Does a charity need a health and safety policy?

Does a charity need a health and safety policy?

The law requires that every organisation appoints someone ‘competent’ to deliver its health and safety duties. This can be someone in your charity, especially if your operations are low risk.

What should a health and safety policy include?

A health and safety policy sets out your general approach to health and safety. It explains how you, as an employer, will manage health and safety in your business. It should clearly say who does what, when and how. If you have five or more employees, you must write your policy down.

How do you write a safety policy?

OSHA offers a workplace program that sets forth how you can begin to create a safety policy and how it can be effectively implemented.

1. Perform a worksite analysis.
2. Establish a plan.
3. Designate responsibility.
4. Do your “housekeeping”.
5. Impress upon your employees the importance of following safety policy.

Does health and safety law apply to volunteers?

Strictly speaking, health and safety legislation – which is criminal law – only applies to employers, employees and the self-employed – and it only applies to an organisation which has at least one employee. This means that volunteers are protected by health and safety legislation but aren’t subject to it.

Does the health and safety at Work Act apply to charities?

Health and safety legislation doesn’t generally apply to someone who is not an employer, self-employed or an employee. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act) and the regulations made under it apply if any organisation (including a voluntary organisation) has at least one employee.

What are the three main sections of a health and safety policy?

But what are the key points of a Health & Safety Policy?

• A ‘Health and Safety Policy Statement of Intent’ (your aims and objectives);
• The organisation of health and safety (who has responsibility for what); and.
• Your arrangements for health and safety (how risks are managed).

What are the three key elements of a health and safety policy?

Are volunteers classed as employees?

What is the status of a volunteer? Volunteers normally carry out unpaid work for charities, voluntary organisations or fundraising bodies. Volunteers are generally not considered to be employees or workers and usually will have a role description rather than a job description.

Are employers responsible for volunteers?

All employers must provide employees with a safe place to work that is clean and free from risk of ill health or injury. Employers have additional responsibilities for the health and safety of any visitors and volunteers in their premises. Premises must also meet all relevant health and safety regulations.

Who does health and safety apply to?

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASAWA) lays down wide-ranging duties on employers. Employers must protect the ‘health, safety and welfare’ at work of all their employees, as well as others on their premises, including temps, casual workers, the self-employed, clients, visitors and the general public.