Camp Curiosity
Purpose of policy
1. Camp Curiosity takes health and safety issues seriously and is committed to protecting the health and safety of its attendees and all those affected by its business activities and attending its premises.
2. This policy may be amended at any time by Camp Curiosity at its absolute discretion. Camp Curiosity will review this policy at regular intervals to ensure that it is achieving its aims effectively.
Who is responsible for workplace health and safety?
3. Achieving a healthy and safe event is a collective task shared between Camp Curiosity and attendees. This policy and the rules contained in it apply to staff and attendees. Specific responsibilities of staff are set out in the section headed "Responsibilities of all staff" below.
Event Organiser responsibilities
4. Camp Curiosity is responsible for:
a. Taking reasonable steps to safeguard the health and safety of staff, people affected by the Employer's business activities, and people visiting its events.
b. Identifying health and safety risks and finding ways to manage or overcome them.
c. Providing a safe and healthy place of work and safe entry and exit arrangements, including during an emergency situation.
d. Providing and maintaining safe working areas, equipment and systems and, where necessary, appropriate protective clothing.
e. Providing safe arrangements for the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances.
f. Providing adequate information, instruction, training and supervision to enable all staff to do their work safely, to avoid hazards and to contribute positively to their own health and safety at work.
g. Ensuring full compliance, and the safe procedural compliance with:
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Manual handling.
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Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH).
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The use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
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Sharp Tool Use.
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Campfire & Fire Lighting Safety.
h. Regularly monitoring and reviewing the management of health and safety, making any necessary changes.
5. Overall responsibility for health and safety lies with Gemma Hill-Davis, whom is also to be considered the Health and Safety Officer with day-to-day responsibility for health and safety matters.
6. Any concerns about health and safety matters should be communicated to the Health and Safety Officer.
Responsibilities of all staff and attendees
7. All Staff and Attendees must:
a. Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
b. Co-operate with the Health and Safety Officer and Camp Curiosity generally to enable compliance with health and safety duties and requirements.
c. Comply with any health and safety instructions and rules, including instructions on the safe use of equipment.
d. Keep health and safety issues in the front of their minds and take personal responsibility for the health and safety implications of their own acts and omissions.
e. Keep the event area tidy and hazard-free.
f. Report all health and safety concerns to the Health and Safety Officer promptly, including any potential risks, hazards or malfunctioning of equipment, however minor or trivial they may seem.
g. Co-operate with Camp Curiosity in the investigation of any incident or accident which either has led to injury or which, in the Event Organisers opinion, could have led to injury.
Staff and Attendees responsibilities relating to equipment
8. All staff must:
a. Use equipment as directed, following any instructions given by representatives of management or contained in any written operating manual or instructions for use, and adhering to any relevant training.
b. Report any fault with, damage to, or concern about any equipment (including health and safety equipment) or its use to the Health and Safety Officer, who is responsible for maintenance and safety of equipment.
c. Ensure that health and safety equipment is not interfered with.
d. Not attempt to repair equipment unless suitably trained and authorised.
Staff and Attendees responsibilities relating to accidents and first aid
9. All staff and attendees must:
a. Promptly report any accident involving personal injury, however trivial, to the Health and Safety Officer so that details can be recorded in the Accident Book. They must also cooperate with any associated investigation.
b. If an accident occurs, alert the Health and Safety Officer or dial 07309067709, giving name, location and brief details of the problem.
c. The Health and Safety Officer is responsible for investigating any injuries or work-related illnesses, preparing and keeping accident records, and for submitting reports under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), where required.
Staff and Attendees responsibilities relating to national health alerts, including the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
10. If an epidemic or pandemic alert is issued, all staff must comply and co-operate with all instructions, arrangements and advice issued by the Employer as to the organisation of business operations and steps to be taken by staff to minimise the risk of infection. Any questions should be referred to the Health and Safety Officer.
11. Given the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), it is important that all staff and attendees follow the guidelines set out in this policy to ensure maximum safety and to minimise the risk of infection. We will review these guidelines regularly to ensure they are kept up-to-date with Government guidance.
Staff and Attendees responsibilities relating to emergency evacuation and fire
13. All staff and attendees must:
a. Familiarise themselves with the instructions about what to do if there is a fire which.
b. Ensure they are aware of the location of fire extinguishers, fire exits and alternative ways of leaving the area in an emergency.
c. Comply with the instructions of firewardens if there is a fire, suspected fire or fire alarm (or a practice drill for any of these scenarios).
d. Co-operate in fire drills and take them seriously (ensuring that any visitors to the area do the same).
e. Notify the Health and Safety Officer immediately of any circumstances (for example, impaired mobility) which might hinder or delay evacuation in a fire. This will allow the Health and Safety Officer to discuss a personal evacuation plan for you, which will be shared with the fire wardens and colleagues working near to you.
14. On discovering a fire, all staff and attendees must:
a. Immediately trigger the nearest fire alarm and, if time permits, call 07309067709 and notify the location of the fire.
15. On hearing the fire alarm, all staff and attendees must:
a. Remain calm and immediately evacuate the area, walking quickly without running, and following any instructions of the fire wardens.
b. Leave without stopping to collect personal belongings.
c. Remain out of the area until notified by a fire warden that it is safe to re-enter.
16. The Health and Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring that fire risk assessments take place, that changes are made where required, and for making sure there are regular checks of fire extinguishers, fire alarms, escape routes, signage and emergency lighting.
Risk assessments, hazardous substances and manual handling
17. Risk assessments are essentially a careful examination of what in the workplace could cause harm to people. Camp Curiosity will assess any risks and consider measures to best minimise any risk. Camp Curiosity will carry out general workplace risk assessments when required or as reasonably requested. The Health and Safety Officer is responsible for workplace risk assessments and any measures to control risks.
18. The use of hazardous substances at work will be avoided where possible and less hazardous alternatives will be used where available. Training on the control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) will be undertaken where required.
19. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is provided where risks cannot be otherwise effectively controlled.
20. Guidance on manual handling (for example, lifting and carrying heavy objects) can be obtained from the Health and Safety Officer and where necessary training will be provided by the Employer, but the Employer will try to minimise or avoid the need for manual handling where there is a risk of injury.
Staff returning to work - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
21. Although Government restrictions introduced in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have been lifted, the pandemic is ongoing and appropriate safety measures must be adhered to. Employees must adhere to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) mitigation provisions which are still relevant to our workplace. These include:
Hygiene practices
22. Staff and Attendees must follow all hygiene measures as requested. When appropriate, these may include increased frequency of hand washing, wearing protective clothing, and sanitising areas.
23. Camp Curiosity will provide adequate handwashing facilities (or hand sanitiser where not possible) at entry/exit points and when appropriate we expect all staff and attendees to use these facilities frequently.
24. We also expect staff and attendees to apply good hygiene practices generally, such as covering their mouths or faces when coughing or sneezing, not shaking hands or touching other people and disposing of any waste, such as used tissues or hand wipes, responsibly.
Last Updated - April 2023