Policy updated January 2023
acta community theatre endeavours to maintain a low risk environment and safe systems of work for staff, volunteers, participants and the public. Acta recognizes that the company must provide staff with such information, training and guidance as they need in order to maintain safe systems. It is, therefore, acta community theatre policy to do all that is reasonable to prevent personal injury, provide training and to protect everyone from reasonably foreseeable hazards.
Any person having concern regarding health and safety, especially having identified a particular hazard, must ensure that it is brought to the attention of the Finance and Operations Manager – Bertel Martin who is responsible for health and safety at acta community theatre.
This policy should help us all observe proper procedures in health and safety. We all have a duty to try to avoid accidents, so please take some time to read this policy, the relevant risk assessments and sign the accompanying form.
The responsibilities of acta to employees and volunteers
Administration of Health and Safety
- To provide and maintain equipment and a safe working environment
- To appoint a staff member to be responsible for the provision of Health and Safety policy and requirements
- Research and revision of the Health and Safety Policy
- Production and implementation of Fire Safety Policy
- Maintaining up to date employer responsibilities on health and safety
- Production and distribution of the policy to all staff members
- To provide first aid kits and accident/incident books
- To give freelancers, hirers and visiting companies the necessary information on health and safety matters
- To oversee staff implementation of health and safety policy issues
- To carry out and record risk assessments for each work area, activity and/or staff member including when working elsewhere, e.g. when on tour
- To ensure that staff members are not put at risk from hazards when working elsewhere, e.g. when on tour
- To provide training in health and safety and first aid
- To receive reports from staff on accidents, near misses and defects, and report these to the Council of Management
- To ensure staff are competent in performing tasks and duties
- To provide safeguarding and confidentiality procedures
General Health and Safety
Good Housekeeping
- Ensuring that all areas, corridors, stairs, walkways (both internal and external) are kept clear from hazards that are likely to cause trips, slips and falls
- Maintaining adequate lighting and ventilation
Good Sanitation
- Ensuring toilets, wash basins, and kitchen sinks are kept safe by cleaning, maintenance and repair
Theatre, Studio, Dressing room, and Workshop
- To ensure that all hand and power tools and ladders in use in the workshop or on technical work on tour are suitable for their use.
- To ensure the safe handling and transport of any dangerous substances used.
- To ensure the safe storage of dangerous substances in the dedicated COSHH cupboard
- To ensure that all staff members involved in workshop, technical, rehearsal and performance work have the necessary information/ training to carry out manual handling safely.
- To ensure that first aid boxes are available in the workshop.
- To ensure compliance with regulations regarding fireproofing, special effects e.g. smoke machine.
- To ensure that all equipment (sound and lighting desks, etc) are maintained in good working order (including PAT testing for electrical appliances).
- To ensure that ladders are kept clean and free from risk of slipping and that there are always two people operating ladders – one person to ‘foot’ the ladder to assist stability as the other makes use of, ascends and descends.
Theatre Bar
- To make sure that staff are following food safety policy and are trained in food hygiene
- To ensure appropriate signage
- To ensure that first aid boxes are available in the Theatre bar
- To ensure that all equipment (cooker, fridges, dishwasher, water heater and hand-held appliances) are maintained in good working order (including PAT testing for electrical appliances)
Offices
- To ensure that first aid boxes are available in the offices
- To ensure that computer work stations are designed to meet the requirements of the VDU work stations regulations, and all users are aware of health and safety issues involved in their use
The responsibilities of acta to participants and public
General Health and Safety
Good Housekeeping
- Ensuring that all areas, corridors, stairs, walkways (both internal and external) are kept clear from hazards that are likely to cause trips, slips and falls
- Maintaining adequate lighting and ventilation
Good Sanitation
- Ensuring toilets, wash basins, and kitchen sinks are kept safe by cleaning, maintenance and repair
Safeguarding and confidentiality
- To ensure adequate training for staff in, and implementation of, safeguarding, confidentiality, and the child protection policy
Accident reporting
- To ensure that all accidents are recorded in the accident book (located in first folder in top drawer of filing cabinet next to door in office 2)
Medicines
- To ensure that staff adhere to administration of medicines policy
Theatre bar
- To make sure that staff are following food safety policy and are trained in food hygiene
- To ensure that furnishings, fixtures and fittings are safe and fit for purpose
Policy updated Jan 2023
