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Purpose of policy

1.    AMBIT Youth Ltd. (the Employer) takes health and safety issues seriously and is committed to protecting the health and safety of its staff and all those affected by its business activities and attending its premises. This policy is intended to help the Employer achieve this by clarifying who is responsible for health and safety matters and what those responsibilities are.

2.    This is a statement of policy only and does not form part of your contract of employment. This policy may be amended at any time by the Employer in its absolute discretion. The Employer will review this policy at regular intervals to ensure that it is achieving its aims effectively.

Who is responsible for workplace health and safety?

3.    Achieving a healthy and safe workplace is a collective task shared between the Employer and staff. This policy and the rules contained in it apply to all staff of the Employer, irrespective of seniority, tenure and working hours, including all employees, directors and officers, consultants and contractors, casual or agency staff, trainees, homeworkers and fixed-term staff and any volunteers.  Specific responsibilities of staff are set out in the section headed "Responsibilities of all staff" below.

Employer responsibilities

4.    The Employer is responsible for:

• taking reasonable steps to safeguard the health and safety of staff, people affected by the Employer's business activities and of people visiting any premises;

• identifying health and safety risks and finding ways to manage or overcome them;

• ensuring schools are safe and healthy place of work and safe entry and exit arrangements, including during an emergency situation;

• providing and maintaining safe working areas, equipment and systems and, where necessary, appropriate protective clothing;

• providing safe arrangements for the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances;

• providing adequate information, instruction, training and supervision to enable all staff to do their work safely, to avoid hazards and to contribute positively to their own health and safety at work. The Employer will give you the opportunity to ask questions and advise who best to contact in respect of those questions, if you are unsure about how to safely carry out your work;

• ensuring any health and safety representatives receive appropriate training to carry out their functions effectively;

• providing a health and safety induction and appropriate safety training to your role, including:

1. the use of personal protective equipment (PPE);

2. Mental Health Awareness;

3. Wellbeing;

• promoting effective communication and consultation between the Employer and staff concerning health and safety matters and will consult with staff directly relating to health and safety;

• if an epidemic or pandemic alert is issued, providing instructions, arrangements and advice to staff as to the organisation of business operations and steps to be taken to minimise the risk of infection; and

• regularly monitoring and reviewing the management of health and safety at work, making any necessary changes and bringing those to the attention of all staff.

5.    The Employer has overall responsibility for health and safety and has appointed a service manager to oversee health and safety matters.

6.    Any concerns about health and safety matters should be notified to the Service Manager.

Responsibilities of all staff

General staff responsibilities

7.    All staff must:

• take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions;

• co-operate with the Service Manager and the Employer generally to enable compliance with health and safety duties and requirements;

• comply with any health and safety instructions and rules, including instructions on the safe use of equipment;

• keep health and safety issues in the front of their minds and take personal responsibility for the health and safety implications of their own acts and omissions;

• keep the workplace tidy and hazard-free;

• report all health and safety concerns to the Service Manager promptly, including any potential risk, hazard or malfunction of equipment, however minor or trivial it may seem; and

• co-operate in the Employer's investigation of any incident or accident which either has led to injury or which could have led to injury, in the Employer's opinion.

Staff responsibilities relating to equipment

8.    All staff must:

• use equipment as directed by any instructions given by representatives of management or contained in any written operating manual or instructions for use and any relevant training;

• report any fault with, damage to or concern about any equipment (including health and safety equipment) or its use to the Service Manager, who is responsible for maintenance and safety of equipment;

• ensure that health and safety equipment is not interfered with; and

• not attempt to repair equipment unless suitably trained and authorised.

Staff responsibilities relating to accidents and first aid

9.    All staff must:

• promptly report any accident at work involving personal injury, however trivial, to the Service Manager so that details can be recorded in the Accident Book and cooperate in any associated investigation;

• familiarise themselves with the details of first aid facilities and trained first aiders, which are    available from the Service Manager;

• if an accident occurs, contact the first-aider on site and ask for the duty first aider, giving a brief details of the problem, and fill in incident form;

• The Service Manager is responsible for investigating any injuries or work-related disease, preparing and keeping accident records, and for submitting reports under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), where required.

