1.1. The policy aims are as follows:
► To provide and maintain:
o a safe and healthy working environment for all its employees, providing
appropriate equipment, operational processes and safe systems of work
o appropriate levels of safety for others who may be affected by B3Living’s
activities, i.e., customers, contractors and visitors
o information and instruction as may be necessary to ensure the health
and safety of its employees and to promote awareness and
understanding of health and safety throughout its workforce. This will
include updating and refresher training where necessary
► To comply with statutory obligations as set out in the Health and Safety at
Work Act etc. 1974 and the various regulations relating to health and safety
requirements.
► To instil in all employees, and others coming into contact with B3Living, best
practice in health and safety matters.
2. Responsibilities and Accountabilities
2.1. Chief Executive
2.1.1. The Chief Executive has overall responsibility for health and safety for
B3Living and its subsidiaries.
2.1.2. The Chief Executive is responsible to the Board of Management for ensuring
the effectiveness of B3Living’s Health and Safety policy and the management processes that ensure its implementation. This will be achieved through, amongst other things, the setting of safety standards and by the promotion of a positive safety culture throughout the organisation.
2.1.3. The Chief Executive will ensure that adequate resources are available to
allow for B3Living’s health and safety policy to be suitable and sufficient.
2.1.4. The Chief Executive will appoint a director who is responsible for health and
safety.
2.1.5. The Chief Executive will appoint competent persons to assist in enabling
B3Living to meet its legal obligations in relation to health and safety
legislation.
2.1.6. The Chief Executives statement can be found at Appendix 2.
2.2. The Board
2.2.1. The Board is responsible for ensuring that there are suitable and sufficient
health and safety arrangements in place, in particular around compliance
with relevant legislation. However, the Board relies on the governance and
control framework in place for assurance that these responsibilities are met.
2.2.2. The Board will review and oversee the details of this policy and make
recommendations in regard the policy and approve the policy.
2.2.3. The Board will monitor the effectiveness of the implementation by the
management of this policy.
2.2.4. The Board will promote health and safety in all activities undertaken by us
and to promote, encourage and uphold an effective and positive health
and safety culture.
2.3. Health and Safety Committee
2.3.1. B3Living has established a Health and Safety Committee, with a balanced
membership drawn from managers and staff representatives.
2.3.2. The Committee, which will be serviced by B3Living’s Health and Safety
Compliance Manager, will be responsible for:
► monitoring and reviewing and approving health and safety policies and
procedures, and codes of practice, including those changes required due to
legislation changes.
► reviewing ad hoc, quarterly and annual reports to the Board on health and
safety, recommending any amendments to the Board arising from legislative
changes or changes in best practice.
► to monitor and keep under review accidents, near misses, dangerous
occurrences and cases of occupational ill health and any other work-related
incidents
► promote and encourage a positive health and safety culture.
2.3.3. The Health and Safety Committee will meet at least 3 times a year.
2.4. Executive Directors
2.4.1. Health and safety will be the responsibility of the relevant Director for each
area of activity.
2.4.2. Executive Directors will:
► create a positive health and safety culture within their areas of responsibility,
which secures the involvement and active participation of employees at alllevels and, where appropriate, others (e.g., contractors, visitors and members
of the general public) coming into contact with B3Living’s activities and
properties
► ensure that appropriate health and safety management arrangements are in
place and that those employees with health and safety responsibilities are
clearly identified
► ensure that those employees identified within the Directorate with health and
safety management responsibilities understand their roles and have sufficient
knowledge, experience, time and resources to carry out their responsibilities
effectively
► ensure that all relevant statutory requirements, codes of practice and safe
working practices are applied throughout the Directorate and ensure the
availability of sufficient resources to enable work to be undertaken in a
manner free from hazards and potential risks to employees
► ensure that line managers are adequately trained and properly instructed in
the work that they are required to perform
► monitor health and safety activity within the Directorate and conduct regular
reviews of performance, as appropriate
► investigate accidents, diagnosed occupational ill health, and
incidents/dangerous occurrences, with a view to implementing measures to
ensure that any failures in control are dealt with and any necessary
improvements in control measures are identified and implemented.
2.4.3. Executive Directors will be responsible for ensuring that, for their areas of
responsibility, suitable and appropriate health and safety risk assessments
are carried out. Following a risk assessment being undertaken:
► the significant findings of the assessment should be recorded
► control measures should be formulated to eliminate hazards identified during
the assessment
► any control measures identified as being necessary will be incorporated into
the relevant operating procedures
► the effectiveness of the control measures will be monitored and improved, as
appropriate
2.4.4. Risk assessments will need to be reviewed if there are significant changes
e.g., a new procedure, new equipment, or substances are being
introduced. A formal review of risk assessments must be undertaken
periodically. This should be undertaken in consultation with the Health and
Safety Compliance Manager.
