The Governors’ Strategic Objective is to ensure and maintain a safe and healthy environment throughout the College. Moreover the over-riding commitment to quality implies the most rigorous attention to issues of health and safety.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places certain responsibilities on both employers and employees relating to safety at the place of work. A high degree of cooperation and involvement is necessary by all employees of the College to ensure maximum benefit to all concerned.

All employees of the College should read this policy and are required to sign the acknowledgement section on the final page and return this to the Chief Instructor. This procedure will be followed when any amendments and/or supplements are issued to this policy, making it possible for comprehensive records to be made to ensure all members of the College are kept fully informed at all times on matters relating to their health and safety.

PAUL STEVENSON

Clerk to the Governors

HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ACT 1974 (HASAWA)

BUILDING CRAFTSCOLLEGE

STATEMENT OF SAFETY POLICY

1. The Governors to the Building Crafts Collegeare responsible for the College and Safety policy.

2. The Director of the Building Crafts Collegeis responsible and accountable for ensuring compliance with the health and safety requirements in or about the premises or training sites for which the College is responsible.

The Directors will take all reasonably practicable steps to meet their responsibilities and particular attention will be paid to the provision and maintenance of the following:-

(a) Plant, tools and equipment with systems of work that are safe and minimize risks to health.

(b) Safe and healthy arrangements for the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances, including action in the event of a spillage or fire.

(c) Sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision to enable all employees to avoid hazards and to contribute positively to their own safety and health at work.

(d) A safe and healthy place of work for which the Carpenters’ Company is responsible, including means of access to and egress from all such places.

(e) A healthy working environment, with adequate facilities and arrangements for welfare.

(f) A safe environment, which minimises risk to health for staff members, non staff members, visitors and contractors.

3. The College will in addition:

(a) Cooperate and liaise with safety representatives and will provide them where necessary with sufficient facilities to carry out their task.

(b) Expect management at all levels to set an example in safe behaviour and constantly monitor the health and safety of employees and others within the College.

(c) Provide an occupational health service to all employees who require it under specific statutory Health & Safety legislation e.g. eye tests, lead level blood tests etc.

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4. All Employees must respond to the Safety Policy by:

(a) Taking reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves, their colleagues and others who may be affected by their actions.

(b) Co-operating with Management in measures designed to promote health and safety at work.

(c) Observing applicable safety rules, instructions, regulations, codes of safe working etc.

5. This health and safety policy will be reviewed should there be any changes to the nature of work, changes in personnel or duties, new plant or hazards introduced or new legislation. The review time period should not however be greater than one year.

6. This policy will be achieved by a risk management approach with any significant risks being assessed, documented with appropriate control measures introduced, maintained and reviewed to eliminate or reduce the risk. Operational procedures/standards will also be produced to complement this policy.

PART TWO

ORGANISATION

The Governing bodywill exercise its overall responsibility for health and safety through a co-ordinated Health & Safety structure of the College. The overall responsibility rests with the Director, whose authority will be exercised on a day to day basis through the Chief Instructor who will delegate as necessary the responsibilities for carrying into effect the safety policies and procedures to each appropriate Department Head who should in turn report direct to the Chief Instructor on all matters relating to the health, safety and welfare requirements within the sphere of their responsibility.

7. An important feature of an effective policy for health and safety at work is the definition and communication of responsibilities within the College. The Health & Safety organisation is shown diametrically at appendix 1.

In general terms the responsibilities of personnel within the College are as follows:

The Director

Is responsible for ensuring that all work undertaken is in compliance with Health and Safety legislation in particular the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992, and The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

They will also ensure that:-

(a) The College’s health and safety policy is maintained and adhered to.

(b) Any procedures necessary to ensure the health and safety execution of work are introduced.

(c) Adequate staff, funds or materials to meet the necessary safety, health and welfare requirements are taken into account in the preparation of the annual accounts.

8. The Chief Instructor

Is Safety Coordinator and has a responsibility to ensure that through Department Heads a healthy and safe workplace is provided and safe working practices are observed. Appropriate monitoring must be implemented by the Chief Instructor so he can ensure compliance is being achieved. Any decisions or difficulties which the Chief Instructor may encounter and is unable to rectify or which is outside of his control must be reported to the Directorfor final outcome.

The Chief Instructor is responsible for ensuring systems are in place so that all new staff receive adequate induction training and adequate training relevant to their work. The duties associated with the responsibility of induction may be delegated to named individuals which is recorded within the Colleges’ Code of Health and Safety Management. The Chief Instructor is responsible for ensuring that this code is kept up to date and regularly reviewed and reflects the requirements of the organisation and arrangements sections of this policy. Such a code must give in detail how the College specifically manages health and safety and where appropriate includes named individuals. Such a code should be made and reviewed in consultation with the Director.

