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DIVERSITY HOUSE HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
Diversity House Limited is committed to ensuring the health, safety and
welfare of its volunteer/employees and it will, so far as is reasonably
practicable, establish procedures and systems necessary to implement
this commitment and to comply with its statutory obligations on health
and safety. It is the responsibility of each volunteer/employee to
familiarise themselves and comply with Diversity House Limited’s
procedures and systems on health and safety.
While Diversity House Limited will take all reasonable steps to ensure
the health and safety of its volunteer/employees, health and safety at
work is also the responsibility of the volunteer/employees themselves.
It is the duty of each volunteer/employee to take reasonable care of
their own and other people’s health, safety and welfare and to report
any situation which may pose a serious or imminent threat to the well
being of themselves or of any other person. If an volunteer/employee is
unsure how to perform a certain task or feels it would be dangerous to
perform a specific job or use specific equipment, then it is the
volunteer/employee’s duty to report this as soon as possible to any
member or representative of the organisation.
Disciplinary action under Diversity House Limited’s disciplinary
procedure may be taken against any volunteer/employee who violates
health and safety rules and procedures or who fails to perform their
duties under health and safety legislation. Depending on the seriousness
of the offence, it may amount to potential gross misconduct rendering
the volunteer/employee liable to summary dismissal.
Diversity House Limited will provide and maintain a healthy and safe
working environment with the objective of minimising the number of
instances of occupational accidents and illnesses. Diversity House
Limited will pay particular attention to:
1. Maintaining the workplace in a safe condition and providing adequate
facilities and arrangements for welfare at work.
2. Providing a safe means of access to and egress from the workplace.
3. The provision and maintenance of equipment and systems of work that
are safe.
4. Arrangements for ensuring safety to health in connection with the
use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances.
5. The provision of such information, instructions, training and
supervision as is necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of
its volunteer/employees and other persons.
Diversity House Limited also recognises its duty to protect the health
and safety of all visitors to Diversity House Limited, including
contractors and volunteers, as well as any members of the public who
might be affected by Diversity House Limited’s work operations.
Organisation
The Board of Diversity House Limited has overall responsibility for
health and safety in Diversity House Limited. Christine Locke is the
chairperson and has responsibility for overseeing, implementing and
monitoring health and safety procedures in Diversity House Limited and
for reporting back to the Board of Trustees on health and safety
matters. There are regular inspections of the workplace, production of
safety records and appropriate investigations of accidents at work
Training
Safety training is an integral part of an effective health and safety
programme. It is essential that every volunteer/employee is trained to
perform their job safely. All volunteer/employees will be trained in
safe working practices and procedures.
Volunteer/employees at special risk
Diversity House Limited recognises that some workers may from time to
time be at increased risk of injury or ill-health resulting from work
activities. Diversity House Limited therefore requires that all
volunteer/employees advise of any change in their personal circumstances
which could result in their being at increased risk. This could include
medical conditions, permanent or temporary disability, taking medication
and pregnancy.
First aid and reporting accidents at work
A first aid box is available located in Diversity House temporary or
permanent premises
All volunteer/employees will be shown the location of the nearest first
aid box.
All injuries, however small, sustained by a person at work must be
reported and recorded in the accident book. Accident records are crucial
to the effective monitoring of health and safety procedures and must
therefore be accurate and comprehensive. The accident book will be
reviewed on a regular basis and all accidents will be investigated and a
report prepared, with any necessary action being taken to prevent a
recurrence of the problem.
Fire
Fire is a significant risk within the workplace. All volunteer/employees
have a duty to conduct their operations in such a way as to minimise the
risk of fire and they are under a duty to report immediately any fire,
smoke or potential fire hazards, such as faulty electric cable or loose
connections. Volunteer/employees should never attempt to repair or
interfere with electrical equipment or wiring themselves.
Smoke detectors and manually operated fire alarms are located at
strategic points throughout the workplace. If a smoke detector sounds or
fire is discovered, it is the responsibility of any volunteer/employee
present to evacuate the building. Fire extinguishers are also located at
strategic points throughout the workplace. Volunteer/employees are
expected to tackle a fire themselves only if it would pose no threat to
their personal safety to do so. If the situation is dangerous or
potentially dangerous, the volunteer/employee should activate the fire
alarm and evacuate the building immediately.
