Health and Safety Policy

Part 1 – Policy

This is the Health and Safety Policy of Corsenside Parish Hall Management Committee(‘the Committee’).

Purpose:

1. 
   Provide healthy and safe working conditions, equipment and systems of work for our employee(s), volunteers, committee members and hirers;

2. 
   Keep the village hall and equipment in a safe condition for all users

3. 
   Provide such training and information as is necessary to staff, volunteers and users.

The Committee intends to comply with all health and safety legislation and to act positively where it can reasonably do so to prevent injury, ill health or any danger arising from its activities and operations.

The Committee attaches great importance to the promotion of the health and safety of its employees, contractors at work and other users of its premises. The Committee recognises that the effective prevention of accidents depends on a committed attitude of mind towards safety, focused on safe operation and maintenance of equipment using safe systems of work. The Committee will encourage employees, committee members and users to engage in the establishment and observance of safe working practices.

Committee members with responsibility for aspects of health and safety will report to the committee regularly, including any accidents, faults, misuse by hirers or other matters which could affect the health and safety of users, employees and volunteers.

Employees, volunteers, hirers and visitors will be expected to recognise and carry out their duty to comply with the practices set out in this policy, in hiring agreements and in safety notices on the premises. All users of the hall are required to accept responsibility to do everything they can to prevent injury to themselves and others.

This policy has been reviewed and was approved on 7 March 2024; it is next due for review in February 2025.

Part 1 – Policy

This is the Health and Safety Policy of Corsenside Parish Hall Management Committee(‘the Committee’).

Purpose:

1. 
   Provide healthy and safe working conditions, equipment and systems of work for our employee(s), volunteers, committee members and hirers;

2. 
   Keep the village hall and equipment in a safe condition for all users

3. 
   Provide such training and information as is necessary to staff, volunteers and users.

The Committee intends to comply with all health and safety legislation and to act positively where it can reasonably do so to prevent injury, ill health or any danger arising from its activities and operations.

The Committee attaches great importance to the promotion of the health and safety of its employees, contractors at work and other users of its premises. The Committee recognises that the effective prevention of accidents depends on a committed attitude of mind towards safety, focused on safe operation and maintenance of equipment using safe systems of work. The Committee will encourage employees, committee members and users to engage in the establishment and observance of safe working practices.

Committee members with responsibility for aspects of health and safety will report to the committee regularly, including any accidents, faults, misuse by hirers or other matters which could affect the health and safety of users, employees and volunteers.

Employees, volunteers, hirers and visitors will be expected to recognise and carry out their duty to comply with the practices set out in this policy, in hiring agreements and in safety notices on the premises. All users of the hall are required to accept responsibility to do everything they can to prevent injury to themselves and others.

This policy has been reviewed and was approved on 7 March 2024; it is next due for review in February 2025.

P art 2: Plan of Corsenside Parish Hall

Part 3: Organisation of Health and Safety

The Corsenside Parish Hall Management Committee (‘the Committee’) has overall responsibility for health and safety at Corsenside Parish Hall:

1. 
   The person with day to day responsibility for the implementation of this policy is: Mr John Clyde Address: 5 Shaw Lane, East Woodburn, Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 2SL Telephone Number at West Woodburn Shop (01434) 270 069.

2. 
   It is the duty of all employees, hirers and visitors to take care of themselves and others who may be affected by their activities and to co-operate with the Management Committee in keeping the premises safe and healthy, including the grounds.

Anyone using the hall who becomes aware of a fault, damage or other situation which might cause injury that cannot be rectified immediately, should put a ‘DO NOT USE’ notice on or near any damaged equipment, place portable equipment in the Kitchen on the bench near the serving hatch. Inform the person named above as soon as possible or the Secretary Dr Richard Virden – rev.virden@gmail.com – so that the problem can be dealt with.

