HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY

It is the policy of Flying High Expressive Arts CIC (FH) to provide, as far as is reasonably practicable, safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work, for company employees and volunteers. FH also aims to provide a safe and healthy environment for participants, audience members and anyone visiting its premises. FH aims to ensure that any work undertaken by the organisation does not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons.

Policy Aims & Objectives

●        To promote and maintain standards of safety, health and welfare, that comply fully with the Health & Safety at Work Act, 1974, other relevant legislation and codes of practice.

●        To protect employees, volunteers, participants and others, including the public, from foreseeable hazards.

●        To provide all employees and volunteers with the necessary information, instruction, training and supervision needed to ensure that safe working practices are adhered to and safety awareness is developed.

●        To ensure that all employees, volunteers and participants are aware of their responsibilities to take care of themselves and others.

●        To encourage consultation and cooperation between employees, volunteers, participants and management on any aspect of health and safety.

●        To regulate any risk created by work operations and where necessary consult with outside bodies in order to maintain a safe working environment.

Responsibilities

Accident & First Aid Procedure – Basic Guidelines

The following steps should be taken to ensure the safety of all those who use FH’s premises:

●        Up to date emergency contact details for all staff, volunteers and participants is held (respectively) in personnel files, volunteer folder and session register folder (please note that It is the participant/staff’s responsibility to notify FH of any changes to their emergency contact details.)

●        Tutors will ensure they have emergency contact details available to them at all points in the sessions.

●        At least 2 adults should be present at all sessions, with a minimum ratio of 1 adult to 8 children (if under 14) or 1 adult to 10 children (if 14+).

●        All staff, tutors and volunteers will receive a copy of this policy prior to commencing work/starting a project.

●        All staff and Tutors are asked to review the relevant risk assessments before starting a project/session.

●        At least one staff member/tutor with up to date First Aid training should be present during working times, including evenings and weekends.

●        Staff members should receive updated basic first aid training every 3 years.

●        All staff and tutors must ensure the space (both indoor and outdoor) used for sessions, rehearsals and performances are safe and that risk is mitigated in line with the relevant risk assessment(s). This includes checking for slip, trip and fall hazards and manual handling issues.

●        All staff and tutors must ensure that activity undertaken on FH’s premises or by FH’s workers and participants is safe and that risk is mitigated in line with relevant risk assessment(s).

●        Use of hazardous chemicals (e.g. spray paints) will be assessed in line with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 by the supervising staff member. The supervising staff member will put in place plans for appropriate ventilation and protective covering provided for anyone coming into contact with these materials, and will report these plans to the Executive Director.

Emergency Response

In the event of an injury that requires emergency medical attention, the Appointed Person should:

●        Dial 999 immediately

●        Give the address as: “Pond Hills Lane Community Centre, Arnold, NG5 8DR” (or appropriate address if off-site)

●        Ensure the injured person is not left alone

●        Meet Emergency Services in front of the building, or delegate a responsible adult to do so

These instructions will be displayed prominently in working areas.

Staff, tutors and volunteers are reminded that emergency situations may include mental health emergencies, including threats of suicide, as well as physical injury. Mental health emergencies should be handled as described above in the same way as any other medical emergency.

In the event of an injury or incident that requires medical attention quickly, but is not an emergency, the Appointed Person can dial 111 to speak to a medical professional who will provide the relevant support.

Fire Safety

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 governs all matters of fire safety. FH’s activities mainly take place at Pond Hills Lane Community Centre, Arnold. Gedling Borough Council manages the building, including inspections of fire safety equipment, producing a fire risk assessment and running fire drills. Fire alarms are tested on a weekly basis and fire drills are run twice a year.

FH’s Company Director has received training from the Community Centre wardens. All workers are given fire safety training as part of their induction, including location of fire exits, fire alarm points, evacuation procedures and assembly point.

In the case of a fire, the lead staff, when appropriate will ensure:

●        All workers and participants exit the building quickly and calmly through the nearest fire exit, assembling in the top area of the car park.

●        Sessional registers are taken with the group to the assembly point

●        Any Fire doors that are propped for ventilation are closed

●        The alarm is raised if not already sounding, or the fire brigade is called

All staff have a duty to be aware of the fire and emergency procedures, to ensure that all escape routes and fire exits are kept clear and to report any defective or damaged firefighting equipment, such as fire extinguishers.

