Health and Safety

1. Health and Safety

1.1. Health and Safety at Work - Legislation

1.2. Who is responsible for Health and Safety?

Ultimately, everyone is responsible for health and safety.

You are responsible, your colleagues are responsible and your employer is responsible. Click through the slideshow below to  view the responsibilities of various people and groups.

1.3. Terminology

Sometimes, the terminology used in health and safety us used interchangeably, so please see the slides below to determine the correct definitions for four important terms that are often confused.

1.4. Do's and Dont's

There are some tasks that you are not able to carry out unless you have received the appropriate training, Please click the images below to find out more.

1.5. Further Information and Support

• Your line manager
• The resources officer
• A training course on health and safety
• A website – such as the HSE website

2. Fire Safety Introduction| Statistics

In the year ending December 2023:

• 592,996 incidents were attended by FRSs, a decrease of 5.6% compared with the previous year (628,034), an increase of 2.6% compared with 5 years ago (578,150) and an increase of 12% compared with 10 years ago (529,167);

• of all incidents attended by FRSs, fires accounted for 24%, fire false alarms 42% and non-fire incidents 34%, compared with fires accounting for 33%, fire false alarms 43% and non-fire incidents 24% 10 years ago;

• there were 269 fire-related fatalities in 250 fatal fires, compared with 257 fire-related fatalities in 238 fatal fires the previous year.

(Gov.uk, 2024)

2.1. Respnsibilities

The above information is courtesy of Blackpool Council, 2024.

2.2. The Fire Triangle

2.3. The different classes of fire

(Blackpool Council, 2024)

2.4. Fire Spread

(Blackpool Council, 2024)

2.5. Identifying Fire Safety Hazards

Click here to see if you found all the fire safety hazards.

2.6. Prevent fires from starting

2.7. Signage

2.8. Fire Extinguishers

2.9. Scenarios

Please take the time to work through the next 3 scenarios. You do not need to record your answers anywhere but you may discuss them with your line manager if you wish.

2.10. Rex's Top Tips

2.11. Aiming Higher's Fire Safety Procedure

3. Your safety and security measures

This section will take a brief look at ways in which you can keep yourself safe throughout your role, and how Aiming Higher will support this. There are a number of policies that apply to your safety. please take the time to familiarise yourself with them.

Please refer to:

4.2 Lone working policy.

3.1. Lone working

Family Support Workers:

When you are making a home visit or attending a meeting you must ensure that the rest of your team know where you are going, and the times that you expect to arrive and leave.

Upon arrival you must check in with your team via the WhatsApp group chat. You must also ensure that you message when you are leaving. If you haven't messaged within 10 minutes of the expected departure time a member of your team will send you a message. If you don't respond this will be followed up by a phone call directly to you.

Failure to make contact with you will result in further action appropriate to the nature of your meeting, for example, a phone call to the location of your meeting, e.g., school, or a welfare call to the local police. Any and all decisions on further actions will be made by your line manager and/or charity manager.

All other workers:

In the event that you are lone working you must follow the same procedure as the family support workers, but either in the staff WhatsApp group or directly with your line manager. 

Please note that students and volunteers will not be lone working at any time.

In the unlikely event that you are lone working within the Aiming Higher premises please inform your line manager upon arrival and departure. Please ensure the doors are locked at all times when lone working.

3.2. Building Security

The internal doors on the ground floor are secured with a magnetic lock system. They can be opened with a fob. In the event of a fire the magnetic locks automatically release.

All external doors are locked at all times, with the exception of the office back door. The external doors are opened by keys from the outside and internally by a thumb turn lock. The internal office door has a keypad lock. 

The building is protected by a burglar alarm system which can be controlled remotely, with a fob or with a code. 

All fobs, keys and door codes will be provided to you during your induction. They remain the property of Aiming Higher and must be returned one the last day of your employment at AH.

The exterior of the building and the car park is covered by CCTV, and there is also video door bells at the front and back doors on the ground floor.

3.3. Risk Assessments

Every activity that is carried out by Aiming Higher is risk assessed. Risk assessments are reviewed and updated as required, however, they are also reviewed annually.

There is a risk assessment for the use of the centre which can be provided to anyone hiring the centre, however, the hirer must also complete their own risk assessment based on the needs and abilities of the people accessing the centre.

When planning trips, please request a copy of the risk assessment from the venue as well as completing your own risk assessment. Your line manager, resources officer and administrator can assist with this if needed.

All risk assessments are stored on the shared area and can be accessed by all workers.

3.4. Moving and Handling

Aiming Higher operates a no lift policy, therefore, please do not lift or move any heavy objects such as furniture, boxes, people, etc.

There currently isn't any role within Aiming Higher where moving and handling is necessary, however, should this change, Aiming Higher will seek suitable moving and handling training that will be provided by an accredited external provider.

4. Infection control

PPE is provided on all floors of the office should you need it. There are aprons, gloves, face masks and hand sanitisers available to all workers. 

Please maintain a good standard of hygiene at all times. Hand washing facilities are available throughout the building.

Aiming Higher has a cleaner who attends most days. However, please clean and tidy up after yourself and any service users or other professionals that you bring into the building. Not only does this reduce the spread of infection, but it also reduces fire hazards.

If you have any form of contagious illness please inform your line manager immediately who will advice you whether you are able to work in the office or work from home if you feel well enough to do so.

We will now take a look at some basics of infection control.

4.1. Infection control continued

5. Other health and safety information

Medications - You are not permitted to give any medications under any circumstances unless you have received the relevant training. Parents/carers of the child or young person are responsible for the administration of any medication that is due to be given whilst accessing Aiming Higher.

First Aid - First Aid boxes are located on every floor of the Aiming Higher building. You are not permitted to administer first aid until you have received appropriate training. This will be provided externally and will be booked by your line manager or resources officer during your induction. Any accidents or incidents must be reported to your line manager and resources officer on the report forms available in the shared area.

Personal/intimate care - Parents/carers are responsible for any personal/intimate care needs of their child(ren)/young person. Those accessing The A Team must be independent enough to take care of their own personal/intimate care needs. You must not carry out any personal/intimate care under any circumstances.

Food Safety - If your role requires the handling or preparation of food you will be provided with appropriate, external, food safety training.

Hazardous substances - You will not be handling hazardous substances within your role, however, there may be occasions when you come into contact with standard household cleaning products. Please ensure you follow the usage instructions for each item and wear the necessary PPE.