Health and Safety Policy

Policy Statement

Brick Kiln Composites (“the company”) recognises and accepts its health and safety duties for providing a safe and healthy working environment (as far as is reasonably practicable) for all its workers (paid or volunteer) and other visitors to its premises under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, other relevant legislation, and common law duties of care. Throughout this Statement, terms such as “staff”, “workers”, “employees”, include both paid and volunteer workers.

It is the policy of Brick Kiln Composites to promote the health and safety of staff and visitors to the company’s premises (“the Premises”) and to that intent to:

  • Take all reasonably practicable steps to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of all personnel on the premises;
  • Provide adequate working conditions with proper facilities to safeguard the health and safety of personnel and to ensure that any work which is undertaken produces no unnecessary risk to health or safety;
  • Encourage persons on the premises to co-operate with the Company in all safety matter, in the identification of hazards which may exist and in the reporting of any condition which may appear dangerous or unsatisfactory;
  • Ensure the provision and maintenance of plant, equipment and systems of work that are safe;
  • Maintain safe arrangements for the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances;
  • Provide sufficient information, instruction, training, and supervision to enable everyone to avoid hazards and contribute to their own safety and health;
  • Provide specific information, instruction, training, and supervision to personnel who have particular health and safety responsibilities (e.g. a person appointed as a Health and Safety Officer or Representative);
  • Make, as reasonably practicable, safe arrangements for protection against any risk to health and safety of the general public or other persons that may arise for the Company’s activities;
  • Make suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of employees and of persons not in the employment of the Company arising out of or in connection with the Company’s activities;
  • Make specific assessment of risks in respect of new or expectant mothers and young people under the age of eighteen;
  • Provide information to other employers of any risks to which those employer’s workers on the Company’s premises may be exposed.

Management Statement

This policy statement and/or the procedures for its implementation may be altered at any time by the Company’s Management Committee (“the Board”). The statement and the procedures are to be reviewed in the (autumn) of each year by the Health and Safety Sub-committee or by other persons appointed by the Board. A report on the review, with any other proposals for amendment to the statement of procedures, is to be made to the next following ordinary meeting of the Board.

1. Principles

1.2 Statutory Duty of the Company

The company will comply with its duty to ensure, as far as it reasonably practicable, the health and safety and welfare at work of its workers and of visitors to its premises, and in general, to:

1.2.1 Make workplaces safe and without risks to health;

1.2.2 Ensure plant and machinery are safe and that safe systems of work are set and followed;

1.2.3 Ensure articles and substances are moved, stored, and used safely;

1.2.4 Give volunteers/ workers the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary for their health and safety.

In particular, the Company will:

1.2.5 Assess the risks to health and safety of its workers and visitors;

1.2.6 Make arrangements for implementing the health and safety measures identified as necessary by this assessment;

1.2.7 Record the significant findings of the risk assessment and the arrangements for health and safety measures;

1.2.8 Draw up a health and safety policy statement; including the health and safety organisation and arrangements in force, and bring it to the attention of its workers;

1.2.9 Appoint someone competent to assist with health and safety responsibilities;

1.2.10 Set up emergency procedures

1.2.11 Provide adequate First Aid facilities;

1.2.12 Make sure that the workplace satisfies health, safety and welfare requirements, e.g., for ventilation, temperature, lighting, noise, sanitary and rest facilities.

1.2.13 Make sure that work equipment is suitable for its intended use as far as health and safety is concerned, and that it is properly maintained and used;

1.2.14 Prevent or adequately control exposure to substances that may damage health;

1.2.15 Take precautions against danger from flammable or explosive hazards, electrical equipment, noise or radiation;

1.2.16 Avoid hazardous manual handling operations and, where they cannot be avoided, reduce the risk of injury;

1.2.17 Provide health surveillance as appropriate;

1.2.18 Provide free any protective clothing or equipment where risks are not adequately controlled by other means;

1.2.19 Ensure that appropriate safety signs are provided and maintained;

1.2.20 Report certain injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the appropriate health and safety enforcing authority.

