This guide has been produced by the Devon Early Years and Childcare Service. If you have any queries regarding the following information, please contact us on 0800 056 36 66.
Health & Safety Policy Introduction
Environment and the Work Place
The provision recognises that as an employer the provision has a responsibility to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of the provision’s employees, whether paid or voluntary. The provision also recognises that it has a responsibility to any other people who may be affected by its activities. In accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act, the provision maintains safe working conditions and ensures that all employees, paid or voluntary, are sufficiently aware of and practise safe systems of working.
This Policy and the provision’s practices will be reviewed periodically and kept up-to-date in accordance with any changes in legislation.
Policy Approved By: __________________________ Date: _____________
(On Behalf of the Management Committee of the Provision)
The overall and ultimate responsibility for Health and Safety within the Provision rests with the members of the Management Committee.
The Senior Supervisor will generally advise the Management Committee in the implementation of its Policy and Practices. Members of the Management Committee will be responsible for areas/activities in which they are involved:
All employees, whether paid or voluntary, have a responsibility for Health and Safety including the safety of others that may be affected by their acts or omissions. As such, they should familiarise themselves with the Health and Safety Policy of the Provision and the safe practices appropriate to their place of work.
Maintenance of property and equipment to ensure personal safety is the overall responsibility of the Management Committee. All employees, whether paid or voluntary, are responsible for the correct and safe use of all property and equipment in the Provision and for the reporting of any faults or hazards to their supervisor or the Management Committee.
The aim of any policy relating to accidents must stress that in the first instance every effort should be made to avoid an accident happening. The following list provides an indication of areas that require special attention:
This list is not exhaustive!
In the event of an accident, employees, paid or voluntary, have a duty to report to their immediate supervisor any such incidents; to assist in determining the cause and to help in any subsequent investigation with the aim of preventing a recurrence. A report of all accidents should be brought to the attention of the Management Committee.
All accidents resulting in personal injury must be recorded in the relevant accident book. There are two accident books:
For accidents within the Provision to children – kept with the First Aid Box;
For accidents to employees, paid or voluntary.
RIDDOR (The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995)
Your Responsibilities Under RIDDOR
Did you know that all registered providers of day care for children under eight have responsibilities under this legislation?
Further details can be found on the Health and Safety Executive’s website.
In brief you must report certain work–related incidents to the Health and Safety Executive. They have an Incident Contact Centre – telephone 0845 300 9923. They can advise you if you do need to report specific incidents and about what records you should keep.
You should report any of the following that happens to a member of the public, including a parent or child, or an employee on your premises:
Remember! You are also required to report such incidents, as well as various other events, to Ofsted.
These are kept in the same place as the accident books. It is the responsibility of the relevant members of the Management Committee to ensure directly, or by delegation, that the box is properly stocked.
Contents
For up-to-date details on the content of a First Aid Box contact the British Red Cross on 0845 60 61 112 / 0870 170 91 10 or St John Ambulance on 01392 20 15 63.
The provision has an appointed First Aider – for training details please contact the Devon Early Years Service on 0800 056 36 66.
The Provision recognises that it has a duty to set appropriate standards of cleanliness throughout its premises and to maintain these by:
All employees, whether paid or voluntary, have a responsibility to maintain a good standard of cleanliness by:
COSHH (The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations)
Chemicals are widely used for a variety of processes in office work and cleaning, and some are extremely hazardous. To comply with these regulations a list will be kept by the Senior Supervisor of all hazardous or potentially hazardous substances that are used in the Provision. A copy of this list will be kept at the setting.
In addition to chemicals, all body fluids are to be treated as substances hazardous to health and should be carefully dealt with using protective gloves and materials that can be safely disposed of.
The Senior Supervisor is to be informed of any hazardous substances which it proposes to bring onto the premises for use by employees, paid or voluntary or other users.
Any person(s) using such chemicals must observe the following guidelines:
In the interests of Health and Safety, substances hazardous to health should only be used if there is no less harmful or harmless alternative.
The provision has a responsibility to ensure that where any of our services arrange transport for their users, those people who do the driving are aware of the Driving Safety Policy.
All persons driving on behalf of the Provision have a responsibility for their own safety and to ensure that their acts or omissions do not endanger the safety of others. The also have a responsibility to adhere to the principles laid out in this Policy.
