Croydon Council's health and safety policy
Statement of Intent
Croydon Council recognises and accepts the responsibility as an employer for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees and all other persons who may be affected by any of its activities. Croydon Council will deliver services in accordance with best practice in health and safety, building on the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and associated legislation. Promoting employees’ health, safety and welfare is viewed as key elements in managing the work of the Council along side financial, operational and human resource issues, and so is committed to providing adequate resources (both human and financial) to ensure the successful implementation of it’s health and safety strategy.
The ultimate goal of the Council is to improve its health and safety performance so that accidents and ill-health are reduced to the minimum practically achievable and work forms part of a satisfying life to the benefit of both the individual and the organisation.
To achieve this, the Council has a number of corporate aims for occupational health and safety management. These are:
- to develop and maintain a culture supportive of health and safety in order to achieve adequate control over risks and minimise injury to employees and financial losses which arise from avoidable unplanned events;
- that an effective management structure and arrangements are in place to implement and maintain health and safety requirements;
- that managers will promote health and safety by implementing best practice;
- that arrangements are in place to ensure a systematic approach to the assessment and control of risks;
- to ensure appropriate and effective services are available to assist in the promotion of employee's well-being;
- to ensure that all employees are competent in the work that they are doing, aware of their personal responsibilities, the standards to be achieved and working methods to be followed and are appropriately supervised to identify shortfalls from these standards;
- that employees actively participate in identifying hazards and maintaining and improving health and safety performance;
- minimise hazards entering the organisation;
- to ensure all contractors undertaking work for the Council are competent in terms of health and safety, and that their performance is monitored and remedial action taken where required; and
- to monitor performance and regularly review safety management systems and working practices.
Performance standards and responsibilities for each corporate aims are set out in Part II of this document.
The Council will co-operate and co-ordinate with partner organisations to achieve these aims.
Responsibility for the effective implementation of this policy ultimately rests with the Chief Executive, with each Director being responsible for implementation within their department.
Every employee is responsible for their own health and safety, as well as that of colleagues, service users and the public. Employees should co-operate with management, follow established systems of work, use protective equipment where required and report defects and hazards to management.
The important contribution that employees and their representatives can make in improving health and safety is recognised and encouraged. The Council will establish and maintain appropriate safety committees at corporate and departmental level. Safety representatives shall be provided with the facilities necessary to fulfil their role.
Each department shall produce local health and safety policies to supplement this policy and to detail individual responsibilities and arrangements for implementing this policy.
Health and safety performance will be regularly monitored and this policy will be reviewed on an regular basis.
Signed:
Chief Executive
Dated: 20th October 2000
Reviewed: 7th October 2003
Reviewed December 2006
