Health & Safety Statement: We are committed to providing & maintaining a healthy & safe working environment for all staff & ensuring that our work does not adversely affect the health & safety of dance students, parents and visitors.

To achieve these aims the dance school will:

Ensure that, as a minimum, we comply with relevant legislation & management standards & that we effectively manage all significant risks associated with our activities, workplaces, equipment & facilities.

Recognise that the management of health & safety is a core management function & is as important as any other aspect of our business performance.

In accordance with our aim to be a good & caring employer, promote a positive health & safety culture, with managers visibly demonstrating their commitment to achieving high standards of health, safety & risk management.

Ensure roles & responsibilities for delivering our health, safety & risk management arrangements are clearly defined & communicated, with successful delivery monitored via our performance management & appraisal procedures.

Provide adequate resources, proportionate to the level of risk, to ensure the effective delivery of this policy & our associated management arrangements.

Ensure that all our employees are competent to carry out their work without risk to themselves or others, by providing adequate training, information & supervision.

Promote effective employee involvement & support the role of safety representatives in the delivery of our health, safety & risk management arrangements.

Recognise that premises, and dance spaces, should be fit for purpose

Learn from any accidents, hazardous events or work-related ill health & regularly monitor, review & report on health & safety performance. We will develop improvement plans to help us deliver continual improvement in our performance.

Monitor the health of our employees, where appropriate, & provide them with support

Ensure that our staff employed to work with us are competent & that they conduct their activities giving due regard to the safety of staff, students & others.

Everyone has a part to play in the successful delivery of this policy in carrying out their duties within the dance school, & therefore the policy is issued to all staff in Ealing Street Dance Academy.

Ruth Kestenbaum, Creative Director and Health & Safety Officer, Ealing Street Dance Academy

Health & Safety Management Arrangements
The following outlines in brief the health & safety arrangements which underpin the policy to ensure that the dance school is able to meet specific legal requirements in relation to the management of health & safety & to safeguarding its staff, students & others from risks of injury & ill health.

Accidents & Incidents
Accidents, incidents & near misses are reported & recorded in line with legislative requirements.
All accidents are reported to Ruth Kestenbaum using the appropriate accident report form (kept in the dance cupboard in the dance studio next to the First Aid bag).

Accident records are kept that comply with the Data Protection Act
Accidents are reported, investigated & documented taking into account the severity & loss potential of the incident, as well as the regulatory & insurance requirements.
Risk assessments will be reviewed in light of the accident, incident or near miss.

Accidents to pupils (or others e.g. visitors) which result in the injured person being taken from the scene of the accident directly to hospital, & where the accident was attributable to a defined work activity or arising out of a premises or equipment defects are reported immediately to Ruth Kestenbaum, Creative Director and Health & Safety Officer

Accidents to staff that fall into the following criteria are reported to the Health & Safety Officer (Ruth Kestenbaum). Resulting in a specified injury. Resulting in an injury whereby the staff member is off work for more than 7 consecutive days.

Drug & Medicines
Individual health care plans are in place for those students with significant medical needs e.g. chronic or ongoing medical conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, anaphylaxis.
Medication will only be given with the written consent of parents or guardians.
In the case of it being unclear whether we can administer medication, the dance school will contact the parents or guardian.

Electricity
The electrical installation & portable electrical appliances are inspected & maintained for safety in line with legislative requirements.
Any unsafe electrical equipment is removed from use as soon as it is discovered.
No unauthorised electrical equipment is used within the school.

Events
Events are planned, managed & risk assessed by people who are competent.
Each event has a nominated person (normally the person arranging the event with assistance from the Health & Safety Officer as required) to act as the event safety officer who establishes the necessary fire safety & general health & safety controls.
A post event analysis is carried out to learn any lessons & to inform risk assessment.
A formal record will be maintained of all post event meetings which will influence the process of continual improvement.

New & Expectant Mothers
A risk assessment is carried out with the member of staff who informs us that they are an expectant mother.
The precautions put into place for the expectant or new mother are suitable in the context of any medical conditions of which they have made us aware. T
he risk assessment is reviewed periodically with the expectant or new mother to ensure that it takes account of any changing needs.

Fire Safety
A fire risk assessment is carried out & any remedial measures identified are implemented.
The assessment is reviewed annually, when there are significant changes or when a significant incident dictates.
Fire evacuation plans are established & communicated.
Staff are trained in the emergency evacuation plan. Fire doors, fire alarms, emergency lighting, smoke detectors & fire extinguishers are checked & maintained in line with legislative requirements.
Regular checks of fire escape routes are undertaken in order to ensure that they remain free of obstruction.