Accident Reporting

Any accidents or incidents involving FH staff, tutors, participants or volunteers should be recorded in the Accident Book and reported to the Company Director. Information in the Accident Book will include:

●        Date, Time and Place of the incident and outcome

●        Name of injured or ill person

●        Details of the injury/illness and the action taken

●        What happened to the person immediately afterwards (e.g. went home, went back to session, went to the hospital)

●        Name and signature of the person writing the report

The Company Director will report incidents which fall within the requirements of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013 to the Health and Safety Executive. These incidents include major injuries, accidents resulting in employees being absent from work for more than 7 days, or members of the public going to hospital from the scene of the accident etc.

First Aid & Accident/Incident Procedure

In the event of an emergency, the Appointed Person should always call 999 before following the steps below. Any accidents or incidents involving those involved in FH sessions should also be reported in the first instance to the Lead Tutor. The Lead Tutor should ensure:

●        Continued risk is removed or mitigated in line with the appropriate written risk assessment(s);

●        The participant does not engage in any activity that may constitute further risk;

●        The parent/carer or emergency contact of the young person is informed of the accident as soon as possible;

●        If necessary, an action plan for treating or managing any injury is developed and agreed with the parent/carer. Lead Tutors should continue to communicate the results and progress of this plan with parents/carers;

●        The accident/incident is recorded in the accident book, located in the FH Resources Cupboard.

●        The Company Director is notified of the accident/incident on the next working day, or immediately in an emergency.

●        If hospital treatment is required and parents/carers do not get to FH before the ambulance, a FH tutor will accompany the young person.

First Aid Box Content

There is no mandatory list of items to be included in a first-aid container. Based on the assessment of Flying High Expressive Arts CIC as community centre based and therefore low-medium hazard working environment, the following items should be stocked in the first-aid box:

●        A leaflet giving general guidance on first aid

●        40 individually wrapped sterile plasters (assorted sizes)

●        Two sterile eye pads;

●        Two finger dressings

●        Two individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile;

●        Twelve safety pins;

●        Two large sterile individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings;

●        Six medium-sized sterile individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings;

●        Microporous tape

●        Twenty sterile wet wipes

●        At least three pairs of disposable gloves

●        Two instant ice packs

●        One foil blanket

The contents of this box will be reviewed based on activity risk assessments.

Workshop Space Guidelines

The following checks will be made by tutors before any young person enters the workshop space:

●        Floor – ensure floors are clean and free of debris, trip and slip hazards. Any spillages to be dealt with immediately.

●        Plug sockets – ensure they are safe and secure with no wire showing. Any unused sockets should be covered appropriately.

●        Doors and exits – ensure doors and exits are secure and that all exit routes are unobstructed.

●        Light fittings and light switches should be checked for functionality and condition.

Workshop Session Guidelines

Young people/parents/guardians should be made aware of the following workshop session guidelines:

●        The young people will be supervised during workshops only and parents/carers must ensure the safety of their children in the car park, waiting, changing and toilet areas.

●        The young people are not permitted in the kitchen areas at any time.

●        Students/parents or guardians should inform the workshop tutor of any special health considerations or existing injuries before participating in a workshop.

●        Young people must dress appropriately for each workshop, i.e. wear clothing that they are able to move easily in.

●        For dance workshops, hair must be tied back and shoes/socks removed.

●        Young people should not wear any jewellery that may pose a risk to themselves or others (stud earrings and jewellery worn for religious or cultural reasons are acceptable).

●        No food (or chewing gum) is allowed in the workshop spaces. Water is permitted in cap bottles.

●        No young person will be allowed to leave the studio with anyone other than a parent unless confirmed with the tutor prior to class either verbally or via email.

Review & Improvement

The Company Director should review all accidents or incidents to determine if service could be improved to decrease risk in the future. Actions may include:

●        Updating policies and procedures

●        Updating risk assessments

●        Increasing staff training

●        Disciplining staff in the event that the health & safety policy has been breached

This policy was last reviewed in August 2024.