Review Circulation Application Ratification Originator or modifier Minor Amendment Supersedes Title DOCUMENT CONTROL PAGE Title: Health and Safety Policy Statement Version: 5.0 Reference Number: HSP 1 Supersedes: Version 4.0 (August 2011) Significant Changes: amendment to approval route; recognition of revised health and safety committee structure; requirement for Divisions to have a suitable forum for matters of health and safety Date: Notified to: Date: Summary of amendments: Originated By: Brett Thompson Designation: Health and Safety Adviser Modified by: Brett Thompson Designation: Health and Safety Adviser Referred for approval by: Strategic Health and Safety Committee Date of Referral: 07/08/14 Ratified by: Human Resources Committee Date of Referral: 19/08/14 All staff Issue Date: August 2014 Circulated by: Email to all Divisions and Corporate Services. Dissemination and Implementation: Refer to section 7. Review Date: August 2017 Responsibility of: Health and Safety Adviser Date placed on the Intranet: August 2014 Please enter your EqIA Registration Number here: 312/11
Health and Safety Policy Statement Section Contents Page 1 Introduction 1 2 Purpose 1 3 Roles and Responsibilities 1 4 Health and Safety Arrangements and Documentation 4 5 Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Impact 4 Assessment 6 Consultation, Approval and Ratification Process 4 7 Dissemination and Implementation 5 8 Monitoring Compliance of Procedural Documents 6 9 References and Bibliography 7 10 Associated Trust Documents 7 11 Trust Executive Approval 7 1. Introduction 1.1 This document is the over-arching Health and Safety Policy Statement of the Trust. 1.2 Organisational Arrangements for Health and Safety are within HSP 2. 1.3 Specific Health and Safety topics are addresses within specific Health and Safety Policies bearing the Trust Policy prefix of HSP. When ratified these are posted on the Trust s Staffnet Intranet Site. 2. Purpose 2.1 The purpose of this document is to record the Trust s Policy Statement regarding the management of Health and Safety relating to all aspects of the work of the Trust 2.2 This policy demonstrates the Trust s commitment to complying with all relevant health and safety legislation. 3 Roles and Responsibilities 3.1 Responsibilities of the Chief Executive and Trust Board of Directors under the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974: 3.1.1 The Chief Executive and Board of Directors of Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust ( the Trust ) accept that the Trust will do all that is reasonably practicable to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees and the health and safety of others affected by its work. HSP 1 Health and Safety Policy Statement Page 2 of 7
3.1.2 It is the Trust s intention to: - lead health and safety from Board Level to demonstrate commitment and embed a positive health and safety culture within all levels of the organisation; - comply with all relevant legislation, Codes of Practice and appropriate guidance; - appoint competent persons to provide advise and assistance regarding matters of health and safety; - provide and maintain premises and equipment that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, without risk to health and safety; - undertake appropriate Risk Assessments and promote Safe Systems of Work; - provide appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision to staff; - consult with staff on issues that significantly affect their health, safety and welfare; and - ensure that adequate systems are in place for communication and co-operation between the Trust and other organisations, to cover situations where Trust employees work on the premises of other organisations and where employees of other organisations work on the premises of the Trust. 3.2 Responsibilities of Managers: 3.2.1 Lines of responsibility for Health & Safety reflect the Lines of Management of the Trust. 3.2.2 Managers at all levels of the Trust are responsible for the Health and Safety of the work of their Department and are responsible for bringing unresolved Health and Safety issues to the attention of their line manager. 3.3 Responsibilities of Employees: 3.3.1 All employees have legal responsibilities to: - take reasonable care of their own Health and Safety and for that of others who could be affected by what they do, or fail to do; HSP 1 Health and Safety Policy Statement Page 3 of 7
- co-operate with the Trust in matters of Health and Safety; - not recklessly interfere with anything provided for reasons of Health & Safety; and - report identified hazards, incidents, accidents and work-related ill health. 3.3.2 All employees and stakeholders are encouraged to make suggestions for improving Health and Safety standards. 4. Health and Safety Arrangements and Documentation: 4.1 Reviewed and revised topic specific Health and Safety Policies and information/guidance sheets are posted on the Trust Intranet. 4.2 The revised Policies relate to all the Trust Sites and Services. 4.3 Previous site and service specific Health and Safety Related Policies relating to the transferred NHS Manchester Community Services and Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust will remain in force until combined revised replacements are produced. In some cases, due to management and geographical variations, some will remain in force following these transfers and acquisitions arrangements must be agreed with Service Managers. 5. Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Impact Assessment. 5.1 Access and Communication 5.1.1 The Trust is committed to ensuring that our services are accessible to everyone. 5.1.2 We will seek alternative methods of access and service delivery where barriers, perceived or real may exist, that may make it difficult for people to comply with this policy and those in the HSP series. 5.1.3 Where a staff member or patient has additional communication needs arising from a disability or where their first language is not English then these needs will be met by providing the appropriate communication support (e.g. an interpreter or signer). 5.1.4 The same principles will be applied to all Health and Safety policies within the HSP series and the EqIA for this Policy will apply to the whole series unless otherwise stated. 5.2 Equality, Diversity and Human Rights 5.2.1 The Trust is committed to ensuring that no person or group of persons will be treated less favourably than another person or group of persons and will carry out our duty with positive regard HSP 1 Health and Safety Policy Statement Page 4 of 7
