Health and Safety Policy Statement

The Trustees and Commissioners are committed to conducting it's undertaking in a manner that protects the health and safety of its employees, members, contractors and the public. In addition to complying strictly with the health and safety measures required by legislation, it is the councils policy to promote and take all reasonably practicable steps to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of its employees, members and others who may be affected by its actions.

To meet the requirements of this policy the Trustees and Commissioners will work with all employees, volunteer leaders and other relevant parties to strive for continuous improvement in health and safety performance. They will operate an integrated, structured and documented system of management control over all its operations. This system of control commits the council to:
The undertaking of appropriate reviews and assessments of its operations and undertakings to measure progress, manage risk, and ensure compliance with this policy and that of the Scout Association.
Maintaining safe and healthy systems of work to protect all employees, members and others, including the public.
Ensuring that its employees and volunteer leaders are fully competent to perform the tasks allocated to them by careful recruitment, ongoing development, and by provision of the necessary resources.
Maintaining the health and safety awareness of all employees and volunteer leaders by the establishment of sound health and safety practices and operations through competent management and good communications, leading to continuous improvement in health and safety performance.
Ensuring that the contractors we engage are competent to perform the work contracted and encouraging good safety practice within such companies in compliance with this policy.
Effective response to, and investigation of accidents and incidents and, to establish where appropriate root causes and take reasonable actions to prevent their reoccurrence.

To achieve this the council will work within the policies and procedures laid down by The Scout Association, and encourage and support Districts in so doing. The Commissioners will provide information to, and ensure appropriate consultation with, employees and volunteer leaders on matters relevant to this policy.

Prime responsibility for these matters lies with us the Trustees and the County Commissioner and his Team; all other employees and volunteer leaders equally have responsibility for matters within their control. They have a duty to ensure that health and safety issues are given the fullest consideration at all times, and for providing a safe and healthy working environment for their employees and members.

In addition all employees and members have a responsibility to themselves and others for the safety and prevention of ill health at work. We must all work together in the spirit of participation and co-operation to ensure the success of this Policy.

Adopted by the County Executive Committee on 2 December 2002