Health and Safety Policy
Introduction
Let’s Go! Mcr is committed to ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of all individuals involved in our activities, including children, volunteers and employees. This policy outlines our approach to maintaining a safe environment during all organised trips and activities, ensuring compliance with relevant health and safety regulations.
Policy Objectives
- To ensure the safety of children, volunteers, and staff during trips and activities.
- To minimise risks associated with day trips, transportation, and other activities.
- To comply with health and safety legislation.
- To provide clear guidelines for handling emergencies and incidents.
Responsibilities
Management (Policyholder): Responsible for ensuring that health and safety procedures are in place and followed during all trips. This includes risk assessments, ensuring adequate staff-to-child ratios, and compliance with regulations.
Staff and Volunteers: Responsible for understanding and implementing safety protocols, attending necessary training, and promptly reporting hazards or incidents.
Parents/Guardians: Required to provide relevant medical information regarding their children and ensure children follow safety instructions during trips.
Children: Expected to follow safety instructions from staff and volunteers, act responsibly, and inform an adult if they feel unsafe.
Risk Assessments Before any trip or activity:
- A thorough risk assessment will be conducted, identifying potential hazards, evaluating the level of risk, and implementing control measures.
- All vehicles used for transportation will be inspected for safety, and drivers will be checked for compliance with driving laws and insurance requirements.
- Sites visited will be reviewed, when necessary for suitability and safety standards.
First Aid
- A qualified first-aid provider will be present on all trips.
- A fully stocked first aid kit will be available in all vehicles and carried on trips.
- All accidents, injuries, or incidents will be recorded in an accident report log and communicated to parents/guardians as appropriate.
Emergency Procedures
- In case of an emergency, staff and volunteers will follow a predetermined emergency procedure, including evacuation routes, communication with emergency services, and safe assembly points.
- Emergency contact information for each child will be collected before any trip.
- Parents/guardians will be informed immediately in the event of an emergency or serious incident involving their child.
Transportation Safety
- All vehicles used for transportation will be roadworthy and insured for business use.
- Children will be seated with appropriate seat belts or restraints.
- A maximum number of children per vehicle will be enforced to ensure compliance with safety standards.
- Drivers will have valid driving licenses and be familiar with safety protocols.
Supervision and Child Protection
- Adequate staff-to-child ratios will be maintained to ensure proper supervision.
- All staff and volunteers working with children will have undergone a Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
- A safeguarding policy will be followed to protect children from abuse or neglect.
Communication and Training
- All staff and volunteers will receive health and safety training relevant to their role.
- Regular briefings will be held to communicate safety measures before trips.
- Parents/guardians will be informed of key safety measures and guidelines before each trip or activity via the Parents WhatsApp group.
Review and Monitoring
- This health and safety policy will be reviewed annually or following any significant incident or change in legislation.
- Regular checks will be carried out on safety equipment, vehicles, and site locations to ensure ongoing safety compliance.
By implementing this policy, Let’s Go! Mcr commits to creating a safe and enjoyable environment for all participants, ensuring that health and safety remain a top priority on all trips and activities.
Contact Information For any concerns related to health and safety:
Contact: Louise Donohue
Contact Number: 07747 382300
Email: [email protected]
This health and safety policy is effective from 01/03/24 and will be reviewed on 01/03/2025