The Chief Instructor will inform the Directorof the Health & Safety inspection systems for each section and update him on the outcomes of such inspections. Similarly the Chief Instructor must ensure that Departments have adequate Codes of Safe Working Practice which are reviewed appropriately in conjunction with the Director.

The Chief Instructor will:-

(a) Periodically and within the terms of this document bring any necessary revision of the College Health and Safety policy to the attention of the Director.

(b) Assist in the preparation of codes of safe working practice, policy and to help devise management systems which can be used College wide by each department.

(c) Carry out periodic and annual scheduled and non scheduled inspections to enable monitoring of working practices to ensure compliance with codes of practice and legislation.

(d) Provide and maintain information on the health and safety performance of the college and provide statistical information.

(e) Act in an advisory capacity to the Directorto enable the College via Section Heads to meet statutory responsibilities for the Health and Safety of employees and non employees within the College.

(f) Maintain, develop and support the College Health and Safety policy.

(g) Have the authority were he/she deems there is a risk of serious injury and/or involve serious contravention of any statutory provision(s) to provide a prohibition notice requiring the activities to immediately stop. Only the Directorcan revoke such a notice.

(h) Have authority were he/she deems there is a risk of injury and/or involve contravention of any statutory provision(s) to provide an improvement notice requiring improvement within the specified timescale.

(i) Provide essential/mandatory health and safety training to all staff who require it in conjunction with the Staff Training.

(j) Provide an Annual report to the Carpenters’ Company.

(k) Ensure that scheduled fire drills are carried out and written reports issued to all concerned re the outcomes of these drills

9. Department Heads

Have a general responsibility on a day to day basis for work activities in their control, it is their duty to ensure that the health and safety codes and arrangements that have been made are converted into actions and working practices. If they personally encounter any difficulty they should refer them to the Chief Instructor.

As a general rule it may be taken that these personnel’s direct responsibility for health and safety is determined by the extent to which they have authority to take effective action within the overall limits of their job. In other words if they have authority to make a general decision about their work then they are responsible for the health and safety implications for that decision.

These personnel and where applicable in conjunction/liaison with the Chief Instructor should:-

(a) Ensure all work undertaken by Instructing staff, within their control is carried out in strict adherence to good practice.

(b) Ensure that all machinery and plant, including power and hand tools in use are in safe working order and that regular inspection, maintenance and for electrical items tested and tagged maintenance systems are effectively operated.

(c) Ensure that where applicable protective clothing requirements have been assessed and is provided where needed and used. Systems are also included to ensure users are trained in the use of personnel protective equipment. For further detailed information refer to the PPEoperational procedures standard.

(d) Ensure that all accidents involving injury/damage/loss/dangerous occurrences/near misses are promptly investigated and accident forms are correctly and adequately completed and given to the Chief Instructor

(e) Ensure that staff within their control are given adequate information, training and instruction to ensure the staff and students health and safety.

(f) Train or arrange for new staff/employees with respect to the health and safety aspects of work to be carried out.

(g) Department Heads will ensure that regular formal inspections are undertaken of their work area and practices and that such inspection findings are adequately and sufficiently documented.

(h) Ensure that risk assessments are completed, monitored and reviewed and to take appropriate action on areas which are within the responsibility of the assessor. The assessment forms will also alert others who need to take action within their particular remit.

10. Instructors

(a) Incorporate safety instructions in the allocation of work to other staff and students and take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety instructions are adhered to by staff and students.

(b) Advise staff and especially students against taking unnecessary risks.

(c) Investigate all accidents and incidents within their control and to take appropriate action to prevent their recurrence.

(d) Any problems relating to safety which is out of their control is reported to the Chief Instructor and appropriate action taken in the meantime to prevent any incident from reoccurring

(e) Undertake risk assessments in areas of their work and document the significant findings of the assessment. Any changes or new introductions which affect significantly the risk must result in the risk being re-assessed and if appropriate new control measures introduced.

11. All Staff

Must have regard to section 7 and 8 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and therefore, must as a legal requirement:-

(a) Take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourselves and of others who may be affected by the thing you do or do not do.

(b) Co-operate with supervisors and managers to achieve a health and safe workplace.

(c) Report any health and safety problem which you are unable to put right yourself to the Chief Instructor. Should this not resolve the problem you should contact the Director.

