General Statement of Health & Safety Policy
The aim of FarmLink is to provide a safe and healthy working and learning environment for staff, volunteers, pupils / students and visitors. The Trustees believe the prevention of accidents, injury or loss is essential to the effective operation of FarmLink and is part of the education of students.
The Trustees note the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and in particular the duty of every ‘employer’ to conduct their business in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons who are and also persons who are not in their employment, but who may be affected by it, are not exposed to unacceptable risks to their health and safety. The Trustees accept that they have a responsibility to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of staff, volunteers and others.
The arrangements outlined in this policy statement and the various other safety provisions made by the Trustees cannot in themselves prevent accidents or ensure safe and healthy working conditions. This can only be achieved through the adoption of safe methods of work and good practice by every individual. The Trustees will take all reasonable steps to identify and reduce hazards to a minimum but all staff, volunteers and students must appreciate that their own safety and that of others also depends upon their individual conduct and vigilance while on premises used by FarmLink.
The Trustees will review this policy statement annually and update, modify or amend it as considered necessary to ensure the health, safety and welfare of staff, volunteers and students.
The Employer and Trustees
The ‘Employer’
Although currently with no employees, for the purpose of the Health and Safety Policy FarmLink is viewed as an employer.
The Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places duties on employers to safeguard, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees and the health and safety of other persons who may be affected by their work activities, such as volunteers, teachers, students and visitors.
FarmLink requires that key personnel implement relevant health & safety enactments, policies, codes of practice / guidelines and operate effective safety management systems for all activities on all sites that they manage or use.
For the purposes of health & safety management, all deliverers are deemed to be key personnel.
Responsibilities / Duties of Trustees
Trustees are responsible for monitoring compliance with statutory requirements and with relevant safety policies. As such Trustees are required to ensure that the management structure is documented, implemented and effective.
Health and safety will feature as a regular agenda item at Trustee meetings. Regular monitoring and review of the effectiveness of the health and safety policy is conducted to ensure that any necessary changes are made.
Reports on health and safety will be received from deliverers and any of the following as appropriate:
• The Local Authority’s Health and Safety Adviser
• School health and safety representatives
• Teachers
The Trustees will, so far as is reasonably practicable, provide:
• Adequate allocation of resources, including time, for work and activities with implications for health and safety to take place
• A safe environment for staff, volunteers, students and visitors to go about their various activities
• Adequate welfare facilities
• Necessary safety and protective equipment and clothing
• Safe equipment and systems of work
• Safe arrangements for the handling, storage and transport of articles and hazardous substances
• Supervision, training and instruction so that all staff, volunteers and students can perform their activities in a safe and healthy manner
The opportunity for all staff to receive health and safety training appropriate to their duties and responsibilities. This should be given before an employee commences any relevant work. Wherever training is required by statute, or considered necessary for the safety of staff, volunteers, students and others, the Trustees will ensure that such training is provided. Records will be kept of all training. Training will be regularly updated.
The Trustees, so far as is reasonably practicable and in consultation with the Chief Executive, will:
Make itself familiar with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and any other health and safety legislation and codes of practice that are relevant to the work of FarmLink, in particular the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.
Adopt and maintain an effective policy, organisation and arrangements for the provision of health and safety throughout all FarmLink activities.
Identify and evaluate risk control measures in order to select the most appropriate means of minimising risks to staff, volunteers, students and others.
Set standards and ensure responsibility is assigned for:
• Reporting accidents
• Recording and investigating accidents
• Undertaking, recording and reviewing risk assessments, especially with regard to:
• Potential accidents
• Health hazards
• Students and their behaviour
• Monitoring adherence to health and safety standards
• Reviewing documentation and distributing information from relevant authorities
• Carrying out inspections
• Providing health and safety training
• Providing first-aid
• Dealing with emergencies
• Monitoring housekeeping standards
• Dealing with complaints on health and safety
• Purchasing and maintaining equipment
• Testing of equipment to ensure it is safe
• Organising security and fire protection arrangements
• Implementing risk control measures
So far as is reasonably practicable, the Trustees, through the Chief Executive will make arrangements for all staff, volunteers and others to receive a copy of this policy and comprehensive information on:
All other relevant health and safety matters
The instruction and training that will be given to all employees so they may carry out their duties in a safe manner without placing themselves or others at risk
Where the Trustees delegate responsibility for carrying out a particular health and safety function to an employee, they must ensure the person is aware of the duty, knows how he / she is expected to perform it, and is provided with any necessary information, instruction, training and supervision and resources (including time). In addition suitable measures for monitoring performance standards must be put in place.
