Our Health & Safety Policy

(Health & Safety at Work Act 1974)

General Statement of Policy

The policy of the 2nd Bracknell Scout Group is to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and work methods for all volunteers and members of the Scout Group and users of the Scout Hut, Freeborn Way, Bracknell RG12 2RS.  We also strive to ensure that the Group is open to both male and female members and, as far as is reasonably practicable, is fully accessible and safe for disabled people.

We shall endeavour to provide all necessary information, training and support to our members and maintain their awareness of health, safety and welfare issues.

The allocation of responsibility for safety matters and the specific arrangements to implement this policy are set out below.   This policy, and the way in which it operates, will be reviewed annually by the Group Executive Committee.

Organisation of Health and Safety

Overall responsibility for health and safety in the Scout Group and for the Group premises is vested in the Group Executive Committee.   The Group Executive Committee delegates the day to day responsibility for the safety arrangements within the premises to Al Richards as Group Safety Officer.

  1. The Group Scout Leader is responsible for ensuring that all adult members and helpers in the Group are CRB/DBS cleared and follow the Scout Association guidelines for working with young people, and fully understand the Scout Association Safety Policy.
  2. The Group Scout Leader is responsible for ensuring that ‘Risk Assessments’ are carried out by all Section Leaders for all Scout related activities and that all members of the Scout Group fully understand their personal responsibility under ‘Duty of Care’
  3. The Group Scout Leader is responsible for the investigation of accidents and ensuring that the relevant members of the Group receive safety and first aid training.
  4. The Group Safety Officer is responsible for safety arrangements relating to the Scout Hut used by the group including the following;
    • Reviewing the fire safety arrangements and making recommendations for improvements and maintenance;
    • Quarterly checks on the building, installations and monitor effectiveness of the safety arrangements;
    • Safety inspections, monitoring of the maintenance of equipment;
    • Maintaining the safety log and records;
    • Reporting to the Group Executive.
  5. The Group Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring that access to escape doors, extinguishers and other fire fighting equipment is not obstructed, and that all members of the Group are instructed in their use.

Duty of Care

All members of the Scout Group and all users of the premises have personal responsibility under ‘Duty of Care’   This is a general legal duty placed on all individuals and organisation to avoid carelessly causing injury to persons or property.  It requires everything ‘reasonably practicable’ to be done to protect the health and safety of others at their meeting place.

Insurance

The Group Executive Committee is responsible for ensuring that the Scout Group and the premises are fully insured for all use and activities.  The person with individual responsibility for obtaining and retaining the insurance policy certificates and all related documents is:-

The Group Scout Leader

Register of Members

The Group Executive Committee are responsible for ensuring that proper records are kept in all Sections of the Group and for all activities, and that for emergency purposes a register of members is available on demand and/or when needed.  The person with individual responsibility for maintaining the Group Register is:-

The Group Secretary

Arrangements and Procedures

Building and Maintenance

The Group Executive Committee is responsible for ensuring that the premises are fully maintained and held in a safe and healthy condition and meet with current safety standards and local Council, Government and European Regulations.

Accidents and Incidents

All accidents and incidents must be recorded in the accident book.  Serious matters should be reported to the Group Scout Leader/Group Executive Committee as soon as possible providing additional information as necessary.

First Aid

The persons responsible for first aid assessment are:-

All Section Leaders or individuals
responsible for the activity

All Sections Leaders are responsible for ensuring a suitable first aid box is available when carrying out any Scouting activity on or off the premises.  A first aid box is located in the Leaders Room.

General Fire Safety

The overall and final responsibility for the fire precautions to the premises, including the provision and regular servicing of fire fighting equipment is vested in:-

The Group Executive Committee

  1. All Section Leaders and users of the premises are severally responsible to notify the Group Executive Committee of any problems arising from losses or otherwise to fire fighting equipment during normal use of the premises or in the event of an emergency needing the use of this equipment.
  2. Appropriate signage and emergency evacuation procedure notices are displayed around the premises.  All Section Leaders and users of the premises are severally responsible to notify the Group Executive Committee of any problems arising from losses or otherwise to signage and procedure notices during normal use of the premises.
  3. All Section Leaders and regular users of the premises are responsible for carrying out regular fire drills during their own activity sessions.
  4. A Fire Risk Assessment has been carried out to the premises (see separate Fire Risk Assessment).  Fire and Emergency Precaution Procedures have been published and are displayed around the premises (see separate Notices and Procedures).

Hygiene and Welfare

The Group Scout Leader is responsible for ensuring that all areas are kept clean and tidy.  Toilets must be washed regularly and kept clean and all wash basins should be provided with hot water, soap, clean paper towels or hand dryers.  All rubbish must be removed from the premises on a regular basis and placed in a suitable container or storage area.  Smoking will not be allowed on the premises at any time.

Floors and gangways and spaces underneath furniture must be kept clear of trailing cables and other obstructions.  Furniture and equipment must be positioned so that it does not pose a hazard to passers-by and so that wheelchair users are able to have safe access to all areas and equipment.  Filing cabinets and cupboard doors should be kept closed.  Items should not be stacked on top of cupboards or cabinets.

Premises / Hazards

All users of the premises are responsible for spotting and reporting hazards or potential hazards.  If a hazard is seen, it should be removed or dealt with as soon as possible, or if not, reported to the Group Safety Officer.

Things Out of Reach

Chairs or other furniture must not be used to stand on for the purpose of replacing light bulbs, reaching for things off the top of cabinets, etc.  A properly maintained, undamaged step ladder must be used.  (also see the new working at heights regulations)

Damaged Equipment

Regular checks must be carried out on furniture and equipment for damage which leaves sharp edges protruding or other hazards.  Any damaged furniture must be reported for repair or condemnation straight away and must be removed from use.

Damage to Fabric of Building

All such damage must be reported immediately to the competent person as named above.

Misplaced Furniture, Equipment or Supplies

Any furniture, equipment or supplies left in an inappropriate place, for example obstructing a gangway, must be removed immediately and placed in an appropriate, safe place.

COSHH Regulations

Under the COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations 1994, the Group has a duty of care to make an assessment of the risks related to hazardous substances e.g. chemicals, noxious fumes etc kept and used on the premises. A full register of these substances should be kept and provided to the Emergency Services should the need arise. This register should clearly state the substance involved with the full name and the exact location on the premises.

All members of the Group shall avoid using hazardous substances at all times if at all possible.  Where substitute materials are available they should be used (e.g. water based markers, correction fluid, etc).  If there is no way of avoiding such use, members must use the substance in an enclosed, ventilated environment away from other members, and use proper protective equipment which shall be made available by the Scout Group.

Manual Handling

All members of the Scout Group should avoid manual lifting where at all possible.  However, members may occasionally be required to manually lift and handle loads.  Correct manual lifting and handling reduces the effort required and prevents strain and risk of injury.
Members should not put themselves at risk by attempting to lift heavy loads which could be taken apart or divided into smaller quantities. The assistance of other members should always be sought for moving large quantities or for lifting heavy and awkward loads.  When lifting is done by a team, instructions should be given by one person only.

Risk Assessments

Risk assessment helps protect volunteers and everyone in the Group.  They help focus on the risks that really matter, the ones with potential to cause harm.   A risk assessment is a careful examination of what could cause harm to people… “the aim is to make sure that no one gets hurt or becomes ill”.

Food Safety

Everyone has a responsibility under ‘Duty of Care’  when providing food at the Scout Hut.  There are also responsibilities under the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations and Food Safety (Temperature Control) Regulations.

(Also see ‘Food Safety in Scouting’ FS320003)