(d) Read, observe and follow codes of practice, information, instructions, training etc. given, brought to your attention or notice by the College.

(e) Not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interest of health, safety or welfare.

Any failure to comply with the requirements contained within this policy or health and safety requirements with college policies, conditions of employment etc. may result in the Colleges disciplinary policy being enforced.

12. A summary of Health and Safety responsibilities can be found in

Appendix 1.

PART THREE

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT

This Policy complies with the most current H&S legislation and existing Approved Codes of Practice to ensure that the safety of all staff and non staff is provided for. The following arrangements set out how the College will implement the aims and objectives of this health and safety policy and it relies on the involvement of each and every employee to ensure its effectiveness.

SECTION

1. Accident Procedures, Reporting and Investigation (as per the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995)

2. Buildings, Plant, Equipment and Supplies

3. Contractors (as per the Management of Health and safety at Work Regulations 1999)

4. Electricity (as per the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989)

5. Fire Precautions (as per the Fire Precautions Workplace Regulations 1999)

6. First Aid (as per the Health and Safety –First Aid- Regulations 1981)

7. Hazardous Chemicals and Substances (as per The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999)

8. Health and Safety Resource base

9. Health and Safe Working Group

10. Manual Handling Operations (as per the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992)

11. Noise at Work ( as per the Noise at Work Regulations 1989)

12. Personal Protective Equipment (as per the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992)

13 Risk Assessment Process (as per the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999)

14. Safe Place of Work Practices

15. Safety Information/Induction/Training

16. Safety signs (as per the Safety signs and signals Regulations 1996)

17. Smoking

18. Unusual/Special hazard

19. Visual Display Screen Equipment (as per the Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992)

Appendix I Summary of Health and Safety Responsibilities

II Record of Safety Induction

1. Accident Procedures

Any accident involving employees and non employees (students, visitors, Contractors etc) whether involving injury or not must be reported to the Chief Instructor. The College's Official accident form must be completed which is available from the staff room window board. (See Appendix III)

The accident form must be completed as soon as possible and returned to the Chief Instructor within 24 hours.

Persons with minor injuries must immediately be referred to a qualified first aider to ensure proper assessment and treatment. Names of first aiders are available next to every first aid box.

Any accident of serious or potentially serious consequences whether or not involving serious injury must be reported immediately to the Chief Instructor. In such cases the scene of the accident must be disturbed as little as possible until visited by the Chief Instructor. Serious injury defined as a major accident under the Reporting of Injury Disease and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations 1995 will be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (H.S.E) by the Directoror in his/her absence the Chief Instructor.

If an incident resulting in an employee being incapacitated from work for more than three working days occurs the Department heads must as well a completing and sending the accident form also notify the Chief Instructor of such an absence. This is to enable the accident report be completed and sent to the HSEwithin 7 days by the Health and Safety Coordinator as a legal requirement.

2. Buildings, Plant, Equipment and Supplies

Staff are required to ensure and take immediate action during any suspect or confirmed safety related defects to equipment to prevent danger. The actions and the fault must be reported to the Chief Instructor.

Where items are involved in any accident or incident they must be left in situ with possible pending investigations by the Directoror Chief Instructor. These must not be removed unless authorisation is given by the Chief Instructor.

When equipment is purchased the person authorising the order must therefore

(a) Ensure that the equipment meets all necessary and appropriate safety standards

(b) Advise the Building Manager that new equipment is being purchased especially if any structural or alterations to the premises are required. This is particularly important where the need for access, floor loading, power and water supplies, alterations or maintenance need to be considered. Advice should also be gained

from the Chief Instructor to ensure the Fire Regulations are not breached.

(c) Equipment not belonging to the College can only be brought on to college premises with the consent of the Chief Instructor. This is particularly important with any electrical equipment as these will not meet the College standards of inspection and testing to prevent danger. This piece of equipment must be electrically tested before being put into use in the College

3. Contractors

Contractors working on College's premises are required to comply with all statutory requirements and adhere to the Colleges Code for Contractors. The Directoris responsible for ensuring that all contractors work safely; they must liaise with the Building Manager and Chief Instructor and agree any necessary arrangements. If alterations are required to the premises this must be made to the Building Manager who will ensure that adequate arrangements have been taken and that any changes comply with Fire legislation.

Sufficient specification and instructions must be given regarding the work required including any known hazards on the College premises within the area of work to the contractors.