1.3 Statutory Duty of the Company’s Employees

Employees also have legal duties, and the Company requests that non-employed workers also observe these duties whilst on Company premises. They include:

1.3.1 To take reasonable care for their own health and safety, and that of other person who may be affected by what they do;

1.3.2 To cooperate with the Company on health and safety;

1.3.3 To use work items provided by the Company on health and safety;

1.3.4 Not to interfere with, or misuse anything provided for health, safety, and welfare purposes;

1.3.5 To report at the earliest opportunity, but no later than 7 days, injuries, accidents, or dangerous occurrences at work, including the public and participants in activities organised by the Company.

2. Policy for Visitors and Contractors

2.1 On arrival all visitors should report to the reception, where they will be met by a Company representative.

2.1.1 The representative is to take responsibility for the visitor(s) and assist in their evacuation from the building during an emergency or arrange help in the event of an accident.

2.2 On arrival, all visitors, including contractors and/or their workers, must sign a record of the date and time of their arrival, and before leaving, should further record their time of departure.

2.3 Contractors working on the premises should report any concerns relating to their own safety or suspected unsafe working practices to the Duty Representative, who will investigate and report to the Board.

3. Health and Safety Sub-Committee

The Board have appointed a Health and Safety Sub-Committee, including representation both of themselves and of staff (both paid and contractor):

3.1 To have a broad overview of Health and Safety matters

3.2 To keep the Company’s Health and Safety policy and procedures under review;

3.3 To conduct safety tours of the premises;

3.4 To ensure that risk assessments are carried out, including assessments regarding substance hazardous to health (COSSH Regulations);

3.5 To take such action as may be required to ensure that the Company’s responsibilities for Health and Safety are fulfilled;

3.6 To report to the Management Board on their performance of these responsibilities.

Contractors working on the premises should report any concerns relating to their own safety or suspected unsafe working practices to the duly appointed representative of the subcommittee who will investigate and report to the Company.

4. Safety Tours

4.1 The Health and Safety Sub-Committee shall carry out 6-montly tours and inspections of the premises and make a report to the next ordinary meeting of the Board. All necessary action as a result of the tour, shall where reasonable and practicable, be implemented. The tour shall include inspection of the accident file.

5. Accident Forms and Books

5.1 An accident reporting book is located in the main canteen.

5.2 Any injury suffered by an employee or visitor in the course of employment or otherwise on the Company’s premises, however slight, must be recorded, together with such other particulars as required by statutory regulations, on an accident form maintained by the Company.

5.3 Competed forms should be handed to HR or the duly appointed member of the Health and Safety Sub-Committee.

6. Fire Precautions

6.1 All personnel must familiarise themselves with fire escape routes and procedures and follow the directions of dedicated Fire Marshals in relation to fire.

6.2 The Company will train and maintain adequate staffing of Fire Marshals, who are responsible for the safe maintaining of Fire Safety equipment in their designated area.

6.3 Fire Marshals are responsible for the safe evacuation and coordination of staff towards the designated Fire Assembly Point.

6.4 The Designated Fire Assembly Point for the Company premises is: Main Gate Car Park

7. Equipment and Appliances

7.1 No equipment or appliance may be used other than as provided by, or specifically authorised by, or on behalf of the Company, and any directions for the use of such must be followed precisely.

8. Safety Clearways

8.1 Corridors and doorways must be kept free of obstructions and properly lit.

9. Maintenance

9.1 Defective equipment, furniture and structures must be reported as such to the duly appointed maintenance representative without delay.

10. Waste and Material Disposal

10.1 Facilities for the disposal of waste materials must be kept in a clean and hygienic condition. Waste must be disposed of in an appropriate manner, and in accordance with any special instructions relating to the material concerned.

11. Display Screen Equipment

The Company recognises its responsibility to ensure the well-being of workers who habitually use Display Screen Equipment (DSE) for a significant part of their normal work.

11.1 Workers are advised to ensure that they take a five minute break from DSE at least once an hour.

11.2 Workers who experience vision defects or other discomfort that they believe may be wholly or in part a consequence of their use of DSE, should notify their line manager. Such workers have the right to an eye-test at the Company’s expense.