2.4.5. The Health and Safety Compliance Manager in conjunction with the
relevant Leadership Team senior manager of each department will initiate
regular formal safety inspections for their area of responsibility, to ensure that
all relevant health and safety legislation is being complied with, including
safe systems of working and safe plant and equipment. Such inspections will
be formally recorded, and a register of inspections maintained by the Health
and Safety Compliance Manager.
2.4.6. Executive Directors will ensure that health and safety issues are fully
considered when:
► planning new systems of work
► purchasing new plant and equipment
► establishing staff training needs
2.4.7. Executive Directors are responsible for ensuring that all accidents are
reported to B3Living’s Health and Safety Compliance Manager and Human
Resources, using an accident report form. Serious accidents and dangerous
occurrences should be reported immediately and all other accidents within
at least 2 working days.
2.4.8. Serious accidents and dangerous occurrences will need to be reported to
the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This will be done by the Health and
Safety Compliance Manager or, in their absence, by the Facilities Manager
or others nominated Executive Director.
2.5. Executive Director (Corporate Services)
2.5.1. The Executive Director (Corporate Services) is the nominated Director
responsible for health and safety. They will:
► direct the health and safety function
► ensure that the Executive and Board receive regular reports about health
and safety and performance and the management of health and safety risks
► chair the health and safety committee
► provide support for the effective implementation of this policy and other
health and safety policies and procedures by empowering the Leadership
Team and frontline managers
► ensure an organisational wide health and safety management system is
provided and maintained to enable the business to comply with health and
safety legislation
► keep the Executive Team and Board informed of any significant health and
safety failings and the results of any investigations and analysis
► promote and uphold an effective and positive health and safety culture.
2.6. Leadership Team
2.6.1. The Leadership Team will:
► be responsible for organising and planning health and safety in areas under
their control, including the management of any consultants, contractors,
customers, temporary and agency staff and any persons affected by our
work activities.
► establish risk control systems and safe systems of work and keep them under
review
► keep up to date with relevant changes to health and safety legislation,
standards and good practise.
► actively participate in managing and planning health and safety.
► ensure that employees receive suitable and sufficient health and safety
training and induction relevant to their work activities and refreshed at
appropriate intervals
► comply with all B3Livings health and safety policies and procedures
► ensure that competent specialist advice is taken as necessary
► ensure that health and safety is placed on business agendas as appropriate
► ensure that any health and safety concerns are escalated as appropriate to
the Health and Safety Compliance Manager or to the nominated Director in
a timely manner
► promote and uphold and a positive health and safety culture.
2.7. Line Managers
2.7.1. Line Managers and team leaders have the responsibility for implementing
health and safety arrangements for employees and customers on a day-to-
day basis. They will:
► ensure that they are familiar with all relevant legislation and statutory codes
of practice and B3Living’s requirements, that they operate within them and
that regular checks are undertaken to ensure compliance with the codes of
practice
► be responsible for ensuring they and their direct reports are familiar with the
contents of policies and procedures relating to health and safety and that
specific responsibilities assigned within them are implemented and
communicated. Those procedures include but are not limited to procedures
relating to the safety of employees and workplaces, safety of customers,
property compliance and procedures relating to the safety of construction
works.
► carry out or assist in identifying workplace risks and in producing risk
assessments and safe systems of work and ensure that they are disseminated
and made available to those under their management and that controls are
implemented
► where PPE is a control line managers must ensure that suitable PPE is supplied,
managed and worn by relevant employees
► stop any dangerous activity observed and take action to establish a safe
system of work
► ensure sufficient resources are available to carry out work activities safely
► ensure that all employees under their control are familiar with and accept
their responsibilities under the main Health and Safety policy and all other
relevant health and safety policies, and the various codes of practice, and
are trained and equipped to meet their responsibilities
► clearly define safe operating procedures and instructions and ensure that
these are known to and understood by all staff under their control
► ensure that all new employees are informed of any hazards relating to the
work that they will be carrying out, are fully trained in dealing with such
hazards and are familiar with all relevant safety measures that need to be
taken and provide refresher training periodically
► ensure that all relevant work methods, codes of practice etc. are known,
understood and observed
► ensure that all work is organised in ways that prevent unnecessary risks to
employees and to others who may be affected by the work practices, and
that high standards of personal conduct are maintained by staff
► provide and maintain plant and equipment that is, as far as is reasonably
practicable, safe and without risk to health and that any safety defects are
reported appropriately and rectified in a timely manner
► familiarise themselves with the accident reporting system and investigate and
report all accidents and dangerous occurrences without delay
► provide feedback to line management on health and safety performance
including any success or failures
► carry out regular inspections of work activities including any equipment and
use of PPE to ensure safe working and that equipment and PPE are safe to
use and in good condition
► maintain and implement suitable and sufficient procedures for employees
working away from the office including lone working on site, in voids, whilst
driving, working from home and at other work locations
► seek advice from the Health and Safety Compliance Manager on health and
safety issues as required
► Promote and encourage a positive health and safety culture.
2.8. Health and Safety Compliance Manager
2.8.1. The Health and Safety Compliance Manager provides competent advice
to the business in accordance with regulation 7 of the Management of
Health and safety at Work Regulations 1999.
