Health & Safety
Tuesday 8th December 2009
My name is Rod Trippier, and I have been tasked with seting up the H & S file for a new community shop on the outskirts of Chester. Although a health and safety professional (and a sensible one at that), for more years than I care to remember, I work around the UK on large construction and F.M. projects.
I don't want to re-invent the wheel, or go overboard on this subject; just to put the basics in place, ensuring we adequately identify and manage our risk to the benefit of customers, staff and suppliers, and to demonstrate to our insurers that we are adequately managing risk.
So, before I charge into enthusiastic action developing new policies and forms, etc, etc, can anybody provide me with "model" documents that have worked for you? If so I would be very pleased to hear fom you.
Regards,
Rod
Hi Rod - it may be worth looking at the leaflets puiblished by Plunkett on their site - they cover a good range of things you need to know. It would also be useful to go to the Urchfont Community Association site - they have made their handbook available to all.
Bryan
Mortimer Country Stores
Wigmore
Hi Rod,
The Plunkett advice sheets that Bryan refers to can be accessed directly from this network site. You can find them by clicking on Information and then under Preparing for Trading you will find a Legal section which contains HandS and other related stuff.
Given your "other life" expertise in HandS then it would be really great to hear how you get on.
With best wishes,
Gill Withers
Plunkett
The link to the Plunkett resource:
I couldn't find the Urchfont handbook that Bryan refers to above. Does anyone have a URL for that?
In retrospect I believe this handbook was on the VIRSA web site - but if you would like a copy I can email you a copy. We have modified this for our own use and generally brought it up to date.
Bryan
Mortimer Country Stores
Bryan
Thanks. I've now found the link here: Staff handbook
I'll talk the folks at Plunkett about the idea of putting this handbook content onto this site in a format that we can collectively edit and improve over time. Looks like a useful document.
Regards
Graham
Bryan,
I've had a look at the Urchfont materials; thanks, and I've tried to seek some assistance from our EHO, who has promised to come back with relevant materials. There's lots out there; it's just a matter of pulling it together.
But come January I'm going to run a Risk Assessment Work-shop for our volunteers before we go live. Nothing OTT, just enough to help them recognise "significant" risk (as defined in RIDDOR), rather than all risks.
The HSE take quite a sensible stance on risk management, covering people, equipment and assets. And they make the point that where ever there is human activity, accidents will occur; all we have to do is try and help prevent the serious ones from happening.
Regards,
Rod Trippier
Ashton Hayes Community Shop