Health And Safety Policy
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1.0 Policy statement
1.1 The Directors and staff of Voncap Recruitment Limited (VC) are committed to providing a safe, secure and pleasant working environment in which learners, trainers and employees are able to maximise their full potential, irrespective of their gender, age, race, disability, marital status or other.
1.2 We are all committed to identifying and eliminating discriminatory practices, procedures, attitudes and behaviour throughout our organisation. We will extend this philosophy to ensure that our learners, trainers and employees, external suppliers, understand this policy and its implications.
1.3 We believe that all learners, trainers, employees are entitled to be treated with dignity, respect and fairness while at work and when representing the organisation in any outside capacity.
1.4 The clear and unambiguous aim of this policy is to provide guidance to the learner should he or she wish to challenge the outcome of an assessment or training decision if they consider the assessment or training has not been carried out correctly.
2.0 Health and Safety Policy Statement
2.1. It is policy of VC to meet all statutory requirements relating to health and safety and to apply the appropriate standards to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all learners, trainers and employees of VC.
2.2. The Directors of VC bear the legal responsibility for all matters of health, safety and welfare within our assessment and training activities and to ensure that statutory requirements are met and appropriate standards applied. The management responsibility for the development and implementation of the health and safety policy is Juliet Trapp.
2.3. The management of Health and Safety is an integral part of good management at all levels of our organisation. This includes the provision of:
- Safe and healthy working conditions.
- Arrangements for the operation, design and maintenance of safe systems of work.
- Information, instruction, training, and supervision appropriate to our activities.
- Arrangements for consultation with learners, trainers and employees regarding health and safety matters.
2.4. Internal Quality Assurers and Trainers are accountable for the proper implementation of health and safety policies and procedures in their respective areas and compliance with VC and statutory requirements.
2.5. Those supervising work, assessment or training of any kind are responsible for ensuring that all companies, learners, trainers and employees under their direction do not jeopardise the Company’s compliance with the law.
2.6. It is incumbent on all members of VC and visitors to the Company to recognise their own individual responsibility to be aware of, and to comply with, all health and safety requirements relevant to their activities.
2.7. This policy statement is issued to all learners, trainers and employees and will be subject to periodic review in the light of experience and developments in national health and safety legislation.
- Issued by the Director Health and Safety and approved by the Directors.
Summary of Company Health and Safety Policy Statements and Codes of Practice
3.1 Health Protection
VC require that the health of learners, trainers and employees affected by our activities should be protected by avoiding, as far as is reasonably practical, exposure to hazardous substances, dangerous tasks, working conditions or environments. The associated code of practice covers the health protection measures, which require medical advice or interventions, [e.g. health monitoring and vaccinations] to reduce risks, which cannot be avoided by procedural controls. It describes the arrangements designed to:
- Eliminate preventable injuries and
- Minimise ill health, caused or made worse, by individuals’ work activities or working environment.
3.2 Risk Assessment and Risk Control
VC require that the risks of all activities, on and off site, which may affect the health and safety of its learners, trainers, staff and others be assessed. The risk control measures that are implemented should be what is reasonably practicable in the circumstances and should be regularly monitored and reviewed. The way assessments are undertaken will depend on the nature of the activity and the type and extent of its hazards and risks. The process described in the associated code of practice is a practical one and should include managers and representative learners, trainers and employees.
3.3 Representations, Communication and Consultation.
VC require that arrangements are made for representation, consultation and communication with learners, trainers and employees affected by our activities The arrangements, as described in the associated code of practice, should be open, responsive and timely and should reflect the range of Company activities and working situations, including off site working.
3.4 Training, Competence and Supervision.
VC require that learners, trainers and staff are provided with appropriate information, instruction, training, and supervision to ensure they can achieve the level of competence they need to work in a safe and healthy manner. The associated code of practice covers the general arrangements and refers to specific statutory and VC requirements.
Safety, Performance Measurement and Standards
3.6 Document Management
VC requires documentation to demonstrate compliance with Statutory and Company Policies. Proper documentation is critical to the VC Quality Assurance for the control of all activities that might affect health and safety. All levels of documentation should form a coherent entity that makes it possible to trace or audit from one level to the next. The associated code of practice describes the documentation necessary for effective communication and monitoring change. The code recognises that documentation supports the system, does not drive it and should be kept to the minimum necessary for compliance.
3.7 Audit Inspection and Review
VC requires Internal Quality Assurers and Trainers to undertake regular self-inspections in order to assess their own performance and take any necessary remedial action. The associated code of practice describes the arrangements for: audit, inspection and review, and the consequential actions taken, which are the basis for self-regulation and confirming compliance with VC and statutory requirements. VC is committed to establishing audit systems to compliment its existing inspection and review arrangements.
3.8 Workplace Safety
VC require all offices, classrooms and other workplaces to be suitable for the work activities which take place in them so as to protect the health and safety of learners, trainers and others who work there. All operations that involve a risk of injury or harm should be avoided as far as is reasonably possible and all work and activities will be expected to comply with statutory and Company requirements. Learning delivery must ensure they comply with on-site Health & Safety practices.
Non Standard Working Environments
VC requires learners, trainers and employees to ensure that as far as is reasonably practicable individuals should not undertake any work/activity in non standard work environments which present unusual hazards. The associated code of practice describes the requirement for safety plans to be prepared in advance, where work / activities involves lone working, work, travel or stays in exposed, hostile or potentially hostile environments. Internal Quality Assurers and Trainers should confirm, through their hazard identification and risk assessment procedures, what comes within this definition and their safety plans which should include supervisory and communication arrangements and should be regularly monitored and reviewed.
4.0 Off Site Working
VC requires:
All offsite work to be organised so as to minimise the risks to the health and safety of learners, trainers and employees.
- A suitable and sufficient risk assessment to be undertaken and control measures specified before work commences.
- Specified control measures to be used.
- That as far as is reasonably practical, risks must be assessed and controlled to the same standard as would be required for work in the office / classroom environment.
- All offsite work overseas to comply with regulatory requirements of the country in which it takes place.
- The person in charge (PIC) to be competent in managing the health & safety risks.
- Individuals involved in offsite working to be provided with appropriate information and training to control risks.
- The maintenance of appropriate insurance to cover institutional and personal liabilities.
- Standards for students to be the same as for staff.
If you have any queries about the contents of the policy, please contact Juliet Trapp,, VC Managing Director