for the protective characteristics, as outlined, in the Equality Act 2010. This will be applied to all Health and Safety policies within the HSP series. 5.2.2 However, we also recognised that some people experience disadvantage due to their socio economic circumstances, employment status, class, appearance, responsibility for dependants, unrelated criminal activities, being HIV positive or with AIDS, or any other matter which causes a person to be treated with injustice. 5.2.3 The Trust will also ensure that all services and actions are delivered within the context of current Human Rights legislation. Staff and others with whom we work, will adhere to the central principles of the Human Rights Act (1998). 5.2.4 This policy has been assessed to determine the impact across the following equality dimensions: age, disability, gender (including transsexual / transgender), race, religion and belief, sexual orientation socio economic and patient experience. 5.2.5 The same principles will be applied to all Health and Safety policies within the HSP series and the EqIA for this Policy will apply to the whole series unless otherwise stated. 6. Consultation, Approval and Ratification Process 6.1 Consultation Process, Consultation and Communication with Stakeholders 6.1.1 This Policy is forwarded to the Union Office for Staff Side comment and approval. 6.1.2 This Policy is forwarded to members of the Trust s Strategic Health and Safety Committee for comment and approval. 6.1.3 This Policy is forwarded to the Trust s PFI partners for information. 6.2 Policy Approval Process 6.2.1 This Policy is recommended for approval by the Trust s Strategic Health and Safety Committee. 6.3 Ratification Process 6.3.1 This Policy is ratified by the Trust s Human Resources Committee. HSP 1 Health and Safety Policy Statement Page 5 of 7
7. Dissemination and Implementation 7.1 Dissemination 7.1.1 This Policy will be distributed to the Trust s Clinical Divisions and Corporate Directorates and will be brought to the attention of all employees of Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust via the Trust Team Brief Newsletter and Divisional arrangements for cascading information. 7.1.2 This Policy will be published on the Trust s Staffnet intranet site and made available to any person on request. 7.2 Implementation of Procedural Documents 7.2.1 The Trust s organisational arrangements for delivering the objectives and requirements of this policy are detailed in HSP 2 Organisational Arrangements for Delivering the Trust s Health and Safety Policy. 7.2.2 Other Trust specific-topic Health & Safety Policies are contained within the HSP series. 8 Monitoring Compliance of Procedural Documents 8.1 Process for Monitoring Compliance. 8.1.1 Process for Monitoring Compliance and Effectiveness 8.1.2 The Health and Safety Adviser is responsible for monitoring compliance with the Trust s Health and Safety Policy Statement at Division and Corporate Level. 8.1.3 This will be completed on an annual basis and reported to the Trust s Strategic Health and Safety Committee. 8.1.4 The following will be monitored for compliance: Policy within review date. Topic specific Health and Safety Guidance sheets are developed in the HSG series to assist in the delivery of this Policy. Topic specific Health & Safety Policies are developed in the HSP series to assist in the delivery of this Policy. An Annual, Divisional Health & Safety Performance Review is coordinated by the Health & Safety Adviser and reviewed by the Trust s Strategic Health and Safety Committee. 8.1.5 Any shortfalls identified will have an action plan put in place to address which will have timescales included for re-audit / monitoring. HSP 1 Health and Safety Policy Statement Page 6 of 7
8.2 Standards and Key Performance Indicators KPIs 8.2.1 This Policy will be made available on the Trust s Staffnet Intranet Site and will be available to other interested parties on request. 8.2.2 This policy will be reviewed at least every three years or when there are significant changes to the document. 8.2.3 The Trust s Operational and Strategic Health and Safety Committees will meet on a regular basis to review health and safety arrangements and discuss opportunities for improvement of standards. 8.2.4 All Divisions will have adequate arrangements and a suitable forum for discussing matters of health and safety. 8.2.5 Health and Safety will be a standard item in the Trust s Corporate Induction and Corporate Mandatory Training programmes. 9. References and Bibliography Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999. 10. Associated Trust Documents Health & Safety Policies HSP series Health & Safety Guidance - HSG series Risk Management Strategy Incident Reporting Policy Incident Investigation Policy Risk Identification and Analysis Policy 11 Trust Executive Approval HSP 1 Health and Safety Policy Statement Page 7 of 7