Health and safety policy

Aims and scope

This document applies to all legal obligations and safety regulations in regard to Health and Safety including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and all subsequent legislation including the following but not limited to the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Regulatory Reform (fire safety order) 2005. It defines the fundamental structure and authority for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety, and welfare within the UK.

The act provides the legal framework to protect the wellbeing of employees, Learners, visitors, and the public from risks associated with work activities, where it places duty on every employer to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare at work of all its employees.

Outside of the legislation already mentioned, this policy also links to:

• Display Screen Equipment (DSE) and Manual Handling.
• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).
• The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
• The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) 2002.
• The Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act (SARAH) 2015.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide support, clarification and guidance on Health and Safety at Waverley Training Services (WTS) for all stakeholders in conjunction with relevant legal obligations and safety regulations.

WTS have a nominated Health and Safety Officer, who is part of the Senior Management team and ensures all employees, Learners, visitors are safe, and all reasonable adjustments are in place as far as reasonably practicable, to ensure the safety of all who attend the premises.

WTS commitments

The control of the Health and Safety risks arising from our work activities, as far as reasonably practicable include:

• To manage health and safety risks in our workplace.
• To consult with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety.
• To provide and maintain a safe working environment and equipment (where applicable).
• 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 implement emergency procedures, including evacuation in case of fire or significant incident.
• To maintain safe and healthy working conditions, and,
• To review and revise this policy as necessary at regular intervals.

Responsibilities

Health and Safety is everyone’s responsibility, and all employees should take accountability for their actions and adherence to this policy. When Health and Safety concerns arise, they should be addressed in the first instance and be reported to the Health and Safety Officer.

Premises

The overall maintenance and compliance with Health and Safety in regard to the premises and accompanying equipment to which WTS operates and uses, is overseen by the centre manager and venue staff at Farnham Memorial Hall (FMH) and maintained by WBC ensuring that routine safety checks are completed, and any reports made are actioned within a timely manner.

Risk assessments

A risk assessment for the premises WTS occupy within Farnham Memorial hall is checked and reviewed annually. (See Appendix A). Outside of this risk assessment daily visual checks are completed and any concerns regarding fixtures and fittings are reported to the Centre Manager or a member of FMH venue staff.

All employees who work remotely, must complete a Working Remotely risk assessment to ensure precautions and instructions are followed in compliance with Display Screen Equipment (DSE) alongside relevant training.

Fire safety

FMH hold emergency evacuation tests and drills which are carried out as required in conjunction with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and Fire Safety Act 2021.

There is firefighting equipment available should it be needed; this is checked annually to ensure equipment is fully working and the product is in date. It is to be used by authorised and trained personnel only.

WTS has a nominated and certified fire warden to support with compliance in emergency evacuations.

Nominated Health and Safety Officer

WTS supports and collaborates with FMH to ensure its compliance with relevant legislation by nominating a designated Health and Safety Officer to monitor and report on all Health and Safety concerns.

Training and guidance

All WTS employees will receive a health and safety induction which is specific to the premises and includes the following instructions:

• All employees, Learners and visitors are required to sign in and out of the premises.
• All employees, Learners and visitors should report Health and Safety concerns as soon as reasonably practicable.
• All employees, Learners and visitors are familiar with how to raise the alarm in the event of a fire: Break glass points and smoke detectors.
• Emergency evacuation: evacuation procedure, fire exits, signage and the location of the fire assembly point.
• All employees, Learners and visitors know to report an accident and/ or near misses.
• All employees are provided with named contacts and responsibilities.
• All employees are made aware of the HSE Health and Safety Law poster displayed on the premises.

In addition to this, all employees are required to take mandatory e-learning to complete as part of the onboarding process of recruitment, and to complete a Health and Safety for employee’s qualification at level 2. All home workers are required to complete DSE training for home workers.

The nominated Fire Warden and First Aider will either be certified or required to complete a relevant qualification in order to carry out their role and responsibilities. This training will be refreshed when certificates expire.

First Aid at work

WTS supports with Emergency First Aid at work with a trained and certified employee who leads on this area and is the first point of contact for employees, learners and visitors to the centre.

First Aider: Charmaine Winter

• Email: Charmaine.Winter@wts.org.uk
• Telephone: 07812 220808

All workplace near misses and incidents must be reported to the First Aider to record accurately and assess any remedial action to be taking, reviewing risk assessments where appropriate.

WTS recognises its legal obligation to follow and report serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrence to RIDDOR (the Reporting of injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations): any reports that fall into the RIDDOR category will be reported as soon as reasonably practicable and accurately recorded and documented.

Employers

WTS work with employers as part of our delivery of Apprenticeship qualifications. As part meeting our obligations to the Department for Education (DfE) for funding and our commitment to Learners ensuring they are safe in their place of work, we must ensure the following:

• Employers must comply with all HSE legislation and ensure that adequate measures are in place for the Health, Safety and Wellbeing of Learners within the workplace. This includes completing risk assessments, providing suitable supervision, provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and providing adequate training.
• The Employer should promptly notify WTS of any health hazards which may exist or arise at the Employer’s premises in compliance with RIDDOR regulations.
• Employers must provide WTS with the following information prior to contracting with the setting:
  • Service Level Agreement (SLA).
  • Valid Employer Liability Insurance certification (ELI).
  • Health and Safety check.
  • Employers to carry out a health and safety induction in their workplace for all new Apprentices.
  • Employer liability insurance certificates are sent annually and retained on file.

Learners

• Learners are to sign in and out when visiting the premises.
• Learners taking exams at our premises are given Health & Safety instructions before exams commence on what to do should the alarms sound and in an emergency evacuation. It is also sign posted throughout the premises.
• Learners are to follow any Health & Safety instruction provided or given when on the premises.

Visitors

• Visitors are to sign in and our when visiting the premises.
• Visitors must report accidents and/ or near misses and any incidences of ill health when on the premises to the WTS Health and Safety Officer.
• Visitors are to follow any Health and Safety instructions provided or given when on the premises.

Reporting

All concerns should be reported to the Health and Safety Officer to manage and mitigate risks in our workplace setting. They are responsible for reviewing this policy and keeping up to date with Health and Safety legislation and changes in legal obligations and regulations. 

The Health and Safety Officer is part of WTS Senior Management team and ensures all employees, Learners and visitors are safe and all reasonable adjustments are in place as far as reasonably practicable, to ensure the safety of all.

All reporting of accidents, near misses and ill health of any employee, visitors or Learners must be communicated to the WTS Health and Safety Officer.

Health and Safety Nominated Officer: Charmaine Winter

• Email: Charmaine.Winter@wts.org.uk
• Telephone: 07812 220808