Health and Safety Policy

At Prostart we are committed to Health and Safety and ensuring our learners have sufficient knowledge to keep themselves safe and abide by the Law.”

Statement of Intent

Prostart acknowledge that under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 they have a legal duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all their staff/apprentices/learners and that they have certain duties towards members of the public, these duties being implicit in the above Act.

Prostart will consider all Health and Safety aspects of our business as a priority and will commit to continuous improvement putting the safety and welfare of our staff and all apprentices/learners on any programme being delivered. We will work in partnership with employers, staff and apprentices/leanrers to ensure that health, safety, equality, diversity and safeguarding is embedded within the organisation and programmes being delivered.

This policy outlines Prostart’s strategy for ensuring that all Apprentices and learners and staff are informed of the importance of Health and Safety.

Arrangements for Health and Safety

Prostart will ensure a positive health and safety culture which supports risk control at all levels. This will include identifying and controlling risk to prevent injury and ill-health.

We will, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that:

adequate resources are provided to ensure that proper provision can be made for health and safety
risk assessments are carried out and reviewed annually
systems of work are provided and maintained that are safe and without risks to health
arrangements for use, handling, storage, and transport of articles and substances for use at work are safe and without risks to health
all employees and Apprentices & learners are provided with such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to secure their safety and health at work and the safety of others who may be affected by their actions
where appropriate, health surveillance will be provided for employees and Apprentices & learners
the provision and maintenance of all plant, machinery and equipment is safe and without risk to health
the working environment of all employees and Apprentices & learners is safe and without risks to health and that adequate provision is made with regard to the facilities and arrangements for their welfare at work underpinned by appropriate disciplinary procedures
the place of work is safe and that there is safe access to and from the work place
monitoring activities are undertaken to maintain agreed standards and ensure appropriate number of specialist safety staff are made available.
there are established and maintained effective procedures for consultation and communication between all levels of management and employees on all matters relating to health, safety and welfare
All staff have received Health & Safety Training and/or have the IOSH qualification
A Senior Manager is NEBOSH qualified
All staff are updated on new Health and Safety regulations through monthly Staff Progress Meetings.
All companies are pre-vetted prior to Apprentices and learners starting
All Companies are monitored on Health & Safety at least annually.
All Apprentices and learners receive induction training to include Health and Safety, Equal & Diversity and Safeguarding, Prevent & British Values, including internet safety.
Health & Safety and Health & Wellbeing awareness is re-enforced with Apprentices and learners during Quality Reviews and monthly e-bulletins
An accident reporting process and procedure is in place to ensure all accidents are reported, recorded and analysed.
All RIDDOR reportable accidents are reported to the Funding Body

It is the duty of all employees and Apprentices & learners at work:

Gain an understanding of the importance of health and safety
Understands how hazards are identified, risks are assessed and the principles of control measures
Is risk aware, not risk averse, developing a health attitude to risk
Develops a set of safe behavior’s playing an active part in the process acquiring practical transferable skills through experience
to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work and co-operate with us in fulfilling our statutory duties
not to interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interest of health and safety.

General: this Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed at least annually, amended and updated as and when necessary. Communication of any such changes will be made to all employees through the circulation of the updated policy.

Health & Safety Act Work Act 1974

The Health & Safety at Work Act (HASAWA) was established in 1974 and was designed to help protect the Health, Safety and Welfare of employee’s along with other people such as visitors and members of the public that are affected by the companies work activities.

The Act itself can be split into three main groups these are:

OCCUPATIONAL

Employees may be at risk from certain illnesses/injuries from their job/work they do. For instance a person who spray paints cars would be more at risk from developing breathing difficulties such as asthma.

ENVIRONMENTAL

The condition or environment that people work in; if a workplace is particularly noisy workplace may lead to hearing problems or even deafness

HUMAN FACTORS

Poor attitude or behaviour can contribute to accidents happening. This can happen as a result of carelessness, lack of/poor concentration, haste or ignorance of correct company procedures.

Under the Health & Safety at Work Act everyone within a company has a responsibility towards Health & Safety including, employers, employees, self employed individuals, designers, manufactures, suppliers and any people in control of work premises. If at any time the Act is breached or is thought to of been breached the Health & Safety Executive has to right to:

Enter the premises
Conduct an investigation
Take sample and photographs
Give advice
Issue Instructions notices, Improvement notices and Prohibition notices

If a Health & Safety Executive issues either an Instruction, Improvement or Prohibition notice this must be carried out by law within the time allowed. Failure to do so may result in prosecution.

Everyone has a responsibility for keeping the workplace safe!

What if an accident does happen?

If an accident does occur within a workplace the correct procedure must be followed. This means that any accident, instance of near miss or case of ill health must be entered into the company accident book. By doing this it provides a written record which can be used, if needed, for any investigation or prosecution. By law any accidents that result in death, injury, dangerous occurrence or disease must be reported to the appropriate enforcing authority.

What does an employer need to do to comply?

To comply with the Health & Safety at work act, employers are legally obliged to provide welfare facilities for their staff. This includes:

Adequate number of toilets – which should be clean, well lit & ventilated
Washing facilities with hot & cold running water, soap and hand drying facilities
Changing rooms with storage facilities
Facilities for work breaks which should include seating/separate eating/non smoking areas. Also facilities for pregnant & nursing mothers.
Employers must provide training on manual handling, if this is relevant to the employee’s job role

What does an employee need to do to comply?

