| Policy Title | HEALTH & SAFETY | Date of Last Review | December 2024 |
| Policy Reference | FTEC 2 | Date of Next Review | December 2025 |
| Authorised by: | Board of Directors | December 2024 |
POLICY STATEMENT
Friendlytutors & Educational Consultancy (FTEC) is committed to ensuring the health, safety
and welfare of its employees and it will, so far as is reasonably practicable, establish
procedures and systems necessary to implement this commitment and to comply with its
statutory obligations on health and safety. It is the responsibility of each employee to
familiarise themselves and comply with the Company’s procedures and systems on health
and safety.
EQUALITIES STATEMENT
All who work at the Friendlytutors & Educational Consultancy (FTEC) Limited are committed
to the celebration of diversity, and the challenging of disadvantage and discrimination, in all
its forms.
These values are explicit to the ethos of the Friendlytutors & Educational Consultancy
(FTEC) Limited and embedded into all our policies and practices.
Approved by the Board of Directors.
To be reviewed: December 2025
Important Contacts:
Health & Safety Lead:
Joe Adat
DSL/MD (BSc, MPhil, PGCE, MA, MIRP)
Contact details
07985138926
jadat@friendlytutors.co.uk
Attendance/Recruitments
Gabrielle Adat:
07944844558
Gabrielle@friendlytutors.co.uk
Christabel Achunike (Mrs) (Director/PSC) contact@friendlytutors.co.uk
Legal Requirements
The legal requirement to have a health and safety policy is a direct obligation arising from the
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA 1974). It requires that every employer with
five or more employees prepare and revise, as often as necessary, a written health and
safety policy for the workplace, and must explain the arrangements for putting that policy into
force. This policy and any revision must be brought to the notice of employees. Failure to have
a written health and safety policy can result in the issue of an improvement notice ordering the
matter to be attended to within a fixed period. Non-compliance can result in prosecution and
a fine.
Health and Safety at Work Policy
FTEC is committed to ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of its staff, so far as is
reasonably practicable, and of all other persons who may be affected by our activities including
visitors, contractors, Children/young people and their families/carers. The organisation will
take the following steps to ensure that its statutory duties are met at all times:
- Each employee should be given such information, instruction, and training as is necessary
to
enable the safe performance of work activities. - All processes and systems of work should be designed to take account of health and safety
and will be properly always supervised. - Adequate facilities and arrangements will be maintained to enable employees to raise
issues of health and safety. - Competent people should be appointed to assist in meeting statutory duties including,
where appropriate, specialists from outside the organisation. - This document will be regularly monitored to ensure that its objectives are achieved. It will
be reviewed and, if necessary, revised in the light of legislative or organisational changes.
SCOPE
While FTEC will take all reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of its employees,
health and safety at work is also the responsibility of the employees themselves. It is the duty
of each employee to take reasonable care of their own and other people’s health, safety and
welfare and to report any situation which may pose a serious or imminent threat to the wellbeing of themselves or of any other person. If an employee is unsure how to perform a certain
task or feels it would be dangerous to perform a specific job or use specific equipment, then it
is the employee’s duty to report this as soon as possible to their supervisor, their health and
safety representative or the safety officer. Alternatively, an employee may, if they prefer,
invoke the Company’s formal grievance. - Disciplinary action under the Company’s disciplinary procedure may be taken against any
employee who violates health and safety rules and procedures or who fails to perform their
duties under health and safety legislation. Depending on the seriousness of the offence, it
may amount to potential gross misconduct, rendering the employee liable to summary
dismissal.
Duties and Responsibilities of FTEC - The organisation recognise its responsibility under HSWA 1974 and the Management of
Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) to ensure that all reasonable
precautions are taken to provide and maintain working conditions which are safe, healthy
and compliant with all statutory requirements and codes of practice. Employees,
Children/young people, contractors, and visitors are expected to abide by safety rules, and
to have regard to the safety of others within the organisation.