Responsibilities / Duties of the Chief Executive
As well as having the general responsibilities / duties of all members of staff the Chief Executive, as Key Manager, also has responsibility for ensuring the requirements of all relevant legislation, codes of practice and guidelines are met in full at all times and for the day to day maintenance and development of safe working practices and conditions for staff, volunteers, students, visitors and any other person using the premises or engaged in activities relating to FarmLink. He / she will take reasonable, practicable steps to achieve this and assign clear safety functions to other members of staff as appropriate.
In particular, the Chief Executive will, so far as is reasonably practicable:
• Be aware of and ensure compliance with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and any other health and safety legislation and codes of practice relevant to FarmLink.
• Ensure that statutory health and safety notices are displayed in appropriate locations.
• Implement this policy with regard to him/her self and others, including the carrying out and documentation of hazard identification, risk assessments and suitable control measures – identified in a suitable health and safety action plan.
• Ensure that all staff, including those with delegated health and safety responsibilities, understand and fulfil their obligations for the day-to-day implementation of the safety policy, including the carrying out and documentation of hazard identification, risk assessments and suitable control measures.
Ensure that adequate provision is made for employee consultation on matters regarding health and safety.
• Discuss health and safety matters with the Local Authority, the Trustees, the schools, other staff as appropriate and seek advice on such matters as necessary from the most appropriate source.
Ensure that their decisions reflect the health and safety intentions articulated in the health and safety policy.
• Ensure, at all times, the health, safety and welfare of staff, volunteers, students and others via the provision of safe working conditions, systems of work, practices and procedures.
• Ensure that all equipment is fit for purpose, adequately installed, guarded and appropriately used.
• Ensure that all relevant equipment receives planned maintenance, that maintenance records are kept, in accordance with statutory legislation where appropriate, and ensure that defective equipment which constitutes a safety hazard is removed from service immediately and clearly labelled as defective.
• Ensure that appropriate protective clothing and equipment is provided and used whenever necessary.
• Identify the training needs of staff, volunteers and students and make recommendations to the Trustees on resource implications of meeting such needs.
• Ensure that all employees are trained and competent to undertake their work safely, are aware of their own limitations and know they must not undertake any task unless they have been trained, are competent and are confident they can carry out the task safely in the conditions that prevail.
• Ensure that adequate instruction and supervision are provided for students as required.
• Ensure that sufficient first aid cover and facilities are provided.
• Collate accident information and, when necessary, carry out accident and incident investigations.
• Ensure that emergency procedures including those for fire are in place, known, tested regularly and that any necessary revisions are made and disseminated.
• Encourage staff, volunteers, pupils / students and others to promote and achieve high standards of health and safety and suggest improvements and ways and means of reducing risks.
• Monitor the standard of health and safety throughout FarmLink activites, including all farm based activities by:
• Ensuring that frequent inspections of the premises are carried out and any deficiencies identified are rectified promptly.
• Carrying out periodic audit and review of the safety management systems that are in place.
• Monitor the effectiveness of the implementation of this policy and submit an annual report to the Trustees on health and safety matters.
Responsibilities / Duties of All Staff
All staff will make themselves familiar and ensure compliance with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and any other health and safety legislation and codes of practice relevant to the work of FarmLink and also the particular area in which they work. They will, so far as is reasonably practicable:
• Be familiar with this health and safety policy and all safety arrangements including those for fire, first aid and other emergencies as laid down by the Trustees.
• Ensure that health and safety regulations, rules, routines and procedures are being applied effectively.
• Carry out / be aware of hazard identification and risk assessments as appropriate for their area of work.
• Take part in health and safety training as required.
