B)Gives You an Outline of the Responsibilities of Management, Safety Staff, and Employee

INTRODUCTION

This section outlines general information on the arrangements for health and safety. It contains our Health and Safety Policy Statement which:

a)Recognises the employers over riding responsibilities for health, safety and welfare of its employees.

b)Gives you an outline of the responsibilities of management, safety staff, and employee.

c)Defines the organisation and arrangements that have been developed to provide a safe and healthy working environment.

WESTMINSTER HOMECARE HEALTH AND SAFETY STATEMENT

Westminster Homecare recognises its health and Safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Wok Act 1999 and the concomitant protective legislation including the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Fire Precautions Act 1971 both as an employer and as a company. To this end, it has appointed the Managing Director to be responsible for health and safety, keep workplace procedures relating to health and safety under constant review and to liaise with the Enforcing body (Environmental Health) wherever necessary so as to keep the Company and its Board of Directors updated on any new relevant legislation, EC Directives, regulations and British Standards, in order to ensure compliance.

In recognition of its duties under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) the Company has instituted a system for reporting accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the HSE including injury to any trainee and this is in addition to its statutory duty to keep an Accident Book available for inspection by an Inspector of the HSE.

In furtherance of (1) the Company proposes always to comply with under Section 2 of the HASAWA 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulations 3 – 7 towards its employees, and more particularly, as far as is reasonably practical to;

Provide and maintain a safe place of work, a safe system of work, safe appliances for work and a safe and healthy working environment,

Provide such information, instruction may be necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of its employees and also compliance with the Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations 1989, the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992, the provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, the Lifting Operations and Lifting equipment Regulations 1998, the Management

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of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and to promote awareness and understanding of health and safety throughout the workforce,

Ensure safety and absence of health risks in conjunction with use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances,

Make regular risk assessments of employees,

Take appropriate preventative /protective measures,

Where necessary, provide employees with health surveillance, and

Appoint competent personnel to secure compliance with statutory duties.

In further recognition of its statutory duty and common law duties the Company has taken out insurance with an improved insurer against liability for death, injury/and or disease suffered by any of its employees and arising out of in the course of employment provided only that it was caused by he negligence and/or breach of statutory duty on the part of the Company, such certificate of insurance being prominently displayed so as to be available for inspection at all reasonable times by employees or health and safety inspector.

All employees of the company agree, as a term of their contract, to comply with their individual duties under section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, Regulation 14 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1999 and generally co-operate with their employers so as to enable the Employer to carry out their health and safety duties towards them. Failure to comply with health and safety duties, regulations, work rules and procedures relating to health and safety on the part of any employee can lead to dismissal from employment, in the case of serious breaches or repeated breaches such dismissal may be instant without prior warning.

Prime responsibility for health and safety lies with the Managing Director of the Company and Board of Directors and the Company regards itself as bound by any acts and/or omissions of the Managing Director, any executive Director or Senior Manager, giving rise to liability, provided only that such acts and/or omissions rise out of, and in the course of, company business and prosecution of any Director or Senior manager shall not prevent a further prosecution against the Company.

This policy has been prepared in furtherance of Section 2(3) of the Health and Safety at work etc Act 1974 and binds all Directors, Managers and Employees, in the interests of Employees and Customers. We request that our Customers and Clients respect this Policy.

WESTMINSTER HOMECARE HEALTH AND SAFETY

PROCEDURES

General Guidance

Westminster Homecare policy regarding health and safety is to provide and maintain a safe and healthy working environment for all its employees and clients. It is however the responsibility of all employees to perform their duties in a manner which is safe and without risk to the health of themselves and clients.

Westminster Homecare will satisfy the HASAWA and, as a minimum, will comply with all current health and safety legislation, relevant approved codes of practice, guidance notes and British Standards.

Our working environment is to a major extent in the client’s home; by going to work therefore staff will be subject to the conditions of the client’s home and, in some instances, the good or poor health of the client.

This policy and the organisation and arrangements to ensure its implementation, will be brought to the attention of all Westminster Homecare employees. We will continually monitor compliance and will revise the policy when necessary.

Reporting of Accidents

Report any accidents or near misses immediately to your Field Supervisor and record such incidents in the office accident record book.

Westminster Homecare management can often have little or no formal access to your work place. However, you should regularly inspect the premises to ensure that they are of an adequate health and safety standard. Report all areas of concern for yourself or your client to your supervisor.

Safety Training

Management is responsible for providing you with adequate training in health and safety.

Employees will receive on-job training by their supervisors who will explain any hazard associated with the work or function. Operating instructions and manuals will be made available for equipment used at your workplace.

If the nature of your work requires a specialist training course, your supervisor will arrange this.

Hazards or Unsafe Practices

You must not work in a situation where there is an immediate personal risk, or risk to other people.

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If you discover a hazard or unsafe practice at your workplace that could put you at personal risk, or be a danger to others, you must report the matter immediately to your supervisor and request instructions.

Similarly, if you wish to raise any other matter of health and safety, see your supervisor who will take up the matter on your behalf and keep you informed.

Reporting of Accidents, Dangerous Occurrences or ‘Near Misses’

All accidents or dangerous occurrences that result in injury to employees or any other persons, or cause damage to plant or equipment should be reported in the first instance, to your supervisor and to your office co-ordinator. Please forward copies of all forms for reports to Westminster Homecare.

The same procedure should be used for reporting ‘near miss’ situations i.e. and incident attributable to the working environment or working practices, which could have resulted in either injury to persons or damage to property.

Westminster HomecareService recognises and accepts its responsibilities as an employer for providing a safe and healthy workplace and working environment for all its employees and ensuring that no-employees such as members of the public are not put at risk by its work activities.

Westminster Homecarewill take all reasonable steps within its power to meet these responsibilities in particular the provision and maintenance of:

(i)Plant, equipment and systems of work which are safe and without risks to health,

(ii)Sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision to enable all employees to comply with their own duties to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others,

(iii)A place of work, including access to and exit from it, that is safe and without risk to health,

(iv)A healthy and safe working environment,

(v)Adequate welfare facilities,

(vi)Individual employees shall be consulted before being given particular health and safety responsibilities,

(vii)This policy will be reviewed, amended and reissued as often as is necessary.

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