This organisation’s policy is, so far as is reasonably practicable, to apply the following: - Make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of all work activities
- Negotiate appropriate risk management measures to reduce any identified risks or
hazards to an acceptable level - The provision and maintenance of equipment and systems of work are safe.
- Communicate agreed risk management measures to all necessary persons and staff
involved and to ensure regular monitoring of risk levels
Registered address: 65 The Broadway, London E15 4BQ. Registered in England & Wales: Company no.
- Website: www.friendlytutors.co.uk; Emai: contact@friendlytutors.co.uk.
- Provide and maintain equipment such that it is safe and appropriate to use
- Provide any relevant and appropriate protective equipment or clothing required by staff to
perform their role safely - Arrange for the safe and healthy use, handling, storage and transport of articles and
substances - Provide the information, instruction, training, and supervision required to ensure the health
and safety, at work, of employees and others - Control and maintain the organisation’s offices in a safe condition, with appropriate risk
assessments and management as above - Arrangements for ensuring safety to health in connection with the use, handling, storage
and transport of articles and substances. - Provide a safe means of access to and exit from the place of work
- Maintain a working environment that is safe, healthy, and equipped with adequate facilities
and arrangements for welfare at work - Conduct, record and implement the findings from regular risk assessments performed in
accordance with Regulation 3 of the MHSWR - In the event of any accident or incident (such as a near miss) involving injury to anybody,
to make a full investigation and to comply with statutory requirements relating to the
reporting of such incidents - Maintaining the workplace in a safe condition and providing adequate facilities and
arrangements for welfare at work. - The provision of such information, instructions, training, and supervision as is necessary
to ensure the health and safety at work of its employees and other persons.
The Company also recognise its duty to protect the health and safety of all visitors to the
Company, including contractors and temporary workers, as well as any members of the public
who might be affected by the Company’s work operations.
Organisation
The board of directors has overall responsibility for health and safety in the Company. Mr J.
Adat (see contact table) is the health and safety officer and has responsibility for overseeing,
implementing and monitoring health and safety procedures in the Company and for reporting
back to the management on health and safety matters. The safety officer also conducts regular
inspections of the work environment, maintains safety records, and investigates and reports
on accidents at work.
Employees at special risk
FTEC recognise that some workers may from time to time be at increased risk of injury or illhealth resulting from work activities. The Company therefore requires that all employees
advise their supervisor if they become aware of any change in their personal circumstances
which could result in their being at increased risk. This could include medical conditions,
permanent or temporary disability, taking medication and pregnancy.
First aid
First aid boxes have been provided to all the departments. All employees will be shown the
location of the nearest first aid box and will be given the names of the designated first aid
personnel. This information is also displayed outside office rooms and on each floor.
Fire
Fire is a significant risk within the workplace. All employees have a duty to conduct their job
in such a way as to minimise the risk of fire and they are under a duty to report immediately
any fire, smoke or potential fire hazards, such as faulty electric cable or loose connections.
Employees should never attempt to repair or interfere with electrical equipment or wiring
themselves. The safety officer is responsible for the maintenance and testing of fire alarms
and firefighting, prevention and detection equipment.
Smoke detectors and manually operated fire alarms are located at strategic points throughout
the workplace. If a smoke detector is discovered or fire, it is the responsibility of any
employee present to activate the alarm and evacuate the building. Fire extinguishers are also
located at strategic points throughout the workplace. Employees are expected to tackle a fire
themselves only if it poses no threat to their personal safety to do so. If the situation is
dangerous or potentially dangerous, the employee should activate the fire alarm and evacuate
the building immediately.
Fire doors designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke throughout the workplace have been
installed at strategic points. Fire doors are designed to close automatically after opening and
must never be blocked or wedged open. Fire exits are also located at strategic points
throughout the workplace. Fire exit doors and corridors must never be locked, blocked, or
used as storage space. All employees must ensure they are familiar with their evacuation
route and designated assembly point in case of fire. Practice fire drills will be conducted on a
regular basis to ensure employees familiarity with emergency evacuation procedures. Lifts
should not be used in the case of an emergency evacuation.