The following persons have responsibility for specific items:

1. 1. 
      First Aid box: John Clyde

   2. 
      Reporting of accidents to Health and Safety Executive: John Clyde

   3. 
      Fire precautions and checks: Richard Virden

   4. 
      Training in use of hazardous substances and equipment; David Newton

   5. 
      Risk assessment and inspections: David Newton

   6. 
      Information to contractors: David Newton

   7. 
      Information to hirers: John Clyde, Richard Virden

   8. 
      Insurance: John Clyde, Richard Virden

The plan of the hall (Part 2) shows the location of fire exits, fire-fighting equipment, fuse boxes, water stop valve and loft access.

Part 4: Arrangements and Procedures

1. 
   The Parish Hall has a Premises Licence, permitting activities that were deregulated for community buildings in 2013 (between 08.00 and 23.00hrs): performance of a play; indoor sporting events; non-amplified live music; and performance of dance.

2. 
   Hirers must complete a hire-agreement form and comply with the conditions specified on the hire-agreement. Conditions include a requirement for the hirer to obtain the written consent of the Management Committee before giving the licensing authority a temporary event notice (TEN).

Part 5: Fire Precautions and Checks

1. 
   The locations are shown on the plan (Part 2 above) of the fire exits, fire fighting equipment and isolation switches for services.

2. 
   The person on the Committee with responsibility for the fire risk assessment: John Clyde

3. 
   Company appointed to maintain and service fire safety equipment:

• 
  Northfire Tel: 0845 619 3619 Low Park End, Simonburn, Hexham, NE48 3AE

• 
  Location of Service Record: Notice board in Main Entrance lobby
  
  
  

Part 6: List of Equipment and its location

Part 7: Procedure in case of accidents

Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (24.6 miles)

Northumbria Way, Cramlington, Northumberland

NE23 6NZ

Tel: 0344 811 8111

1. 
   The nearest doctor’s surgery is:

2. 
   The Bellingham Practice, Bellingham (01434) 220 203

3. 
   The First Aid Box is located in: Kitchen. The person responsible for keeping this up to date is: John Clyde

4. 
   The accident book is kept with the First Aid Box. An entry must be completed by the hirer in attendance whenever an accident occurs. Any accident must be reported to the responsible member of the management committee, who is: John Clyde

5. 
   The person responsible for completing RIDDOR forms and reporting accidents is: John Clyde

6. 
   Types of reportable injury:
   

   1. 
      Death

   2. 
      Major injuries:
      

      1. 
         Over-seven-day absence from work owing to injuries

      2. 
         For people not at work:

• • • • 
        Where a member of the public or person not at work has died

      • 
        Injuries to members of the public or person not at work where they are taken from the scene of an accident to hospital for treatment

The following major injuries or incidents must be reported on RIDDOR forms

• • 
    fracture, other than to fingers, thumbs or toes

  • 
    amputation

  • 
    dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine

  • 
    loss of sight (temporary or permanent)

  • 
    any penetrating injury to the eye (including chemical)

  • 
    injury from electric shock/burn leading to unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours

  • 
    any other injury leading to hypothermia, heat–induced illness or unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or requiring admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours

  • 
    unconsciousness caused by asphyxia or exposure to harmful substance or biological agent

  • 
    acute illness requiring medical treatment or loss of consciousness arising from absorption of any substance by inhalation, ingestion or through skin

  • 
    acute illness requiring medical attention which may have resulted from a biological agent or its toxins or infected material.

Relevant examples of reportable dangerous occurrences include:

• • 
    electrical short circuit or overload causing fire or explosion

  • 
    collapse or partial collapse of a scaffold over 5m high

  • 
    unintended collapse of a building under construction or alteration, or of a wall or floor

  • 
    explosion or fire

Part 8 Safety Rules

1. 
   All hirers will be expected to read the whole of the hiring agreement and should sign the hiring form as evidence that they agree to the hiring conditions. All new hirers will also be given information/training by the secretary about safety procedures at the hall which they will be expected to follow (especially the fire evacuation procedures and the location of the accident book).

2. 
   The committee has carried out risk assessments. The following practices must be followed in order to minimise risks:
   

   1. 
      Make sure that all emergency exit doors are clear and unlocked as soon as the hall is to be used and throughout the hiring

   2. 
      Do not operate or touch any electrical equipment where there are signs of damage, exposure of components or water penetration etc.

