1.1. The PPARC Health and Safety policy statement, set out in Council Circular 6/95, explained the Council's approach to Health and safety in broad terms, its responsibilities, and those of its employees under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 together with subsequent legislation. The purpose of this Notice is to explain how that policy applies to the Isaac Newton Group and detail the local systems and procedures that are in place for its implementation.
2.1 The Health and Safety Policy for the Isaac Newton Group (I.N.G.) echoes that for PPARC as a whole:
2.2 The allocation of duties and responsibilities for safety matters within the I.N.G. and the particular arrangements for the implementation of this policy are set out below.
2.3 The effectiveness of the implementation of these procedures will be monitored by the I.N.G. Site Safety Adviser. The policy will be reviewed on a regular basis by the I.N.G. Safety Adviser, in conjunction with management and the I.N.G. Health and Safety Committee. Health and Safety issues are reported and reviewed at ING's monthly Management meetings.
3.1 As stated in the Councils policy statement, the Heads of each establishment have responsibility for the implementation of health and safety policy at their respective sites. In the case of the I.N.G., this responsibility lies with the Director, Dr R G M Rutten.
3.2 The responsibility for the application of the overall health and safety policy and procedures, including their development, implementation, monitoring and review has been devolved to Mr A K Chopping, Head of Site Services.
3.3 Consultation between Management and its employees is provided by the I.N.G. Health and Safety Committee, who advise the Director on all matters regarding the health and safety of those who work in the I.N.G., including visitors and contractors. Further information is contained in Section 7.
3.4 Dr Rutten has appointed Mr A K Chopping as Safety Adviser for the I.N.G., he provides advice on health and safety matters, investigates accidents and ensures that adequate training and information is provided. A full list of duties is attached at Annex 1. The Safety Adviser is located in Room 104 of the I.N.T. Ext. 633, email akc@ing.iac.es. In the absence of the Safety Adviser, the Deputy Safety Adviser, Mr Douglas Gray should be contacted in all matters relating to safety at the I.N.G. The Deputy Safety Adviser is located in Room 104 of the I.N.T. Ext. 621, email doug@ing.iac.es.
3.5 Notwithstanding the responsibilities of the Director and Safety Adviser, Health and Safety is a line management function. It is therefore the responsibility of every line manager:
3.6 Staff are also reminded that they have a responsibility to co-operate fully with Management to achieve a healthy and safe working environment and to take reasonable care of themselves and others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.
4.1.1 Each day one member of the I.N.G. staff is appointed as Incident Officer. The Incident Officer is responsible for the safety, security and efficient operation on the I.N.G. site. The I.O. should always be the first point of contact when an accident or incident occurs.
4.1.2 The name and contact numbers for the Incident Officer (I.O.) is marked on the whiteboard at the entrance of the I.N.T. and on the whiteboards in the control rooms. The I.O. carries a mobile phone (616 974513). A full list of contact numbers is contained in the Emergency contact numbers document contained in the Induction Pack. An up-to-date list of telephone numbers is available on the ING web pages.
4.2.1 Members of staff must accept responsibility for the safety of those who visit them at the I.N.G. as far as is reasonable. In the event of an emergency, staff must escort their visitors out of the building and remain with them.
4.2.2 Contractors have obligations under the law, but are also required under the terms of their contracts to comply with the safety rules of the site.
4.2.3 Contract managers are responsible for providing such instruction to short-term contractors.
4.3.1 The I.N.G. operates a no-smoking policy. Smoking is prohibited in all I.N.G. buildings and all of the I.N.G. vehicles.
5.1.1 The I.N.G. follows an Approved Code of Practice which lays down the criteria which should be adopted to determine what equipment, facilities and Personnel they require in order to meet the First Aid Regulations 1981.
5.1.2 The Site Safety Adviser, in consultation with the First Aid Officer, is responsible for the training of first aiders and for the provision of first aid materials. The I.N.G. First Aid Officer is Ms R Miles and is located in Room 212 of the Sea-Level Office, tel. 922 42 54 20, email miles@ing.iac.es
5.1.3 Most members of staff have been trained to administer first aid. The list of the current first aiders is attached at Annex 3.
5.1.4 Staff are advised that it is an offence to administer any medication to a colleague on the premises.
5.1.5 The P.P.A.R.C. also has a policy regarding the use of drugs and alcohol. This is detailed in a separate booklet, which is included in the Health and Safety section of the Induction Pack.
5.2.1 here is a legal requirement for certain types of accident or dangerous occurrence to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive; further information on this is given in the Council Policy Statement/Council Circular 6/95, and in the Health and Safety at Work Act Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980.
5.2.2 for purposes of definition:
All reportable accidents and dangerous occurrences must be recorded. Employees involved in accidents are responsible for reporting them. Line managers or Incident Officer must make a report if the individual is unable to do so. Accident Report Books are held in:
5.2.4 In addition to 5.1.2, all incidents resulting in absences of more than three days must be reported by the Site Safety Adviser to the enforcing authority within seven days of the incident.
5.2.5 U.K.members of staff should be aware that when they are absent from work for more than three days as a result of an accident, they may be entitled to claim industrial injury benefit. In these cases, it is necessary that the I.N.G. Personnel Section contact the Department of Social Security on behalf of the employee. The individual concerned must obtain a medical certificate and/or a self certification form and forward it to the Personnel Office with the appropriate section completed pertaining to absence as a result of an accident at work. If possible a copy of the accident report should be attached to the submission to Personnel.
