Low Bentham Public Hall and Victoria Institute
Health & Safety Policy statement
Part 1 – General Statement of Policy
This document is the Health and Safety Policy of the Low Bentham Public Hall & Victoria Institute.
Our policy is to:
a) Provide healthy and safe working conditions, equipment and systems of work for our employees, volunteers, committee members and hirers
b) Keep the village hall premises and equipment in a safe condition for all users
c) Provide such training and information as is necessary to staff, volunteers and users.
Low Bentham Public Hall & Victoria Institute Management Committee to comply with all health and safety legislation and to act positively where it can reasonably do so to prevent injury, ill health or any danger arising from its activities and operations.
Low Bentham Public Hall & Victoria Institute Management Committee considers the promotion of the health and safety of its employees at work and those who use its premises, including contractors who may work there, to be of great importance. The management committee recognises that the effective prevention of accidents depends as much on a committed attitude of mind to safety as on the operation and maintenance of equipment and safe systems of work. To this end, it will seek to encourage employees, committee members and users to engage in the establishment and observance of safe working practices.
Employees, hirers and visitors will be expected to recognise that there is a duty on them to comply with the practices set out by the committee, with all safety requirements set out in the hiring agreement and with safety notices on the premises and to accept responsibility to do everything they can to prevent injury to themselves or others.
Part 2: Organisation of Health and Safety
The Low Bentham Public Hall & Victoria Institute Management Committee has overall responsibility for health and safety at Low Bentham Public Hall & Victoria Institute.
The person delegated by the management committee to have day-to-day responsibility for the implementation of this policy is:
The Victorian Institute and Public Hall Manager
Telephone No: 015242 63162
Main Street, Low Bentham, Lancaster, LA2 7BX
Email: [email protected]
It is the duty of all employees, hirers and visitors to take care of themselves and others who may be affected by their activities and to co-operate with the management committee in keeping the premises safe and healthy, including the grounds.
Should anyone using the hall come across a fault, damage or other situation which might cause injury and cannot be rectified immediately they should inform the LBPHVI Manager on 015242 63162 or [email protected] as soon as possible so that the problem can be dealt with. Where equipment is damaged, a notice should be placed on it warning that it is not to be used and it should be placed in the kitchen if it can be moved and left with the damage notice prominent if it cannot be moved.
The following persons have responsibility for specific items:
First Aid Box: VI Manager
Reporting of accidents: All users
Fire precautions and checks: VI Manager & Committee
Training in use of hazardous substances and equipment: Cleaner
Risk assessment and inspections: VI Manager & Committee on a Review Timetable
Information to contractors: VI Manager
Information to hirers: VI Manager
Insurance: VI Manager and Treasurer
Part 3: Arrangements and Procedures
3.1 Licence
The premises has a Premises Licence authorising the following regulated entertainment and licensable activities at the times indicated
a. The performance of plays
b. The exhibition of films
c. Indoor sporting events
d. Boxing or wrestling entertainment
e. The performance of live music
f. The playing of recorded music
g. The performance of dance
h. Entertainments similar to those in a – g
i. Making music
j. Dancing
k. Entertainment similar to those in i – j
l. The provision of hot food/drink after 11pm
Indicate activities to take place at your event
Individuals and / or organisations who wish to provide alcohol will provide their own licence.
3.2 Fire Precautions and Checks
A copy of the evacuation procedure, and a map showing the fire exits, firefighting equipment, assembly point(s), gas meters, consumer units, fuse box, stopcock, boiler is an integral part of this policy.
The Low Bentham Public Hall and Victoria Institute Manager and Committee are responsible for testing the fire risk assessment, fire drills, ensuring fire safety equipment is maintained along with maintaining records pertaining to fire safety.
Public Safety Officer 07464532887 (currently Alice Michelmore-Brown)
Fire Brigade contact Tel: 999
3.3 Procedure in case of accidents
The location of the nearest hospital Accident and Emergency/Casualty department is: Lancaster Royal Infirmary
The telephone no. for the nearest doctor’s surgery is: 015242 61202
The First Aid Boxes are located in the first cupboard near the door in the kitchen.
The person responsible for keeping the first aid boxes stocked is the LBPHVI Manager.
The accident book/forms are kept in the office filing cabinet. This must be completed whenever an accident occurs.