First Aid
The provision of first aid assistance available is determined by risk assessment & ensures that sufficient cover is provided.
First aid kits are checked & replenished regularly.

Dance Equipment
Equipment is installed & used in accordance with the suppliers’ recommendations.
Equipment is checked & maintained regularly.
Recreational surfaces are to the correct safety standard for the equipment & activities for which they are used.

Risk Assessments
Staff who undertake risk assessments are competent due to their experience & knowledge.
Risk assessments are undertaken to identify significant risks associated with the dance school activities and events.
Generic risk assessments are used wherever possible so as to ensure a consistency of approach.
The risk assessment findings are recorded, communicated & acted upon.
Risk assessments are reviewed regularly & following a significant accident, a change in legislation or a change in key personnel.

Safeguarding: Physical Security & Visitor Control
Staff appointments are subject to rigorous reference & clearance checks.
The personal safety of staff & pupils is taken into account when planning events & activities.

Health & Safety Rules – Staff do’s and don’ts
We require all staff to work safely & would remind them of their specific duties as stated in the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 where employees are obliged to take care of their own health & safety whilst at work along with that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Failure to comply with these rules may jeopardise the safety of staff, pupils & visitors to the School, & may lead to disciplinary action.

General rules
Staff have a positive duty to follow the School’s fire & health & safety arrangements.
Staff must not misuse equipment provided, nor interfere with arrangements made in the interests of fire & health & safety.
It is the duty of all staff to report any visible or foreseeable dangerous situation &, where possible, take immediate action to prevent injury.
All staff must wear their identity badge.

Accidents, near misses & work related illness
All injuries, accidents, near misses & cases of work related illness, must be reported & investigated as required.
Inform your manager of any medical condition, medication or other factors, such as fatigue, which could affect your ability to undertake your work safely.
You must not take any substance that could compromise your ability to work safely.

Electrical safety
Visually check electrical equipment for any defects or signs of damage prior to use.
Do not use electrical equipment in wet, damp or potentially explosive atmospheres, unless the equipment is specifically designed for use in these areas. Do not overload electrical sockets.
Switch off electrical appliances when not in use.
Do not carry out repairs on electrical equipment unless you are competent to do so.

Fire safety
Always follow the evacuation procedure when the fire alarm is raised.
Make sure you understand the evacuation procedure for your area.
Do not prop open fire doors.
Do not damage or misuse firefighting equipment.
Do not obstruct walkways & exit routes.
Ensure that fire exit doors can be opened.
Do not put items on hot surfaces such as radiators.

Harmful substances
Make sure that you know how to handle safely any substance marked as hazardous or harmful.
Never keep or transfer a harmful substance into a container if it is not correctly labelled.
Always return harmful substances to their designated storage area.

Machinery & equipment safety
Specific operating guidelines / instructions for the use of machinery & equipment must be followed.
Do not undertake repairs & maintenance on machinery & equipment unless you are competent & authorised to do so.
Do not use machinery or equipment that is damaged, nor allow others to do so.

Moving & handling
Do not underestimate the risk of injury from moving & handling operations.
Never lift, move or carry anything or anyone unless you are confident you can do so safely.
Make sure you know how to lift, move & carry correctly & that you are physically able to take the weight.
Always seek assistance when you can.
Use lifting aids provided.
Reduce the weight of the load to be carried whenever possible.

Occupational health
Immediately inform your supervisor if you suffering from any aches or pains as result of any repetitive tasks that you are required to carry out.
Report any medical condition that you may have that is not work related to your supervisor if it is likely to be made worse by the repetitive nature of the tasks that you carry out.
Cooperate with the management on any occupational health surveillance programme put in place for your own health & safety.

Slips, trips & falls
Keep your work area clear from obstructions & “slipping & tripping” hazards.
Never allow cables trailing across floors to be a tripping hazard.
Do not take short cuts across unmade or slippery surfaces & keep to the paths, corridors & walkways provided.
Do not run, unless it is a requirement of the activity.
Use handrails on flights of steps & staircases.
Clean up any spillage immediately or, if you are unable to do so, place a warning sign in the area & report the hazard.
Wear suitable footwear.
Do not stand on chairs, desks or tables; use a ‘hop up’ or a stepladder or ladder.
Only undertake work at height if it has been risk assessed & it is safe to do so.

If you do not understand what is expected of you, or if you are unsure about any aspect of these rules, speak to your manager or the Health & Safety Officer.