Statement of Safety and Health Policy
In accepting our responsibilities for the effective management of Safety and Health, the College will aim to ensure that this duty is effectively discharged by using the best practicable means to provide a safe and healthy environment for ail employees, students and others who may be affected by its activities. The ultimate responsibility for Safety and Health at Aberdeen College lies with the Principal and Board of Management.
In addition to the individual responsibilities for Safety and Health, a number of people in the College have specific Safety and Health responsibilities. These are detailed in Section 2 (Organisation and Responsibilities) of the College Safety and Health Policy Manual. The College will take all measures necessary to achieve recognised best practice and specifically lo comply with:
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- All other statutory requirements and E.U Directed Legislation
Arrangements for joint consultation on Safety and Health issues are well established. There is a College Safely and Health Committee and local site safety groups.
All necessary information, instruction and training will be provided for employees and students in respect of risks which may arise from College activities.
In keeping with the College ethos, the active commitment of all staff is sought in order to achieve safety objectives.
This policy will be subject to periodic review, and its success will be reflected in improvements in workplace audits and accident statistics.
It also applies to all employees, students and others involved in activities at Aberdeen College.
Rob Wallen (Principal) 2009
Ojectives
The College will meet the overall aim of effective Safety and Health management by striving to achieve the following objectives:
- Reduce workshop accidents/incidents consistently below stated revitalising Safety and Health improvement targets
- Provide and maintain a safe and healthy workplace
- Ensure that Safely, Health and Environmental issues are effectively managed throughout the organisation by developing a culture in which responsibilities and best practice for these issues are readily accepted
- Develop and maintain self-auditing techniques
- Provide efficient medical facilities and first-aid cover
- Provide safe systems of work and develop safe procedures
- Investigate all accidents, incidents and dangerous occurrences and ensure that remedial action is taken when necessary
- Implement comprehensive emergency procedures
- Provide a comfortable working environment
- Provide competence - skills training for all staff and students on applicable Safety and Health requirements
- Establish and develop environmental initiatives and ensure compliance with all relevant environmental legislation
- Assess all risks arising out of College activities and implement suitable and sufficient control strategies
- Ensure Safety and Health legislative compliance
- Maintain an effective system of consultation with representatives of employees and students
Managin Safety and Health
The details of the structure for managing Safety and Health are provided in the College Safety and Health Policy Manual, which is available for all staff on the College Intranet. Printed copies are issued to designated senior managers.
Effective management of Safety and Health can only be achieved if these responsibilities are understood and accepted.
In addition to the responsibilities of individuals arising from their specific job functions, the following responsibilities are owed by all employees and students.
Employees' Responsibilites
- To comply with their responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and associated legislation
- To comply with the requirements of this Safety and Health Policy
- To report promptly to the appropriate personnel any accident, incident or dangerous occurrence
- To participate in any training given to promote Safety and Health
- To use any protective clothing and equipment provided
- To learn fire and first aid procedures
Students' Responsibilities
- To comply with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- To co-operate with teaching staff to ensure a safe and healthy environment
- To highlight any unsafe conditions
- To use any equipment provided for their safety
- To read and understand the fire and first aid procedures
- To obtain and use protective clothing required
The successful implementation of this policy depends on, and is of mutual benefit to, everybody who works or studies at Aberdeen College. By working together we can achieve the objectives of the Policy.
Visitors
The College recognises and accepts the legal responsibility to ensure the safety, health and welfare of people who are not employees. This duty extends to visitors to College premises, and the following arrangements have been implemented to discharge this responsibility effectively.
Reporting
In order to ensure that all visitors to College sites are accounted for, visitors are required to register when arriving at a College site. Details are recorded in the site visitors' book (located at site reception areas). On registering, visitors will be issued with an identification pass. The reverse of the pass provides essential Safety and Health information regarding:
- Evacuation Procedures
- Safety and Health Responsibility
- Smoking
- First Aid
Visitors will be required to sign the visitors' book when leaving the site.
It is the responsibility of the host to ensure that visitors are aware of the reporting procedures, and to inform visitors of evacuation procedures. In the event of an alarm being activated it is the responsibility of the host to accompany visitors to the appropriate assembly area.
The host will also ensure that visitors are advised about the nature of any local risks and will require visitors lo make use of any personal protective equipment where necessary.
Please note that College employees visiting sites other than their normal work location are also required to sign the visitors' book (they do not draw a visitors' pass).
Summary
The College recognises its responsibility to ensure safety and health of all persons visiting its sites. By implementing an efficient reporting system and placing clear responsibilities on the host member of staff this duty can be effectively discharged.
Safety and Health Staff
The College employs a Safety and Health Team under the control of the Health and Safety Manager who reports directly lo the Director of Human Resource Management and Development.
The Safely and Health Team is responsible for providing professional Safety and Health advice, monitoring and auditing Safely and Health performance, training and development and, where necessary, enforcement of Safety and Health measures.
More information on the College Safety and Health Policy may be obtained from the Safety and Health Team on extensions 612241, 612283, 612316, 612314.
Emergency Procedures
Fire Evacuation
There are 2 types of fire alarm systems currently used in the College premises. Al Aliens and Gallowgate sites the College operates a 2 stage alarm system which is configures as follows;
- Continuous Alarm - On hearing this tone occupants should evacuate the building in accordance with site evacuation procedures alarm.wav
- Pulsed Alarm - On hearing this tone occupants should prepare to evacuate but do not do so until a continuous alarm is heard standby.wav
At Clinterty Centre, the alarms are all single stage continuous types. On hearing the tone, occupants should evacuate the building in accordance with site evacuation procedures.
Comprehensive Fire Point and Fire Action notices are displayed throughout the College.
First Aid
Comprehensive first aid cover is provided al all College sites by a network of trained First Aiders, this is supplemented by Occupational Health Nurses (Tel Ext. 2151) who are based at the Gallowgate but do visit all College sites. First aid facilities are available at College sites and first aid boxes are located throughout the College. The details of local first aid arrangements are outlined in First Aid Action notices, First Aiders may be summoned by contacting reception area at each site.
College Mission Statement
Aberdeen College exists to deliver, in partnership with other providers, a high quality education and training service, appropriate to the lifelong learning needs and aspirations of its clients, in a diverse range of settings.