Health and Safety Policy

2.1 Overall responsibility for health and safety is the responsibility of the Trustees of Boxing Futures Ltd., as well as the CEO. Day-to-day responsibility for ensuring this policy is implemented effectively in practice is delegated to relevant staff members with the CEO having overall accountability. Recommendations for any amendments are reported to the Trustees of Boxing Futures Ltd.

2.2 All staff share responsibility for achieving safe working conditions. You must take care of your own health and safety and that of others, observe applicable safety rules and follow instructions for the safe use of equipment.

2.3 Additionally, all staff and volunteers have a responsibility to:
(a) co-operate with supervisors and managers, and other staff, on health and safety matters;
(b) support the implementation of, and not interfere with, anything provided to safeguard their health and safety;
(c) take reasonable care of their own health and safety, and that of others; and
(d) report all health and safety concerns to an appropriate person (as detailed in this policy statement).

2.4 Failure to comply with this policy may be treated as misconduct and dealt with under our Disciplinary Procedure.

3.1 Delegated staff are responsible for ensuring premises and relevant activities are risk assessed, and risk managed as far as reasonable. Elimination of risk at source is the guiding principle; however, where this is not possible then risks will be mitigated and managed appropriately using the ALARP risk management principle (As Low As Reasonably Practicable).

3.2 The findings of the risk assessments must be reported to the Operations Director within 24 hours. Actions arising from risk assessments must be approved by the Operations Director, who is responsible for ensuring they are implemented by the agreed deadline.

4.1 Consultation (through team meetings and 1-2-1’s) with staff and volunteers will be undertaken on the following matters:
(a) any new measure which may affect health and safety at work; for example, new equipment, new ways of working and new procedures;
(b) arrangements for recruiting competent people to help satisfy health and safety laws;
(c) the information we give to employees on the risks to health and safety arising from their work, measures to reduce or eliminate thereof, and what is required if they are exposed to a risk, including emergency procedures;
(d) planning and organising health and safety training; and
(e) the health and safety consequences of any new technology planned for introduction.

4.2 The information provided to employees, staff and volunteers will be in a form that can be easily understood.

4.3 Staff will be provided with a reasonable timeframe to consider the issues and give informed responses. They will be encouraged to ask questions, raise concerns and make recommendations, which will be considered prior to a final decision being made. Any concerns raised will be discussed and an explanation given as to the final decision and why it has been taken.

5.1 Equipment must be used in accordance with any instructions given. Any equipment fault or damage must immediately be reported to the line manager and the Operations Director.

5.2 No member of staff should attempt to repair equipment themselves unless trained to do so.

5.3 The head coach delivering the programme is responsible for identifying all equipment needing maintenance, and also for ensuring that all identified maintenance is implemented.

5.4 Any problems found with equipment should be reported to the gym management and the Operations Director immediately.

5.5 The member of staff delegated to purchase the item is responsible for checking that new equipment meets health and safety standards and is fit for purpose before it is purchased.

5.6 Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided where there are risks that cannot be adequately controlled by other means. PPE should always be considered as the last line of defence.

6.1 All substances that are potentially hazardous to health will be subject to a COSHH assessment. All requirements of the assessment must be adhered to at all times.

7.1 Health and safety advice is available from the Operations Director who is responsible for ensuring that staff and volunteers working at locations under the control of other employers are given relevant health and safety information.

7.2 The necessary health and safety posters will be displayed at all locations where appropriate.

8.1 All staff will be given adequate and suitable training and supervision to perform their tasks competently and safely.

8.2 Staff will be given a health and safety induction and provided with appropriate safety training, which may include manual handling, emergency procedures, control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH), working at height, electrical safety, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

8.3 Induction training will be provided for staff and volunteers by a member of the Senior Leadership Team at the outset of their employment. Training will be identified, arranged, and monitored by the Operations Director who will also ensure that training records are maintained and included in each employees’ personal record.

9.1 Details of first aid facilities and the names of trained first aiders are displayed on the Health & Safety noticeboard.

9.2 The Operations Director is responsible for reporting accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the enforcing authority. All accidents and cases of work-related ill health are to be recorded in the accident book kept in the office. Reports may be made to the relevant authorities if required under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).

9.3 To check safe working practices are being adhered to, the following will be undertaken:
(a) carry out regular inspections and spot checks;
(b) Regular review of all risk assessments; and
(c) investigate any accidents or sickness absences that occur.

9.4 The Operations Director is responsible for investigating accidents and acting on investigation findings and devising solutions to prevent a recurrence of the same.

10.1 All staff should familiarise themselves with the fire safety instructions, which are displayed on the Health & Safety noticeboard and near fire exits in the workplace.

10.2 If you hear a fire alarm, leave the building immediately by the nearest fire exit and go to the fire assembly muster point shown on the fire safety notices and the H&S notice board. Do not stop to collect belongings and do not use the lifts. Fire wardens will assist in the evacuation of the building, and you must follow their instructions. Do not re-enter the building until told to do so.

10.3 If you discover a fire do not attempt to tackle it unless it is safe, and you have been trained to do so. You should operate the nearest fire alarm and, if you have sufficient time, call emergency services, and report the location of the fire.

10.4 Nominated individuals will be trained in the correct use of fire extinguishers.

10.5 You should notify your line manager if there is anything (for example, impaired mobility) that might impede your evacuation in the event of a fire. A personal evacuation plan will be drawn up and brought to the attention of the relevant fire wardens and colleagues working in your vicinity.

10.6 The Operations Director is responsible for ensuring that:
(a) a fire risk assessment is undertaken and implemented, and reviewed regularly;
(b) escape routes are checked on a regular basis;
(c) Fire extinguishers, fire alarms, escape routes and emergency lighting are maintained and checked, and alarms are tested every week;
(d) Emergency evacuation drills are carried out as specified by the gym management regularly and no less than twice a year; and
(e) Fire escape and safety information is on display situated at various locations.

11.1 In the event of an epidemic or pandemic alert, all business operations will be reviewed, and advice given to all staff on any changes required to current working practices, in order to be compliant with official guidance. Any questions should be referred to your line manager.

11.2 It is important for the health and safety of all our staff that you comply with instructions issued in these circumstances.

12.1 If you use a computer screen or other display screen equipment (DSE) habitually as a significant part of your work:
(a) you should try to organise your activity so that you take frequent short breaks from looking at the screen,
(b) you are entitled to a workstation assessment,
(c) you are entitled to an eyesight test by an optician at our expense.

12.2 You should contact your line manager to request a workstation assessment or an eye test. Eye tests should be repeated at regular intervals as advised by the optician, usually every two years. However, if you develop eye problems which may be caused by DSE work (such as headaches, eyestrain, or difficulty focusing) you can request a further eye test at any time.

12.3 We will not normally pay for glasses or contact lenses, unless your vision cannot be corrected by normal glasses or contact lenses and you need special glasses designed for the display screen distance. In such cases, we may pay the cost of basic corrective appliances only.

12.4 Further information on the use of DSE can also be obtained from your line manager.

This policy was approved on 24th October 2023.

Review date: October 2024.