Spanish members of staff who are absent as a result of an accident at work should notify the Personnel Section as soon as possible,again supplying as much detail about the accident and a copy of the accident report.. This will enable Personnel to lodge the appropriate insurance claims on behalf of the employee.
Dutch members of staff who are absent as a result of an accident at work should contact the I.N.G. Personnel Section as soon as possible, again supplying as much detail about the accident and a copy of the accident report if possible.The I.N.G. Personnel Section will contact their counterparts in the Netherlands in order that appropriate health care/insurance schemeand if necessary, disability pension may be activated.
IT IS THE DUTY OF LINE MANAGERS TO ACTION ANY OF THE ABOVE REPORTING ACTIVITIES WHERE THE EMPLOYEE,THROUGH THEIR INJURY, IS UNABLE TO DO SO.
5.2.6 Anyone who suffers from a disease must record it in the Accident Book as soon as they suspect it has an occupational origin. If the individual is unable to do so, then line managers must make a report. Details of diseases which are classified as reportable are detailed in the Health and Safety section of the Induction Pack.
5.2.7 It is most important that staff with a particular responsibility for Health and Safety are kept fully informed if safety matters are to be dealt with effectively. Group Leaders must make suitable arrangements within their group to ensure that they are rapidly briefed by their line managers when accidents or incidents occur. It is also their responsibility to notify the Director and the Safety Adviser. Both the Director and the Safety Adviser must be informed, at the earliest oppotunity, that a serious incident or accident has occured.
5.2.8 The Site Safety Adviser will make a verbal report of all serious incidents to the appropriate Safety Representative or to one of the TU/Staff Side representatives on the I.N.G. Safety Committee at an early stage. Where appropriate they will at a later stage circulate a brief report describing the incident and giving details of actions taken. This report will go to all Group Leaders and to members of the I.N.G. Safety Committee.
6.1.1 The risk assessment procedures will be used as an aid to good health and safety management at the I.N.G.. Risk assessment involves the identification of hazards and evaluating the likelihood and seriousness of risk to the members of staff involved.
6.1.2 The Site Safety Adviser ensures that health and safety hazards and risks in the I.N.G. are identified and assessed, and that appropriate control measures are adopted.
6.1.3 Where risk assessments are required, they should be carried out by line managers responsible for particular activities. They should be reviewed or repeated when a change in circumstances occurs, e.g. following office moves, or if a member of staff experiences a problem.
The Site Safety Adviser can provide further information and details of the procedures involved on risk assessment.
6.1.4 There are some cross-group activities, such as use of display screen equipment, where nominated individuals will carry out assessments. In the I.N.G., the individuals responsible are:
6.1.5 All staff have a responsibility to ensure that the correct procedures are followed in order to avoid unnecessary risk, or to create a hazard, either to themselves or others. To assist with this, detailed guidance is provided on the following:
This information is provided in the Health and Safety section of Induction Packs issued to staff, and on the notice boards.
6.2.1 Details of the procedures for risk assessment are included in the Health and Safety section of the Induction Pack. Staff who are unsure whether a risk assessment has been completed for their job or area, should contact their line managers, in the first instance, or the Site Safety Adviser.
7.1.1 The I.N.G. Safety Committee will normally meet two times per year. The objective of the Committee is to ensure the health and safety of staff, by co-operation between management and staff in the development, implementation and maintenance of necessary safety measures.
7.1.2 The Committee sets the standard on safety and reviews record. It is advisory and reports to the Director through its Chairman. Membership includes representatives appointed by the Trade Unions. The terms of reference and membership of the Committee are attached at Annex 4. The minutes of the Committee meetings will be distributed to members and displayed throughout on the I.N.T. notice board and on the Sea Level Office notice board.
8.1.1 The training of all employees in their safety duties is essential to the proper implementation of the safety policy. Individuals and their line managers are responsible for identifying training requirements. The Safety Adviser will ensure the provision of such training.
8.1.2 All new employees are required to attend an introductory safety course and special training for those with specific responsibilities is arranged as necessary. Other safety courses on particular subjects are organised by the Safety Adviser when the need arises.
8.1.3 Staff have a responsibility to attend such courses to assist them in maintaining an awareness with regard to maintaining a healthy and safe working environment.
8.1.4 Health and Safety information is contained within the Induction Pack (issued by the Personnel Officer to new staff). It contains detailed information on various Health and Safety matters and is displayed on the I.N.T. and Sea Level Office notice boards. Further copies, of the Health & Safety Information, contained in the Induction Pack, are available from the Safety Adviser.The contents are attached at Annex 2.
8.2.1 The I.N.G Welfare Officer is Lucy Lawler, contactable at the sea level office.
The Welfare Officer provides a range of health and welfare services to the I.N.G. employees, including counselling services for those with problems affecting their work such as sickness, bereavement, domestic problems, employment problems and retirement issues. Support for line managers with their welfare responsibilities is also available.
8.2.2 In conjunction with the I.N.G. nurse, Maria Angeles Cortes, an occupational health programme is available offering services such as child vaccination programmes, assistance with medical appointments , translation services at appointments, advice on medical issues and such matters relating to employees and their family's health.
All matters relating to welfare and health are treated in the strictest of confidence and employees have access to these services 24 hours per day.
Contact telephone numbers are as follows:
Lucy Lawler: 922 425415 (office), 922 181314 (Home)
Maria Angeles Cortes: 922 412971 (home), 629 294580 (Mobile)
8.3.1 The Site Safety Adviser, Mr A Chopping, should be consulted in the first instance. He is the main line of communication between the I.N.G. and the local health and safety enforcement agencies. He also maintains a number of other relevant contacts, including the other Research Councils site safety advisers.