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Health & Safety Policy

  1. Overview

Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill aims to provide effective control of the health and safety risks arising from our work activities. This includes providing and maintaining a safe environment, vehicles and equipment; safe handling and use of substances; providing information, instruction and supervision for co-workers and residents; implementing emergency procedures – evacuation in case of fire or other significant incident.

Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill has a dedicated Health & Safety taskforce, which is to receive any reports, incidents, accidents or relevant information with regards to keeping Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill a safe place to work and live. Managers are responsible for dealing with any H&S emergencies. This policy offers guidance on the risk assessment process and sets out Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill’s arrangements for carrying out this policy.

All co-workers and volunteers need to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of the people they work with. It is the responsibility of everyone in Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill to follow this Health and Safety (H&S) Policy. If anyone fails to comply, this could lead to disciplinary action.



  1. What you need to know

An accident is an unplanned or uncontrolled event or sequence of events that results in injury or damage

An incident is an unplanned or uncontrolled event or sequence of events that has the potential to cause injury, ill-health or damage.

A hazard is anything that can cause harm (e.g. chemicals, electricity, working from ladders, etc.).

A risk is the chance, high or low, that someone will be harmed by the hazard.

The Health and Safety task force will ensure that risks associated with workplace hazards and individuals are either eliminated or suitably and sufficiently assessed and reduced to an acceptable level, in order to provide as safe an environment as possible for all members of the community. The H&S taskforce alongside the relevant managers for the service are responsible for ensuring that the necessary risk assessments are in place and reviewed.

Every house and workshop has a relevant First Aid box/supply. Co-workers will be included in first aid training sessions where appropriate. Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill will ensure that there are sufficient named First Aiders with the comprehensive First Aid at Work training.

Every co-worker is required to undertake the Health & Safety Awareness training when starting at Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill.

The minutes of all H&S taskforce meetings are shared with the appointed trustee for H&S.


Safe handling and use of substances


Safe handling of machinery, tools, etc. is specified in the relevant Risk Assessments. These are produced and kept up-to-date by the relevant managers. Also, the relevant manager is responsible for identifying all substances, including adding new materials, which need a COSHH assessment and will be responsible for ensuring the COSHH assessments are carried out. The relevant safety data sheets will be kept in a central location. The assessments will be reviewed annually or when the product changes, whichever is soonest



Fire and evacuation


The relevant manager is responsible for ensuring the fire risk assessment is undertaken and implemented.

Everyone in Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill must take responsibility to ensure that escape routes are kept clear of any impediment.

Alarms are tested every week by an appointed person in each area. The relevant manager is responsible that all fire safety equipment is checked and maintained regularly.

Emergency evacuation/ fire drills will be carried out every 3 months.




  1. Workplace Risk Assessments



All RAs need to provide sufficient guidance to address the following five questions:

  • What are the hazards?

  • Who might be harmed and how?

  • What are you already doing and what further action is necessary?

  • How will you put the assessment into action?

  • When will the RA be reviewed?

The standard way of dealing with hazards is to eliminate, reduce or transfer the associated risks. Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill, in applying a risk assessment, uses the following hierarchy of risk control that provides a clear picture of where improvements need to be made. The order is important, as it is better to eliminate the hazard than having to rely on people wearing safety equipment or similar. However, it is important to acknowledge the complex needs of Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill residents, which often entail risks. Whilst there is a need to minimise risks, elimination may result in a loss of freedom and choice to the individual. Meeting the challenge of risks with effective risk management is a fundamental aim of Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill



Risk Assessments for Residents


It is mandatory for all members attending or residents living in Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill to have a Risk Assessment in place in their personal file in compliance with the National Care Standards. The RA needs to include the following information: Risk, Potential Harm, Persons at Risk, Seriousness of Harm, Solution, and Likelihood of Occurrence.



  1. What you must do



Fire and Evacuation

The relevant fire safety and evacuation plans are held and displayed at each site/property individually.



Accidents & Incidents

  • An injury may be dealt with by a first aider or appointed person. In the event of a serious injury the injured person should be escorted to the A&E by a co-worker. However, if an emergency arises an ambulance should be called at the first opportunity.

  • Any accident involving an emergency must be reported to senior management immediately.

  • All accidents and incidents, no matter how minor, must be recorded as soon after the event as possible.

  • The person who witnesses the accident/incident should complete the report in detail. The details given in the report should be factual. If you did not see what happened do not make assumptions.

  • As accident and incident reports need to be read and investigated by the managers and possibly external authorities make sure that they are written clearly and legibly. Some people may find it easier to write in block capitals.

  • All accident and incident reports should be forwarded and reported to the line manager.

  • Accidents occurring outside Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill’s premises must be reported when co-workers return to base.

  • If an injury renders a person unable to make an entry in the accident book or complete the necessary form, it should be completed by a witness or someone who can give an account of the accident.

  • Where an accident results in absence from work, co-workers must inform management of their progress up to and including a return to normal duties.

  • Under RIDDOR, the Manager is responsible for reporting accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the enforcing authority and under a duty of care to the Regulatory authority.

  • A co-worker or manager must contact a family member or carer to report an accident/incident involving a resident no matter how minor, and discuss follow-up actions.

Any accident/incident that result in harm or injury to a resident, which results in:

  • A GP visit

  • A referral to hospital

  • An injury reported under Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR)


must be reported to the Care Inspectorate and the relevant social work department within 24 hours and all records should be available for inspection.



Investigation of Accidents

  • Where appropriate, the manager will, after consulting others with an interest in the matter, undertake an investigation into the accident, in order to discover how it came about and to see what can be learnt from the accident and how working procedures could be improved.

  • After the investigation a follow up action plan should be examined. Any changes in practice should be considered and ways to reduce the likelihood of the type of incident or accident recurring.

  • The conclusions of such an investigation may need to be incorporated into the existing Risk Assessments. The emphasis in all such investigations will be on learning for the future, rather than finding someone to blame.




Undertaking Risk Assessments

  1. Can the risk be eliminated altogether?

  2. Can the risk be replaced with something less hazardous?

  3. Can the hazard be separated from the individual who may be harmed?

  4. Can the work or residential space be re-organised to reduce risk?

  5. Can personal protective equipment or a method of reducing contact with risk be used?




  1. References

Health & Safety Act 1974; The Regulation of Care (Requirements as to Care Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2002; The Health and Safety (First Aid) regulations 1981; Health and Safety at Work Regulation 1974; Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulation 1992; Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH); Chemical Regulations 2002; Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR); Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.


 

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