report to the appropriate body any defect in the state of repair of the buildings or their surrounds which is identified as being unsafe and make such interim arrangements as are reasonable to limit the risk entailed.
9. monitor, within the limits of their expertise, the activities of contractors, hirers and other organisations present on site, as far as is reasonably practicable;
10. identify any member of staff having direct responsibility for particular safety matters and any member of staff who is specifically delegated to locally be responsible for the management of health and safety. Such delegated responsibility must be defined as appropriate.

Duties of the Person Delegated to Assist in the Management of Health and Safety

The delegated person shall:

1. assist the Safety Team in the implementation, monitoring and development of the safety policy on the site;
2. monitor general advice on safety matters given by the Group and other relevant bodies and advise on its application to the site;
3. co-ordinate arrangements for the design and implementation of safe working practices at the site;
4. investigate any specific health and safety problem identified on the site and take or recommend (as appropriate) remedial action;
5. order that a method of working ceases on health and safety grounds on a temporary basis subject to further consideration by the Group;
6. assist in carrying out regular safety inspections of the site and its activities and make recommendations on methods of resolving any problems identified;
7. ensure that staff with control of resources (both financial and other) give due regard to safety;
8. co-ordinate arrangements for the dissemination of information and for the instruction of employees, clients, contractors and visitors on safety matters and to make recommendations on the extent to which staff are trained.

Responsibilities of Staff Towards Others in their Care

All staff are responsible for the health and safety arrangements in relation to staff, students, clients, contractors, visitors and volunteer helpers under their supervision. In particular, they will

1. monitor their own work activities and take all reasonable steps to:
   exercise effective supervision over all those for whom they are responsible;
2. be aware of and implement safe working practices and to set a good example personally.
3. identify actual and potential hazards and introduce procedures to minimise the possibility of mishap;
4. ensure that any equipment or tools used are appropriate to that use and meet accepted safety standards;
5. provide written job instructions, warning notices and signs as appropriate;
6. provide appropriate protective clothing and safety equipment as necessary and ensure that these are used as required;
7. minimise the occasions when an individual is required to work in isolation, particularly in a hazardous situation or on a hazardous process;
8. evaluate promptly and, where appropriate, take action on criticism of health and safety arrangements;
9. provide the opportunity for discussion of health and safety arrangements;
10. investigate any accident (or incident where personal injury could have arisen) and take appropriate corrective action;
11. provide for adequate instruction, information and training in safe working methods and recommend suitable "off the job" training;

N.B. When any member of staff considers that corrective action is necessary but that action lies outside the scope of their authority, they should refer the problem to the Safety Team.

Responsibilities of all Employees

All employees have a responsibility to:

1. take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of any person who might be affected by their acts or omissions at work;
2. co-operate with the Directors and others in meeting statutory requirements;
3. not interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety and welfare;
4. make themselves aware of all safety rules, procedures and safe working practices applicable to their posts; where in doubt they must seek immediate clarification from the Safety Team;
5. ensure that tools and equipment are in good condition and report any defects to the Safety Team;
6. use protective clothing and safety equipment provided and ensure that these are kept in good condition;
7. ensure that offices, general accommodation and vehicles are kept tidy;
8. ensure that any accidents, whether or not an injury occurs, and potential hazards are reported to the Safety Team.
9. Wherever an employee is aware or suspects deficiencies in Health & Safety arrangements, they must draw these to the attention of the Safety Team.