Staff responsibilities relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

10.         Given the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), it is important that all staff members follow these guidelines to ensure maximum safety and minimise the risk of infection. We will review these guidelines regularly to ensure they are kept up-to-date with government guidance. Please see the section below on returning to work in light of Coronavirus (COVID-19) for further details. Please also refer to Coronavirus Risk Assessment where necessary.

Staff responsibilities relating to emergency evacuation and fire

11.         All staff must:

• familiarise themselves with the instructions about what to do if there is a fire which are available from the Service Manager;

• ensure they are aware of the location of fire extinguishers, fire exits and alternative ways of leaving the building in an emergency;

• comply with the instructions of firewardens if there is a fire, suspected fire or fire alarm (or a practice drill for any of these scenarios);

• co-operate in fire drills and take them seriously (ensuring that any visitors to the building do the same), fire drills will be held at least once every 12 months;

• ensure that fire exits or fire notices or emergency exit signs are not obstructed or hidden at any time;

• notify the Service Manager immediately of any circumstances (for example, impaired mobility) which might hinder or delay evacuation in a fire. This will allow the Service Manager to discuss a personal evacuation plan for you, which will be shared with the fire wardens and colleagues working near to you

12.         On discovering a fire, all staff must:

• immediately trigger the nearest fire alarm and, if time permits, call 999 and notify the location of the fire; and

• attempt to tackle the fire ONLY if they have been trained or otherwise feel competent to do so. Nominated members of staff will be trained in the use of fire extinguishers.

13.         On hearing the fire alarm, all staff must:

• remain calm and immediately evacuate the building, walking quickly without running, following any instructions of the fire wardens;

• leave without stopping to collect personal belongings;

• stay out of any lifts; and

• remain out of the building until notified by a fire warden that it is safe to re-enter.

The Service Manager is responsible for ensuring fire risk assessments take place and changes made where required, and for making sure there are regular checks of fire extinguishers, fire alarms, escape routes, signage and emergency lighting.

Risk assessments and manual handling

14.         Risk assessments are simply a careful examination of what in the workplace could cause harm to people. The Employer will assess any risks and consider measures to best minimise any risk. The Employer will carry out general workplace risk assessments when required or as reasonably requested by staff. Managers must ensure that any necessary risk assessments take place and the resulting recommendations are implemented. The Service Manager is responsible for workplace risk assessments and any measures to control risks.

15.         Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is provided where risks cannot be otherwise effectively controlled.

17.         Guidance on manual handling (for example, lifting and carrying heavy objects) can be obtained from the Service Manager and where necessary training will be provided by the Employer, but the Employer will try to minimise or avoid the need for manual handling where there is a risk of injury.
 

Protective clothing and face coverings

18.         Where you are already using PPE in your work activity to protect against non-Coronavirus (COVID-19) risks, you should continue to do so.

19.         In line with government guidance, we recommend against the precautionary use of extra PPE to protect against Coronavirus (COVID-19) outside clinical settings or when responding to a suspected or confirmed case of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

20.         We may require staff to wear a face covering as a precautionary measure to protect others. If you do wear a face cover, it must cover your mouth and nose. However a face covering is not a substitute or replacement for general hygiene practices.

21.         If you choose to wear a face covering, we encourage the following steps:

• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser before putting the face cover on, and after removing it.

• Avoid touching your face or face covering to prevent contamination.

• Change and wash your face covering daily if it is washable or dispose of it responsibly.

Mental health whilst working during Coronavirus (COVID-19)

22.         We take the health of our staff seriously, including their mental well-being. Whether you are working remotely or returning to the workplace, we strongly encourage you to speak to the Head of Operations and Communications regarding any concerns or issues you may have.

23.         If you are working remotely from home or returning to the workplace, we encourage staff to:

• Connect with their fellow colleagues for informal chats or video calls;

• Get regular exercise and sunlight outdoors;

• Take regular breaks away from their workstation; and

• Ensure they are drinking sufficient water and eating properly.

Non-compliance with health and safety rules
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24.         Any breach of health and safety rules or failure to comply with this policy will be taken very seriously and is likely to result in disciplinary action against the offender, in accordance with the Employer's disciplinary policy, up to and including immediate dismissal.

Last review date: 2 September 2021