STATEMENT OF GENERAL POLICY
This is the Health and Safety Policy Statement of:
Unit C1, Trentham Business Qtr, Bellringer Rd, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 8GB
Our Statement of General Policy is to:
Provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from our work activities.
Consult with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety.
Provide and maintain safe plant and equipment.
Ensure safe handling and use of substances.
Provide information, instruction, and supervision for our employees.
Ensure all employees are competent to do their tasks, and to give them adequate training.
Prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill-health.
Maintain safe and healthy working conditions.
Review and revise the policy at regular intervals.
Management Organisation, Promotion of Policy and Arrangements
Introduction
This policy has been prepared and published under the requirements of Health & Safety at Work legislation. The purpose of the policy is to establish general standards for health and safety at work and to distribute
responsibility for their achievement to all managers and other employees through the normal line management processes.
All learners, apprentices, employees, and volunteers are made aware of the health and safety policy via the following:
- Induction and enrolment
- Training
- Policy statement is displayed around the premised
- Policy is available on – OneFile, The Acacia Space and the safeguarding Padlet
- Agenda item at key meetings, including board, senior management, and operational meetings
- Health & Safety committee holds responsibility for engaging with employees and apprentices/learners
Management Responsibilities
CEO & Safeguarding Lead
Victoria Sylvester – Responsible for implementation and communication of this policy.
All safeguarding concerns and incidents are reported to Victoria to ensure learners’ safety in workplaces and classrooms.
Directors and Senior Managers
Accountable to the CEO for implementation and monitoring within their areas.
Safety Officer
Hannah Wheawall – Director responsible for coordinating effective health and safety across the organisation.
The Safety Officer is responsible for:
Producing and maintaining the company’s policy.
Ensuring departmental guidelines are consistent with policy.
Monitoring and reporting effectiveness.
Advising on legal implications.
Identifying health and safety training needs.
Acting as the link with HSE, Environmental Health, and other external agencies.
Maintaining documentation and codes of practice.
Risk assessments for learner workplaces and key risk management.
Operations Director
Hayley Marriott – Ensures learner safety and adherence to procedures relating to attendance, accidents, and ill health.
Procedure for Reporting Accidents and/or Ill Health
Employees, volunteers, contractors and visitors – Should report any accidents or ill health as soon as possible to Carl Lawton (Facilities Lead) who will provide advice, guidance and record and where necessary report any incidents. Any incidents will be informed to the Hannah Wheawall, and where learnings or remedial action are required, this will be implemented.
Apprentices and learners – The same procedure as above should be followed, and where any remedial action is required by employers, this will be made known to Hayley Marriott who will co-ordinate remedial action will as required.
Specific Workplace Responsibilities
1. Overall and Final Responsibility
Victoria Sylvester – CEO
2. Day-to-Day Responsibility
Carl Lawton – Safety Officer (IOSH)
3. Area Responsibilities
Victoria Sylvester & Hannah Wheawall – Employee Training, Safeguarding
Carl Lawton & Hayley Marriott – Risk Assessment, Manual Handling, Workplace Regulations, Fire Safety, COSHH, RIDDOR, etc.
4. All Employees, Volunteers, and Non-Employees Must:
Cooperate with supervisors and managers on health and safety matters.
Not interfere with safety equipment.
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety.
Report concerns to an appropriate person.
Ensure learners work in safe environments and report concerns.
Undertake annual mandatory training.
Health and Safety Risks Arising from Our Activities
Risk Assessments: Conducted by Carl Lawton and Tutor Coaches.
Findings Reported To: Victoria Sylvester and The Governing Board.
Action Approved By: Victoria Sylvester.
Implementation Responsibility: Carl Lawton.
Verification: Hayley Marriott.
Review Frequency: Minimum every 12 months.
Consultation with Employees
- Health and Safety matters discussed directly—no formal representatives required.
- The H&S Committee raises issues as needed.
- Consultation provided via staff and team meetings.
Safe Plant and Equipment
Responsible Person: Carl Lawton
Identify all equipment/plant needing maintenance.
Ensure maintenance policies are in place and implemented.
Conduct COSHH assessments and communicate findings.
Verify new substances are safe before purchase.
Report equipment issues to: Carl Lawton
Review: Every 12 months.
Information, Instruction and Supervision
- H&S Law Poster: Displayed in Red Room at HQ (Acacia)
- Advice available from: Carl Lawton & Hayley Marriott
- Supervision of young workers: Hannah Wheawall
Competency for Tasks and Training
Induction Training: Provided by line managers and supervisors.
Job-Specific Training: Provided by managers and team leaders.