   3. 
      Do not work on steps, ladders or at height until they are properly secured and another person is present

   4. 
      Do not leave portable electrical appliances operating while unattended

   5. 
      Do not bring onto the property any portable electrical appliances which have not been Portable Appliance Tested.

   6. 
      Do not attempt to move heavy or bulky items (e.g. stacked tables or chairs)

   7. 
      Do not stack more than five chairs

   8. 
      Do not attempt to carry or tip a water boiler when it contains hot water. Leave it to cool.

   9. 
      Do not allow children in the kitchen except under close supervision (e.g. for supervised cookery lessons or, in the case of older children, for supervised serving of food at functions). Avoid over-crowding in the kitchen and do not allow running.

   10. 
       Wear suitable protective clothing when handling cleaning or other toxic materials

   11. 
       Report any evidence of damage or faults to equipment or the building’s facilities to John Clyde

   12. 
       Report every accident in the accident book and to John Clyde

   13. 
       Be aware and seek to avoid the following risks:

• • • 
      creating slipping hazards on stairs, polished or wet floors – mop spills immediately

    • 
      creating tripping hazards such as step-ladders, brooms, mops and other items left in circulation areas

    • 
      use adequate lighting to avoid tripping in poorly lit areas

    • 
      risk to individuals while in sole occupancy of the building

    • 
      risks involved in handling kitchen equipment e.g. cooker, water heater and knives

    • 
      creating toppling hazards by piling equipment e.g. in store cupboards.

Part 9 Contractors

The Committee will check with contractors (including self-employed persons) before they start

work that:

1. 
   the contract is clear and understood by both the contractors and the committee

2. 
   the contractors are competent to carry out the work e.g. have appropriate qualifications, references and experience

3. 
   contractors have adequate public liability insurance cover

4. 
   contractors have seen the health and safety file and are aware of any hazards which might arise (e.g. electricity cables)

5. 
   contractors do not work alone on ladders at height (if necessary a volunteer should be present)

6. 
   contractors have their own health and safety policy for their staff

7. 
   the contractor knows which member of the committee is responsible for overseeing that their work is as asked-for and to a satisfactory standard

8. 
   any alterations or additions to the electrical installations or equipment must conform to the

current regulations of the Institute of Electrical Engineers.

Part 10 Insurance

The hall’s Employer’s Liability and Public Liability insurance is provided by:

Allied Westminster (Insurance Services) Ltd

Allied House, Holgate Lane

Boston Spa, LS23 6BN

Tel: 01937 845245

Policy No.

VH 88/0047440/BS67056

Master policy number 24166446CHC

Date of next renewal 1 February 2025

Public and Product Liability

The standard policy limit is £10,000,000

Exclusions include :

Error or omission from any professional services.

Any liability arising from advice, design or specification whether given for a fee or not.

The Committee will review these procedures annually: they were reviewed and approved on 07 March 2024. The next review is due in February 2025

Appendix: Further information

Useful publications

The Health and Safety Executive publishes a wide range of priced and free publications of which the following are a selection:

• Five Steps to Risk Assessment

• Everyone’s Guide to RIDDOR (Reporting of Accidents etc.)

• COSSH: new brief guide for employers

• Preventing slips, trips and falls at work

• Five Steps to Successful Health and Safety Management

• Legionnaires’ disease ( A Guide for employers)

• Accident Book

• Guide to Preparing a Health and Safety Policy for a Small Business

• Essentials of Health and Safety at work

• Health & Safety Regulations … a short guide

Directory of Social Change—The Health and Safety Handbook: For Voluntary and Community Organisations, Second Edition ISBN 1903991013. Website: www.dsc.org.uk

The Play Safety Forum – ‘Managing Risk in Play Provision – A Position Statement’, from the

Children’s Play Information Service, National Children’s Bureau, 8 Wakley St. London EC1V 7QE.

Tel: 020 7843 6303 Website: www.ncb.org.uk/cpc and click resources.

Guide No. 6 Fire safety risk assessment