- Health & Safety Policy
The Radlett Centre Trust recognises its health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1992. The following document details the measures to be taken both by the employer, employees and users of the Radlett Centre.
The Trust is also aware of its duties under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) and will report accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the relevant body in addition to maintaining an accident book available for inspection by an inspector of the Health and Safety Executive.
- Statement of Intent
It is the policy of The Radlett Centre Trust to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of both employees and users of The Radlett Centre.
The Radlett Centre Trust will provide and maintain, as far as is reasonably practicable, safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work for employees and organisations using the Radlett Centre and undertakes to provide such information, training and supervision as may be necessary. The Radlett Centre Trust undertakes to consult with employees and to provide access to such information as may be necessary to comply with Health & Safety legislation.
- Reporting Structure for Health & Safety
The Board of the Radlett Centre: will receive recommendations from the General Manager with regard to Health and Safety issues. A director will be appointed who will take a special interest in Health & Safety.
General Manager: It is the duty of the General Manager to monitor and review the Health & Safety policy at the Radlett Centre; to make recommendations as appropriate to the Board of the Radlett Centre Trust; to review staff responsibilities.
The General Manager:
- will ensure that staff have up to date job descriptions and regular performance appraisals
- will ensure, (or delegate the responsibility to the appropriate member of staff) that suitable induction, on the job and specialist training is provided to members of staff and volunteers.
- will ensure, (or delegate the responsibility to the appropriate member of staff) that suitable protective equipment is provided for members of staff and volunteers.
- will liaise with Health & Safety inspectors or other enforcing bodies
- will ensure that necessary risk assessments are carried out
- will investigate any dangerous occurrences and causes of accidents and take the necessary steps to try to prevent any re-occurrences.
- will consult with employees and will provide necessary access to any information if requested.
- will consult with the Aldenham Parish Council and will provide necessary access to information if requested.
Assistant Manager - It is the duty of the Administrator to ensure that the health and safety policy is adhered to in all of the 'front of house' areas of The Radlett Centre and to liaise with the Technical Manager with regard to health & safety issues 'backstage' and in technical areas. The Assistant Manager will report to the General Manager.
Technical Manager - It is the duty of the Technical Manager to ensure that the health and safety policy and all licensing regulations are adhered to in the 'backstage' and technical areas of The Radlett Centre and to liaise with the Administrator with regard to health & safety issues 'front of house'. The Technical Manager will report to the General Manager.
The role of the Technical Manager includes ensuring that the Radlett Centre complies with COSHH (control of substances hazardous to health) regulations, that PAT (portable appliance testing) is carried out when applicable and that fire extinguishers/alarms etc are checked/tested as required by law.
The Technical Manager will instigate a system of planned preventative maintenance, arrange necessary insurance inspections, carry out workplace inspections and ensure that first aid boxes are correctly and adequately stocked.
Catering Manager/Bar Supervisor - It is the duty of the Catering Manager (or bar supervisor in their absence) to ensure that the kitchen and bar areas of the Radlett Centre adhere to the health and safety policy and that all laws regarding safe preparation and serving of food and beverages are complied with. The Catering Manager will ensure that the terms of any licences, such as the Justices licence, are strictly adhered to.
Duty Manager
- must ensure that they understand their responsibilities with regard to the fire and bomb procedures detailed in sections 12, 13 and 14 of this document.
- has the authority to take action to remove, or cause to be removed, members of the public from the building should they deem it necessary.
- will ensure that Health & Safety procedures are adhered to during the period of duty management
- will report to the General Manager on Health & Safety issues.
- Smoking Policy
The Radlett Centre is an entirely No-Smoking building.
- Safe storage of equipment
All staff, contractors and hirers must ensure that the Centre is kept as clean and tidy as possible. Potential hazards must be identified and due care taken to reduce or eliminate any health & safety risk. All gangways and fire exits must remain clear at all times.
