3.1 Health, Safety & Welfare Policy

The Health, Safety and Welfare Policy of NCU Training is to:

• Take all practical steps to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of all employees and all clients and visitors to our premises.
• Provide adequate working conditions for our employees with proper facilities to safeguard their health and safety and to ensure that any work which is undertaken produces no risks to health or safety.
• Require employees to co-operate with NCU in all safety matters.
• Draw up specific Health, Safety and Welfare policies as necessary.

Obligations of Management

Management is responsible, in accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989; the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, 1993; the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005; and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare of all employees. In particular, management has a duty to:

• Design and maintain a place of work, which is safe, and without risk to health.
• Provide safe means of access to and exit from a place of work.
• Provide and maintain plant and equipment which is safe and without risk to health.
• Provide necessary information, instruction, training and supervision for safe and healthy working.
• Provide and maintain suitable protective clothing or equipment where hazards cannot otherwise be controlled.
• Prepare adequate emergency plans.
• Prevent risks to health and safety in relation to the use of articles and substances.
• Provide welfare facilities.
• Make arrangements for the notification of accidents or dangerous occurrences.
• Acquire the services of a competent person when necessary to ensure the safety and health of employees at work.

Obligation of Employees

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Applications) Regulations, 1993, and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, employees are required to:

• Take reasonable care for their safety, health and welfare and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
• Co-operate with their employer, or any other person to an extent as will enable the employer to comply with statutory obligations.
• Use any suitable appliance, protective clothing, convenience, equipment or other means provided for securing their safety, health or welfare.
• Report to their employer or immediate supervisor any defect of which they become aware in plant, equipment, place of work or systems of work which might endanger safety, health or welfare.
• Not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse any appliance, protective clothing, convenience equipment or other means provided to ensure the safety, health and welfare of persons in the workplace.

It is compulsory for every member of staff to attend statutory health and safety training.

Safety Statement

Management of NCU Training has drawn up a Safety Statement which is reviewed annually. In reviewing the safety statement, management will take account of any representations, as far as is reasonably practicable.

Employees have the right to make representations to management on safety, health and welfare issues and management will take account of any such representations, as far as is reasonably practicable.

Employees are required to report any possible hazard and every accident (no matter how trivial) to the Manager.

Employees should be aware that breaches of safety rules may result in graduated disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

During induction, employees will be made aware of the Safety Statement, the Health & Safety Representative and reporting procedures. Fire Evacuation procedures and any hazards specific to his or her area of work will be explained to the new member of staff during the first week of employment.

NCU Training is concerned about the welfare of all employees whether the problems are of a physical or mental nature.

All physical and mental issues raised by employees will be dealt with confidentially. Should any employee feel mentally or physically unwell, whether or not the cause is a work issue, the employee is encouraged to inform his/her Manager and to seek medical advice.

Information regarding an employee's general wellbeing and issues unrelated to work will remain in strict confidence.

If an employee does not wish to speak to his or her Manager, he/she should approach any member of management or a person they feel comfortable talking to. Employees are welcome to have a colleague accompany them.