The Managers are responsible for the implementation and supervision of a Health and Safety at Work policy. However there is a statutory obligation, under the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974, for all employees to take responsibility for the safety of themselves and for other colleagues and to co-operate with the Managers of Asist to enable them to carry out their responsibilities.Specifically, employees have a responsibility to:

work safely, efficiently and without endangering the health and safety of themselves, their colleagues, the general public or any other persons who have right of access to premises used by Asist
adhere to the safety procedures laid down by Asist and conform to all instructions issued by those persons with a responsibility for Health and Safety procedures
report all accidents, near miss occurrences and hazardous situations to the appropriate persons
meet other statutory obligations under Section 8 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, which states that no person shall intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare in pursuance of any of the relevant statutory provisions.

responsibility for health & safety practice

The Executive Committee of Asist will have the overall responsibility for the Health and Safety policy and practice. The Managers will have responsibility for the day-to-day operation of policy and practice.All employees will ensure that they adhere to the Health & Safety at Work Policy of other organisations whilst working with other Care Providers.Inspections.
Identified Safety Representatives/Managers will carry out inspections in accordance with the Regulations. Inspections will be carried out 3 times per year using Asist's agreed audit checklist.

procedures

1. Cleanliness

All employees must ensure that all working areas are cleaned regularly and are tidy at all times.
All spillage's of fluid in communal and working areas must be made safe immediately. Protective clothing must be used when disposing of fluid spillage.
Care must be taken by all employees that cleaning materials are used in a correct manner and are stored in a secure place.

2. Furnishings and Equipment

All emergency exits must be clearly identified.
Floors, steps, stairs, passages and fire exits must be kept free of obstructions at all times
Fire doors must not be wedged open.
The layout of office furniture should be planned so that employees can use the office safely. Cupboards, desk and filing cabinet drawers must not be left open during or after use.
Drawers must not open into passageways or across doorways.
Employees must not use electrical equipment if they suspect that it may be faulty.
No electrical wiring should be positioned in such a way that there is a likelihood that it could cause a person to fall.

3. The Physical Environment

Asist has a duty to ensure that all communal and working areas are adequately heated and that a thermometer will be displayed in a convenient area.
All communal and working areas must have adequate ventilation, which may be natural or mechanical.
Effective provision must be made to ensure adequate natural and artificial lighting.
No communal or working area should be so overcrowded as to cause risk of injury to the health of people working there.
Suitable work seating, providing adequate back support, must be provided for employees whose work involves long periods of sitting down.

4. Working with VDU's

Asist is obliged to analyse workstations of employees who habitually use VDU's for a significant part of their normal work. The hardware, the environment, and factors specific to the individual using the equipment should all be regularly assessed. Employees using VDU's for a significant part of their work are entitled to regular eye tests paid for by Asist.Employees should receive training in the safest ways to use workstation equipment and know how to make best use of it to avoid health problems, for example by adjusting the chair.

5. No Smoking Policy

Asist operates a no-smoking policy in all internal areas. Notices will be posted to indicate the no smoking policy.

6. Sanitary Convenience and Washing Facilities

Asist is obliged to provide suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences at places conveniently accessible to employees. They must be kept clean, properly maintained and ventilated. They must also be adequately lit. Asist is obliged to provide sufficient and suitable washing facilities, including a supply of clean, running hot and cold water, soap, clean towels or other means of drying hands, and adequate sanitary disposal facilities.

7. First Aid

Training
All employees will be required to attend a basic First Aid training course. Consideration will be given to employees to undergo more advanced training if they wish.
Equipment
A fully stocked First Aid box will be kept in an easily accessible place within the working areas. The contents of the box must be maintained at the required level. A notice must be displayed giving information as to where the First Aid box and accident book can be located.

Employees must not administer non-prescribed medicines to their colleagues or to visitors.

8. Fire and Other Emergencies

Asist accepts a duty to take adequate precautions against fire and other emergencies and to provide actions to be taken in such events.
Notices concerning emergency evacuation procedures will be clearly displayed throughout working areas. The notices must not be removed or defaced.
Alarm systems must be checked weekly.All employees should be familiar with:
all emergency exits
the location of fire-fighting equipment
the uses of fire-fighting equipment and types of extinguishers to be used
the procedures for contacting all emergency services.All fire-fighting equipment must be checked at least once yearly.
Evacuation procedures will be tested at quarterly intervals.
Evacuation procedures, inspection of fire-fighting equipment and checks of fire alarms must be recorded on the appropriate forms.

9. C.O.S.H.H.

Asist will endeavour to comply with the regulations and recommendations covered in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health:
Where available, environmentally friendly cleaning materials will be used in preference to chlorine based bleaching agents.
If no suitable alternative is available, hazardous materials will be used in accordance with COSHH regulations.

10. Recording of Accidents and Injuries

Asist will establish a register of accidents and injuries that occur in any working areas.It is the responsibility of all employees to ensure that all accidents and injuries are recorded accurately and promptly.A written record of all notifiable accidents must be retained for at least three years.N.B. A "Notifiable Accident" is defined as an accident arising out of, or in connection with, work resulting in death or injury to any person, or, in the case of an employee, resulting in his/her being incapacitated for more than three days. Information recorded must include:
the date of the accident
name, sex, age and occupation of the person injured
the nature of the injury
the place where the accident occurred
A brief description of the accident
name of person recording the accident
name(s) of witness(es).