Health and Safety Policy

City Life Church Exeter - January 2018

1. Scope
This policy relates to regular church services and to other meetings and activities run by City Life Church Exeter in accordance with the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the regulations made under it.

2. Policy Objective
Our intention, so far as is reasonably practicable, is to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work for all employees and voluntary workers and to provide such information, training and supervision as they need for this purpose. We also endeavour to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all members of the congregation and visitors.

3. Generally
The allocation of duties for safety matters and the particular arrangements that we will make to implement the policy are set out below. The policy will be kept up to date, particularly in the light of any changes to our venue or activities.

To ensure this, the policy and the way in which it has operated will be reviewed regularly and the appropriate changes made. In order to ensure that health and safety matters are kept constantly under review, an item on health and safety will be on the agenda once a year for meetings of the Trustees. Voluntary workers will also be reminded of and consulted on the policy at training meetings.

4. Responsibility
4.1 Trustees
The overall responsibility for health and safety is that of the Trustees. The Trustees may appoint one or more persons to act as Health and Safety Officers to assist with the organisation and/or implementation of health and safety matters, but the overall responsibility will remain with the Trustees.

4.2 Health and Safety Officer
The named Health and Safety Officer for the church is Richard Oster.
The responsibility of the health and safety officer shall be to:
1) be familiar with the health and safety policy and arrangements and ensure they are observed
2) ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, that safe systems of work are in place

4.3 Responsibility of employees and voluntary workers
All employees and voluntary workers have a responsibility to co-operate in the implementation of this health and safety policy and to take reasonable care of themselves and others whilst on church business or premises.

Employees and voluntary workers must therefore:
comply with safety rules, operating instructions and working procedures
use protective clothing and equipment when it is required
report any fault or defect in equipment immediately to the appropriate person
report all accidents (however minor), injuries, near misses or other potential safety hazards as soon as possible verbally to the Health and Safety Officer and note them in the Accident Book.
not misuse anything provided in the interests of health and safety.
Responsible persons

4.4 Steph Walker is the Safeguarding Officer and therefore is responsible for all issues pertaining to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults for all church-led activities.

5. Arrangements 

To ensure compliance with the above objectives, the following arrangements are in place:

5.1 Accidents and First Aid

A First Aid Kit is located in the Kid's Club box.
An accident book is also kept with the First Aid Kit, and should be completed for any accidents or injuries. This accident book and the records are regularly reviewed.
Risk assessments have been made for relevant activities that take place at our regular venue of The X Centre, Commercial Road. Actions arising out of those assessments have been implemented.
The named First Aiders for the church are: Dave Scott & Claire Richardson.

5.2 Fire Safety Our policy is to fulfil our obligations under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. In order to achieve this, we undertake the following:

A fire risk assessment has also been made and actions arising have been implemented.
Compliance with the fire regulations of the rented building (The X Centre, Commercial Road) that are regularly reviewed.
Fire extinguishers are kept in the following places:

Location
Equipment
By safe near exit
Two foam fire extinguishers (use on liquid fires - not or metal fires)
Main entrance
CO2 fire extinguisher (liquid and electrical - not metal)

5.3 Building Safety
The building is run, maintained and operated by Headway Devon and as renters of this space we ensure that we abide by their regulations.

5.4 Preparation of food
We ensure that we follow the appropriate regulations governing the preparation and storage of foodstuffs and all food served follows best practice hygiene standards.

5.5 Risk Assessments
Risk assessments will be carried out covering all premises and all activities that carry a significant risk at regular intervals by a competent person in order to meet our obligations under The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. As a result we commit to ensure:
Risk assessments are reviewed on a regular basis or when working habits or conditions change.
Briefings are given when necessary to employees, voluntary staff, and visitors on safe methods of working, evacuation procedure and other health and safety matters.
An individual risk assessment will be made for any meetings or activities held at different venues, using the general risk assessments as a guide, and any actions implemented before the activity commences.