HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
This policy is to be read in conjunction with the Five Rivers
Company Policy and procedures.
This policy has been written in regard to Health & Safety – Responsibility &
Powers (2001)
General Statement of Intent
The Five Rivers policy is to provide and maintain a safe and healthy environment for all
staff, young persons and visitors.
This will be attained by the use of safe plant and equipment, systems of work for all
employees and to provide such information, instruction, training and supervision, as they
need for this purpose.
Five Rivers also accept responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of people not in their
employment who may be affected by our activities.
The allocation of duties for safety matters and the particular arrangement, which we will
make to implement the policy, are set out in the following pages.
The policy will be kept up to date particularly as the business changes in nature and size to
ensure this, the policy and the way in which it is operated will be reviewed every year.
As a supplement of the statement of the Safety Policy issued by Five Rivers, the following
General Statement of Intent issued by the Chief Executive Officer for your information.
Five Rivers will pay particular attention as far as is reasonably practicable to the provision
and maintenance of;
1. A safe place of work with safe access and egress to it
2. A healthy working environment
3. Plant, equipment and systems of work that are safe and provide adequate
information, instruction and training
4. Safe arrangements for the use, handling, storage, transport and disposal of materials
5. Sufficient information, training and supervision to enable all employees to avoid
hazards and contribute positively to their own safety and health and work
6. Adequate welfare facilities
The Chief Executive Officer recognises the responsibilities to ensure that all programmes
and activities are designed with safety as one of the primary considerations.
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The Chief Executive Officer will take all reasonable steps to ensure that all contractors
engaged by Five Rivers are aware of their obligations under the Health and Safety at Work
Act 1974 which are:
1. To take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons
who may be affected by their acts and omissions at work and
2. As regards any duty or requirement imposed on their employer or any other person
by or under any of the statutory provisions
“to co-operate with them as far as necessary to enable that duty of requirement to
be performed or complied with”
Five Rivers by issuing you with a copy of the policy statement, is not just observing its legal
obligation, but it is reaffirming its commitment to quality in the Health and Safety, as in all
other aspects of our operations.
We have responsibility to safeguard ourselves and those who may be affected by our work
and I look to all our employees to not only practice safe working, but to develop positive
attitudes to health and safety and environmental management.
Overall and Final Responsibility for Health and Safety
The overall & final responsibility for Health & Safety in the company is that of Pam
McConnell.
Pam McConnell is responsible for the policy being carried out at all the premises and sites
which company personnel are employed.
Responsibilities and Duties
Employees holding management responsibilities are required to:
Make themselves familiar with this policy statement.
Ensure the provision of such information; instruction and training are available to enable
staff to work in a safe manner.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places the following duties on all employees:
To take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others who may be
affected by their acts and omissions.
To co-operate with management in carrying out statutory obligations as required by the
Health and Safety at Work Act and its subsequent regulations.
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Not intentionally or recklessly interfere with anything provided in the interests of health and
safety.
Responsibilities, Duties and Organisation
All employees of the company with specific responsibilities for health and safety must ensure
that their duties are carried out, where necessary by proper delegation. The onus for safety
is carried at every level by everyone at work, but primarily by the directors and staff to
whom the responsibility has been delegated. The over-riding responsibility rests with the
Chief Executive Officer who will ensure that there is a proper approach to health and safety
at all levels of management and that sufficient funds are available to implement health and
safety.
Statement of Health and Safety Policy
The health and safety policy is to establish systems of work, which will:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Comply with all statutory requirements and approved codes of practice
Provide safe plant, tools, equipment and systems of working
Maintain equipment and tools in a safe condition
Provide a safe and healthy environment in which to work
Provide necessary information, instruction and training, retraining and competent
supervision of employees in matters of occupational safety and health
6. Provide joint consultation between management, employees and their
representatives on matters of occupational safety and health
Accidents
All accidents will be recorded in an accident record book kept on all Five Rivers premises.
The responsibility for this will be the Head of Schools on duty at the time of the accident.
The responsibility of reporting accidents under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and
Dangerous Occurrence Regulations 1995) and the completion of form F2508 will be that of
the Head of Schools.
First aid boxes will be kept on all Five Rivers premises. The person responsible for the up
keep of the first aid box is the Head of Schools.
Five Rivers will have the required number of first aid trained staff or appointed persons at all
times.
General Fire Safety
The designated escape routes on all Five Rivers premises will be checked for safe egress
each day. The responsibility for this lies with the Head of Schools. All fire fighting equipment
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will be checked annually by an authorised contractor. Fire drills will be performed at least
twice a year. These drills must not be taken lightly; you must understand your responsibility
is to evacuate the building and record the event.
Contractors and Visitors
There will be no unauthorised access to any of Five Rivers premises. All contractors will be
required to supply an in date public and employer liability insurance certificate and a suitable
and sufficient risk assessment for all work undertaken.
Hazardous Materials
Wherever possible Five Rivers will restrict exposure of staff and young people to hazardous
materials (as identified under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations).
When you are required to handle hazardous materials you must ensure that you follow the
hazard data sheets and assessment for that particular substance. COSHH hazard data sheets
and assessments are prepared and retained in each of the premises.
Housekeeping
A tidy and well-ordered school is one that is less likely to experience accidents. Please
ensure that you do what you can to achieve this by paying particular attention to
obstructions, which may cause congestion or trip hazards.
