Statement

The Club’s members must recognise their duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the accompanying protective legislation. They must endeavour to meet the requirements of this legislation so as to ensure that they maintain a safe and healthy environment.  All Members must be informed of their responsibilities to ensure they take all reasonable precautions, to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of those that are likely to be affected by the Club’s activities.

1. The Club’s Management Committee, as far as is reasonably practicable, has the duty to ensure the following:

 

• To provide and maintain a safe environment, safe systems and activities, safe equipment, and a healthy and safe operational environment.
• To ensure that hazards are identified, and regular assessments of risks are undertaken.
• To provide information, instruction, and training as is necessary to ensure members and visitors are assured of a safe and healthy environment.
• To promote the awareness of health and safety and encouraging health and safety best practice throughout the Club’s activities.
• To provide access to adequate first aid facilities, telephone and qualified first aider at all reasonable times
• To record any injuries or accidents sustained during any club activity or whilst on the club premises.
• To undertake regular, recorded risk assessment of the Club’s premises and all activities undertaken by the Club.
• To ensure The Club is taking the appropriate protective and preventative measures.

 

1. Club Members and Guests have a duty to:
   • Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by what they do or do not do.
   • Co-operate with the club on health and safety issues.
   • Correctly use all equipment provided by the club.
   • Not interfere with or misuse anything provided for your health, safety, or welfare.

 

1. Organisation and Responsibilities

Responsibility, for ensuring that the Club complies with Health & Safety legislation, is vested in the Club’s Management Committee which will ensure that an annual pre-season risk assessment is completed at the beginning of April, prior to any use of the green. The purpose of this check is to ensure appropriate measures are in place to eliminate/mitigate risk.

1. The Risks

As a small organisation, the Club does not employ full or part time staff, however, Health and Safety law requires that where the volunteers are used on a regular basis e.g. Club Officers, Green Staff, they should be, for the purpose of the Act, treated as unpaid employees. The principal areas where risks need to be monitored are:

• Trips and falls
• Electricity – risk of fire and personal injury
• Chemical / Fertilisers
• Use of Machinery
• Lifting / Work at height
• Food Safety
• First aid
• Vulnerable people at risk
• Fire
• Lone working

 

1. Measures in Place to Mitigate Risk

 

P.P.E.

• Members using noisy machinery should wear appropriate ear defenders.
• Members should wear appropriate hand protection if handling liquids or powders with harmful or corrosive safety labels. If in doubt wear gloves.
• Members using substances that produce dust, fine aerosol spray or vapours must wear appropriate respirators.

 

                Avoidance of trips and falls during activities.

• At the beginning of each season the premises/greens are checked to ensure that potential hazards are appropriately marked and that warning signs are visible.
• Members should keep internal floors clean, and clear of unnecessary paraphernalia that might cause an accident.
• Members and others are instructed to take care on walkways and surrounds and special care when stepping onto or off the green.  Steps are provided.
• Members must wear suitable foot apparel whilst bowling. i.e. bowling shoes or flat soled shoes approved by the Club.
• An accident book is maintained in which all incidents are recorded.

 

                Use of electrical and other equipment.

• Electrical installations and portable electrical equipment are subject to annual inspection and testing.
  • Members must take care when using electrical equipment and ask a competent person if they are not sure.
  • Members should not use damaged or suspect equipment; it should be reported immediately to the Club’s Officers.

 

Chemical / Fertilisers

 

• All chemicals and fertilisers are stored appropriately in line with COSHH regulations.
• Pesticides should be used under the supervision of an individual holding a PA1 and PA6 certificate.

 

Personal Hygiene

 

• After working on site particularly with any liquids, or powders hands should be washed toroughly and dried using disposable towels.

 

Use of Machinery

 

• All machinery is kept fully maintained and serviced at appropriate intervals.
• First time users of machinery are fully trained and initially supervised by experienced operators.

 

                Lifting / Work at Height

• Members and others MUST NOT LIFT beyond their capacity.
• Assistance should be sought when lifting, moving heavy furniture or other equipment.
• Bowls and other equipment must be stored safely.
• Extra care must be taken when storing pushers on their rails.
• Only qualified person to work at height.

 

First Aid

 

• The Club cannot necessarily expect to have fully trained first aiders form its membership. However, a list of those who have been trained but hold a lapsed certificate will be held by the secretary and will be kept with the accident book.
• A first aid box will be available whenever the premises are open together with a defibrillator.

 

             Vulnerable People

• The club has a clearly publicised Safeguarding policy. 

 

Avoiding the risk of fire.

 

• Members and others are instructed and must conduct their activities in a way to minimize the risk of fire; they have a duty to report immediately any fire, smoke, or potential fire hazards.
• Members and others are instructed in Fire Emergency procedures, exit routes and assembly points.
• Firefighting equipment is installed and maintained by specialist contractors.

 

Lone Working

 

• As a club that relies upon volunteers to carry out a range of tasks and all members have knowledge of the lock combinations to the premises lone working should still be avoided whenever possible. If lone working is unavoidable then the person must inform a responsible adult, by text or phone call (not by email) and their emergency contact. They should also carry a functioning mobile phone. When they leave the premises, the responsible adult must also be informed.

 

1. Documents Available

 

• Club accident book
• Annual Risk Assessment
• COSHH Data
• Machinery manuals and instructions
• Record of physical checks on equipment such as fire extinguishers, first aid kit, defibrillator etc.

 

Adopted by the Management Committee of East Bergholt Bowls Club on:              19th August 2023

 

 

 

Chair                       Terri Catchpole                                        Date             19/08/2023