Health & Safety Policy
General Statement of Intent
The Edge believes that health & safety is a vital component of the business – a good health and safety record goes hand-in-hand with high productivity and quality standards.
Employees are the most important asset to The Edge, and therefore their health, safety, and welfare is a priority at all times.
The Edge believes that prevention is not only better, but cheaper than cure. Profits and safety are not in competition – on the contrary, good health & safety is good business. We are committed to allocating adequate resources in order to meet our Health & Safety objectives.
From a legal perspective, The Company is committed to ensuring that it complies with all relevant health and safety legislation. Where it is reasonably practicable to do so, The Company will strive to go beyond the requirements of legislation.
The Company is committed to on-going monitoring and annual review processes, so that continual improvement in the management of health and safety can be achieved.
Our general intentions are:-
- To provide adequate control of the Health and Safety risks to employees and others arising from our work activities;
- To consult with our employees on matters affecting their Health & Safety;
- To provide and maintain safe equipment;
- To ensure safe handling;
- To provide adequate information, instruction, and training supervision for employees;
- To prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health;
- To maintain safe and healthy working conditions; and
- To review and revise this policy at regular intervals.
Health and Safety Organisational Chart
The following individuals hold primary responsibilities for safety within the workplace:
The Edge Picture Company is a film production company employing a total of 65 full-time staff. There are 6 Directors, 8 Producers, and the production team, which often varies in size in relation to each production. We also frequently employ freelance crews.
Luigi Scibetta, General Manager / Board Member: holds daily responsibility of monitoring and reviewing health and safety protection. He is responsible for policy formation and the implementation of general workplace assessment of risks and other statutory risk assessments. He also records, investigates, and reports all accidents, ensures clear and safe exit/escape routes and arranges health and safety training for all new employees. Luigi is also holds responsibility for reviewing legislative changes.
Peter Burrows, Operations Manager: holds daily responsibility of monitoring and reviewing health and safety protection. He is responsible for policy formation and the implementation of general workplace assessment of risks and other statutory risk assessments. He also records, investigates, and reports all accidents, ensures clear and safe exit/escape routes and arranges health and safety training for all new employees. Peter is also holds responsibility for reviewing legislative changes.
Faye Jackson, Head of Creative Development, Brand & Marketing: qualified first-aider and fire marshal
Becky Hassan, Executive Assistant: qualified first-aider fire marshal
External Site Management
Producers – responsible for managing all health and safety at remote locations, maintaining oversight of the activities of both staff and subcontractors.
(The appointment of a producer is predicated on industry experience in a range of roles over a period of circa 8 years)
All staff at the level of Production Assistant and upwards attend a risk management course run by the BBC (Safe Management of Productions 1 & 2).
All staff have undergone Emergency First Aid training.
All the above responsibilities are monitored on an annual basis, and if there were any significant changes or events within/affecting the company such as reorganisation, the above positions would be reviewed.
Risk managements are conducted for all external site-based activities, international and domestic travel, general office and fire.
Health & Safety Advice
All staff have access to a helpline for any health and safety-related questions or needs.
Phoenix Health & Safety:
Tel: 0845 500 8811
Email: info@phoenixhsc.co.uk
Fax: 01543 405284
Communication & Involvement with Employees
All communication regarding health & safety is communicated to staff through contracts, noticeboards, face to face meetings and all information is saved on a central-based server.
As an SME with 70 members of staff operating in a very low-risk working environment, there is not currently a requirement to have an in-house staff Health & Safety representative. We have offered staff the option of appointing someone to this position – it has so far been declined.
The management committee responsible for Health & Safety meet on an annual basis and evaluate the company’s position and the need for any changes to the current set-up.
There are also regular meetings held between departments during which consultation takes place which are chaired by the management committee. As per our internal audit schedule (see attachment B6), H&S information is sent via email every August to all staff globally. All staff are native English speakers with a high degree of literacy so standard forms of communication are sufficient; the HR department confirm with all new staff how they would like to receive information and are prepared to convey information in different manners if required.
Although we do not have any non-English speakers we have an appointed translation company who we use on a regular basis to translate work for clients who are on hand to translate any health and safety documents as and when required.
We do not use subcontractors, so they do not need to be included in any communication process. The mode of consultation between staff and management with regard to Health & Safety at The Edge is characterised by an open-door policy. We also have a record log of all communication which is updated every time communication regarding working safety issue stake place.
We run group training sessions throughout the year and expect every member of staff to attend a training session every 12 months. These sessions also include a feedback form for participants to raise issues they would like more training on, and feedback on how the sessions were carried out.
Legislative Changes
Luigi Scibetta is responsible at The Edge for keeping abreast of legislative changes via the following subscription services:
- Indicator Health & Safety Tips and FL Memo (employment law)
Moreover, further assistance with the interpretation of legislation is sought from the company’s solicitors and from Phoenix Health & Safety, who employ qualified Health & Safety Consultants.
The Edge also accesses the HSE website for Approved Codes of Practice and guidance notes and statute law database website for relevant legislation:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/
CDM
The Edge does not get involved in any notifiable projects under CDM. Occasionally, small scale set/prop constructions are commissioned by the company; as such, there is no defined CDM process in place. We interface with clients prior to projects to ensure that information of the hazards and controls associated with both parties are shared. The Edge does not undertake the role of Designer, and we engage an external design company for set designs when required.
