Health & Safety Policy

Draft for review. Items in [square brackets] need confirming before this policy is signed off.

Statement of intent

LaunchPad Manufacturing will provide, so far as is reasonably practicable, a safe and healthy workplace for everyone who works here or visits, as required by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. We will assess and control risks, provide the information, training and equipment people need, consult our workers, and review our arrangements regularly.

Responsibilities

• [Director name] has overall responsibility for health and safety.
• [Name, role] manages health and safety day to day.
• Supervisors make sure work is done safely and that problems are reported and fixed.
• Everyone must take care of themselves and others, follow training and instructions, use the equipment and PPE provided, and report hazards, accidents and near misses.
• Competent health and safety advice is provided by [internal / external provider].

Risk assessment

We carry out and record risk assessments for our work, as the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require, and review them every [12 months] or when anything changes. Young workers and new or expectant mothers have individual assessments.

Our main risks and controls

• Substances (COSHH). We hold safety data sheets for the products and chemicals we handle, such as fragrances, essential oils, sanitisers and cleaning products, assess the risks and provide suitable controls and PPE.
• Fire and flammable materials. We keep a fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Flammable liquids, such as alcohol-based sanitisers and diffuser bases, are stored and used in line with DSEAR 2002. Heated processes such as candle wax are controlled.
• Machinery. Filling, capping and packing equipment is guarded, maintained and used only by trained people (PUWER 1998), and isolated before cleaning or clearing jams.
• Manual handling. Lifting is assessed and reduced, with training and handling aids (Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992).
• Repetitive work. Work is rotated and breaks are taken to reduce strain.
• [Lift trucks: operated only by trained, authorised people, with equipment examined as LOLER 1998 requires.]

Training and information

Everyone receives a safety induction before starting work, plus training for their tasks, with refreshers as needed. Training is recorded. The HSE poster and our employers’ liability insurance certificate are displayed [location].

First aid, accidents and emergencies

• First-aid cover is provided by [trained first aiders], with first-aid kits at [locations].
• All accidents and near misses are recorded and investigated. Reportable incidents are reported to the HSE under RIDDOR 2013.
• Fire evacuation drills are carried out [twice a year] and fire equipment is inspected.

Consulting our workers

We consult workers on health and safety, as the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 require, through [team meetings / a safety representative]. Anyone can raise a safety concern at any time without fear of being penalised.

Contractors and visitors

Contractors and visitors sign in, are told about site rules and emergency arrangements, and are accompanied or supervised as needed. Contractors provide their own risk assessments and method statements for their work.

Responsibility and review

This policy applies to everyone who works for or on behalf of LaunchPad Manufacturing: employees, agency and temporary workers, contractors and visitors. It is owned by [name, role] and has the full support of the directors.

We review it at least once a year, and sooner if the law or the way we work changes. Everyone it applies to is told about it at induction and when it changes.

Signed: [name], [director], LaunchPad Manufacturing. Date: [date].