Health & Safety & Safeguarding

Policy Heading

MPES – Health & Safety

Last revised: April 2022

MPES is committed to high standards of health and safety. It is our policy, as a company, to maintain high standards and to encourage our staff to contribute to their own welfare and that of their colleagues and learners. Maintaining a safe and healthy working environment does place demands on everyone, but the resultant benefits are worth the effort.

Ensuring safety awareness, positive attitudes and continuous improvement in safety performance requires the commitment and active involvement of Directors, Managers, and staff at all levels.

Our objectives are, so far as is reasonably practicable, to prevent accidents resulting in injuries, ill health and/or damage to property, and also to conserve the environment.

General Policy

MPES recognises its obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related legislation. The company will, in the conduct of its activities and so far as is reasonably practicable:

Protect the health and safety of its employees and others that may be affected by its activities.
Limit adverse effects on the physical environment in which those activities are carried out.

MPES recognises that the skills and energies of its employees are amongst its greatest assets and it has a responsibility to provide for their welfare and equally for its learners, contractors, vendors, and visitors. So far as is reasonably practicable, MPES will:

Provide and maintain safe working environments and practices that do not constitute risks to health, safety, and welfare.
Formulate standards and policies that comply with relevant statutory requirements in respect of health, safety, welfare, and the environment.
Actively promote a positive health and safety culture through the development of good practices.
Safeguard employees, learners, and others from foreseeable hazards related to health, safety, or the environment.
Ensure that new substances, plant, machinery, equipment, processes, or premises are introduced with adequate guidance, instruction, and supervision for safe work methods.
Train employees to be aware of their responsibilities regarding health, safety, welfare, and environmental matters.
Ensure contractors are informed of risks, safety procedures, and compliance monitoring.
Use guidance to promote good health and avoid injuries or diseases.
Establish procedures for monitoring compliance with safety standards.
Establish safety forums to maintain effective control of health and safety measures.
Fulfill objectives through internal and external auditing activities.

Application

This policy, supported by approved procedures and detailed safety rules in the company staff manual, applies to all activities carried out by, or on behalf of, MPES. The MPES Board of Directors and Managers are responsible for ensuring this policy is applied. All employees, at all levels, are required to comply with the requirements of this policy.

Organisation and Responsibilities

MPES Board of Directors:

Have ultimate responsibility for establishing and maintaining health, safety, and environmental policies.
Monitor the effectiveness of the policy and revise as experience and legislation demand.
Establish a health and safety committee to review issues quarterly, with minutes recorded.

Centre and Departmental Managers:

Ensure all aspects of the health, safety, and welfare policy are observed and applied.
Nominate a competent person at each location to manage health, safety, and welfare issues.
Provide health and safety advice and guidance within the company.
Ensure suitable training on health, safety, and related environmental issues is provided.

Employees, Contractors, and Vendors:

Observe safety policies, rules, and procedures to ensure their own health and safety and that of others.
Cooperate with the company policy on health and safety.
Remain responsible for the health, safety, and wellbeing of learners and visitors in their charge.

Learners and Visitors:

Comply with the company’s health and safety processes and procedures.
Register appropriately at relevant locations upon arrival and departure.

Implementation

Particular implementation tasks include:

Issuing a local safety statement detailing how this policy is applied.
Allocating sufficient resources to operate and maintain safe workplaces.
Providing protective equipment and ensuring its proper use.
Displaying information on specific hazards applicable to each site.
Encouraging effective participation in joint consultations on health and safety matters.
Providing adequate fire protection, first aid equipment, and health monitoring procedures.
Encouraging feedback on health, safety, and environmental issues to review and improve current policies.

This statement of general policy on health and safety at work and the arrangements for carrying out the policy is made under Section 2(3) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It is to be brought to the notice of all employees of MPES and included in the Employee Handbook.