2.8.2. B3Living’s Health and Safety Compliance Manager will:
► advise upon all matters of safety and the implementation of B3Living’s Health
and Safety policy, including assisting the Chief Executive, Directors and staff
to implement the safety policy and fulfil their obligations under the policy
► continuously monitor health and safety policies, codes of practice, systems
and procedures
► review and produce safety policies and procedures in conjunction with
compliance managers
► offer advice in relation to legislative changes and collaborate with
stakeholders in the implementation of such changes
► ensure that risk assessments are carried out consistently throughout the
organisation
► service the Health and Safety Committee by acting as “Secretary” to the
Committee, ensuring that regular meetings are held, and appropriate reports
are considered by the Committee
► ensure that any recommendations from the Health and Safety Committee
regarding the Health and Safety policy and its effectiveness are reported
promptly to the Board of Management for decision, as appropriate
► prepare ad hoc, quarterly and annual reports for the Board of Management
on the Health and Safety policy and its implementation► in conjunction with HR record accidents occurring within each functional
area, and make such notification of accidents and dangerous occurrences
to the HSE as necessary
► promote, encourage and uphold a positive safety culture.
2.9. Human Resources
2.9.1. The Human Resources Team will:
► provide a suitable range of training to meet the needs of the business for
health and safety training, delivered through various means to support
attendance
► report on training compliance against mandatory health and safety training
► ensure training is delivered in a timely and suitable manner
► arrange health surveillance for those identified in operational roles who are
exposed to hazards in their job roles
► promote and encourage an effective and positive health and safety culture.
2.10. Individual staff
2.10.1. B3Living’s staff are responsible for the health, safety and welfare of
themselves and others around them, and are responsible for:
► co-operate with B3Living on all matters relating to health and safety
► take reasonable care of themselves and that of others around them
► complying with all health and safety policies, rules, regulations, codes of
practice, systems and procedures relating to their areas of work
► comply with arrangements for lone working and to use any lone working
devices supplied to them as required
► follow all risk assessments and safe systems of work and follow any controls
and mitigations identified
► wear any PPE provided as a mitigation and use appropriate safety devices
► ensuring that they are fully aware of and understand any safe operating
procedures and specific work instructions for any work that they may be
required to undertake
► using only correct and appropriate tools, plant and equipment and methods
of work at all times
► reporting any defective plant, equipment or materials to their manager or
supervisor
► reporting any hazards encountered in carrying out their duties
► reporting any accidents or near misses or matters of concern to their line
manager or the Health and Safety Compliance Manager
► assisting in the maintenance of high standards of health and safety
► co-operating in establishing and maintaining best practice in health and
safety
► undertaking any work instruction and safety training that may be required
► taking care to ensure that they do not injure themselves or others by their acts
or omissions and that they do not put members of the general public at risk by
the work that they carry out ► not damaging, interfering with or misusing any plant, equipment, tools or
welfare facilities provided
► report any ill health or medical condition that could affect their ability to work
safely
► promote and encourage an effective and positive health and safety culture
► staff who persistently fail to carry out their responsibilities for health and safety
will be subject to disciplinary action
2.11. Communication and consultation
2.11.1. B3Living will:
► as appropriate and in accordance with the Health and Safety (Consultation
with Employees) Regulations 1996 involve the workforce on matters affecting
health and safety
► documents that make up B3Living’s health and safety management systems
will be made available to staff on the Intranet
► also regularly consult with customers on matter relating to customer safety
and have regard to their feedback in designing and reviewing B3Livings
safety management systems.
2.12. Monitoring and review
2.13. The Board of Management via the Audit and Risk Committee will monitor, review
and, where necessary, revise the Health and Safety policy, practices and
procedures from time to time to ensure that they remain relevant and effective.
2.14. The Board of Management will receive quarterly reports including building safety
compliance and including accident and near miss statistics, from the Health and
Safety Committee reviewing the implementation and effectiveness of the
policy.
2.15. B3Living’s Health and Safety Compliance Manager will undertake the
continuous monitoring of health and safety policies and practices and provide
regular reports to the Health and Safety Committee.
2.16. Evidence of compliance
2.17. The following may be used to demonstrate compliance with this policy:
► Standing orders
► Risk register
► Business continuity plan
► Health and safety reports to the Board and Executive Team and Health and
Safety Committee
► Minutes of Board and Executive Team meetings and Health and Safety
Committee meetings
► Premises audits
► Internal audits
► Reports from a regulatory body
► Training records
► Communications with colleagues and customers
► Accident and near miss records
2.18. National health alerts
2.19. Pandemics are a matter of national public health concern and B3Living commits
to ensuring so far as is reasonably practicable that it follows national or local
pandemic guidance to ensure the health and safety of all persons connected
to its activities.
2.20. B3Living will also carry out risk assessments for its front-line services, any
homeworking arrangements and for those colleagues especially at risk from any
pandemic due to underlying health conditions and put in place all relevant
mitigations identified