Adequate monitoring must be undertaken by the Director/Chief Instructor issuing the contract to ensure the contractors compliance with statutory requirements. Where there is any doubt as to whether compliance is being achieved the advice from the Director/Chief Instructor will be gained. The Director/Chief Instructor will also have the authority to issue instructions to any personnel and if required stop any work which he considers to pose a serious risk of injury to the contractor, visitors, students or members of staff.

4. Electricity

The College will ensure that all-electrical installations, equipment and systems are regularly inspected, tested and maintained to prevent danger. All work involving electricity will comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. The responsibility for communal areas and electrical supply with regard to hard wiring rests with the Director. Each Department Head will identify portable and transportable appliances which require electrical testing and will ensure adequate documentation is kept of such testing and the identified testing duration’s

Each Department Head is responsible for electrical equipment within their areas and should ensure that visual examinations are carried out. All repairs however minor must only be undertaken by personnel who have been designated as being competent by the College. Any electrical fault found by any employee must be reported immediately to their Department Head. This Department Head must then take the immediate and appropriate action.

5. Fire Precautions

Written fire procedures are available for all employees working within the College Premises. Employees must read and observe these procedures and will find instructions throughout the College buildings giving details in the event of a fire.

The fire alarm system will be maintained by the Building Manager along with any auxiliary systems i.e. emergency lighting. The Building Manager will also ensure that the fire alarm and auxiliary systems are tested on a regular basis. Records of such tests and maintenance must be kept by the Chief Instructor.

Specialist fire training will be provided to members of staff arranged by the Chief Instructor. All staff are required to participate in such training and fire drills.

All staff have a duty to be fully familiar with the College's fire procedures, prevention and evacuation procedures. The Building Manager must be informed via the College staff of any faults i.e. fire doors wedged open, discharged or partially discharge fire extinguishers, escape routes blocked by furniture/rubbish or flammable material stored near escape routes to enable rectification measures to be taken.

Disabled staff/student fire procedures

“Refuge places" have been defined for wheelchair users with appropriate signage throughout the College indicating these locations.

6. First Aid

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1985 places a duty on employers to provide adequate and appropriate first aid provision for staff.

A list of trained and qualified first aiders with contact details will be kept up to date in the workshops

First Aid boxes are provided in areas throughout the College designated and supplied by the Chief Instructor. These boxes are regularly checked by the Department Heads, however if materials are used then the Building Manager should be notified to enable replacement of materials.

7. Hazardous Chemical and Substances

All materials on the premises will be subject to assessment under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999. It is the responsibility of the Directorto ensure that this is completed for all existing and any new materials brought on to the premises. COSHH files should be kept in each workshop and reviewed annually or when a product changes.

Department Heads will ensure that manufacturers/suppliers hazard data sheets have been gained and are available within the section. Any necessary information, training, first aid spillage, personal protective equipment etc, must be made available for those concerned prior to the use of any hazardous substance.

Appropriate and adequate storage facilities will be given to hazardous chemicals special consideration will be given to substances which are inter reactive (e.g. acids/bases, Oxidising agents/flammables etc.) Flammable gases, highly flammable liquids and liquefied petroleum gases.

Only qualified and competent staff will deal with minor spillages of hazardous substances/materials that they are capable of dealing with and in adherence to information contained with an assessment of Code of Practice for the College. All other spillages should result in the area being secured, keeping unauthorised persons away until it is dealt with.

8. Health and Safety Resource base

The Chief Instructor will hold a small health and safety resource library. This will be accessible to members of staff upon request to access health and safety literature and information.

9. Health and Safety Working Group

The College may require a Health and Safety Working Group to consider any essential changes in legislation that may affect the College. Its objective is to promote develop and help ensure the effective implementation of the College's Safety Policy and Procedures.

10. Manual Handling Operations

Manual handling operations will be kept to a minimum. Where this is not reasonably practicable and there is a risk of injury resulting from the manual handling an assessment will be carried out by the Chief Instructor. Following the assessment, all measures will be made to reduce the risk of injury. This will be reviewed on a regular basis or where any conditions change significantly. All staff carrying out manual handling will receive the appropriate training relevant to the operations they are undertaking.

11. Noise at Work

Where noise exposure to employees is perceived to be a problem an initial assessment will be carried out when requested by the Chief Instructor. If this initial assessment indicates a problem then a full assessment will be undertaken to establish personal noise levels, which are compared to action levels. The College will so far as is reasonably practicable undertake to reduce noise at source to the lowest level reasonably practicable. Where this is not possible protective control measures will be undertaken. This may include a change to the system of work or as a last resort the issue of personal protective equipment. Any area which is classed with the appropriate warning signs indicating an "Ear Protection Zone" must not be entered in any circumstances by employees not wearing ear defenders.

