Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974
This is the Health and Safety Policy Statement of Jon Watson Consulting
Introduction
Jon Watson Consulting is a small partnership comprising two partners, working with a number of self-employed associates, providing consultancy services to clients in the public and private sectors. Both partners and all associates work from their own home offices, or in the offices of our clients.
The relationship with and between associates is non-exclusive, and all associates work with other consultancies or in other business sectors.
Our statement of general policy is:
· To provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from our work activities.
· To consult with our associates on matters affecting their health and safety.
· To provide and maintain safe equipment within our own premises and to ensure associates do the same in their own premises.
· To provide information and instruction for associates.
· To ensure that all associates are competent to do their tasks, and to ensure that they are trained adequately.
· To prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health.
· To maintain safe and healthy working conditions.
· To review and revise this policy as necessary at regular intervals.
Responsibilities
We recognise and accept our overall responsibility for health and safety in the activities of Jon Watson Consulting. Similarly, our associates recognise and accept their responsibility to take care of the health and safety of themselves and others with whom they work, and to co-operate in compliance with the law.
Jon Watson Consulting holds Public and Employers Liability insurance, the terms and conditions of which we comply with. A copy of the Public and Employers Liability insurance certificate (renewable annually in April) is emailed to each associate. For record purposes, the limits of indemnity of Jon Watson Consulting’s public liability insurance is £5m and employer’s liability insurance is £10m.
Health and Safety Risks from Our Work Activities
We have undertaken a health and safety strategic self-assessment, and benchmarked those results against comparable organisations through Business Link North East. Our overall hazard management score was 9.35 out of a potential score of 10, and incident score 10 out of 10.
Our assessment of risks has indicated that the nature of work means that the key areas of hazard are:
· Office equipment and machinery: use of workstations, computer equipment and peripherals, including VDUs.
· Repetitive movements: use of keyboards.
· Stress: management of time and workload.
· Travel: management of time.
Actions required from this assessment are the responsibility of Jon Watson, who is responsible for ensuring that the necessary actions are taken and implemented.
The assessment will be reviewed annually, or when the nature of work activity changes.
Consultation
The size of the business and nature of relationships with associates means that there are no formal structures for representation and consultation with employees. All consultations and information are direct between Jon Watson and individual associates.
Safe Plant and Equipment
Relevant plant and equipment comprises workstations, computers, VDUs and other peripherals.
Each associate is responsible for ensuring the correct set up of their own workstation and equipment, and that maintenance is carried out to ensure that the equipment is kept in safe working order.
Safeguarding and Use of Substances
The nature of the business means that there is no storage, handling or use of potentially hazardous substances.
Information Instructions and Supervision
The size of the business and nature of relationships with associates means that each partner or associate is responsible for his or her own health and safety, and compliance with statutory regulations within their own place of work.
Competency for Tasks and Training
The nature of the relationship with associates means that each associate is responsible for ensuring that he or she has undertaken the necessary training to be competent for the tasks which they undertake.
Accidents, First Aid and Work Related Health
The nature of the relationship with associates means that each associate is responsible for prevention and reporting of accidents, and maintenance of first aid equipment.
Each associate is responsible for the management of their own workload and their time commitment to Jon Watson Consulting and to other organisations with whom they work. Each associate is free to decline work from Jon Watson Consulting, and is responsible for prioritising and managing work between their various employers.
Monitoring
Each partner or associate is responsible for monitoring their own health and safety in their own place of work.
Emergency Procedures
Each partner or associate is responsible for ensuring that emergency procedures are in place within their own place of work.