Inform the Chief Executive if there is any reason they are unable to perform any task without undue risk (e.g. illness, incapacity, etc.).
• Only undertake any task for which they have been trained and are competent or confident of undertaking safely. If they are in any doubt they must seek further advice.
• Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of any other persons (staff, volunteers, students, visitors, etc.) who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.
• Co-operate fully, as a legal duty, with their employer on health and safety matters, including following safe systems of work and not interfering with or misusing anything provided for their health, safety or welfare.
• Ensure that all equipment is adequately guarded, is in good and safe working order and is not used by unauthorised persons or in an improper manner.
• Use the correct equipment and tools for the job and any protective equipment, protective clothing or safety devices that may be supplied.
• Report any defects that they observe in the premises, plant, equipment and facilities and take action to ensure no one is put at risk.
• Report all accidents and near misses immediately, whether injury is sustained or not, using the appropriate procedure, and recording these events on an Accident Report form.
• Promote and achieve high standards of health and safety and suggest improvements and ways and means of reducing risks.
• Staff Consultative Arrangements
• Employers must consult employees on matters that may affect their health and safety. This is done at quarterly management meetings.
The main function of this consultation is to consult with employees on health and safety matters that may affect them, formulate and encourage implementation of health and safety arrangements and bring to light deficiencies in health and safety which arise, with a view to resolving them and to review measures taken to ensure the health & safety of employees. This is often done by analysing accident figures, monitoring safety arrangements and making appropriate safety recommendations to the Trustees.
Risk Assessment
As Key Manager, the Chief Executive will ensure that regular written risk assessments are undertaken of premises, methods of work and all FarmLink activities. These must be reviewed following changes in circumstances or personnel or in accordance with agreed timetables.
Written risk assessments will identify all defects and deficiencies together with the necessary remedial action or risk control measures.
The results of all risk assessments will be reported to the Trustees who will prioritise issues and assign resources to undertake remedial / control measures where required.
Emergency Plans
As Key Manager, the Chief Executive will ensure that an emergency plan is prepared to cover all foreseeable major incidents that could put the occupants or users of FarmLink facilities at risk.
The plan will indicate the actions to be taken in the event of a major incident so that everything possible is done to:
• Save lives
• Prevent injury
• Minimise loss
This sequence will determine the priority of local emergency plan responses
The emergency plan will include arrangements for:
• Contacting emergency services.
• Informing parents / guardians and the Local Authority
• Dealing with the media.
First Aid
The arrangements for first-aid provision will be adequate to cope with all foreseeable incidents.
The number of designated first-aiders will not, at any time, be less than the number required by law. This is determined by risk assessment.
Designated staff will be given such training in first-aid techniques as is required to give them an appropriate level of competence.
Each first-aider will have ‘their own’ first aid kit and be responsible for ensuring this is fully stocked and up to date. They must take care to ensure that when items are discarded, they are discarded safely.
The site manager is responsible for ensuring that a sufficient back-up stock is held on site.
First aiders are made known to all visitors both on induction visits and actual visits. All first-aid signs and containers are identified by a white cross on a green background.
A written record will be kept of all first aid administered in any onsite FarmLink activity.
First Aid Box Contents:
There is no mandatory list of items that should be included in a first aid container. The Chief Executive should decide what to include in the first-aid containers from information gathered during their assessment of first-aid needs. As a guide, where no special risk arises, the HSE recommend a minimum stock of first-aid items would normally be:
• A leaflet giving general guidance on first aid (for example HSE leaflet ‘Basic Advice on First Aid at Work)
• 20 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings (assorted sizes) appropriate to the type of work (dressings may need to be of a detectable type for food handlers);
• Two sterile eye pads
• Four individually wrapped triangular bandages (preferably sterile);
• Six safety pins
• Six medium sized individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings - approximately 12 cm x 12 cm
• Two large sterile individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings - approximately 18 cm x 18 cm
• One pair of disposable gloves
• One pair blunt ended scissors
• Where mains tap water is not readily available for eye irrigation, at least a litre of sterile water or sterile normal saline (0.9%) in sealed, disposable containers should be provided. Once the seal has been broken, the containers should not be kept for reuse.