12. Personal Protective Equipment (P.P.E.)

Where a risk assessment identifies that PPEis required then the selection of PPEwill be made on the nature of the hazard, the performance data for the PPEconcerned, the appropriate Occupational Exposure Limit and should meet all the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 with regard to assessment.

13. Risk Assessment

Risk assessment is a fundamental part of a good safety management as well as being a legal requirement under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

All hazards within an environment must be assessed and the appropriate control measures introduced to either eliminate the risk or reduce it to a level which is as low as is reasonably practicable. Significant findings of the risk assessment must be entered on the College 'Risk Assessment Record Sheet' proformas. Department Heads should ensure that all significant findings of risk assessments within their sections are monitored and reviewed at the specified identified intervals by the assessors and that the appropriate action is taken with record sheets updated if required and copies forwarded to the Directorand Chief Instructor. Any changes to the systems of work or new risks introduced must be assessed by the Instructors concerned and the findings reported to the Chief Instructor.

Where specialist advice on technical measurements are required advice should be gained from the Chief Instructor.

A risk assessment file within each area should be kept containing the documented significant risks on the College proformas. A similar file containing all the Sections risk assessments will be kept by the Chief Instructor within the control of the Director.

14. Safe Place of Work /Safe Systems of work Practices

The College will ensure so far as is reasonably practicable that it provides a safe place of work with safe systems of work. Department Heads will ensure that Health and Safety performance is measured within their section partly through inspections. The inspection systems will be documented in detail and the Chief Instructor will ensure that such systems are operating in accordance with the procedures which have been documented by the College.

The schedule of such inspections will be monitored by the Chief Instructor to ensure that the inspections are taking place on time and that any corrective action necessary is implemented.

15. Safety Information/Induction/Training

The Directorvia the Chief Instructor will ensure that appropriate, adequate and sufficient training will be given to all employees and temporary staff to enable them to carry out their duties safely. Such information may be incorporated within other training to enable employees to undertake their duties not only effectively but safely.

The attached checklist appendix I will be completed by all new members of staff including part time and temporary staff.

The Chief Instructor will ensure that all staff and students receive a verbal presentation and complete the health and Safety induction proforma on health and safety risks which they may be subjected to and the correct control measure which have been introduced or they must use to eliminate or reduce the risk so far as is reasonably practicable.

16. Safety Signs

The provision of health and safety signs for work activities within is the responsibility of the Chief Instructor. Sufficient consideration will be given in the College budget to ensure this provision can be met. Safety signs where there is a collegiate responsibility i.e. Fire signs, emergency stop etc. will be the responsibility of the Chief Instructor. Department Heads should ensure that monitoring procedures are in place to inspect that such signs are visible, in good order and still present. Any faults, damage or missing signs must be reported to the Chief Instructor.

The Building Manager will ensure that systems are in place to ensure that communal signs displayed and fire signs are present, visible and in good condition. Such checks will be at suitable intervals and recorded.

All safety signs throughout the college must be adhered to at all times

Safety signs throughout the college consist of four categories to British Standard BS5378/Health & Safety (Signs and Signals) regulations 1996

1. Prohibition - Red circle with diagonal line

- Do not Do i.e. Do not smoke

2. Warning - Yellow triangle with black borders

- Danger i.e. Danger flammable gas

3. Mandatory - Blue Circle on white background

Must Do i.e. Fire door keep shut

4. Safe Condition - Green with white lettering/symbol

The safe way i.e. First Aid, Fire Signs

17. Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in any part of the College building. Smoking is allowed only in the designated area outside the cafeteria. Care should be taken outside of the premises where flammable gases etc. may be present.

18. Unusual/Special hazards

Any unusual work activities must involve a risk assessment before starting where there is a significant risk of injury, that risk must be bought to the attention of the Chief Instructor and if appropriate the Building Manager. These could include, unusual projects or lecturers, working at high level, entry into confined spaces etc. The person undertaking or planning the activity must ensure that adequate and appropriate information is supplied in adequate time to the Chief Instructor and that such an activity will not be undertaken until authorisation is given. If there is any doubt as to whether such an activity comes within this category advice should be gained from the Chief Instructor

19. Visual Display Screen Equipment

Health and Safety problems can occur with Visual Display Screen equipment primarily due to ergonomic causes. These can be so far as is reasonable practicable eliminated by the provision of suitable workstations and safe systems of work. All DSE stations will be assessed to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 and associated British Standards. All staff will be offered appropriate training in the above and regular users offered two yearly mid distance eye-sight testing.

January 2007