Activities
All pupils within the Farringdon centre will have a risk assessment undertaken.
This will form part of their TCI plan and must be read by all staff working within
the school.
All activities undertaken by the staff and young persons will demand a specific Risk
Assessment. This will be conducted by a staff member who is competent in the area of
activity or by the Head of Schools.
A general risk assessment will be conducted on all premises by the Head of Schools.
Outdoor Education
All outdoor education activities must be conducted by qualified certificated staff. Five Rivers
staff must ensure that prior to undertaking such activities; a suitable and sufficient risk
assessment must be available. A risk assessment may be obtained from any company who is
used by Five Rivers. Also an in date Employer and Public Liability Insurance Certificate must
be seen by a member of Five Rivers’ staff who is accompanying the young person at the
time of the activity.
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Five Rivers Schools - Health and Safety on Outdoor Activities
This policy has been written in regard to HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS ON
EDUCATIONAL VISITS
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 employers are responsible for the health,
safety and welfare at work of their employees. Employers are also under a duty to ensure,
as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of anyone else on the premises or
anyone who may be affected by their activities. This includes participants in off-site visits.
Common law duty to act as any reasonably prudent parent would do in the same
circumstances.
Responsibilities
The liability for Health and Safety lies with the Chief Executive Officer of Five Rivers.
However, for some activities, the responsibility will be that of the person in managerial
control of the activity.
The Head of Schools should ensure that visits comply with regulations and guidelines
provided by the Five Rivers Health and Safety Policy. The Head of Schools should ensure
that the group leader is competent to monitor the risks throughout the visit.
The Head of Schools should be clear about their role if taking part in the visit as a group
member / supervisor. They should follow the instructions of the group leader who will have
sole charge of the visit.
The Head of Schools should ensure that:
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Adequate child protection procedures are in place
All necessary actions have been completed before the visit begins
The risk assessment has been completed and appropriate safety measures are in
place
Training needs have been assessed by a competent person and the needs of the
staff and pupils have been considered
The group leader has experience in supervising the age groups going on the visit and
will organise the group effectively
The group leader or another teacher is suitably competent to instruct the activity and
is familiar with the location/centre where the activity will take place.
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Ratios
All visits will have a 1:1 ratio
Planning
Whether the visit is to a local park, museum or swimming pool, or includes a residential stay
in the UK or abroad, it is essential that formal planning takes place before setting off. This
involves considering the dangers and difficulties which may arise and making plans to
reduce them. In practice, the Head of Schools – who is responsible for planning visits – will
often delegate the detailed planning to the organiser of the visit or the group leader. The
Head of Schools must satisfy themselves that the person planning the visit is competent to
do so and has the necessary relevant experience. Pupils must not be placed in situations
which expose them to an unacceptable level of risk. Safety must always be the prime
consideration. If the risks cannot be contained, then the visit must not take place.
Pupils who are involved in a visit’s planning and organisation, and who are well prepared,
will make more informed decisions and will be less at risk. Providing information and
guidance to pupils is an important part of preparing for a school visit. Pupils should clearly
understand what is expected of them and what the visit will entail. Pupils must understand
what standard of behaviour is expected of them and why rules must be followed. The lack
of control and discipline can be a major cause of accidents. Pupils should also be told about
any potential dangers and how they should act to ensure their own safety and that of
others.
All outdoor activities if there are to be successful must be well planned. The responsibility
for planning is that of the Head of Schools and the senior staff member involved with the
activity.
Some activities will require the involvement of specialist organisations delivering experiences
that involve a high risk (canoeing, abseiling, potholing etc). These activities will require
specific risk assessments outside the scope of personnel at Five Rivers. Therefore, such risk
assessments are the responsibility of the company delivering the activity - they being the
‘competent persons’ as stated in the Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations.
Prior to any activity taking place, staff and pupils should be prepared for the event. In some
cases the pupils’ parents/guardians must be informed of the type and nature of the activity
and its suitability.
Personal protective clothing may need to be supplied for the activity and this is the
responsibility of Five Rivers.
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Qualified staff will be selected for each activity.
Insurance
Five Rivers has full Employer and Public Liability insurance. This covers all outdoor activities.
In the event of a specific activity taking place which is not controlled by Five Rivers, the staff
accompanying pupils taking part in the activity must see an up to date Public and Employer
Liability insurance document.
Also, staff must see an in date certificate for the person in control of the activity.
Visits Abroad
Five Rivers has a policy that no visits, activities or holidays take place outside of the United
Kingdom.
Emergency Procedures
No outdoor activities can be seen to be risk free. However Five Rivers seeks ‘so far as is
reasonably practicable’ to reduce risks by good planning and training to its staff to recognise
risks and communicate with all involved with its outdoor activities.
Relevant members of staff will hold the First Aid at Work certificate and on each outdoor
activity a trained first aider will be present.
On all outdoor activities a travelling first aid kit must be taken.
On all outdoor activities a mobile telephone must be taken.
The location and duration of the activity must be agreed with the Head of Schools one week
prior to the activity taking place.
Linda Moss, Educational Lead
The Farringdon Centre, Salisbury
June 2014
Reviewed 21/11/13
Reviewed June 2014
Linda Moss Head of Education
Signed:…………………………………………
Date: …………………………………………..
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Review Date:…………………………………..
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