ACCIDENT AND DANGEROUS OCCURENCES
If an incident occurs, a trained First Aider should be contacted immediately (Luigi, Peter, or Faye). All accidents, incidents, and near-misses MUST be logged into the Accident Book, which is kept by Reception; an accident form must also be filled out electronically, which is found on the central-based server: \\edgepicture.com\shortcuts\Help\Accidents. All incidents will be investigated, and the necessary assessment and analysis will be made. If such a record is not made, the Company will not accept liability for any claim which may arise from the accident at a future date.
- DEATHS
If there is an accident connected with work and our employee, or self-employed person working on the premises, or a member of the public is killed, The Edge will notify the enforcing authority without delay by calling the ICC on 0845 300 99 23.
- MAJOR INJURIES
If there is an accident connected with work and our employee, or self-employed person working on the premises sustains a major injury, or a member of the public suffers an injury and is taken to hospital from the site of the accident, The Edge will notify the enforcing authority without delay by calling the ICC on 0845 300 99 23.
- REPORTABLE OVER-THREE-DAY INJURIES
If there is an accident connected with work (including an act of physical violence) and our employee, or a self-employed person working on your premises, suffers an over-three-day injury, The Edge will notify the enforcing authority without delay by calling the ICC on 0845 300 99 23.
- WORK-RELATED DISEASES
If a doctor notifies The Edge that our employee suffers from a reportable work-related disease, then we will report it to the enforcing authority.
- DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES
If something happens which does not result in a reportable injury, but which clearly could have done, The Edge will notify the enforcing authority without delay by calling the ICC on 0845 300 99 23.
CONTRACTORS / VISITORS
All hazards and fire/escape routes are clearly defined and marked; however, Contractors will be briefed on the evacuation process and all other safety procedures. Contractors / Visitors should also report any accidents or hazards to the Receptionist.
DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT
The following will be monitored and corrected for those employees using the DSE for periods of more than an hour at a time:
Screen, Keyboard, Furniture, Workstation Assessment, Training
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
All electrical equipment including photocopiers, faxes, PCs, video equipment, and printers are all covered under a maintenance contract. All employees will be properly trained to use appropriate electrical equipment.
Employees are to be conscientious in ensuring that all cables and leads are not causing any obstructions or hazards e.g. by taping to the floor or a safer alternative will be sought.
FIRST-AID
Luigi Scibetta, Peter Burrows, and Faye Hagerty are all responsible for administering first-aid, and are certified St. John’s Ambulance Appointed Persons. However, all employees MUST attend an annual refresher course on the use of the First Aid box and basic training. All incidents are to be reported in the Accident Book held at reception.
The First Aid cabinet is located in the cloakroom – located in the middle of the office before the male and female toilets – with the appropriate signage and guidelines.
Basic Contents of the First Aid Box
- antiseptic wipes x 6
- plasters x 24
- dressing pads x 4
- bandages x 2
- sterile dressings x 4
- rubber gloves
- rescues aid
- triangle bandage
- antiseptic cream
- surgical tape
- scissors
- safety pins
FIRE
Fire regulations and procedures for evacuation are displayed in the kitchen and near the exits of the Company’s premises, and trained Fire Wardens (Luigi Scibetta, Peter Burrows, and Becky Hassan) have been appointed. Evacuation will be prepared and updated and regular fire drills will take place as required under current legislation. The Safety Officer is responsible for investigating accidents, preparing accident reports and maintaining statutory registers.
EMPLOYEE REMINDER RE: HOUSEKEEPING
All areas must be unobstructed. Regular checks will be made although it is partly the responsibility of all employees to ensure that areas and kept tidy.
Monitoring & Review
Luigi Scibetta will regularly monitor and review The Edge’s health and safety performance, taking into consideration whether our approach is producing the right results. He will analyse collected data (including accident reports, property damage and employee assessments) and make the necessary amendments to the statement. The statement will be updated annually.
Workplace and Welfare
The Edge will ensure that suitable facilities are provided for washing, separate toilets for men and women, running water, drinking water, ventilation, prevention of discomfort by tobacco smoke, and control of room temperature. The Edge will also ensure adequacy of lighting, workspace, and freedom of movement and seating at workstations.
Review
At The Edge, we are committed to review on an annual basis and in the event of any significant changes or events within/affecting the company with health & safety implications (such as reorganisation, accident experience, or legislative changes).
Emergency Planning
Control measures are identified via project risk assessments which factor-in emergency conditions on sites. While on-site, the company is under the supervision of the client.
In the event of an emergency, contact a member of the disaster recovery team (Luigi Scibetta, Faye Jackson, Peter Burrows, or Becky Hassan).
Health & Safety Objectives & Targets
The rationale behind the adoption of objectives is to drive continual improvement within the company.
Objectives:
For 2020, we have set ourselves the following objective:
- Investigate a suitable systematic health and safety management system designed for SMEs with the long-term goal of installing a system by 2021
Luigi Scibetta, General Manager and Board Member, will be responsible for implementing the above objectives with the help of the Health & Safety assistants (Faye Jackson & Peter Burrows) by the end of 2020 (for review in January 2021).
Progress against the above objectives will be monitored regularly by the board.