If on occasions, a person uses their own vehicle for transporting service users, it is their responsibility to ensure that their vehicle is properly insured, taxed, has a current MOT and is roadworthy.
It is the responsibility of all users to inspect appliances for loose wiring, faulty plugs etc, BEFORE using them. Electrical faults must be reported immediately. Faulty equipment must be removed from usage and clearly labelled as such. No-one should attempt to repair the equipment themselves.
The following list shows examples of electrical faults:
All employees, whether paid or voluntary, have a responsibility to observe basic principles of electrical safety as well as inspecting appliances before use, ie:
All electrical equipment will be maintained on a routine basis.
The Provision is legally obliged to maintain a safe and acceptable working environment in as far as is reasonable and practicable. Employees, paid or voluntary, have a responsibility to co-operate to maintain this environment.
Must be suitable and sufficient in every part of the Provision through which people either pass or work. Doorways and potential hazards like steps must be well lit. Artificial lighting apparatus must be properly maintained and fluorescent lights must be flicker free.
Noise at work Regulations 1989
Apply to all workplaces requiring assessment of noise levels and the taking of appropriate preventative action where excessive.
Around machinery and equipment must be adequate to ensure that safe working practices are achievable.
The Provision must ensure that a reasonable temperature (not less than 16 centigrade) can be maintained in every room in which people are employed to work.
Must be effective and suitable to ensure circulation of adequate supplies of either fresh or artificially purified air.
For safe operation the equipment needs to be properly installed and consideration given to the following points:
The Management Committee are responsible for ensuring that precautions are taken against fire through the routine maintenance of fire safety equipment, through reviewing and posting emergency fire procedures in buildings and educating employees, whether paid or voluntary, in safe practices.
It is the duty of all employees, paid or voluntary, to co-operate in the implementation of this Policy and to report to the Management Committee any instances where the property procedures are not being implemented eg wedging open of fire doors, escape routes obstructed by furniture or rubbish and the reporting of faulty electrical equipment.
Within the premises, the Provision operates a Policy of No Smoking. It is the responsibility of each individual smoker to ensure that they only smoke outside the building and ensure that their cigarette is properly extinguished.
In the event of a fire:
Don’t Panic – follow the Fire Procedure
Do not tackle the fire unless:
Remember the important thing is to safe lives, not property.
IF YOU DISCOVER A FIRE
ON HEARING THE FIRE ALARM
DO NOT stop to collect personal belongings
DO NOT re-enter the building until told to do so by the Fire Service
End
Fire Safety Leaflet No 26A
Rev 300103
Devon Fire and Rescue Service
The Provision has a responsibility to maintain acceptable levels of hygiene and health and safety with respect to food.
All employees, paid or voluntary, who handle food, have a responsibility to:
Principles of Safely Handling Food
Keep it Clean – Keep it Cool – Keep it Covered
Principles of Safely Using Equipment in Catering Areas
The Provision recognises that hygiene is a basic part of any health and safety programme. As such, the Management Committee is responsible for ensuring that the premises are cleaned regularly and that a good standard of cleanliness is achieved overall. Washing and toilet facilities are provided and maintained. Any shortcomings should be reported immediately to the Management Committee who will ensure that the necessary action is undertaken.
The Provision’s premises are designated as No Smoking.
Employees, paid or voluntary and other users, have a responsibility to ensure that their personal hygiene meets an acceptable standard and that they observe good environmental hygiene practices, eg by using the appropriate waste bin for the disposal of rubbish.
All employees, paid or voluntary, read through this policy as part of their induction programme. The Management committee has a duty to ensure they are aware of current legislation and that relevant information is disseminated to the appropriate person.
The Provision has a moral and legal responsibility to its employees, paid or voluntary, to reduce the risk of work associated back problems and other lifting and carrying injuries.
It is important to note that the handling of loads applies to lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing, pulling, holding or moving by bodily force any discreet moveable object including a person.
For general guidance, all employees may from time to time have to lift or handle some objects. Firstly consider whether it is necessary to lift the object, consider if there are any alternatives and if you are at all unsure do not attempt to lift. You are responsible for your own safety and for the safety of those you work with.
If you decide to proceed with the lifting activity the correct way to lift is as follows:
The Policy will be reviewed every two years unless a change in legislation necessitates a shorter review period or there are changes in the activities or personnel of the Provision that require changes to be made.
Please state the location of the electricity meter and fuse board as well as the Water Stopcock.
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