It is not just employers that have responsibilities under the Act. Every person is responsible for their own work area, this could include: Cleaning up spills & removing obstacles, reporting faults & defects, operating machinery in accordance with procedure and following all safety instructions. In order to ensure maximum safety within the workplace it is advisable to:

Tie back long hair
Avoid wearing loose clothing, tie’s and jewellery
Alcohol and non prescriptive drugs should be avoided
Not eat and drink within your work area
Ensure that you know how to use machinery according to company policy

Hazards & Risk Assessments

Hazards are anything that has the potential to cause harm. Examples of this can include fire, electricity, harmful substances, sharp tools, noise and damaged flooring. By carrying out risk assessments we are able to identify the potential hazards and put something in place to reduce the risk, they help people think about what could go wrong and ways to prevent accidents & ill health. Risk assessments are a vital requirement in maintain a safe working environment. It is a legal requirement to carry out Risk Assessments within every workplace.

To prevent injuries within the workplace we can:

Remove any hazards completely
Minimise access to hazards if they cannot be removed completely
Ensure that all equipment is designed & built safely
Ensure all guards are in place and are maintained
Use the safest possible machinery
Ensure that it is a safe working environment

Did You Know?

You carry out a risk assessment every time you cross the road? By looking both ways before you cross a road you are assessing whether there is any danger, thus preventing an accident looking before you cross. So maybe without knowing it you are already carrying out risk assessments nearly every day!

For example when working with electricity you should always take precautions to minimise the risk. By ensuring that:

Electricity & water should always be kept apart
Always disconnect appliances when not being used
Ensure the correct fuses are fitted – use circuit wherever possible
Report defects in equipment and cables
Only use electrical equipment if trained to do so

If the risk cannot be removed completely, then Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be used to minimise the risk. These can include:

Safety helmets
Safety goggles
Gloves
Footwear
Masks or Respirator’s
Ear defenders against noise

All PPE should carry the ‘CE’ symbol to indicate that the equipment complies with European standards. All equipment must be maintained and used according to manufacturer’s instructions to ensure a safe working environment.

The recommended minimum temperature for physical work is 13 degrees centigrade

First Aid

A first aider is someone who is appointed and trained to recognised standards to administer first aid. It is a legal requirement that every company must have a suitable first aid kit and an appointed person who has received training. It is the appointed persons’ responsibility to ensure that the first aid kit is kept stocked, the equipment is maintained and that the first aid kits are easily accessible. The appointed person is required to take charge of a sick or injured person including contacting the emergency services should the circumstances arise.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health – COSHH

Amended in 2002 COSHH was brought in to cover hazardous substances such as: cleaning chemicals, lead, asbestos, fumes, gases and living organisms such as fungal spores. An assessment must be carried out by employers to cover all of the above.

Health & Safety – The Law

What you should know:

Your health, safety & welfare at work are protected by law
Your employer has a duty to protect you and keep you informed about health & safety
You have a responsibility to look after yourself and others
If there is a problem, discuss it with your employer or safety representative if there is one.
Your employer has a duty under the law to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, your health, safety and welfare at work

Your employer must consult you or your safety representative on matters relating to your health and safety at work, including:

Any changes which may substantially affect your health and safety at work, e.g. in procedures, equipment or ways of working
The employer’s arrangements for getting competent people to help him/her satisfy health & safety laws
The information you have to be given on the likely risks and dangers arising from your work, measures to reduce or get rid of these risks and what you should do if you have to deal with risk or danger
The planning of health and safety
The health and safety consequences of introducing new technology

In general, your employer’s duties include:

Making you workplace safe and without risks to health
Ensuring plant and machinery are safe and that safe systems of work are set and followed
Ensuring articles and substances are moved, stored and used safely
Providing adequate welfare facilities
Giving you the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary for your health & safety

In particular, your employer must:

Assess the risks to your health and safety Make arrangements for implementing the health and safety measures identified as being necessary by the assessment

If there are five or more employees, record the significant findings of the risk assessment and the arrangements for health & safety measures
If there are five or more employees, draw up a health & safety policy statement, including the health & safety organisation and arrangement is force, and bring it to your attention
Appoint someone competent to assist with health & safety responsibilities and consult you or your safety representative about this appointment
Co-operate on health & safety with other employers sharing the same workplace
Set up emergency procedures
Provide adequate first aid facilities
Make sure that the workplace satisfies health, safety and welfare requirements, e.g. for ventilation, temperature, lighting, and sanitary, washing and rest facilities
Make sure that the work equipment is suitable for its intended use, so far as health & safety is concerned, and that is properly maintained and used.
Prevent or adequately control exposure to substances which may damage your health
Take precautions against danger from flammable or explosive hazards, electrical equipment, noise or radiation
Avoid hazardous manual handling operations, and where they cannot be avoided, reduce the risk of injury
Provide health surveillance as appropriate
Provide free any protective clothing or equipment, where risks are not adequately controlled by other means
Ensure that appropriate safety signs are provided & maintained
Report certain injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the appropriate health and safety enforcing authority

As an employee you have legal duties too! They include:

Taking reasonable care for your own health & safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or do not do
Co-operating with your employer on health & safety
Correctly using work items provided by your employer, including personal protective equipment (PPE), in accordance with training or instructions; and
Not interfering with or misusing anything provided for your health, safety & welfare

If you think there is a health & safety problem in your workplace you should first discuss it with your employer, supervisor, and manager. You may also wish to discuss it with your health & safety representative, if you have one.

You, your employer and your safety representative can get information on health & safety in confidence by calling HSE’s Infoline on: 0845 345 0055 or logging onto the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/

For any further information on Health & Safety you may also contact Prostart’s Health & Safety Officer – Lawrence Turton

Prostart will maintain a written risk assessment of the risks to the health and safety of its staff/apprentices/learners whilst they are at work and others who may be affected, as required by the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999.

Related Documents

Health and Safety Procedures

Safeguarding & PREVENT Policy

Version 7 Reviewed September 23