Fire doors designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke throughout the
workplace have been installed at strategic points. Fire doors are
designed to close automatically after opening and must never be blocked
or wedged open. Fire exits are also located at strategic points
throughout the workplace. Fire exit doors and corridors must never be
locked, blocked or used as storage space. All volunteer/employees must
ensure they are familiar with their evacuation route and designated
assembly point in case of fire. Practice fire drills will be conducted
on a regular basis to ensure volunteer/employee familiarity with
emergency evacuation procedures.
Diversity House safety rules
• All volunteer/employees should be aware of and adhere to Diversity
House Limited’s rules and procedures on health and safety
• All volunteer/employees must immediately report any unsafe working
practices or conditions to their line manager, their health and safety
representative or to the safety officer
• Horseplay, practical joking, running in the workplace, misuse of
equipment or any other acts which might jeopardise the health and safety
of any other person are forbidden
• Any person whose levels of alertness are reduced due to illness or
fatigue will not be allowed to work if this might jeopardise the health
and safety of any person
• Volunteer/employees must not adjust, move or otherwise tamper with any
electrical equipment or machinery in a manner not within the scope of
their job duties
• All waste materials must be disposed of carefully in the receptacles
provided and in such a way that they do not constitute a hazard to other
workers
• No volunteer/employee should undertake a job which appears to be
unsafe
• No volunteer/employee should undertake a job until they have received
adequate safety instruction and they are authorised to carry out the
task
• All injuries must be reported to the volunteer/employee’s line manager
or to the safety officer
• All materials must be properly and safely used and when not in use
properly and safely secured
• Work should be well-planned to avoid injuries in the handling of heavy
materials and while using equipment
• Volunteer/employees should take care to ensure that all protective
guards and other safety devices are properly fitted and in good working
order and must immediately report any defects to their line manager or
to the safety officer
• Work stations and work sites must be kept clean and tidy and any
spillage must be cleaned up immediately
• Volunteer/employees should use handrails when going up and down
stairs, should never read while walking, must close filing cabinet
drawers when not in use and must keep all floor areas free of
obstruction.
Access
• Walkways and passageways must be kept clear and free from obstructions
at all times
• If a walkway or passageway becomes wet it should be clearly marked
with warning signs nd any liquid spilt on the floor should be wiped up
immediately
• Trailing cables should not be left in any passageway
• Where objects are stored in or around a passageway, care must be taken
to ensure that no long or sharp edges jut out into the passageway
Tools and equipment
• Machinery and equipment are only to be used by qualified and
authorised personnel
• It is the responsibility of all volunteer/employees to ensure that any
equipment they use are in a good and safe condition. Any or equipment
which are defective must be reported immediately.
• Volunteer/employees are prohibited from using any piece of equipment
for any purpose other than its intended purpose.
Manual handling
• Volunteer/employees should not attempt to lift or move a load which is
too heavy to manage comfortably. Volunteer/employees should ask for
assistance if there is any danger of strain
• When lifting an object off the ground, volunteer/employees should
assume a squatting position, keeping the back straight. The load should
be lifted by straightening the knees, not the back
• Volunteer/employees should not attempt to obtain items from shelves
which are beyond their reach. A ladder or stepping stool should be used.
Volunteer/employees should not use chairs or any makeshift device for
climbing and should never climb up the shelves themselves.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT
Introduction
Diversity House Limited is an inclusive organisation committed to and
actively working towards the provision and promotion of equal
opportunities in all areas of its activities. Every person who comes
into contact with Diversity House Limited is dealt with appropriately
and fairly.
Policy Statement
The aim of the policy statement is to ensure that no child, parent,
carer, family member, job applicant, member of staff or volunteer is
discriminated against because of age, colour, disability, race,
employment status, religious belief, responsibilities for dependents,
sex, sexuality, HIV status or unrelated criminal convictions.
Any allegations of discrimination will be dealt with firmly and
promptly.
All Diversity House Limited staff, volunteers and members of the Board
of Trustees are required to follow and implement the organisation’s
policy on Equal Opportunities and to undergo training and development
opportunities associated with the policy statement.
Diversity House Limited will ensure that its legal duties under current
and future legislation – including the Race Relations (Amendment) Act
2000, the Sex Discriminations Act 1975, the Disability Discrimination
Act 1995 and the Special Education Needs and Disability Act 2001 – are
met.
In order to ensure its continued relevance and appropriateness this
policy – and all Diversity House Limited policies – will be reviewed
annually by the Board of Trustees in light of changing legislation,
guidance and needs.
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