West Lothian Council

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West Lothian Council Occupational Health and
Safety Staff Induction
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Health and Safety Law is Criminal Law. The
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is the
umbrella and sits over a multitude of
Regulations. Key to managing HS is risk
assessment, specified in Regulation 3 of the
Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999. Other regulations also apply,
for example... Health and Safety (Display Screen
Equipment) Regulations 1992 (amended) The
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
1998 (PUWER) Health and Safety (First-Aid)
Regulations 1981
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Occupational Health Safety Policy
More than five employees, employer must have a
written policy. The Council-Wide Policy is on the
intranet. Three parts... Policy
Statement Details of the organisational set up
to make it happen Arrangements of how health and
safety will be managed Details employer and
employee duties. Housing and Building Services
have a Supplementary Policy and this is also
available on the Housing intranet site. In
addition the Safety Arrangements Booklet details
the local arrangements (coming soon).
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Employers Duties

• Information, Instruction, Training, Supervision
• Relevant to the job!

Plant and Equipment

• Safe and appropriate to use
• Maintained

Workplace

• Safe suitable

Welfare
Environment

• Toilets
• Wash facilities
• drinking water

• Safe and free from noxious odours

Storage, Handling, Transporting
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Employees Duties
Comply with safe systems and instructions. Dont
misuse anything provided. Take care of self and
others. Inform management of danger /
shortcomings.
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Risk Assessment
A range of assessments have been carried out
within Housing and Building Services, these will
be available from your line manager. In addition
the key controls are in the arrangements
booklet. The aim is to eliminate or reduce risks
as far as reasonably practicable. Risk
assessments are living documents and need to be
revised and updated as necessary.
Ask to see the risk assessments for your job !
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Risk Assessment .. Contd
Female staff only! Pregnant nursing mothers
need specific assessments to be undertaken and
facilities to be provided . There is a generic
assessment in place however, on discovering you
are pregnant you must advise your line manager
who will arrange an assessment to carried out in
respect of risks to you or your unborn baby from
work tasks.
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Risk Assessment .. Contd

• Personal safety !
• Some posts may present risks to personal safety.
• These include front line staff who deal with the
  public. For example...
• Safer Neighbourhood Teams, Housing Officers,
  Tradespersons etc.
• Specific arrangements need to be in place to
  protect staff from the risks arising ask to see
  the risk assessments for the job you do!

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Workplace/DSE
Completion of the online 'Cardinus Training' is
mandatory for all DSE users. Correct set up for
..YOU ! Screen height,chair,glare, changes of
activity. Think about the way you sit and
work! Follow the guidance on the forms -
available on the Intranet.
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Incident Reporting

• All incidents and near misses MUST be
  reported to your line manager.
• An incident form must be completed whether an
  injury results or not!
• Todays near miss is tomorrows accident.
• Why report ?
• Because the law says so
• To prevent further accidents
• To identify trends

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Fire/Emergency Arrangements
Fire Wardens
LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS Fire alarm sounds like
.. Exit routes where are they? Assembly
point where is this.? Fire drills and routine
test of system.frequency ? Fire Wardens
..who are they ?
Drills
Sound
Routes
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Safety Signs
Dont Do Must Do Fire
Risk of Danger Safe
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Major Causes of Accidents

• Slips trips and falls
• Over items stored on floor , under desks
• Trailing leads of electrical appliances, phones
  etc
• From height
• How to avoid-
• Good housekeeping, keep all floors clear of
  items (bags ,files etc!)
• Re-route leads away from access routes
• Clean up spillages asap

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First Aid Arrangements

• A list of First Aiders is displayed in your
  workplace
• (your line manager will advise you of where this
  is and who these persons are ).
• The first aid kit is located
• Remember to complete the incident book if the
  injury relates to work.

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Electricity

• Follow Equipment Instructions
• Visual check of appliances before use.
• Report any damaged equipment
• Plugs
• Cables
• Extension Leads(never plug an extension lead
  into another extension lead!)
• Switch off at mains before connecting or
  disconnecting appliances.
• Take care if you take equipment out and about
  it may become damaged if mishandled!!

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Advice and Assistance
Line Manager
Service Health Safety AdviserCraig
Watson 01506 776362
Occupational Health Safety Manager Marion
Johnstone 01506 776362
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Safety Checklist

• Fire Sound, Drill, Route
• Accident Book
• Location of Risk Assessments
• DSE Risk Assessment

• Toilet
• First Aider / Box
• Rest Area
• Health and Safety Concerns