Health and Safety


The safety of both visitors and staff is the most important part of your visit and Simonsbath House Outdoor Centre liaises with both Local Education Authorities and National Bodies to ensure the Health and Safety policy conforms to current requirements. Please read through the following and together we can ensure that your visit will be in a safe environment.

Policy

Simonsbath House Outdoor Centre has a Code of Practice by which it operates, contained within this is the Health and Safety policy outlining for the Centre. This document is reviewed regularly by the Centre Manager who will amend the H&S policy to encompass developments within the Centre and to ensure the implementation of national changes in policy and practice This document is available for staff and visiting groups.

Incorporated within the Code of Practice are the following areas (again all are available for staff and visiting groups).

• Risk Assessments on all aspects of the Centre’s buildings, grounds and activities, these are updated at least every twelve months. All staff are fully trained in undertaking Risk Assessments and in ensuring Risk Assessments are adhered to.
• Policy for Positive Behaviour and Discipline
• Emergency and Accident procedures – The Centre has adopted government guidance on emergency procedures and reporting of accidents and incidents together with near misses and reviews of the relevant reports will be undertaken on a ½ termly basis and this information will be used to aid the review of risk assessments.
• Fire and Evacuation procedures – the Centre conforms to all current legislation, regular fire drills are carried out and there is an annual inspection of all systems and procedures.
• Training – all staff are fully trained in the Centre’s Health and Safety policy. Additionally all staff hold the relevant national qualifications to undertake their role including First Aid where required
• Use of activity areas and equipment – Risk assessments will include training programmes, details of relevant personal protective equipment, supervision ratios and information about adverse weather conditions.
• Premises, security and insurance – includes details of the responsibilities of the visiting teacher. Copies of our current insurance policies, fire certificate and security arrangements can be forwarded if required.
• COSHH and other biological hazards (both natural and artificial) – the policy identifies additional risks and these are used to inform the Risk Assessment process