Health and Safety Policy Statement

Flexiheat UK acknowledges and embraces its responsibility for health and safety. We are committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, as far as it is reasonably practicable its workers (paid or volunteer) and other visitors to its premises under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, other relevant legislation, and common law duties of care.

Throughout this statement, terms like “staff,” “workers,” and “employees” encompass both paid and non-paid employees and volunteer workers.

It is the policy of the organisation to promote the health and safety of the committee members, volunteers, staff, and of all visitors to the organisation’s premises and to that intent to:

Take all reasonably practicable steps to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of all personnel on the premises;
Encourage people on the premises to cooperate with the organisation in all safety matters, in the identification of hazards that may exist and in the reporting of any condition that may appear dangerous or unsatisfactory;
Ensure the provision and maintenance of plant, equipment, and systems of work that are safe;
Maintain safe arrangements for the use, handling, storage, and transport of articles and substances;
Provide sufficient information, instruction, training, and supervision to enable everyone to avoid hazards and contribute to their own safety and health;
Provide specific information, instruction, training, and supervision to personnel who have particular health and safety responsibilities (e.g., a person appointed as a Health and Safety Officer or Representative);
Make, as reasonably practicable, safe arrangements for protection against any risk to the health and safety of the general public or other persons that may arise from the organization’s activities.
Make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of employees and of persons not in the employment of the organisation arising out of or in connection with the organisation’s activities;
Make a specific assessment of risks with respect to new or expectant mothers and young people under the age of eighteen;
Provide information to other employers of any risks to which those employers’s workers on the organisation’s premises may be exposed.

The company’s management committee (“the Committee”) may alter this policy statement and/or the procedures for its implementation at any time. The Health and Safety Subcommittee or other persons appointed by the Committee are responsible for reviewing the statement and the procedures in the summer of each year. The Management Committee is to receive a report on the review, along with any additional proposals for amending the statement of procedures, at the next ordinary meeting.

Statutory duty of the company

Flexiheat UK will comply with its duty to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare at work of its workers and of visitors to its premises and, in general, to:

Ensure that workplaces are safe and free from health risks.
Ensure plant and machinery are safe and that safe systems of work are set and followed;
Ensure articles and substances are moved, stored, and used safely;
Give workers the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary for their health and safety.

In particular, the company will:

Assess the risks to the health and safety of its employees;
Make arrangements for implementing the health and safety measures identified as necessary by this assessment;
Record the significant findings of the risk assessment and the arrangements for health and safety measures;
Draw up a health and safety policy statement, including the health and safety organisation and arrangements in force, and bring it to the attention of its workers.
Appoint someone competent to assist with health and safety responsibilities;
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 work equipment is suitable for its intended use as far as health and safety is concerned, and that it is properly maintained and used;
Prevent or adequately control exposure to substances that may damage 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 and maintained;
Report certain injuries, diseases, and dangerous occurrences to the appropriate health and safety enforcement authority.

The statutory duties of the company’s workers

Employees have legal duties, and the organization confidently requests that non-employed workers also adhere to these duties. They include the following:

They should take reasonable care for their own health and safety, as well as the health and safety of others who may be affected by their actions or inactions.
To collaborate with the organisation on health and safety matters,
To use work items provided by the company correctly, including personal protective equipment, in accordance with training or instructions;
You must not tamper with or abuse any resources intended for your health, safety, and welfare purposes.
To report at the earliest opportunity injuries, accidents, or dangerous occurrences at work, including those involving the public and participants in activities organised by the company;
Health and safety law applies not only to employees in the workplace; it also applies to organizations and people who occupy or use community buildings, to which members of the public have access.

Policy for visitors and contractors

Upon arrival, direct all visitors to the management’s duty representative.Committee, or a representative of the user/hirer of the building. This person is to take responsibility for the visitor(s) and assist in their evacuation from the building during an emergency or arrange help in the event of an accident.

On arrival, all visitors, including contractors and/or their workers, must sign a record of the date and time of their arrival and, before leaving, should further record their time of departure.

Contractors working in the building should report any concerns relating to their own safety or suspected unsafe working practices to the Duty representative of the Committee who will investigate and report to the Group/Organisation.

The health and safety subcommittee

The management committee will establish a Health and Safety Subcommittee, which will include representation from both themselves and the staff.

To have a broad overview of health and safety matters;
To keep the company’s health and safety policy and procedures under review;
Conduct safety tours of the premises.
To ensure that risk assessments are carried out, including assessments regarding substances hazardous to health (COSSH Regulations);
To take such action as may be required to ensure that the organisation’s responsibilities for health and safety are fulfilled;
To report to the management committee on their performance of these responsibilities.
Contractors working in the building should report any concerns relating to their own safety or suspected unsafe working practices to the duty representative of the committee, who will investigate and report to the company.

Safety Tours

Every six months, the Health and Safety Committee will conduct tours and inspections of the facility, providing a report to the next ordinary meeting of the management committee.

All necessary actions as a result of the tour shall, where reasonable and practicable, be implemented. The tour shall include an inspection of the accident file.

Health and Safety Rules

All workers must exercise ordinary care to avoid accidents in their activities at work and comply with the following general rules and with any further rules which the company may publish from time to time.

Accident forms and books

Once finished, store the book in a locked drawer.

Any injury suffered by a worker or visitor in the course of employment or otherwise on the company’s premises, however slight, must be recorded, along with such other particulars as are required by statutory regulations, on an accident form maintained by the organisation.

Fire precautions

All personnel must familiarise themselves with fire escape routes and procedures and follow the directions of the company in relation to fire.

Equipment and appliances

No equipment or appliance may be used other than as provided by or specifically authorised by or on behalf of the company, and any directions for the use of such must be followed precisely.

Safety Clearways

It’s important to keep corridors and doorways clear of obstacles and properly lit.

Maintenance

Employees must report defective equipment, furniture, and structures immediately.

Hygiene and waste disposal

Facilities for the disposal of waste materials must be kept in a clean and hygienic condition.

Waste must be disposed of in an appropriate manner and in accordance with any special instructions relating to the material concerned.

Display screen equipment

The company recognises its responsibility to ensure the well-being of workers who habitually use display screen equipment for a significant part of their normal work.

The company advises employees to take a five-minute break from the display screen equipment at least once an hour and to seek an eye test at the company’s expense if they experience vision defects or other discomfort that they believe may be entirely or partially caused by their use of such equipment.

Alcohol, drugs, and tobacco

Smoking within the premises and the use of drugs (except under medical supervision) on the premises are prohibited at all times. The use of intoxicants (alcohol) is prohibited during working hours, and no employee may undertake his/her duties if under the influence of alcohol or drugs (except under medical supervision).