Special Training Required: Lone working, VDU use, equipment in vehicles.
Records Kept By: Line managers and supervisors.
Training Managed By: Hannah Wheawall.
Accidents, First Aid & Work-Related Ill Health
- Health Surveillance: Not required.
- First Aid Box & AED: Located in kitchens and main reception areas.
- Appointed Person: Carl Lawton
- Accident Book Kept By: Carl Lawton and Hannah Wheawall
- Reporting To Authorities: Carl Lawton and Hayley Marriott
Monitoring
To ensure safe practices, Acacia will:
Conduct monthly H&S audits.
Hold quarterly staff meetings on H&S.
Review accidents or near misses.
Investigate complaints.
Maintain H&S records.
Fulfil contractual H&S obligations.
Investigations:
Carl Lawton – Accidents
Hannah Wheawall – Work-related sickness
Victoria Sylvester – Preventative actions
Emergency Procedures – Fire and Evacuation
Fire Risk Assessment: Managed by Key Holders and Fire Marshalls.
Escape Routes: Checked daily.
Fire Extinguishers: Serviced annually by specialists (January).
Alarms: Tested by Key Holders / Fire Marshalls.
Evacuation Drills: Every 6 months.
Key Holders:
Amy Fowles, Hayley Marriott, Sheryl Nixon, Julie Carrigan, Hannah Wheawall, Carl Lawton, Jamee Ann Fisher, Melissa Lloyd, Elisha Wilcox, Cheryl Wallace, Julie Arrowsmith, Ellie Smyth, Victoria Sylvester, Elizabeth Monks
Health and Safety Management Process
Acacia integrates health, safety, and welfare into all management processes.
Managers are responsible for identifying hazards, planning improvements, taking action, and monitoring results.
Major issues requiring significant expenditure are escalated to the CEO.
Health, Safety and Welfare Guidelines
Departmental managers must produce their own H&S guidelines, covering:
Department role and regulations.
Safe working methods.
Fire drills and first aid.
Training standards.
Health and Safety Representatives.
Accident reporting procedures.
Fire procedures.
Identification of Hazards, Annual Audit & Risk Assessments
Annual health and safety audits will review:
Policy standards and departmental guidelines.
Regulations, environment, staff attitudes, methods of work, contingency plans.
Learner/apprentice workplace risk assessments.
Accident and hazard records.
Audits conducted by: Safety Officer (Carl Lawton)
Responsibility: CEO (Victoria Sylvester)
Quarterly Checks: Portable equipment and electrical appliances.
5 Steps to Risk Assessment:
Identify hazards.
Decide who might be harmed and how.
Evaluate risks and decide on precautions.
Record findings and implement precautions.
Review and update as necessary.
Safety Representatives
Supported by the company to carry out their roles, raise issues, and report hazards.
Training
Health and safety training is built into all development programs.
Priority areas:
Management training for H&S responsibilities.
Safety representative training.
Staff and learner/apprentice awareness of laws, rules, and procedures.
Induction and refresher training.
Records, Statistics and Monitoring
The company maintains systems for recording and analysing accidents, hazards, and near misses.
Responsibility: Managers and supervisors, supported by the Safety Officer.
Reporting to the Health and Safety Executive (RIDDOR)
Responsible: CEO (delegated to Safety Officer)
Specialist Advisory Bodies
External experts (HSE, Environmental Health, etc.) may be consulted when needed.
Occupational Health & First Aid
Independent advice may be sought for counselling, hazard studies, or health investigations.
First Aid
Provision made under First Aid Regulations (1982).
Responsible: Safety Officer
Fire
CEO ensures adequate training and appoints Fire Officers.
Fire Officer oversees fire safety standards, training, and investigations.
Condemnation, Food Hygiene & Manual Handling
Managers must ensure compliance with food hygiene standards. Any suspected incidents must be reported to the Safety Officer.
- Managers inform staff of safe lifting techniques. Safety Officer provides training where required.
Non-Smoking on Company Premises
No smoking or vaping in company buildings.
COSHH & Display Screen Equipment
Responsible: Safety Officer
Identify hazardous substances.
Conduct and communicate risk assessments.
Implement and monitor control measures.
Computer Installations and VDU Use
Must comply with DSE Regulations 1992.
New users must read HSE guidance and complete eyesight screening.
Control of Working Time
No staff or learner should work over 48 hours per week except in exceptional cases.
Health and Safety and the Individual Employee
Employees must take reasonable care for their own and others’ safety.
Failure to comply may lead to disciplinary action.
External Workers, Visitors, and Contractors
All external personnel must comply with Acacia’s H&S policies.
Contractors must observe fire safety procedures and maintain safe practices.
