Health And Safety Policy

Health and Safety Policy

INTRODUCTION

This document is intended to help all those who will be concerned in maintaining a high profile in respect of health and safety. It clearly defines individual responsibilities; gives detailed action to take in the case of emergencies and highlights areas that are particularly hazardous. Some sections will not be applicable to all staff.

It is essential that everyone in MEH is aware of, and becomes familiar with, procedures for dealing with matters concerning health and safety, such as emergencies and the treatment of injured persons.

This document will not itself produce a safe working environment; this will be achieved by the full co-operation of staff and students.

STATEMENT OF GENERAL POLICY

1. It is the policy of Mesarya Education House recognizing its statutory duty, to conduct its business without, as far as is reasonably practicable, harming its staff, students and visitors or the environment.
   The Institution aims to discharge that duty to the best of its ability within the resources available, having due regard to its other statutory obligations.
2. The person who will have overall responsibility for the discharge of that duty will be the Principal. He will be assisted primarily by the Health and Safety Officer, who, with other members of the Senior Management Team must ensure that a culture of health and safety operates throughout the Institution. It is, however, a fundamental aspect of the Institution policy that health and safety responsibilities devolve on all employees.
3. The Health and Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring that all employees and students have clear and up to date information with regard Health and Safety procedures within the Institution, so that they are able to perform their various tasks safely and effectively.
   In discharging its duty, MEH will take all steps which are reasonably practicable to meet its health, safety and welfare responsibilities; in particular it will pay attention to the provision and maintenance of:
   • • safe equipment and systems of work
     • safe arrangements for the use, handling, storage and transportation of articles and substances, including substances harmful to health.
     • sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision as are necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of all employees.
     • the need to assess the risks that all its internal and external activities present, to avoid or eliminate them, and if that is not possible to minimize and control them with the provision of the necessary resources.
     • any place of work under the employers control in a condition that is safe and without risk to health including means of access and egress.
     • adequate health and welfare facilities.
4. Subject to any Regulations that may be made by the Secretary of State and to consideration of any Codes of Practice approved and issued by the Health and Safety Commission, the Institution will consult with its employees with a view to making and maintaining arrangements which will enable the Institution and its employees to co-operate effectively in preparing and developing measures to ensure the health and safety at work of the employees and in checking the effectiveness of such measures.
5. In addition to the individual’s common law duty of care, the Institution reminds its employees of their own statutory duties and responsibilities under Sections 7 and 8 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974; these are:
   • to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of other persons
   • to co-operate with the Institution so far as is reasonably practicable to enable it to carry out their own responsibilities successfully and safely.
   • not to interfere with or misuse equipment, materials or facilities provided in the interest of health, safety or welfare in pursuance of any legal obligations.
6. The nature of the Institution business involves a limited range of activities conducted from other premises. Specific health and safety responsibilities and arrangements for implementing the general health and safety policy within these external premises will be clearly stated within an associated risk assessment. The risk assessment will be written by the senior employee in charge of the activity, and regularly reviewed by the Health and Safety Officer. .
7. The Statement of General Policy will be reviewed by the Principal at regular intervals. All departmental specific health and safety information will be subject to regular review by the Health and Safety Officer and Senior Management Team. Any amendments will be brought to the notice of the staff and students concerned.
8. The Health and Safety Officer will update all staff and students on Health and Safety procedures

at the beginning of each term

A. ORGANISATION OF SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS IN MEH

Ultimate responsibility for Health and Safety within MEH lies with the Principal. The Principal accepts these responsibilities and insists that the following matters are dealt with on a continuing basis:-

A1. Safety Inspection

Action to ensure a safe and healthy working environment. This will be achieved by inspections of the working environment carried out regularly by the Health and Safety Officer. A record of each inspection will be kept and remedial action taken.

A2. Personal Protective Equipment

The wearing of Personal Protective Clothing is mandatory for all staff, students and visitors where the risk assessment has advised this to be the course of action to reduce risk of harm. Institution staff will give clear guidelines to students at the beginning of their course.

A3. Fire Notices

These notices will be displayed in all classrooms, offices, bedrooms and on notice boards in communal areas throughout the Institution premises (including boarding accommodation). All students will have their attention drawn to the fire notices during induction week. Fire drills will take place at regular intervals with a minimum of one per term. Fire drills will include late evening and early morning practices in the boarding accommodation. During each fire drill, a different location will be selected for the location of the fire. A record of these drills is maintained in the Fire Log. All new staff will be informed of what to do in the case of fire by the Health and Safety Officer. All staff must know how to use the fire equipment in their work area and must ensure that students know the fire procedures and can carry them out. At intervals, the Institution Principal will arrange demonstrations in the use of fire fighting equipment for staff.

