Health and Safety

This document describes the policy used within Digswell Arts Trust to promote Health and Safety at the Trust's Studios.

Policy Statement
The purpose of this statement is to underline the policy of Digswell Arts Trust and to ensure it does all it can, as far as is reasonably practical, to achieve the highest standards of health and safety in the operation of its studios.

The objectives of the Trust is to provide an environment and conditions in its studios which are safe and without risk to health and to eliminate accidents at its studios.

To achieve these objectives the Trust will

1. request Fellows to comply fully with the requirements of relevant legislation, regulations and so far as is reasonably practical, adopt the best health and safety practices;
2. ensure that the allocation of duties and responsibilities to implement this policy is clearly defined and understood;
3. ensure that all Fellows are aware of the information, instruction and training necessary to promote health and safety understanding.

The allocation of duties and responsibilities to implement this policy are set out below and a copy circulated to all Fellows. This policy will be kept up-to-date, particularly as the Trust alters in nature and size, and will be reviewed annually, or sooner if it is in the interests of health and safety to do so.

A copy of this policy will be kept on display at the Trust's studios.

Digswell Arts Trust has an ongoing responsibility to ensure that Fellows understand and take responsibility for health and safety matters in their studios and in the communal areas of the Trust's premises. This will only be secured by full co-operation and support from all Fellows and the Trust's administration.

Organisation

Trust

Administrator

Fellow Health and Safety Representatives:

Attimore Hall Barn

Fairlands Valley Farm

RESPONSIBILITIES

Administrator
The Administrator is responsible for ensuring that Fellows are aware of all the relevant health and safety practices, have carried out all the appropriate risk assessments and carry out their activities in a way which complies with the current legislation and regulations.

The administrator will

• establish and maintain contacts with Government offices on Health and Safety matters
• ensure that the Health and Safety Policy is reviewed at least annually
• appraise serious accidents and seek advice on remedial action
• invite inspection by qualified Health and Safety inspectors to ensure compliance with appropriate legislation and regulations.
• meet regularly with Health and Safety representatives from the Trust's premises to ensure awareness of current Health and Safety issues.

Fellows

Fellows must follow the Trust's Health and Safety policy described in this document.

Fellows have specific legal obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act

Fellows must take reasonable care to avoid injury to themselves or others by their activities and to co-operate with the Trust and any enforcing authorities in meeting legal requirements.

Fellows also have a duty not to interfere with anything provided in the interests of Health and Safety, such as fire extinguishers, first aid boxes, etc. In order to maintain standards, co-operation is of paramount importance and all Fellows are vigorously encouraged to report any hazards, or potential hazards. This includes "near misses".

Fellows must use all machinery, equipment, dangerous substances, transport and safety devices in accordance with any relevant training and instructions and to inform the Administrator or a trustee of dangerous situations.

All accidents must be properly recorded in the accident book held at each site.

Fellows are responsible for:

carrying out appropriate risk assessments in their studios and ensuring that these are kept at the studios

carrying out their activities in their studios in accordance with the appropriate health and safety legislation and regulations.

ARRANGEMENTS

Training

All Fellows will be required to provide evidence of having received training in Health and Safety or be prepared to undertake training which may include training in basic fire fighting techniques.

Refresher training must be undertaken as appropriate when any changes in equipment/practices/risk factors occur.

Visitors

Fellows are responsible for the Health and Safety of all visitors to their studios. Visitors must be signed in to the visitors book and signed out when they leave.

EvacuationEvacuation

In the event of an emergency it is the responsibility of Fellows to ensure that their visitors leave the premises by the nearest emergency exit and assemble in the garden away from the house/barn.

Smoking

Digswell Arts Trust operates a NO SMOKING policy in its premises. Smokers should smoke outside the buildings only. All potential Fellows will be informed at their interview of the Trust's NO SMOKING Policy. Visitors will be expected to comply with the NO SMOKING Policy.

Alcohol and other drugs impairing physical coordination

Digswell Arts Trust expects Fellows and their visitors to refrain from using alcohol or other substances impairing physical coordination when operating any machinery or equipment in their studios or elsewhere on the Trust's premises which could injure themselves, a third party, the studios or the Trust's property.

Accidents

There is an obligation on all Fellows to report accidents, no matter how minor, which occur through their activities at their studios, as soon as possible and record them in the accident book at their premises.

Hazard Reporting

It is vital that hazards noticed must be reported immediately to the Administrator or a Trustee and acted on as soon as possible. Fellows should only deal with the hazard or potential hazard if they have been trained and it is safe to do so.

A Hazard reporting form is kept at each studio base.

Electrical Equipment

Equipment used by Fellows whether owned by them or the Trust should be made to an appropriate British standard.

Expert inspections of portable electrical equipment by a 'competent' person will be made annually and on electrical systems every five years.

Fellows using electrical equipment will be expected to carry out a visual inspection and report any defects to their Health and Safety representative, the Administrator or a Trustee.

Fellows undertaking the construction, refurbishment or repair of electrical devices must be able to demonstrate that they are capable of doing so safely through the production either of evidence of attending relevant training courses or the through the possession of an appropriate certificate.

Fellows are forbidden to compromise the integrity of the electrical systems at the Attimore Barn/Fairlands Valley Farmhouse

Lifting

Fellows should not attempt to lift anything which would cause them injury - this includes taking part in any extended periods of lifting. Fellows whose art/craft may involve lifting should undertake appropriate training and provide evidence that they have done so.

ASSESSMENTS/INSPECTIONS

Fellows are expected to produce assessments of the Health and Safety risks associated with their art/craft.

Inspections will be arranged at intervals to ensure that appropriate standards are being maintained and to enable Health and Safety certification under the various headings: Fire, First Aid, Portable Electrical Equipment, Manual Handling, COSHH.

RECORDS

The Fellows Committee at each studio base will be responsible for keeping risk assessments made by Fellows and accident records and making them available for inspection as & when requested.

The Administrator will keep records of Safety Inspections.

The Administrator will be responsible for reporting to the Trust on an annual basis.

This policy has been agreed by the Trust and is signed on their behalf.

Each Fellow must also sign a statement indicating their agreement with the Health and Safety Policy and their intention to implement it.

A copy of this Statement is provided by the Administrator and is available as part of this page in Word 6 version for download.