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Health and
Safety
The basis of
British health and safety law is the Health and Safety at Work
etc Act 1974. The Act sets out the general duties which employers
have towards employees and members of the public, and employees
have to themselves and to each other.
These duties
are qualified in the Act by the principle of 'so far as is reasonably
practicable'. In other words, the degree of risk in a particular
job or workplace needs to be balanced against the time, trouble,
cost and physical difficulty of taking measures to avoid or reduce
the risk. What the law requires here is what good management and
common sense would lead employers to do anyway: that is, to look
at what the risks are and take sensible measures to tackle them.
The Management
of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (the Management Regulations)
generally make more explicit what employers are required to do to
manage health and safety under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Like the Act, they apply to every work activity.
The main requirement
on employers is to carry out a risk assessment. Employers
with five or more employees need to record the significant findings
of the risk assessment. The HSE leaflet 5 Steps to Risk Assessment
will give you more information.
Training
Courses: Play Safe – Health and Safety www.itc-arts.org
Recommended
Book (available from SAM's
Books):
The Health
and Safety Handbook for Voluntary and Community Organisations
by Al Hinde and Charlie Kavanagh
Pub: Directory of Social Change 2nd Edition 2001 £12.50
ISBN 1 903991 01 3
This useful guide is extremely well laid out, clearly written
and does not over-complicate issues. It assumes a small size of
organisation, and includes the use of volunteers as well as paid
staff. Its 14 chapters cover all the basics - risk assessment,
workplace regulations, manual handling, use of computers, COSHH,
RIDDOR - and also violence to staff, insurance, and food hygiene.
There are well designed checklists and a DIY model Health and
Safety policy for you to customize.
Food Safety
The Food Safety Act 1990 invests power in local authorities
to inspect all premises which sell and prepare food. Local inspectors
have the authority to close premises which do no meet prescribed
standards of cleanliness.
Link: www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts
1990
Insurance
The best way of finding out your insurance options and responsibilities
is to contact an insurance broker and invite them to visit your
premises and advise you. Any local insurance company can quote for
essential cover such as
- Public Liability
Insurance
- Employers
Liability Insurance
- Buildings
Insurance
- Equipment
Insurance
A specialist
company such as Walton and Parkinson Ltd (20 St. Dunstan’s
Hill, London EC3R 8PP – telephone 020 7929 4747) has wide experience
in insuring theatre buildings, productions and tours.
Planning
permissions
Before making any alterations to your building always check
with your local authority whether planning permission is required.
Link: www.planning.odpm.gov.uk/guide
Cost
of inspections and licenses
When preparing budgets it is essential to take account of the
annual maintenance and inspection cost which are required before
licenses can be granted, and the cost of the licenses themselves.
This can amount to quite a considerable sum. |
Rates - charitable
reductions
Local councils are obliged to grant rate relief of 80% to a property
which is occupied by a registered charity and used for charitable
purposes. Even if an organization is not registered it may still
qualify at the discretion of the local authority, if it is established
for charitable purposes. The local authority can also award an addition
20% relief in exceptional cases.
Policies
and Procedures
The following is a check-list of the policies and procedures which
every venue, large or small, should have in place. Many of these
need only be a short paragraph, but they protect staff and give
managers a basis to monitor performance.
- Health and
Safety Policy and Procedures / Risk Assessments
- Equal Opportunities
Statement of Intent
- Staff Safety
Policy / CCTV Policy
- Locking
Up Procedures / Key Distribution Policy
- Green Office
Policy
- VDU Policy
- E-mail /
Internet Policy
- Training
Policy
- Confidentiality
Policy / Data Protection Policy
Links: www.volresource.org.uk
Buildings
Recommended Book (available from SAM's
Books):
Managing
Your Community Building - A Practical Handbook for people
running buildings in local communities
by Peter Hudson
Pub: Community Matters 2000 3rd edition £19.95 ISBN 0 900787
75 9
If you run a public building, your life could be made a lot easier
if you have this book to hand. A clear approach to an impressive
range of issues to be considered in running a public building
of almost any size. Chapters include constitutional and organisational
matters, finance, insurance, licenses and other legal permissions,
heating, lighting and cleaning, furniture and equipment, and rules
and relationships. Comes highly recommended by theatre and arts
centre managers.
Interest
Group: Facilities Management Special Interest Group.
Contact Tracy Kiernan @ tracy.kiernan@ncvo-vol.org.uk
Access
Link: www.voluntaryarts.org
- Briefings – Access Briefing compiled for VAN by Disability
Arts Wales.
Staffing
(list customer care courses / venue management)
www.metier.org.uk
Publications: Cultural Venue Support; Cultural Venue Administration
Schedules
Booking systems
Link: www.artifaxsoftware.com/productsevents
Recommended
Book (available from SAM's
Books):
Essential
Theatre: The successful management of theatres and venues
which present the performing arts
by Crispin Raymond
Pub: Arts Council of England 1999 £18.00 ISBN 0 7287 0783
7 also downloadable free from the Arts Council's website
This offers an up to date and comprehensive analysis of presenting
theatre management today. It is based upon current good practice,
and is particularly suited to those who are new to the area of
work. You can follow the introductions and red print sections
and get a broad feel for the essence of venue
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