Health and Safety Policy
Adopted by Welbourn Parish Council - 9th October 2024
Policy Aim
The aim of this Policy is to assist Welbourn Parish Council in providing a safe and healthy workplace and working environments for all of its employees, and to protect all other persons not employed by the Council, but who may be affected by their work activity.
Summary
The Policy provides the framework by which the management of health and safety within the Council will be carried out, including all necessary arrangements and organisation. Effective communication and competence throughout the organisation will be essential to the success of the Policy.
Policy Statement
The Council is committed to meeting its statutory duty and moral responsibilities to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of its employees, Members, contractors, volunteers, agency staff and any other person who may be affected by its activities.
To enable the Council to carry out these responsibilities it will, so far as is reasonably practicable, take steps to:
• make the workplace safe and without risks to health where possible.
• ensure that plant and machinery are safe and that safe systems of work are set and followed.
• keep dust, fumes and noise under control.
• ensure that articles and substances are stored, moved and used safely.
• providing adequate welfare facilities.
• provide such information, instruction, training and supervision as required.
• provide any protective clothing or equipment where required by law or identified as necessary by suitable and sufficient risk assessments.
• report certain injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the enforcing authority.
• provide adequate first aid facilities.
• consult with staff about matters affecting employees’ health and safety.
• The Council delegates the main responsibility for health and safety to the Parish Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer, but in order for this policy to be successful, it is the personal responsibility of each employee, Member, contractor, volunteer and agency staff member to:
• take reasonable care in carrying out their activities to minimise the risk to their own health, safety and welfare and that of their colleagues or others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
• co-operate with management and colleagues in the carrying out of their duties to establish safe systems of work.
• bring to the attention of their line manager any accidents or incidents, dangerous practices or hazards, of which they become aware.
On site day to day responsibility for health and safety matters relating to the Parish Council Public Property Maintenance will rest with the appointed contractor(s) in relation to service delivery and facility management.
This Policy will be supplemented by further policies and procedures relating to work activities.
The policy will be reviewed and amended if necessary, or at intervals not exceeding twelve months.
1.0 Organisation and Responsibilities
1.1 The Parish Council
The Parish Council will ensure that a sufficient budget is made available for the purposes of meeting health and safety obligations in relation to Parish Council activities.
The Parish Council will monitor health and safety issues and compliance with this policy at regular intervals.
1.2 Parish Council Chairman, Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer
The Parish Council Chairman has the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the Parish Council fulfils its legal responsibilities and that the policy’s objectives are achieved and are reviewed as appropriate.
To these ends delegated authority is given to the Parish Council Clerk and the Responsible Finance Officer to ensure the allocation of resources necessary to maintain sound and efficient health and safety arrangements on an operational basis. All expenses incurred are to be approved by the Parish Council – except in extreme emergency, when expenses may be approved by the Parish Council Chairman and the Responsible Finance Officer
The Parish Council Clerk will ensure: -
• employees and volunteers implement the requirements of the Council's health and safety policy.
• compliance with “the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974” and other relevant subordinate legislation.
• Parish Council assets and equipment are maintained and repaired and operated in a safe manner.
• that safe systems of work including risk assessments are undertaken and made known to employees’ and other parties who may be affected.
• all current and past risk assessments are stored using an appropriate format for recording them.
• that risk assessments are reviewed regularly or immediately after an accident or incident or change in work process.
• consideration is given to any potentially vulnerable people e.g. expected and nursing mothers, young persons and persons with a disability and any appropriate levels of supervision are provided as necessary.
• all accidents, near misses, ill health and incidents of violence or abuse are recorded and investigated, with a view to preventing a reoccurrence.
• all employees accept their own health and safety responsibilities.
• appropriate personal protective equipment is made available free of charge.
• appropriate action and prompt attention on any representation submitted by any employee or volunteer, who has comments or concerns regarding health and safety.
• ensure that the Parish Council's health and safety policy is available to all employees and volunteers.
1.3 Employees/Councillors (where applicable)
All employees/councillors have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others that may be affected by their acts or omissions.
All employees/councillors must ensure that they will:
• carry out all work and tasks in the prescribed manner and follow any training information and instruction provided.
• always use equipment correctly and not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health and safety or welfare.
• make themselves familiar with the health and safety policy, relevant health and safety information and any other documentation provided for their safety.
• wear or use appropriate personal protective equipment as provided.
• report immediately to the Parish Council Clerk all incidents, accidents, unsafe acts, near misses or damage to property.
• cooperate in the investigation of accidents with the objective of introducing methods to prevent re occurrence.
1.4 Contractors
Contractors will be reminded of their legal obligations including the need to report all accidents and near miss incidents. All contractors must ensure that their employees are competent to undertake the work required.
To fulfil these obligations the contractor must provide.
• competent employees who have the Skills, Knowledge, Attitude, Experience and have received adequate training to enable them to safely perform their works.
• suitable supervision of all employees, especially untrained staff or young workers.
• safe plant and equipment.
• safe systems of work.
• adequate third-party liability insurance.
The Parish Council is responsible for ensuring that any contractor is competent to undertake the necessary works. They will also ensure that suitable systems are in place before the works start to ensure that the contractor undertakes the works in compliance with documented health and safety procedures.
1.5 Volunteers
Volunteers will be reminded of their legal obligations including the need to report all accidents and near miss incidents and work in compliance with any safe system of work provided.
1.6 Distribution
A copy of this policy will be made available to all employees, elected members and contractors undertaking duties and tasks on behalf of the Parish Council.