Company safety rules
- all employees should be aware of and adhere to the Company’s rules and procedures on
health and safety - all employees must immediately report any unsafe working practices or conditions to their
supervisor, their health and safety representative or to the safety officer - horseplay, practical joking, running in the workplace, misuse of equipment or any other acts
which might jeopardise the health and safety of any other person are forbidden - any person whose levels of alertness are reduced due to illness or fatigue will not be allowed
to work if this might jeopardise the health and safety of any person - employees must not adjust, move, or otherwise tamper with any electrical equipment or
machinery in a manner not within the scope of their job duties - all waste materials must be disposed of carefully in the receptacles provided and in such a
way that they do not constitute a hazard to other workers - no employee should undertake a job which appears to be unsafe
- all injuries must be reported to the employee’s supervisor or to the safety officer
- all materials must be properly and safely used and when not in use properly and safely
secured - work should be well-planned to avoid injuries in the handling of heavy materials and while
using equipment - employees should take care to ensure that all protective guards and other safety devices are
properly fitted and in good working order and must immediately report any defects to their
supervisor or to the safety officer - Suitable clothing and footwear must be worn at all times. Personal protective equipment must
be worn where appropriate - workstations and work sites must be kept clean and tidy and any spillage must be cleaned
up immediately - Employees should use handrails when going up and down stairs, should never read while
walking, must close filing cabinet drawers when not in use and must keep all floor areas free
of obstruction.
Access
- walkways and passageways must be kept clear and free from obstructions at all times
- if a walkway or passageway becomes wet it should be clearly marked with warning signs
and any liquid spilt on the floor should be wiped up immediately - trailing cables should not be left in any passageway
- where objects are stored in or around a passageway, care must be taken to ensure that no
long or sharp edges jut out into the passageway
Tools and equipment - Company machinery, tools and equipment are only to be used by qualified and authorised
personnel - It is the responsibility of all employees to ensure that any tools or equipment they use are
in a good and safe condition. Any tools or equipment which are defective must be reported
to a supervisor or to the safety officer - all tools must be properly and safely stored when not in use
- Employees are prohibited from using any tool or piece of equipment for any purpose other
than its intended purpose.
Manual handling - Lifting and moving of objects should always be done by mechanical devices rather than
manual handling wherever reasonably practicable. The equipment used should be appropriate
for the task at hand - the load to be lifted or moved must be inspected for sharp edges and wet patches
- when lifting or moving a load with sharp or splintered edges, gloves must be worn
- the route over which the load is to be lifted should be inspected to ensure it is free of
obstructions - Employees should not attempt to lift or move a load which is too heavy to manage
comfortably. Employees should ask for assistance if there is any danger of strain - When lifting an object off the ground, employees should assume a squatting position, keeping
the back straight. The load should be lifted by straightening the knees, not the back - Employees should not attempt to obtain items from shelves which are beyond their reach. A
ladder or stepping stool should be used. Employees should not use chairs or any makeshift
device for climbing and should never climb up the shelves themselves.
Duties on employees
The successful implementation of this policy requires total commitment from all employees.
Each individual has a legal obligation to take reasonable care for their own health and safety,
and for the safety of other people who may be affected by either their acts or omissions.
It is the policy of this organisation that, under s.7 of the HSWA 1974, it is the duty of every
employee at work: - To take reasonable care of their own health and safety and those of any other person who
may be affected by their acts or omissions at work - To co-operate with their employer to enable any duty or requirement to be complied with
that is either imposed on their employer by or under any relevant statutory provisions.
In addition, no person employed by the organisation shall intentionally or recklessly interfere
with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety, and welfare in pursuance
of any statutory provisions. Failure to abide by this policy will be considered a disciplinary
offence. - Training Statement: All new staff should be encouraged to read the policy on Health & Statement as part of their induction process. In addition, teaching staff will be encouraged to include discussions on online safety during tuition.