HEALTH AND SAFETY IN DISTRICT 1220
General
The basis for H&S in District 1220 is the RIBI Manual: Health
and Safety – A Guide for Rotary Clubs and Districts. This manual
may be downloaded from this area of District 1220 website (see
below). Printed copies may be obtained for £1.00 each from RIBI One
Stop Shop. The booklet includes, in addition to H&S Policy, a large
number of very useful Risk Assessments for typical situations.
Whilst H&S Law is generally based on ‘Work’ – The Health and
Safety at Work Act 1974 – and on the relationship between
employers, employees and others affected by their activities, the
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in conjunction with the Charities
Safety Group have published a guidance document – Charity and
Voluntary Workers: HSG 192 – in which they say:
“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.”
It is essential, therefore, that District 1220 and its member
clubs comply with the RIBI Guidance, and with the guidance contained
in HSG192. RIBI’s insurers would look at the level of compliance
with these when considering any claims made against District or an
individual Club.
Duties and Responsibilities
District 1220
D1220 is accountable to the General Council of RIBI for the
implementation of RIBI H&S Policy in their area. D1220 is
responsible for the H&S of their appointed officers, members (whilst
employed in Rotary activities) and members of the public affected by
their activities.
D1220 is responsible for:
- Completing and maintaining a District H&S Policy
- Appointing a District Contact (the District H&S Officer)
- Where appropriate, ensuring that District Risk Assessments (DRAs)
are developed and implemented with Control Measures identified
- Ensuring that such DRAs are reviewed annually and that the
results of reviews are sent to the RIBI H&S Officer
- Providing effective arrangements for communication and
consultation with member Clubs and their members on H&S matters
- Providing appropriate H&S Training for Clubs and their
members in conjunction with the RIBI H&S Officer (RIBIHSO) and
the District Contact.
District Contact (H&S Officer)
District H&S Officer (DHSO) is accountable to D1220 for the
implementation of D1220 H&S Policy, and is responsible for:
- Encouraging the appointment of Club H&S Officers (CHSOs) to
consult with the DHSO and the RIBIHSO in matters relating to H&S
- Encourage the completion and maintenance of Club H&S
Policies
- Encourage the development of Club Risk Assessments (CRAs),
their implementation and the identification of control measures
- Encourage such Club H&S Policies and CRAs to be reviewed
annually and the results of the review sent, via the DHSO to the
RIBIHSO
- Providing guidance and assistance, where required, to Clubs
within D1220
- Ensuring that D1220 fulfils its responsibilities to RIBI
D1220 Member Clubs
Each Club within D1220 is accountable to District 1220 and is
responsible, through the Club President and Council, for:
- The H&S of their appointed officers, members (whilst
employed in Club activities) and members of the public affected
by their activities.
- Appointing a member to be responsible for H&S within the
Club (the Club H&S Officer – CHSO)
- Preparing and approving a Club H&S Policy and ensuring that
it is reviewed annually
- Preparing and approving Risk Assessments for all activities
organised by the Club that affect members and others affected by
the activities
- Reviewing annually any RA that is prepared for an event that
is repetitive
- Ensuring that all H&S Policies and Risk Assessments are
forwarded to the DHSO for onward transmission to the RIBIHSO.
- It is recommended that Club H&S Policies are prepared or
reviewed and approved at the first meeting of a Club’s Council
and, in any case, forwarded to the DHSO no later than the end of
August each year.
Guidance and Assistance
The following documents are available for download to assist
Clubs and Club H&S Officers, and to provide information about D1220
H&S matters.
Finally -
A Warning - this could be you!
(pdf) (235K)
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