HEALTH & SAFETY

Alan Kaye

District 1070 Health & Safety Officer

The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974: Section 7

Requires ALL Members

To take reasonable care of themselves and others who may be affected

To comply with any duty imposed on them by law

The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Regulation 3 requires:• Assessment of all significant risks to health

and safety• The assessment to be suitable & sufficient.• Recording of significant findings• Initiation of appropriate actions• Review of assessment after each event

Health & Safety ExecutiveApplication of Health & Safety standards to

voluntary workers

““In general, the same health and safety standards should be In general, the same health and safety standards should be applied to voluntary workers as they would to employees applied to voluntary workers as they would to employees exposed to the same risks….HSE considers it good exposed to the same risks….HSE considers it good practice for a volunteer user to provide the same level of practice for a volunteer user to provide the same level of health and safety protection as they would in an health and safety protection as they would in an employer/employee relationship, irrespective of whether employer/employee relationship, irrespective of whether there are strict legal duties.”there are strict legal duties.”

HSG1923 (Charity and Voluntary Workers)

Key Points of Risk Assessment

MUST MUST • Cover all aspects of the activity• Have the commitment of all levels of Rotary• Actively involve members

MUST NOTMUST NOT• Lose sight of significant risks in the process

of dealing with the trivial• Become a barrier to doing “business”

Benefits?Benefits?

Compliance with Health & Safety Legislation Compliance with Health & Safety Legislation

Removal or reduction of hazards or risksRemoval or reduction of hazards or risks

Promoting safe working practicesPromoting safe working practices

Contributing to operational effectivenessContributing to operational effectiveness

Outcomes?Outcomes?Investment in peopleInvestment in people

Improved imageImproved image

Improved confidenceImproved confidence

Improved reputationImproved reputation

Protection of RIBI MembersProtection of RIBI Members

What is a Hazard?

Anything with the potential to cause harm

What is Risk? The likelihood a hazard will cause harm

(also reflects the severity)

What is Risk Assessment?

A careful examination of your activitiesA careful examination of your activities

Have you taken enough precautions?

Could you do more to prevent harm from happening?

Have you taken care to ensure risks are minimised?

Five Steps to Risk Assessment

1.1. Look out for hazardsLook out for hazards

2.2. Decide who may be harmed and howDecide who may be harmed and how

3.3. Evaluate the risks Evaluate the risks

4.4. Record your findingsRecord your findings

5.5. Review your assessment - revise for Review your assessment - revise for future events if necessaryfuture events if necessary

1. Look out for the hazards

Ignore trivial, concentrate on significant hazards that could cause serious harm

Ask other club members – they could spot what you have overlooked

Look afresh at what could cause harm

2. Decide who may be harmed

Consider:

People attending your event – could they be harmed by your activities?

Young, elderly, expectant mothers

Visitors, contractors, maintenance staff etc.

3. Evaluate the risks How likely is it the hazard will cause harm? Is the risk high, medium or low? Can you remove the risk? If not, can you do anything to reduce it? Is there a less risky alternative? Can you prevent access to the risk? Do you need to provide first aid?

4. Record your findingsWrite down your findings – record any

hazards identified and your conclusionsYou must show that a proper check was

made and you considered who may be affected

You must show you dealt with significant hazards and made every effort to reduce risks

4. Record your findingsThe written Risk Assessment Form must be

kept for future reference – hand a copy to the Club H&S Officer for filing

It helps show you have done what the law requires

It shows what precautions you have taken – essential if you are asked by a H&S Inspector or become involved in any civil liability action

5. Review your assessment

Amend for future events if additional hazards were discovered at the time or if there is any change to plans that could introduce a new hazard

Check your precautions were undertaken and worked properly

Health & Safety Policy Statement

Provide adequate control of H&S risks Consult with all members Issue all new members with documents Give adequate guidance for risk assessment Maintain safe working conditions Ensure safety of plant and substances Review and revise annually (at AGM)

Health & Safety ResponsibilitiesClub Council Overall responsibility for implementation of

General H&S Policy

Health & Safety Officer Day to day responsibility for H&S Practice

Committee Chairman/Event Organisers Maintenance of standards

All members must take reasonable care of themselves and those around them

Risk AssessmentsEvent Organisers: undertake assessment

Committee Chairman: supervises

Health & Safety Officer: approves action

Committee Chairmen: responsibility that actions are taken to reduce risks

Health & Safety Officer: files and collates

Club Council: review assessments periodically

S atisfy the requirements

A ccept responsibility – that means everyone!

F ill in the forms

E njoy your activities (top of agenda !)

T ake care of yourself and others

Y ou can make it work – it need not spoil what you want to do

Useful InformationDistrict Councils have specialised H&S advisors and should

be your first port of call if you want advice

If they cannot help try HSE Information Line 0845 3450055(answers any questions: confidential manned by civilians)

Web Site: www.hse.gov.uk

Good Practice Safety Guide (72 pages)Issued by Home Office: guidance for voluntary organisations

Copies can be downloaded (free) at:www.rotary1070.org or

www.http.police.homeoffice.gov.uk

Rotary Club of

E-mail address