Health and Safety Policy

Introduction and Purpose

This policy outlines Primary Goal’s commitment and responsibilities towards health and safety across
the Organisation. Primary Goal Ltd promotes this policy at all times by encouraging safe working
practices and raising awareness of health and safety amongst all team members, employers,
apprentices and third parties. Primary Goal is committed to ensuring health and safety policies and
procedures are compliant with current legislation and guidance.

Employer Responsibilities

The Chief Operating Officer is the designated person with overall responsibility for ensuring our
compliance with Health and Safety legislation. They will ensure that:
• Our Health and Safety policy documentation is implemented, monitored, developed,
communicated effectively, reviewed and amended as required.
• Primary Goal’s health and safety provisions are continuously assessed and improvements
implemented where necessary.
• Staff understand the allocated responsibilities for health and safety defined in this policy.
• Suitable and sufficient funds, people, materials and equipment are provided to meet all
health and safety requirements.
• Adequate insurance cover is provided and renewed.
• Competent persons are appointed to provide health and safety assistance and advice.
• An adequate system of maintenance exists and operates to keep work equipment in a safe
condition.
Health and Safety Policy V2.1 19/03/2025
• They communicate and consult with staff on health and safety issues.
• An effective training programme is established to ensure staff are competent to carry out
their work in a safe manner.
• Effective contingency plans are in place with a designated competent person in charge of
the planning and control measures for situations involving imminent danger.
• Adequate training, information, instruction and supervision is provided to ensure that
work is conducted safely.
• Health and Safety concerns are reported timely and in the appropriate manner.
• Risk assessments are completed, recorded and regularly reviewed covering all processes
and activities where a risk to health and safety exists. The significant findings of these
assessments are brought to the attention of staff, learners, contractors, and members of
the public who may be affected.

All correspondence relating to health and safety within the organisation should be emailed to
hr@primarygoal.ac.uk.

Management Responsibilities

Managers will ensure that in their areas of control:
• They actively lead the implementation of our Health and Safety Policy.
• They supervise their staff to ensure that they work safely, providing increased supervision
for new and young workers.
• Safe systems of work are developed and implemented.
• Adequate resources are allocated to implement the safety policy and meet all safety
requirements.
• Accidents, ill health and ‘near miss’ incidents at work are investigated, recorded and
reported to the Shared Services Manager.
• They communicate and consult with staff on health and safety issues.
• They encourage staff to report hazards and raise health and safety concerns.
• Issues concerning safety raised by anyone are thoroughly investigated and, when
necessary, further effective controls implemented and communicated to staff.
• Any safety issues that cannot be dealt with are referred to a senior manager for action.
• Health and safety rules are followed by all.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees are responsible for acting in a safe manner whilst at work. By understanding their
responsibilities and following our safety rules, they will help the Organisation comply with their legal
duties and contribute to the safe running of our workplace.

All employees have the responsibility:
• To take reasonable care of our own safety.
• To take reasonable care of the safety of others affected by what we do or fail to do.
• Not to interfere with or misuse, intentionally or recklessly, anything provided in the
interests of safety.
• To co-operate so that we as individuals and our organisation can fulfill our legal duties e.g.
comply with our safety rules.
• To report any shortcomings in the existing safety arrangements to a responsible person
without delay.
• To set a good personal example in relation to health and safety.

Employees should not carry out any alterations to equipment which might compromise health and
safety. Employees who do tamper with equipment are likely to face disciplinary action, which could
result in dismissal. Employees should use equipment for the purpose for which it is provided, and no
other purpose. If any equipment is damaged or unfit for purpose in any way, the employee required to
inform the Shared Services Manager immediately.

Apprentice Employer Responsibilities

Primary Goal prioritises health and safety for all apprentices and requires all employers of Primary
Goal apprentices to provide a completed Health and Safety questionnaire, including information on
Employer Liability Insurance, before a learner is enrolled onto programme. All learners and employers
working in partnership with Primary Goal will be subject to an appropriate induction to confirm they
have sufficient knowledge and understanding of health and safety and are aware of their own internal
procedures for instruction, supervision, training and reporting issues.