Arrangements and Procedures for First Aid and Fire Incidents

1. First Aid and Accident Reporting

1.1 The current First Aider(s) for the Company are displayed on the Notice Board in the Main Canteen Area, as well as next to each First Aid Box.

1.2 First Aid boxes are provided in the following location(s):

1.2.1 Main Office

1.2.2 Main Canteen

1.2.3 Outside Breakout

1.2.4 Main Clean Room

1.2.5 Main Trim Shop

1.2.6 Stores / Machine Shop

1.2.7 Outside Trainee Clean Room and Trimming

1.3 In the event of an accident, call for a First Aider or ring for an ambulance directly if required. To call an ambulance – dial 999 and ask for “ambulance.”;

1.3.1 All accidents must be reported as soon as possible to the Health and Safety Officer or another member of senior staff immediately.

1.3.2 All accidents will be investigated by the Health and Safety Officer, or by any individual as delegated to by the Health and Safety Sub-Committee.

2. Fire Drills and Evacuations

2.1 All workers and visitors must know the fire procedures, position of fire appliance and escape routes.

2.2 The fire alarm points, fire exists, and emergency lighting system will be tested by the Fire Officer/Health and Safety Officer during the first week of every month and entered in the logbook provided.

2.3 The Fire Officer/Health and Safety Officer will arrange for Fire Drills and Fire

Prevention Checks (see Appendix A below) to be carried out at least once every three months and entered in the logbook. In addition, these drills will be carried out at different time and on different days, so that all users of the premises know the procedures.

2.4 The last person securing the premises will ensure Fire Prevention Close Down Checks are made of all parts of the premises at the end of a session. (See Appendix A.)

2.5 IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE

2.5.1 Persons discovering a fire should sound the nearest alarm;

2.5.2 The first duty of all employees is to evacuate from the building by the nearest exit immediately.

2.5.3 The assembly point for the building is MAIN GATE CAR PARK

2.5.4 No-one should leave the assembly point without permission from a Fire Marshal, and not least until a full roll call has been undertaken.

2.5.5 If any fire occurs, however minor, the Fire Brigade must be called by dialling 999 and asking for “Fire.”

2.5.6 When the Fire Brigade arrive, the Duty Fire Marshal must inform them whether all persons are accounted for and the location of the fire.

Appendix A – Fire Prevention

1. Has the Fire brigade been consulted on:

  • The number and width of escape routes so as to provide a ready means of escape from all parts of the premises?
  • Emergency lighting and its maintenance?
  • The most suitable way of raising an alarm in the event of fire?
  • The contents of fire instruction notices?
  • The numbers and types of fire extinguishers or other fire-fighting appliances which should be provided
  • Precautions to be taken with any activities involving the use of flammable liquids, naked flames or heating processes?
  • The desirability of battening or clipping seats together in sets of four where moveable seats are used for large audiences?
  • The maximum number of people who should be allowed on the premises at any one time? Are seating and gangways in the hall/rooms so arranged as to allow free and easy access direct to fire exits?
  • Are exit doors always unlocked before the start of any session and kept unlocked until the last person leaves
  • Are escape routes and exit doors clearly sign-posted and marked so that anyone not familiar with the building can quickly see the ways out
  • Are escape routes and exit doors never allowed to become obstructed or hidden by chairs, stage props, curtains etc.?

2. Is Fire Equipment properly looked after?

  • Are fire extinguishers, hose reels and fire alarm systems (where provided) regularly maintained by specialist fire engineering firms?
  • Are staff/duty officers trained to use this equipment?
  • Is equipment kept in its proper position and always clearly visible and unobstructed?

3. Are thorough close-down checks made of all parts of the premises at the end of an evening or session?

  • No smouldering fires or cigarettes left burning?
  • Heater and cookers turned off?
  • Televisions and other electrical apparatus turned off and unplugged?
  • Lights off?
  • Internal doors closed?
  • Outside doors and windows closed and secured?

4. Are all reasonable steps taken to prevent fires?

  • Smoking not allowed in storerooms or backstage?
  • Substantial ashtrays provided in areas where smoking is permitted?
  • Heating appliances fitted with adequate and secure fire guards?
  • If portable heaters have to be used, are they securely fixed and kept away from combustible materials?
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