Health and Safety Policy
This document outlines our approach and commitment to Health & Safety in the workplace and demonstrates the responsibilities of all those involved.
Health and Policy Statement
Nothing we do at Double Retail is more important than health and safety. Creating and maintaining a safe and healthy workplace is fundamental to the success of Double Retail. We are committed to working in a way that protects the health, safety and welfare of employees and others affected by our activities.
The company is committed to achieving continuous improvement in health and safety. All accidents and ill health will be learned from and actions and precautions put in place to prevent them happening again in the future.
Everyone will be proactive and provide leadership in health and safety. All employees are accountable for the safety of their areas. This includes their operations, staff, contractors and visitors. Everyone should lead by example.
We all have a responsibility for our own safety and that of our colleagues. Employees will be involved in the continuous improvement of the arrangements in place to ensure their safety.
To achieve our goals in health and safety we will:
Provide a healthy and safe working environment.
Provide suitable resources (including financial) to maintain policy achievement.
Be proactive in assessing and reducing risk.
Investigate accidents and incidents with the potential to cause harm, implementing actions to prevent recurrence. We will prioritise the removal of root causes.
Provide safe systems of work (where necessary), that are workable in practice.
Consult with our workforce through regular meetings.
Provide adequate welfare facilities and occupational health support.
Ensure competent staff. Provide information, instruction and training to this end.
The health and safety policy will be reviewed at least annually.
Laura Templeton-Cox - Director
Date: 15.01.2020
Health and Safety Responsibilities
Laura Templeton-Cox is ultimately responsible and accountable for Health and Safety within Double Retail. As the implementation of this policy progresses, other individuals will be identified with specific policy area implementation responsibilities.
Whilst Laura Templeton-Cox will be involved in all areas of this policy, this does not replace the responsibility all employees have towards their own safety and the safety of others. Employees responsibilities are covered later in this policy.
Responsibilities specially include:
Implementation
Ensuring that health and safety is managed through the implementation of the health and safety policy. Setting objectives that are integrated into all areas of the business and monitoring the effectiveness and attainment of those objectives. Delegation
Ensuring that those to whom health and safety responsibilities are delegated fully understand and are able to meet them.
Insurance
Arranging and maintaining suitable Employer’s Liability insurance and displaying of the current insurance certificate.
Risk Assessment
Ensuring that appropriate risk assessment techniques are used to identify hazards and those who might be exposed to them; to assess the risks and determine whether the risks are adequately controlled and what further action might be necessary to achieve adequate control.
Safe Environment
The promotion of a safe working environment including fire prevention by the adoption of management procedures such that hazards are identified, risks evaluated and any appropriate steps taken to ensure that suitable safeguards are in place where risks cannot be eliminated.
Information and communication
Communicating relevant health and safety issues with all staff to ensure that the risk of injury from any potential hazard identified within the workplace is maintained at an acceptable level.
The establishment of mechanisms for the effective joint consultation on safety, health and environment related matters with employees.
Maintaining sufficient consultations with employees.
The preparation of practical advice and guidance on key aspects of safety, health and environment at work based upon known risks and communication to those to whom it applies.
Ensuring that health and safety issues are reported to the appropriate and employees.
Maintenance of a Health and Safety information source on Wrike with general and specific safety information.
Positioning of a Health and Safety Law poster available for all employees.
The preparation of practical advice and guidance on key aspects of safety, health and environment at work, based upon known risks and communication to those to whom it applies.
Training
The identification and provision of appropriate instruction on health and safety at work and, where necessary, training programmes to provide the necessary knowledge and skills to attain individual competence for safe working.
Monitoring work activities and allocation of duties to ensure that employees are not expected to complete any activities for which they have not received suitable training.
Safe Systems of Work
The preparation and approval of formal practical procedures, where necessary, to assist in safe working with review and amendment as necessary and appropriate monitoring of their application.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
The recording and investigation of all accidents and incidents. The reporting of accidents, industrial diseases and dangerous occurrences as defined under RIDDOR. The development of corrective actions and risk assessment review following any accident or incident.
Fire Safety Management
Give due consideration to fire safety, taking into consideration; premises, occupants and activities. Ensure a current fire risk assessment is in place.
Ensure maintenance and testing of any fire safety equipment and systems.
The implementation of a suitable management system to monitor and maintain fire safety.
Absence monitoring
Keeping in contact with employees absent from work due to an injury or illness relating to work activities.
First aid
Ensuring there are suitable numbers of sufficiently qualified first aiders, and that there are adequate first aid facilities.
Welfare facilities
Ensuring that there is provision for adequate welfare facilities, including rest and eating facilities away from the workplace and sufficient breaks are taken.
The availability of potable drinking water.
The availability of hot water for personal hygiene purposes.
