District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety HEALTH AND SAFETY For Rotary District 1220 and its Member Clubs

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety HEALTH AND SAFETY Oh No!

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety Tony Petitt BA CEng CMIOSH Chartered Safety & Health Practitioner [Rotary Club of Bretby] District 1220 Health & Safety Officer

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety To ensure that you are aware of the Law and of the requirements of RIBI and District To provide advice to you, and to your Clubs, on Health & Safety matters. To provide you with the tools to enable you to comply with the Law, the advice and best practice. My Job

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety The District Website will soon contain a Health and Safety page [look under ‘District’] My Job

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety The District H&S Policy District Risk Assessments [for Conference, Assembly etc.] Draft Club H&S Policy for download and use by your H&S Officer Club Risk Assessment form for download and use by your Club H&S Officer or designated member(s) Topical advice for you and your H&S Officer A copy of this presentation You will be able to access the following: My Job

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety Your Job:

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety As President of your Club, is to ensure that you comply with the requirements of RIBI and with the advice provided by RIBI and District 1220 by having in place. A Health & Safety Policy Risk Assessments covering each activity that could present a risk to your members or others affected. Your Job

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety You must also appoint a Club H&S Officer, or take on that role yourself, to head the Club’s H&S activities. Your Job

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety Through me: you must notify District of the name of your Club H&S Officer. you must send District a copy of your Club Health & Safety Policy. Your Job

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety The Law:

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety There is a danger that a Club, or the District could find itself being made an example of, if it did not have in place what was considered by the HSE, or insurers, to be sufficient training and safeguards. The Law

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety The main piece of Health & Safety legislation is: The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act This sets out the general duties that employers and others have towards employees and those affected by their work activities. The Law

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety But wait a minute, I hear you say! That was the Health & Safety AT WORK Act and referred to employers, employees and work. The Law

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety You will say that my Club is not an employer, our members are not employees and we do not participate in ‘work’ And you would be quite right, but: The Law

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety The Health & Safety Executive [HSE] with The Charities Safety Group have published a guidance document: Charity and Voluntary Workers This sets out HSE advice that is applicable to us and to the activities that we undertake. It states: The Law

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety “In general, the same health and safety standards should be applied to voluntary workers as they would to employees exposed to the same risks…. HSE considers it good practice for a volunteer user to provide the same level of health and safety protection as they would in an employer/employee relationship, irrespective of whether there are strict legal duties.” The Law

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety There is still a grey area, where organisations such as ours are concerned, but it seems unlikely, in my opinion, that a Rotary Club and/or its Officers would be prosecuted by the HSE under the Act in the case of an accident causing injury or death to a member of a Rotary Club or to a member of the public. HOWEVER: The Law

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety In this litigious world, there is still the possibility that we could be faced with a claim for damages, or at worst a prosecution brought by an individual or their family. HOWEVER: The Law

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety There is good news. If we organise our Clubs’ Health & Safety in line with “Charity and Voluntary Workers” we would be held to have taken all possible precautions to avoid injury or death to our members and others affected by our activities. The Law

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety RIBI Requirements

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety It is a requirement of RIBI that Districts and Clubs have in place: Health and Safety Policies Risk Assessments covering Rotary Activities

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety Club H&S Policy What is a Health & Safety Policy? A H&S Policy is a statement of a Club’s intention with regard to the Health & Safety of its Members and those affected by its activities.

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety Club H&S Policy

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety The Club’s Statement of General Policy is: To provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from our activities To consult with our members on matters affecting their health and safety To carry out Risk Assessments for all activities affecting members and others To provide and maintain (where appropriate) safe items of plant and equipment To ensure (where appropriate) safe handling and use of substances To provide information, instruction and supervision for members To ensure that all members are competent to carry out any tasks assigned to them by the Club, and to provide them with appropriate guidance To prevent accidents To maintain (where appropriate) safe and healthy working conditions for members and others To appoint, annually, a Club Health & Safety Officer To annually review and revise, where necessary, this Policy. Club H&S Policy

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety Club H&S Policy

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety What is a Risk Assessment? A Risk Assessment is a careful examination of all aspects of an activity, as they affect the health & safety of those taking part. What are the potential hazards? Have we taken enough precautions to control the risk from those hazards? Could we do more to prevent harm from happening? Club Risk Assessments

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety Club Risk Assessments

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety Hazards and Risks

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety WHAT IS A HAZARD? Something or someone with the potential to cause harm Working at height

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety WHAT IS A RISK? The likelihood that a particular hazard will give rise to harm. Risk reflects both the likelihood and severity of the harm Injury/death after fall – very likely!

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety WHAT IS A HAZARD? Something or someone with the potential to cause harm Working at height

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety WHAT IS A RISK? The likelihood that a particular hazard will give rise to harm. Risk reflects both the likelihood and severity of the harm Injury/death after fall – very unlikely! Same hazard as before

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety WHAT IS A HAZARD? Something or someone with the potential to cause harm Not very apparent Heathrow, Terminal 3, 1st floor

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety WHAT IS A RISK? The likelihood that a particular hazard will give rise to harm. Risk reflects both the likelihood and severity of the harm Still not very apparent! Heathrow, Terminal 3, 1st floor

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety Heathrow, Terminal 3, 1st floor WHAT IS A RISK? The likelihood that a particular hazard will give rise to harm. Risk reflects both the likelihood and severity of the harm In fact: a man was killed here

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety Benefits of compliance

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety First & foremost protection Benefits

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety protection Benefits Protects District, Protects Club and Officers, Protects Club Members, Protects the Public.

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety protection Protects against: Injuries from our activities, Insurance claims, Bad publicity for Club, District and RIBI. Benefits

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety protection Helps compliance with Health & Safety Legislation Removes or reduces hazards or risks Promotes safe working practices Benefits

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety protection Improves image [good PR for Rotary] Improves confidence [in the Club] Improves reputation [of Club, District & RIBI] Benefits

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety and finally

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety remember HAZARD RISK &

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety HAZARD I can’t be bothered with this Health & Safety business – too many more important things to do. remember

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety RISK Someone injured The Club, and you, prosecuted or sued You bring the names of your Club, District 1220, RIBI and Rotary into disrepute remember

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety HEALTH AND SAFETY

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety HEALTH AND SAFETY OH YES!

District 1220 Assembly 2006 Health and Safety Thank you for your attention Tony Petitt