Policies & Procedures

This health and safety policy statement sets out how we manage health and safety in our organisation.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

This is the Health and Safety Policy Statement of Tattershall with Thorpe Parish Council.

Our statement of general policy is:

• To provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising out of our work activities
• To consult with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety
• To provide and maintain safe plant and equipment
• To ensure safe handling and use of substances
• To provide information, instruction and supervision for employees
• To ensure all employees are competent to do their tasks, and to give them adequate training
• To prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health
• To maintain safe and healthy working conditions
• To review and revise this policy as necessary at regular intervals

Arrangements

Responsibilities

1.   Overall and final responsibility for health and safety is that of the Parish Councillor who has been delegated as the Safety Officer for Tattershall with Thorpe Parish Council.
2.   Day-to-day responsibility for ensuring the policy is put into practice is delegated to the Parish Clerk.
3.   To ensure health and safety standards are maintained/improved all Parish Councillors have responsibility.
4.   All employees have to:
a.   Co-operate with managers on health and safety matters
b.   Not interfere with anything provided to safeguard their health and safety
c.   Take reasonable care of their own health and safety
d.   Report all health and safety concerns to an appropriate person (as detailed in this policy statement)

Health and safety risks arising from work activities

• Risks assessments will be undertaken by the Parish Councillor delegated as Safety Officer and the Parish Clerk
• The findings of the risk assessment will be reported to the full Parish Council
• Action required to remove/control risks will be approved by the full Parish Council
• The Parish Councillor delegated as Safety Officer and the Parish Clerk will be responsible for ensuring the action required is implemented
• The Parish Council Chairman will check that the implemented actions have removed/reduced the risks
• Assessments will be reviewed every 12 months or when the work activity changes, whichever is the soonest.

Consultation with employees

• Employee Representative is Mrs Karen Elliott, Parish Clerk
• Consultation with employees is provided verbally and in writing by the Parish Council Chairman.

Safe plant and equipment

• The Safety Officer and the Parish Clerk will be responsible for identifying all plant/equipment needing maintenance
• The Safety Officer and the Parish Clerk will be responsible for ensuring effective maintenance procedures are drawn up
• The Safety Officer and the Parish Clerk will be responsible for ensuring that all identified maintenance is implemented
• Any problems found with plant/equipment should be reported to the Safety Officer or the Parish Clerk
• The Safety Officer and the Parish Clerk will check that new plant and equipment meets health and safety standards before it is purchased.

Safe handling and use of substances

• The Safety Officer and the Parish Clerk will be responsible for identifying all substances which need COSHH assessment
• The Safety Officer and the Parish Clerk will be responsible for undertaking COSHH assessments
• The Safety Officer and the Parish Clerk will be responsible for ensuring that all actions identified in the assessments are implemented
• The Safety Officer and the Parish Council Chairman will be responsible for ensuring that all relevant employees are informed about the COSHH assessments
• The Safety Officer and the Parish Clerk will check that new substances can be used safely before they are purchased
• Assessments will be reviewed every 12 months or when the work activity changes, whichever is soonest.

Information, instruction and supervision

• The Health and Safety Law poster is displayed at the C.A.P. and Library, Butts Lane, Tattershall, LN4 4NL
• Health and safety advice is available from the Safety Officer
• Supervision of young workers/trainees will be arranged/undertaken/monitored by the Parish Clerk

Competency for tasks and training

• Induction training will be provided for all employees by the Safety Officer or Parish Council Chairman
• Job specific training will be provided by the external training providers (e.g. LALC)
• Training records are kept at the Parish Council Office by the Parish Clerk
• Training will be identified, arranged and monitored by the Parish Clerk

Accidents, first aid and work-related ill health

• The first aid box is kept in the kitchen
• The appointed person(s)/first aider(s) are Library staff
• All accidents and cases of work-related ill health are to be recorded in the accident book.  The accident book is kept in the Library cupboard  in the Health and Safety folder
• The Parish Clerk is responsible for reporting accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the enforcing authority.

Monitoring

• To check our working conditions, and ensure our safe working practices are being followed, we will carry out inspections, spot check visits and have reports submitted.
• The Parish Council Chairman, Safety Officer and Parish Clerk are responsible for investigating accidents
• The Parish Council Chairman and Safety Officer are responsible for investigating work-related causes of sickness absences
• The Safety Officer and Parish Clerk are responsible for acting on investigation findings to prevent a recurrence.

Emergency procedures – fire and evacuation

• The Landlord (Mouchel) and Gartree School is responsible for ensuring the risk assessment is undertaken and implemented
• Escape routes are checked by the Landlord and Gartree School on a regular basis
• Fire extinguishers are maintained and checked by the Landlord’s contractor on a regular basis
• Alarms are tested by Gartree School at regular intervals
• Emergency evacuation will be tested as per Gartree School/Library schedules

Some key areas of risk:

• Display screen equipment
• Electricity
• Working alone