Health & Safety Policy
1.Purpose
To define how Celtic Chemicals Ltd ensures that the health, safety, and welfare of its Employees while
they are at work and of others who may be affected by their undertakings.
2. Scope
All employees working for Celtic Chemicals, irrespective of their seniority, tenure and working hours,
including Directors, all staff, consultants, contractors, trainees, fixed term staff and volunteers (as
applicable).
3. Policy
3.1. General
Celtic Chemicals Ltd takes Health & Safety issues seriously and is committed to protecting the health
and safety of its staff and all those affected by its business activities and attending its premises.
This policy will clarify who is responsible for health & safety matters and what are those
responsibilities.
3.2. Responsibilities
Achieving a healthy and safe workplace is a collective task shared between the Directors and all staff.
3.2.1. The Directors
The Directors are responsible for:
- Taking reasonable steps to safeguard the health and safety of staff, people affected by the Company's business activities and of people visiting its premises
- Identifying health and safety risks and finding ways to manage or overcome them
- Providing a safe and healthy place of work and safe entry and exit arrangements, including during an emergency situation
- Providing and maintaining safe working areas, equipment and systems and, where necessary, appropriate protective clothing
- Providing safe arrangements for the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances
- 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.
- Ensuring any health and safety representatives receive appropriate training to carry out their functions effectively
- Providing a health and safety induction and appropriate safety training to any role, including but not limited to:
- manual handling
- control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH)
- working at height
- electrical safety
- the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Promoting effective communication and consultation between them and staff concerning health and safety matters and will consult with staff directly relating to health and safety
- If an epidemic or pandemic alert is issued, providing instructions, arrangements and advice to staff as to the organisation of business operations and steps to be taken to minimise the risk of infection
- Regularly monitoring and reviewing the management of health and safety at work, making any necessary changes and bringing those to the attention of all staff.
The Directors have overall responsibility for health and safety and have appointed the Operations
Manager as the Principal Health and Safety Officer with day-to-day responsibility for health and
safety matters. Any concerns about health and safety matters should be notified to the Principal
Health and Safety Officer.
3.2.2. Staff
3.2.2.1. General Responsibilities
All staff must:
- Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions
- Co-operate with the Principal Health and Safety Officer and the Directors to enable compliance with health and safety duties and requirements
- Comply with any health and safety instructions and rules, including instructions on the safe use of equipment
- 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
- Keep the workplace tidy and hazard-free
- Report all health and safety concerns to the Principal Health and Safety Officer promptly, including any potential risk, hazard or malfunction of equipment, however minor or trivial it may seem
- Co-operate in the Employer's investigation of any incident or accident which either has led to injury or which could have led to injury, in the Employer's opinion.
3.2.2.2. Staff responsibilities relating to equipment
All staff must:
- Use equipment as directed by any instructions given by representatives of management or contained in any written operating manual or instructions for use and any relevant training
- Report any fault with damage to or concern about any equipment (including health and safety equipment) or its use to the Principal Health and Safety Officer, who is responsible for maintenance and safety of equipment
- Ensure that health and safety equipment is not interfered with
- Not attempt to repair equipment unless suitably trained and authorised
3.2.2.3. Staff responsibilities relating to accidents and first aid
All staff must:
- Promptly report any major accident at work that prevents themselves doing their normal work duties, involving personal injury to either their Line Manager, the Quality Manager or the Finance Director (Principal Health and Safety Officer) so that details can be recorded in the Accident Book and cooperate in any associated investigation
- Remember that if they sustain any minor injuries such as small cuts or any minor injury that does not prevent them from carrying out their normal work duties, are not applicable to be recorded in the accident book
- Familiarise themselves with the details the location of the nearest first aid facilities and trained first aiders, which are displayed in multiple locations of the factory and the defibrillator is located in the Bund in a glass cabinet.
- Ask their nearest first aider if an accident occurs, giving name, location and brief details of the problem.
The First aiders are all responsible for any employees receiving first aid treatment on the premises.
The Principal Health and Safety Officer is responsible for investigating any injuries or work-related
disease, preparing and keeping accident records, and for submitting reports under the Reporting of
Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), where required.
3.2.2.4. Staff responsibilities relating to national health alerts
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
Principal Health and Safety Officer.
3.2.2.5. Staff responsibilities relating to emergency evacuation and fire
SOP OP0003 describes the actions to be taken if fire occurs and the prevention system in place.
The Principal Health and Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring fire risk assessments take place
and changes made where required, and for making sure there are regular checks of fire extinguishers,
fire alarms, escape routes, signage and emergency lighting.
3.2.3. Risk assessments, hazardous substances and manual handling
Risk assessments are a careful examination of what in the workplace could cause harm to people.
SOP QA0004 will be followed in the creation and monitoring of risk assessments.
The Directors / Principal Health & Safety officer will:
- Assess any risks and consider measures to best minimise any risk
- Carry out general workplace risk assessments when required or as reasonably requested by staff.
Training on the control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) will be provided where required.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is provided where risks cannot be otherwise effectively
controlled.
Guidance on manual handling (for example, lifting and carrying heavy objects) can be obtained from
the Principal Health and Safety Officer and where necessary training will be provided.
3.3. Non-compliance with health and safety rules
Any breach of health and safety rules or failure to comply with this policy will be taken very seriously
and is likely to result in disciplinary action against the offender, in accordance with the Celtic
chemicals disciplinary policy, up to and including immediate dismissal.