Any accident must be reported to the LBPHVI Manager via a phone call and / or email (015242 63162 / [email protected])
The persons responsible for completing RIDDOR forms and reporting accidents are the LBPHVI Manager and Committee
The following major injuries or incidents must be reported on RIDDOR forms:
• fracture, other than to fingers, thumbs or toes
• amputation
• dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine
• loss of sight (temporary or permanent)
• any penetrating injury to the eye (including chemical)
• injury from electric shock/burn leading to unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours;
• any other injury leading to hypothermia, heat – induced illness or unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or requiring admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.
• unconsciousness caused by asphyxia or exposure to harmful substance or biological agent
• acute illness requiring medical treatment or loss of consciousness arising from absorption of any substance by inhalation, ingestion or through skin
• acute illness requiring medical attention which may have resulted from a biological agent or its toxins or infected material.
Relevant examples of reportable dangerous occurrences include:
• electrical short circuit or overload causing fire or explosion • collapse or partial collapse of a scaffold over 5m high
• unintended collapse of a building under construction or alteration, or of a wall or floor
• explosion or fire.
3.4 Safety Rules
All hirers will be expected to read the whole of the hiring agreement and should sign the hiring form as evidence that they agree to the hiring conditions. All new hirers will also be given information by the LBPHVI Manager about safety procedures at the premises which they will be expected to follow (e.g. fire evacuation procedures, use of trolleys to move equipment, use of equipment) and will be shown the location of the accident book and health and safety file.
The committee and / or the LBPHVI Manager have carried out risk assessments. The following practices must be followed in order to minimise risks:
• Make sure that all emergency exit doors are clear and unlocked as soon as the hall is to be used and throughout the hiring
• Do not operate or touch any electrical equipment where there are signs of damage, exposure of components or water penetration etc.
• Do not work on steps, ladders or at height until they are properly secured and another person is present
• Do not leave portable electrical or gas appliances operating while unattended
• Do not bring onto the property any portable electrical appliances which have not been Portable Appliance Tested.
• Do not attempt to move heavy or bulky items (e.g. stacked tables or chairs) – use the trolleys provided
• Do not stack more than five chairs
• Do not attempt to carry or tip a water boiler when it contains hot water. Leave it to cool.
• Do not allow children in the kitchen except under close supervision (e.g. for supervised cookery lessons or, in the case of older children, for supervised serving of food at functions). Avoid over-crowding in the kitchen and do not allow running.
• Wear suitable protective clothing when handling cleaning or other toxic materials
• Report any evidence of damage or faults to equipment or the building’s facilities to LBPHVI Manager
• Report every accident in the accident book and to the LBPHVI Manager
Be aware and seek to avoid the following risks:
• creating slipping hazards on stairs, polished or wet floors – mop spills immediately
• creating tripping hazards such as buggies, umbrellas, mops and other items left in halls and corridors
• use adequate lighting to avoid tripping in poorly lit areas
• risk to individuals while in sole occupancy of the building
• risks involved in handling kitchen equipment e.g. cooker, water heater and knives
• creating toppling hazards by piling equipment e.g. in store cupboards.
3.5 Contractors
The management committee and / or LBPHVI Manager will check with contractors (including self-employed persons) before they start work that:
• the contract is clear and understood by both the contractors and the Committee
• the contractors are competent to carry out the work e.g. have appropriate qualifications, references, experience
• contractors have adequate public liability insurance cover
• contractors have seen the health and safety file and are aware of any hazards which might arise (e.g. electricity cables or gas pipes)
• contractors do not work alone on ladders at height (if necessary a volunteer should be present)
• contractors have their own health and safety policy for their staff
• the contractor knows which member of the committee is responsible for overseeing that their work is as asked and to a satisfactory standard
• any alterations or additions to the electrical installations or equipment must conform to the current regulations of the Institute of Electrical Engineers.
3.6 Insurance
Give details of the company providing the hall’s Employer’s Liability and Public Liability insurance cover:
Name of Insurer: Ansvar Insurance
Address: Ansvar House,St Leonards Road,Eastbourne,East Sussex ,BN21 3UR
Policy No: AYC 2306160
Date of Renewal: annually in April
3.7 Review of Health and Safety Policy
The management committee will review this policy annually. The LBPHVI Manager will bring the policy to a committee meeting for its annual review.
Committee members with responsibility for aspects of health and safety will report to the committee regularly, including any accidents, faults, misuse by hirers or other matters which could affect the health and safety of users or employees.
Signed: (On behalf of the Management Committee)
Name: Julie Bridgeman
Position: Chair