A4. First Aid

First aid facilities will be available in the sick room with at least one first aid box on both teaching sites and boarding accommodation site. A list will be displayed of all those holding recognized First Aid Certificates in both teaching sites and boarding accommodation. First aid can be administered only by those with appropriate qualifications only and the nurse should always be the first person to call.

A5. New Hazards

Any new products, equipment or premises will be risk assessed by the Caretaker and the Principal and the risk assessment implemented before the products, equipment or premises are used.

B. GENERAL SAFETY

B1. Safety Reporting

The Health and Safety Officer will act as the Health & Safety Representative with respect to teaching and along with the Estates Manager and Head of Boarding will form the Health & Safety Committee, which will be chaired by the Health and Safety Officer . The committee members will:

1. communicate to the Health and Safety Committee any issues or complaints by any employee or student relating to that employee’s or student’s health, safety or welfare at work.
2. communicate to the Health and Safety Committee any other issues relating to Health and Safety within the Institution.
3. attend meetings of the Health & Safety Committee to which he/she has been appointed and to produce written reports to that committee as requested.

B2. Hazard Reporting

Any suspected hazard will be reported to the Head of Department who, after investigation, will bring the matter to the notice of the Health and Safety Officer or, in his absence, the Principal without delay. Any employee whose work involves a hazard is authorized to cease the activity concerned until such time that a full risk assessment has been approved by the Health and Safety Officer who will either confirm or reject the activity to be taken.

B3. Accidents

It is the policy of the Institution to take all reasonably practicable steps to avoid accidents occurring. In the event of an accident, the first concern will be the care of the person or persons who have suffered injury. The accident will be initially brought to the attention of the nearest member of staff and a trained first aider if necessary. The Institution nurse should also be contacted if necessary who will detail the accident in an incident report form. It will be policy to investigate all accidents, including those not involving injury, and the Health and Safety Officer who will report the result of the investigation to the Institution Health & Safety Committee will make arrangements for the investigation.

B4. Safety Rules/Codes of Practice

Certain safety rules are essential to ensure the health and safety of the employees who work in the

areas to which they relate. This applies particularly to the laboratory, and fire precautions. Such rules as are considered necessary will be drawn up in consultation with representatives of the employees and will be attached to this document as codes of practice or separate policy documents.

A full list of rules for the science department can be found in the document ‘ Science Health and Safety Policy’ Details of the COSHH and risk assessment policy carried out in the science department are given here.

B5. Contractors in MEH

All contractors to MEH must follow the MEH’s Health and Safety policy.

B6. Hazard Identification

All activities, processes, substances and work places must be risk assessed under the direction of the Health and Safety Officer.

B7. House-keeping

The Institution attaches importance to the need for good house-keeping practices. It is policy to ensure that floors are kept free of anything that may cause slipping or tripping and that no waste materials that could cause injury if trodden on are allowed to remain where they fall. Items stored on shelves will be stored in such a way as to ensure that they do not cause injury to anyone working in the vicinity or to anyone passing by. Rubbish will not be allowed to accumulate in any working area and passageways will be kept clear at all times.

B8. Special Hazards

Portable electric mains operated equipment will be used only where this does not entail trailing power leads across walkways. Inflammable liquids will not be permitted in any room in the Institution in quantities that are in excess of that required to meet immediate needs and no radiant heat source will be used in any circumstances in which such use could incur a risk of fire or explosion.

B10. Maintenance and Inspection of Equipment.

It will be the policy of the Institution to ensure that all equipment used by the Institution should be maintained in accordance with the instructions issued by the manufacturer. Where manufacturers’ instructions are not available, the Head of Department will seek advice from the Health and Safety Officer to obtain such advice as may be needed for preparing those instructions. No maintenance will be carried out on any equipment while it is in use and it will be the responsibility of the operator to ensure that all power operated equipment is isolated from the source of power before maintenance work begins and that power is not restored until after the person who carries out the maintenance gives formal notification that the maintenance work has been completed. Appropriate records will be filed and kept in Reception.

B11. Joint Consultation

It is Institution Policy to ensure that there is full consultation with employees on all matters concerning

health and safety at work, which will be facilitated through staff meetings. It is Institution Policy to encourage every employee to seek to identify hazards within the work situation and to bring any hazards that are identified to the notice of the Health and Safety Officer or Principal (if the Health and Safety Officer is not present) without delay. To achieve this, he/she may have to report the hazard to his/her Head of Department first.

B12. The following are expressly forbidden and are offences against the law:

1. any interference with the fire alarm installation or fire-fighting equipment
2. any alteration or interference with the electrical wiring of the Institution buildings without permission of the Principal.

C. INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY C1. The Principal is responsible for:

1. devising any amendments to the Institution Health & Safety Policy as may be necessary, and enforcing the requirements of this policy
   • allocating staff, funds and materials within the approved Institution budget to meet the needs of the health and safety requirements of the Institution.
   • receiving regular information from the Health and Safety Officer who is responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective policy for health and safety within the Institution.