Resource availability
To ensure suitable resources are available (including financial), to allow the maintenance of suitably trained personnel, a safe environment and external expertise where required.
New Equipment and Processes
Compliance with appropriate standards of health and safety in the design and installation of all new facilities, manufacturing or otherwise.
Compliance with the provision and use of workplace equipment regulations (PUWER), where work equipment is required and provided for work activities.
Records
Maintaining suitable records to demonstrate compliance and implementation of this health and safety policy. Records would cover areas such as; accidents at work (including near misses); safe workplace checks; fore safety checks; servicing and maintenance of equipment; health surveillance where required.
Health and Safety Audits
To ensure that regular health and safety audits are carried out to identify risks, monitor standards and procedures and to review implementation of health and safety policies.
To take appropriate action where audits show policies are ineffectual or not implemented.
Contractors
Assessing suitability of contractors and maintenance of a contractor register.
Implementing and monitoring the application of the policy to the safety and health aspects of contractor activity.
Visitors and the General Public
Establishing and implementing measures to safeguard the public from risks to their safety and health arising from activities in areas under the control of the business.
Emergency Procedures
Ensuring that written emergency procedures in place.
Ensuring all relevant personnel are aware of emergency procedures and any duty or duties they may have.
Maintenance
Ensuring that there are systems in place for the maintenance of plant, machines, equipment and buildings.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. (COSHH).
Maintenance of current Safety Data Sheets for all substances used within the workplace or during work activities.
Completion of COSHH risk assessments where necessary related to use of substances.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Where risk assessments have identified the need for PPE, this will be provided by the Double Retail. PPE will be provided based on its suitability and ease of use rather than price. Employees will be expected use PPE where it has been deemed necessary and maintain it in good condition. Damaged or faulty PPE should be reported to their immediate manager.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees are responsible for their own health and safety and for:
Assisting Double Retail in meeting its legal objectives through compliance with the health and safety policy and procedures;
Bringing to the attention of the Laura Templeton-Cox any safety and health issues in the workplace.
Undertaking their work in a safe manner having due regard for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts and omissions;
Following health and safety rules etc. at all times;
Employees must also note that:
Failure to follow the appropriate rules is an offence under health & safety legislation and could render the employee liable to disciplinary action;
It is important that employees do not attempt to undertake work for which they are not received adequate training, or, for which the instructions are agreed to be inadequate.
Hallaran Health and Safety Compliance
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, regulation 7, requires that every employer appoint one or more competent persons to assist them with the implementation and provision of health and safety measures.
Hallaran Health and Safety Compliance has been appointed by Double Retail to provide competent assistance and advice as and when required.
Contractors and other non-employees
All contractors and non-employees will be expected to adhere to the requirements of the Double Retail Health and Safety Policy and all site procedures whilst on site engaged in company business.
All such persons must comply at all times with the local health & safety rules etc. as well as those of their parent organisation. Where the local Double Retail site requirement is stricter, this must take precedence. Failure to comply with this requirement will be deemed to be a serious breach of trust and may result in the contractor or non-employee involved being barred from work on Double Retail premises.
Reporting Structure
Health and Safety Reporting Structure for Double Retail
Health and Safety Management Processes
The general approach to a good health and safety management system is illustrated below. This is the approach adopted by Double Retail. Within this system, the key general elements are:
Policy: A statement of the key objectives of the organisation signed by its most senior officer.
Organisation: Identification of the management structure for the delivery of good health and safety performance. This will also identify the specific responsibilities/accountabilities of key post holders and (in more general terms) all employees, contractors and other non-employees.
Planning & Implementation: A series of policies and procedures regarding how the organisation will deliver particular aspects of health & safety management. Typically, this will include the processes for undertaking risk assessments (generally and for specific issues such as COSHH, DSE, Manual Handling etc), learning from accidents, training requirements etc.
Measuring & Reviewing Performance: How well is the organisation doing? This aspect is key to ensuring continuous improvement. It should include routine workplace inspections and feedback, the actual measures to be used and the setting of improvement targets, objectives and KPI’s.
Audit: should be a continuing theme – from regular local audits through to audits by our external adviser.
This system will be delivered through the Plan, Do, Check, Act principles promoted by the Health and Safety Executive: Actions involved in delivering effective arrangements
Plan, Do, Check, Act | Conventional health and safety management | Process safety |
PLAN | Determine your policy/Plan for implementation | Define and communicate acceptable performance and resources needed Identify and assess risks/Identify controls/ Record and maintain process safety knowledge Implement and manage control measures |
DO | Profile risks/Organise for health and safety/Implement your plan | |
CHECK | Measure performance (monitor before events, investigate after events) | Measure and review performance/Learn from measurements and findings of investigations |
ACT | Review performance (monitor before events, investigate after events) |
(Source: Indg275 HSE).
Last Updated: January 2020
Last updated