Health and Safety Policy

3. Key Requirements

3.1 Key Principles

The key principles of the H&S Policy are to:

• control the H&S risks arising from our work activities;
• consult with our Employees on matters affecting their H&S via the Colleague Forum;
• ensure safe handling and use of substances;
• provide information, instruction, and supervision for Colleagues and those visiting the Bank’s premises; 
• ensure all Colleagues are competent to do their tasks, and to give them adequate training;
• prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health;
• maintain safe and healthy working conditions for those using the Bank’s premises including visitors; and
• review and revise the H&S Policy as necessary at regular intervals.

The Bank's Responsibilities as an employer

The Bank will provide safe working areas at its premises and is responsible for the H&S of Colleagues at work wherever they undertake their work activities and will:

• appoint a competent person responsible for H&S matters.
• display the H&S Law poster at both Bank offices.
• provide adequate working space for Colleagues in our offices.
• provide safe areas for work to take place in our offices for all those that use them.
• provide supervision, instruction, and training of Colleagues.
• maintain the safety and maintenance of machinery and tools.
• provide good ventilation, lighting, and temperature control in our offices. The temperature in the offices should normally be at least 16 degrees celsius.
• ensure easy evacuation and good exit routes from the offices.
• undertake a risk assessment.
• maintain and review a H&S Policy. 
• ensure safe use of display screen equipment wherever Colleagues undertake their work and arrange workstation assessments where necessary to enable Colleagues to use. 
• report all notifiable accidents or injuries to the Health and Safety Executive.
• carry out a Fire Risk Assessment, implement appropriate emergency procedures in the event of a fire, appoint and train Fire Marshals and keep all fire extinguishers properly maintained and checked as required.
• provide one first aid box containing approved list of contents per 150 Colleagues and appoint sufficient First Aiders for all offices.

Expectations of Colleagues

All Colleagues are required to:

• take reasonable care of their own H&S wherever they undertake their work activities.
• take reasonable care of other people’s H&S including visitors to the offices.
• not misuse equipment, machinery or working environment. 
• endeavour to take care that other people are not put in danger because of their actions.
• comply with safety rules and practices that go with the job they are doing.
• Immediately report all fire and safety hazards to their Line Manager, Office Manager or Head of Facilities Management and follow this up by completing a report via the Risk Incident Portal on the Bank’s Intranet.
• report all injuries and dangerous incidents to their Line Manager, Office Manager or Head of Facilities Management and follow this up by completing a report via the Risk Incident Portal on the Bank’s Intranet.
• familiarise themselves with the Bank’s emergency procedures. 

Consultation, Communication and Cooperation

• The Bank will communicate appropriate H&S information by displaying information at an accessible position at each of its offices and via information held on the Bank’s intranet. 
• The Bank has a legal duty to consult with Employees on matters concerning H&S at work and will therefore regularly meet with the Colleague Forum regarding H&S matters to ensure effective communication on relevant issues. 
• On a day-to-day basis, the appointed Office Managers communicate with Colleagues with regards to applicable H&S requirements and information at each of its operating locations. 
• Colleagues have a responsibility to co-operate fully in this transfer of information and a responsibility to support an effective culture of H&S in the workplace.

Colleague Welfare

• In accordance with statutory requirements, the Bank will provide Colleagues with access to adequate welfare facilities such as clean water, toilet and handwashing facilities and places to eat etc for use whilst at work in our offices. 

Risk Assessment and Health and Safety Assistance

• The Bank will arrange for assessments of all significant risks to which Colleagues and others affected by our activities may be exposed on an at least annual basis. Based on these assessments and other factors the Bank will adopt measures intended to reduce risk to an acceptable level. The assessments are retained by the Office Managers and will remain readily accessible for inspection as required.

Training, Instruction, and Information

• It is a requirement that Colleagues are provided with suitable and relevant training and instruction to enable them to conduct their duties safely and without risk to personal H&S.

First Aid

• The Office Manager at each office will ensure appropriate Colleagues, suitably trained in first aid techniques, are nominated and in place to deal with minor accidents and injuries in our offices, and for more serious instances, to provide first aid until more qualified assistance can be summoned and arrives. 

Electrical safety

• A formal inspection of all portable equipment provided by the Bank for Colleague use will be carried out regularly by a qualified person, with other equipment inspected periodically but at a period not exceeding five years. 

Smoking/Vaping Policy

• Smoking/Vaping is not permitted in any part of Steel City House or 8 Salisbury Square and all company vehicles. 

Equipment

• Colleagues must use equipment in accordance with any instructions given. Any equipment fault or damage must immediately be reported to a line manager. 

Display Screen Equipment

• In accordance with statutory requirements, the Bank will provide a suitable safety assessment for those Colleagues who use visual display equipment as a significant part of their work, to identify and minimise any risks to health which may arise from that use. This will take the form of a self-completion ergonomic survey, and where necessary, a subsequent written assessment by an appointed Workstation Assessment professional.  
• Colleagues who are identified as Display Screen Equipment users under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 as amended, are entitled to reimbursement for an eye test on an annual basis. A contribution may also be made towards suitable vocational lenses and frames. Further information on claiming for such costs can be found within the Travel and Expenses Policy. 
   

Manual Handling Operations

• In accordance with statutory requirements, the Bank will identify those activities which are regularly undertaken which involve manual handling and present a risk of personal injury. These activities, primarily the handling of heavy files and boxes of paper, must be avoided so far as is reasonably practicable. 

For further information on all the key requirements listed above plus details on National Health Alerts, Accident Reporting and Investigation, Emergency Evacuation Procedures, Fire Safety, Driving Vehicles for Business Purposes and Lone working, please see the Health & Safety Standards.