Health and Safety for a Charity

Peter Daws
Member - 9 posts

Yes you do.

I recommend a visit to the NCVO website, in particular http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/askncvo/index.asp?id=216.

Stephen Hipkiss
Member - 3 posts

Thanks for your coment, i forgot to mention that there is no formal place of work. All the Voluntees work from home and stage events like hiking, rock climbing etc. Would the H &S at work act come into force on the events staged?

cathy tye
Member - 6 posts

Hi Stephen,

My initial response was absolutely! Then I saw this FAQ on the HSE website - http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/charities.htm so possibly, technically not as no one is waged, however things are never that simple. You are expecting volunteers to carry out high risk actvities which put both the volunteers and those partaking in your service at risk of harm. If you are working with under 18s then the Adventure Activities Licensing Regulations 2004 may apply.

This is from the HSE website in relation to, 'does H&S legislation apply to charities?'
- Where legislation places health and safety duties on employers under the Health and Safety at Work Act, these duties apply to all; health and safety law does not differentiate between different types of employer or workplace. In the same way, employees (or those who work for an employer, whether paid or unpaid) have responsibilities under health and safety law regardless of the status of the organisation for which they work.

Public sector employers, charities and voluntary bodies all have the same heath and safety duties as any private sector employer in the same circumstances.

The HSE has produced joint guidance - Published: May 2006 by www.HSEbooks.co.uk HSG192, Charity and voluntary workers : a guide to health and safety at work, (ISBN 0 7176 2424 2

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/charity.htm

The intro says -

This book provides basic health and safety advice and information to charity and voluntary organisations. Many of them do not have access to professional health and safety advice and don’t know what is required of them. This book aims to help them find out and gives practical suggestions on how to work safely. It will also help health and safety practitioners working in this sector. The book covers the main aspects of health and safety that most charity and voluntary organisations will need to be aware of in order to meet their legal duties.

Each chapter looks at a specific health and safety subject and gives a general introduction followed by a series of practical case studies taken from actual events. It explains legal duties, how to manage health and safety and how to assess risks. Among other things, the book deals with work in charity shops, driving and transport, fire safety, fundraising, lone working, moving and handling, violence at work, supervision and training.

This book is the result of a joint project between the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Charities Safety Group (CSG), and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

Best option is to phone the HSE helpline and get expert advice - 0845 345 0055 http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/index.htm

BTW - the HASWA and associated legislation covers home working (aka 'workplace'), travelling (transport aka as 'work equipment') to and from event location (aka 'the workplace')

Good luck and have fun! Don't be put off it is not as scary or daunting as it first sounds! I'd be intrigued to know more about what activities you are doing and who your client group is.

Cath
(ex volunteer youth leader and rock climber.......)

David Gladstone
Member - 1 post

I think this comes under the "etc." of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. You need to record a risk assessment for the main acitivities that you undertake and to advise (inform) volunteers of the risks