- Training and equipment
No person should carry out duties or use any equipment that they have not received relevant training for. All members of Radlett Centre staff and users of the building must ensure that equipment is kept in good working order. If any defects or problems are identified with items of equipment the Radlett Centre Maintenance officer or the Technical Manager should be informed. In the absence of these members of staff the General Manager or Administrator should be informed. Tools and equipment should only be used for the purpose for which they were designed and in conjunction with the appropriate protective equipment. If any doubt exists about how to operate equipment then advice should be sought before operating.
- Security
As the Radlett Centre is a public building all staff and users must be constantly aware of security issues. It is important that vigilance is maintained by all users of the Centre to minimise the risk of theft/vandalism etc. If somebody appears to be behaving in a suspicious manner then the duty manager or senior member of staff should be contacted. In the absence of a duty manager or senior member of staff do not hesitate to call the police. (See also: section on bomb procedures)
- Lifting of materials or equipment
The operation of mechanical lifting gear must only be undertaken by trained people. For manual lifting, correct manual handling procedures must be used. If any uncertainty exists on how to lift correctly then advice must be sought from a member of the Radlett Centre technical staff before commencing.
- Responsibilities - Hirers of the Radlett Centre
It is a condition of hire of the Radlett Centre that all users co-operate with the centre management to ensure that Health & Safety legislation requirements and the licences under which the Radlett Centre operates are complied with.
Each user undertakes a responsibility for protecting and ensuring the Health and Safety of all fellow users or employees whilst using the Radlett Centre. Users shall not, through any action, endanger the Health and Safety of Radlett Centre staff, or members of the public.
If anybody connected with a hire injures themselves on the premises, it is the duty of the hirer to ensure that the incident is reported immediately to a member of the Centre staff and recorded in the Radlett Centre Accident Book.
All users are asked to respect the Radlett Centre policy that does not allow the consumption of alcohol by anyone working on or around the stage area and are reminded that smoking is not permitted in the Theatre and backstage areas.
Failure to co-operate or to comply with reasonable procedures or requests with regard to Health and safety may result in a hire not being accepted, termination of hire or surcharges for services required to meet legal standards. The Radlett Centre reserves the right to ask users to leave the premises (or cause users to be removed should this be necessary).
All professional or amateur organisations hiring the Radlett Centre will be required to familiarise themselves with and conform to the Radlett Centre Health and Safety procedures.
All hirers of the Radlett Centre must advise the Centre of their planned use of the facilities and must not contravene any of the regulations stipulated in the Radlett Centre User Guide. Any necessary risk assessments should be completed and a copy given to the General Manager before undertaking any work.
Current PAT test certificates should be made available to the Technical Manager should any equipment be used that does not belong to the Radlett Centre.
- Responsibilities - The Radlett Centre
The Radlett Centre has a responsibility to protect and ensure the Health and Safety of all employees, hirers/customers and members of the public using the Centre.
In pursuance of the above the Radlett Centre shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that companies hiring the Centre execute their Health and Safety responsibilities as set out in this document.
The Radlett Centre staff are required to liaise and co-operate with hirers of the Centre both before, during and after their period of hire and to assist hirers/users in the execution of their responsibilities. The Radlett Centre will give hirers access to relevant risk assessments and information that may assist in this task.
- FIRST AID
There are a number of First Aid boxes located in the following places:
- Ground floor reception
- Ground floor bar
- Ground floor kitchen
- Back stage area
- First floor staff kitchen
- First floor control room
- FIRE PROCEDURE DURING PERFORMANCE
- If you discover a fire you must immediately activate the nearest fire alarm break-glass.
- Close all windows and doors near to the fire and IF POSSIBLE, tackle the fire with the appropriate extinguisher/fire blanket BUT DO NOT TAKE ANY PERSONAL RISKS
- It is the responsibility of the Duty Manager, the Technical Manager (or deputy in his absence) and the company stage manager to liaise with regard to evacuation of the building. The designated liaison point is at the Fire Panel in the Foyer.