C2. Heads of Departments including Head of Boarding

• • will be designated areas they control for health and safety purposes by the Principal
  • will assist the Health and Safety Officer and Principal in establishing and maintaining an effective policy for health and safety at work within their designated areas.
  • will be responsible for the risk assessment of all activities, processes, substances and work places within their designated area, and report any issues to the Health and Safety Officer.

C3. The Health and Safety Officer. Key responsibilities are:

• • monitoring and ensuring Institution compliance with all relevant Health and Safety legislation particularly that contained in “Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999” and “Health and Safety at Work Act 1974”.
  • monitoring and ensuring that the Institution complies with it’s Health and Safety Policy.
  • monitor the general safety program, the Institution health and safety performance and to prepare reports on the health and safety standards within the Institution
  • communicating between the Health & Safety Committee and Heads of Departments.
  • Provide or arrange appropriate training for staff and students on Health and Safety procedures within the Institution.
  • liaising with the local Health and Safety Executive Officers
  • inspecting the Institution a minimum of once in three months and at more regular intervals at his discretion where inspection reveals items requiring attention
  • organizing the checking of fire drill procedures and keeping a record, checking all fire warning, fire fighting and emergency lighting equipment

A full job description for the Health and Safety Officer can be found in document – ‘Health and Safety Officer Job Description’

C4. Teaching staff are responsible through their Head of Department for:-

• Creating a risk assessment for their classroom/area that is approved by the Health and Safety Officer.
• ensuring that the work of the Institution is carried out in accordance with the Institution’s Health & Safety Policy
• the safety of students whilst they are in their charge, whether in or outside MEH
• ensuring that clear safety instructions and warnings are given.
• personally following safe working procedures and observing general safety regulations
• ensuring that the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations are adhered to.
• reporting accidents immediately to the Health and Safety Officer and recording these in the Accident Book held in Reception.
• ensuring that, in the event of a serious accident, nothing is disturbed at the scene of the accident, except as might be necessary for the removal of a casualty

C5. Technicians, Ancillary, Administrative, Manual Staff and all other staff not specifically identified in this policy statement are responsible for:

• ensuring that they receive up to date and relevant Health and Safety Training from the Health and Safety Officer
• ensuring that the work of the Institution is carried out in accordance with the Institution Health & Safety Policy
• personally following safe working procedures and observing Institution and other safety regulations
• ensuring that they take the necessary safety precautions in the use of all equipment, premises and materials
• recording accidents immediately in the Institution Accident Book and advising the Principal of these
• ensuring that in the event of a serious accident nothing is disturbed at the scene of the accident, except as might be necessary for the removal of a casualty.
• reporting defects to an immediate supervisor

C6. Students are responsible for:

• co-operating in keeping a tidy and safe working environment
• observing Institution Health & Safety regulations
• being appropriately dressed for the activity undertaken
• ensuring that they take the necessary safety precautions in the use of all equipment, premises and materials
• reporting any accidents immediately to the teacher in charge of their class or to Head of Boarding (if the incident happens in the boarding accommodation) or any appropriate member of MEH Staff.

C7. Particular Hazards

1. Chemicals will be stored in accordance with relevant legislation and risk assessment requirements.
2. Protective clothing will be similarly stored

D. ACCIDENTS TO STUDENTS AND STAFF

D1. If the accident is relatively minor and the casualty is moveable, the person in charge should arrange for the casualty to receive first aid with the nurse of qualified first aider. When the nurse is unavailable for example after school hours in the boarding accommodation assess and treat the injury yourself.

D2. If the injury is more serious:

1. Arrange for casualty to be conveyed either to local Hospital, or call an ambulance
2. If you are unable to make the call stay with the injured person, and send a student to Reception if the accident happens in the teaching facilities or to the person on duty in the boarding accommodation or Head of boarding. The second adult can then call the emergency service. The accident will be entered into the Accident Book.

D3. A first aid box is available from Reception in both teaching premises and also in the sick room and with the Head of Boarding

D4. A list of trained First Aiders will be posted on Notice Boards of the Institution premises and amended as necessary.

D5. First aid should only be administered by the nurse, qualified first aid person or appointed person.

D6. All accidents must be reported to the Health and Safety Officer as soon as possible with information of action taken and treatment given.

D7. Inform Reception who will notify the parents of a student or next of kin of a staff member if necessary.

D8. It is the responsibility of the person in charge when an accident occurs to fill in the Accident Report Book as soon as possible after the accident.

E. HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING

Steps will be taken to ensure the staff and students are up to date regarding health and safety.

Training will be managed by Health and Safety Officer.