Health and Safety for Remote Workers

All staff employed by Primary Goal are employed on a remote-working basis. Upon commencement of
employment, staff are required to undertake online training on Lone Working to understand the
health and safety risks associated with this. Staff are also required to complete a Working from Home
Risk Assessment which is then reviewed by the Shared Services Manager to assess any risks present
within the employee’s home, and work with the employee to mitigate these risks.

Primary Goal recognises, adheres to, and promotes The Health and Safety (Display Screen
Equipment) Regulations 1992. The Company promotes safe working practices and ensures
equipment is fit for purpose. Employees are encouraged to take regular breaks from their DSE and
undertake regular eye testing. Employees should contact the Shared Services Manager for eyecare
vouchers to cover the cost of routine eye examinations in relation to DSE use (recommended once
every 2 years).

Health and Safety whilst Travelling

Should staff be required to travel for their role, appropriate risk assessments will be carried out as
necessary to identify any potential or actual risks to the employee. When visiting external sites, staff
are expected to adhere to the health and safety policies specific to the site in question, whilst
maintaining the Employee Responsibilities detailed in this policy.

Should travel require the employee to drive, the following will be considered and enforced if
necessary:
• Ensure the travel required is qualified to avoid unnecessary travel.
• Employees are not to drive if they assess that they feel too unwell to.
• Employees are responsible for ensuring that their vehicle is roadworthy and appropriately
insured for business use.
• Avoid peak times of travel where possible.
• Take into account travel and weather conditions.
• Take regular breaks and avoid driving excessive amounts of mileage/hours in a day.
• Never use a hand-held device whilst driving.
• Never drive under the influence of recreational drugs or alcohol. Should the employee be
taking medication, this must have been prescribed by a doctor and should be considered
to have no adverse effects on driving.
• Abide by all current laws and legislation in relation to driving.

Physical and Mental Health at Work

Primary Goal encourage an open dialogue between employees, line managers and senior leaders.
With this in mind, should staff feel that their mental health is being negatively impacted due to their
working conditions, they are encouraged to speak to their line manager or another appropriate
manager within the organisation who will be able to provide necessary support and guidance.
Employees and managers should communicate regularly and work together to find solutions.

Primary Goal recognises that employees can find change stressful – including changes in working
from home and hybrid working.
The Company aims to help to reduce stress through the following:
• Agreeing regular contact.
• Making reasonable effort to avoid employees feeling left out and lonely.
• Allowing employees to feel trusted and supported.
• Providing signposting and resources so that employees know how to get help with their
mental health.
• Provide employees with knowledge of how to report IT issues.
• Set clear targets and objectives to provide clarity around expectations of job role.

Employees are encouraged to utilise their unpaid breaks (if applicable) to take time away from their
workstation. Employees are also encouraged, unless absolutely necessary, to complete all work
within their contracted daily hours and to not undertake additional work outside of this.

Primary Goal encourages all employees to maintain a level of physical activity to contribute to their
physical and mental health.

Accidents

Although every effort will be made to ensure a safe environment, it is accepted that accidents can
occur.

If an accident does occur this must be reported immediately to the Shared Services Manager. Reports
will be logged on the Company’s internal SharePoint system in the HR Confidential folder.

If any of the following occur, they must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive under the
RIDDOR procedures (see www.riddor.gov.uk):
• Fatal accidents.
• Specified injuries.
• Accidents resulting in a period of absence of more than seven days.
• Injuries to the public where they have to be taken to hospital.

In addition, some work-related diseases and dangerous occurrences must be reported to the Health
and Safety Executive.

Following any accident the situation will be investigated to determine whether changes need to be
made to equipment, training or systems to work so that a similar situation can be prevented in the
future.

If any of the above accidents involve apprentices, the Education and Skills Funding Agency should
also be notified: https://esfahelp.education.gov.uk/hc/en-gb

Review

Primary Goal will continue to review the contents of this policy and review annually.