Statement
The church recognises and accepts its responsibilities for providing, so far as is reasonably practicable, a safe and healthy environment with a view to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of all those who use the church premises.
Responsibilities
The church will, therefore, take all necessary steps within its power to meet its responsibilities so far as is reasonably practicable by, among other arrangements:
- maintaining the church premises in a condition that is safe and without risk to health and providing and maintaining means of access to and egress from it that are safe and without such risks;
- providing and maintaining furnishings and equipment which are safe and without risks to health;
- assessing the risk to the health and safety of those who use the church premises;
- ensuring the safety and absence of risks to health in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles, equipment, furniture and substances;
- the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure the health and safety of those who use the church premises;
- the provision and maintenance of a proper environment for the church’s employees, leaders, helpers and volunteers that is safe, without risks to health, and adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for their welfare;
- arranging for suitable induction programmes and training; consulting, where necessary, with all employees, leaders, helpers and volunteers on the effectiveness and implementation of this policy; and any necessary changes.
- ensuring that adequate funds and resources are made available for carrying out this policy.
Health and Safety Officer
The church’s trustees have overall responsibility for health and safety. They have given responsibility for the fulfilment of this policy to Alison Hallam, Deacon, 49 Eland Way as the church’s Health and Safety Officer but subject hereto the trustees will be responsible for carrying out the implementation of the church’s policy and for the issue of supplementary policy statements where this may be necessary.
The Health and Safety Officer will:
- carry out appropriate risk assessments (these to be reviewed annually) of the church’s premises and activities and report to the church’s trustees as necessary
- co-ordinate the implementation of the church’s Health and Safety Policy (including Fire Safety);
- carry out investigations of any accidents and recommend measures for preventing their recurrence;
- ensure that accident and other appropriate records are maintained and returned to the appropriate bodies;
- ensure that all appropriate arrangements are made to provide for first aid;
- ensure that all food safety legislation is complied with;
- arrange safety training courses, as may be necessary or desirable, so that specific legal requirements are adhered to and that any changes in such requirements are complied with and communicated to employees, leaders, helpers and volunteers as necessary;
- ensure that, where necessary, all relevant safety regulations are prominently displayed, that all emergency procedure notices are properly exhibited and clearly visible at all times;
- ensure that access to and from emergency exits and fire equipment are not impaired and that corridors and stairs are kept free from obstructions other than of a temporary and partial nature.
Other responsibilities
All volunteers, ministers, employees, leaders, and helpers will:
- take reasonable care of their health and safety, and of the health and safety of other persons who may be affected by a person’s act or omissions while working or helping.
- as regards any duty or requirement imposed on the church or any person by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, co-operate with the church so far as is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with;
- ensure that they shall not intentionally or recklessly neither interfere with nor misuse anything provided in the interest of health, safety or welfare, in pursuance of any of the relevant statutory provisions;
- make themselves familiar with and conform to the Health and Safety Policy of the church at all times;
- observe all safety rules, procedures, and codes of practice at all times, and in particular be fully conversant with the procedures to be followed in the event of a fire or any other emergency;
- conform to all the food safety regulations that are applicable to themselves;
- co-operate with the church to enable it to carry out the duties and requirements under the provisions of all health and safety legislation, including participating in any initial or other training if called upon to do so;
- report to the church’s Health and Safety Officer all accidents or hazardous occurrences or dangers whether persons are injured or not as soon as is reasonably practicable;
- ensure that all working equipment and materials used by them are in a safe and serviceable condition and that no cables or wires are left in such a position as to be likely to cause anyone to trip;
- have regard to the possible consequences of their actions on the health, safety and welfare of all those persons who at any time and for whatever purpose may or will use the church premises.
General:
First aid boxes and accident books are kept visible in the kitchens of both buildings.
Fire Extinguishers are kept by the external door of both buildings. The Extinguisher may be moved to the kitchen for the duration of an activity, if, in the opinion of those organising the activity there is a significant risk that the Extinguisher may be tampered with (e.g. during Youth Group). Those organising the activity must return the fire extinguisher after the activity to the original location.
Portable Appliance Testing takes place every five years.
Anyone doing hazardous jobs (including maintenance) in either the main church building or the Family Centre must verbally give risk assessment, including lone working arrangements, to a deacon prior to a job being undertaken.
Kitchen Policy
Access: Children are only allowed in the kitchen when being supervised by a responsible adult.
Hatches & doors: Kitchen door & hatch shutters should be closed when leaving the building.
Hand washing: Hands should be washed with warm soapy water before & during handling of food.
Cleaning: The kitchen should always be left clean and tidy. Please wipe down surfaces, put things away in correct cupboards, clean the sinks, empty kettles of water, brush & mop the floor, as needed.
Cleaning products: Cleaning products should always be stored in their original containers, neatly in the right cupboard and out of reach of children.
Rubber gloves: Please provide your own rubber gloves & dispose of dirty ones. Disposable gloves are available for single use.
Tea towels: Take home & wash all dirty tea towels, returning them to the kitchen as soon as possible.
Cleaning Cloths: Only clean cloths should be kept by the sink. Dirty cloths should be disposed of. Cloths used for cleaning bathrooms or non kitchen items should be kept separately & not by the sink.
Bins and Recycling: All rubbish should be placed in correct bins. Food waste should be emptied after each use and the caddy washed out. General waste & recycling should be emptied when full and the bin bag replaced in the general waste bin.
Food storage: All food should be stored at the correct temperature, using the fridge. Food requiring chilling or ready to eat food should not be kept out of fridge for more than 4 hours. Defrosted food should not be refrozen. All food should be stored in original packaging containing its use-by date. Please take home any left over food, unless it has been agreed that it can be used again. Only use food within use-by-dates and throw away any food past its use-by dates. Store cooked food on separate shelf in fridge from raw food especially meat and fish.
Food Preparation: Always wash hands before and during Drink/food preparation. Always keep fresh and raw ingredients separate, using separate chopping boards, knives etc. Always make sure food is fully cooked through and is safe to eat before serving. Cook any food at the temperature and for time recommended on packaging or recipe. Frozen food should be thoroughly defrosted before use.
Food Allergies: Information on ingredients of any food served and allergens it may contain should be readily available and known.
Oven and Microwave: Please clean oven, hob or microwave if you have used them.
Dishwasher: Please set off dishwasher and if at all possible empty it before you leave. Do not leave dirty dishes in the Dishwasher.
First Aid: A first aid box containing an accident book is kept visible in the kitchen.
Fire Safety: Appropriate Fire extinguishers and fire blanket are kept visible and yearly maintain.