Specific responsibilities should an evacuation be deemed necessary:
The Duty Manager or Technical Manager should call the Fire Brigade. Dial 9 then 999 and ask for FIRE. Inform the operator that you are at The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett and WAIT for the address to be repeated before replacing the receiver.
THE DUTY MANAGER should make an announcement from the front of the auditorium or the stage (whichever is easiest to access) along the following lines:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WE APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING THIS EVENING/AFTERNOON'S PERFORMANCE BUT WOULD YOU KINDLY ALL LEAVE THE AUDITORIUM IN AN ORDERLY FASHION USING THE NEAREST AVAILABLE EXIT AND ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY NEXT TO THE CENTRE.
The Duty Manager should oversee the evacuation of the auditorium and close the exit doors once the audience has left.
The Duty Manager should go to the front of the building and wait to meet the Fire Brigade.
THE TECHNICAL MANAGER should ensure that the house lights are raised in the auditorium and then clear the top floor of the building.
Once the top floor is clear the Technical Manager should assist with the evacuation of the backstage areas of the Radlett Centre.
Once the areas are clear the Technical Manager should report to the Duty Manager at the front of the building.
THE COMPANY STAGE MANAGER is responsible for evacuating the stage and backstage areas of the Radlett Centre. Once these areas are clear the Company Stage Manager should leave the building closing all doors behind them and report to the Duty Manager at the front of the building.
THE BAR MANAGER/SUPERVISOR is responsible for clearing the bar area (including staff toilet) and assisting with clearing the foyer and foyer toilets. Once this area is clear they should report to the Duty Manager at the front of the building.
GENERAL POINTS
- Should the alarm go off whilst the audience is being seated or in the interval, all members of staff with evacuation duties should return to their posts immediately.
- DO NOT take any personal risks
- DO NOT linger to collect belongings
- Close all doors behind you when you leave
- GENERAL FIRE PROCEDURE
- On discovering a fire, activate the nearest fire alarm break-glass and call the Fire Brigade. Dial 9 then 999 and ask for FIRE. Inform the operator that you are at The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett and WAIT for the address to be repeated before replacing the receiver.
- Close all windows and doors near to the fire and IF POSSIBLE, tackle the fire with the appliances provided but DO NOT TAKE ANY PERSONAL RISK.
- On hearing the firm alarm the most senior person present should take charge and liaise with all members of staff in the building to ensure that the whole building is cleared of people:
- Because of the nature of the building there will always be different numbers of people in different areas at any one time.
- Staff should ensure that all areas are checked including TOILETS, BACKSTAGE, UPSTAIRS, AUDITORIUM, CAFÉ/BAR AND KITCHEN.
- Do not stop to collect personal belongings. Close all doors behind you.
- The assembly point is OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY.
- One member of staff should be delegated to meet the fire brigade and all other members of staff should ensure that nobody re-enters the building until it has been declared safe.
- BOMB PROCEDURE
As a public venue the Radlett Centre is vulnerable to bomb threats. It could be that a bomb threat is in fact a hoax call, but in the interest of safety ALL threats should be treated seriously and no call is to be disregarded.
FOR SAFETY REASONS THE ASSEMBLY POINT FOR A BOMB EVACUATION IS NEWBERRIES CARPARK
- On finding a suspicious package, isolate the article but DO NOT TOUCH
- On receiving a bomb threat by telephone, try to identify as much as possible about the caller, i.e. age, nationality, background noise or any code word that the caller may use. The police will require a thorough record of the call.
- Report immediately to the duty manager or senior member of staff in the building and await instructions.
- The Duty Manager or senior member of staff in the building is responsible for calling the police.
- Note that evacuation is not always necessary. The decision to evacuate should be taken by the Duty Manager or senior member of staff in the building, in conjunction with the police.
- Should evacuation be deemed necessary the procedure should be the same as the fire procedure during performance or the General fire procedure, whichever is appropriate.
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