Ramsgate Operatic Society

Registered charity no 109538

 

HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

The Ramsgate Operatic Society recognises and accepts its health and safety duties for providing a safe and healthy environment (as far as is reasonably practicable) for all its members and other visitors to its rehearsal venues, show venues and any other premises or location that the Society may use for its activities.

 

The Society also recognises its obligations under all relevant legislation and common law duties of care. to a standard of equivalence to that of the following regulations:

 

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974,

The Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997,

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999,

 

The Society furthermore recognises its legal responsibilities under The Children and Young Persons Act 1963, in respect of the employment and performance of children.

 

Ramsgate Operatic Society will:

Take all reasonably practicable steps to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of all personnel on the premises;

Provide adequate working conditions with proper facilities to safeguard the health and safety of personnel and to ensure that any activity which is undertaken produces no unnecessary risk to health or safety;

Encourage persons on the premises to co-operate with the Organisation in all safety matters, in the identification of hazards which may exist and in the reporting of any condition which may appear dangerous or unsatisfactory;

Maintain safe arrangements for the use, handling, storage and transport of props and scenery

Provide sufficient information and instruction, to enable everyone to avoid hazards and contribute to their own safety and health;

Appoint a named person as Health and Safety Officer who will have particular health and safety responsibilities;

Provide adequate First Aid facilities;

Make sure that the workplace satisfies health, safety and welfare requirements, eg for ventilation, temperature, lighting and for sanitary, washing and rest facilities;

Make, as reasonably practicable, safe arrangements for protection against any risk to health and safety of the general public or other persons that may arise for the Society’s activities;

 

Duty of the membership

Members and volunteers also have a duty of care .They include the following:

• To take reasonable care for their own health and safety, and that of other persons who may be affected by what they do or do not do;

• To co-operate with Ramsgate Operatic Society on all health and safety issues;

• To report at the earliest opportunity injuries, accidents or dangerous occurrences including those involving the public and participants in activities organised by the Society.

The Society accepts no responsibility for medical conditions or pre-existing injuries which have not been declared. This extends to any adverse effects from any necessary first aid treatment administered to the member or volunteer.

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Fire Precautions

All personnel must familiarise themselves with procedures and follow directions in relation to fire. At the Society’s main rehearsal venues and performance venues all members should know the location of all the fire extinguishers, the fire exits and the assembly points.

When at a theatre venue, fire evacuation is usually the responsibility of the Theatre’s in house stage manager and technical crew. All ROS stage actors and personnel will listen and obey given instructions;

Members are asked not to park in front of fire exits or place any obstruction in front of fire exits, outside or inside the building(s) used by the Society.

In the case of a fire, everyone will follow instructions given by the Theatre’s in house stage manager and technical crew or the Society’s H&S Officer or deputy.

Persons discovering a fire should sound the nearest alarm;

•       The first duty of all workers is to evacuate all people from the building by the nearest exit immediately the fire is discovered;

•       All persons must evacuate the building and, where possible without personal risk, leave all doors and windows closed;

•       If any fire occurs, the Kent Fire and Rescue Service must be called immediately by dialling 999 (or 112) and asking for “Fire”;

•       When the Fire and Rescue Service arrives, advise if all persons are accounted for and location of fire.

•       No-one should leave any fire assembly points before the attendance sheet has been checked;

 

First Aid

The current First Aiders for the Society will be displayed on the Notice Board in the main hall.

A First Aid Box is provided by the ‘tea counter' in the main hall.

 

Accident Book

ROS has a duty to keeps a record of any injury suffered by a member or visitor on premises being used by the Society, however slight.

A ROS accident book shall be kept with the first aid kit when at a rehearsal or performance venue and maintained and stored by the H&S Officer or a deputy when not in use. The H&S Officer or a deputy will record the details of any incident that requires first aid, in the accident book together with any other particulars as are required by regulations.

Performance venues may also need to record such incidents using their own ‘In House procedures’.

Leaving the rehearsal venue

 

Close-down checks will be made of all parts of the rehearsal venue at the end of a session and electrical apparatus turned off and unplugged i.e.lights off, internal doors closed and outside doors and windows closed and secured.

 

Theatre Attendance

The H&S Officer will liaise with theatre staff, in particular the Theatre Technicians, to agree the responsibility for safety in the theatre and to identify any particular hazardous areas or situations that need to be addressed.

The H&S Officer will inform the cast and back stage crew of all safety matters that need to be notified to them.

A safety briefing will be given to all participants after ‘get in’ at any performance venue.

 

Dressing rooms

All members are asked to keep their dressing room tidy. The Wardrobe manager will supervise the storage of costume packing cases.

If there is a fault with the tannoy system, tell the stage manager so it can be dealt with by Theatre staff.

Facilities for the disposal of waste materials must be kept in a clean and hygienic condition.  Waste must be disposed of in an appropriate manner and in accordance with any special instructions relating to the material concerned.

 

On-stage and in the wings

The Stage Manager is responsible for ROS stage crew. The H&S Officer will inform them of the relevant procedures. The H&S Officer is responsible for checking that the ROS Stage Manager and ROS stage crew liaise with the Theatre technical staff.

ROS recognises that the stage and its wings can be hazardous areas. The H&S Officer will ensure a risk assessment is undertaken of the activities and situations that present themselves or could present themselves in the areas concerned.

A risk assessment will be carried out by the designated ROS H&S officer and a hard copy provided.  Where the theatre has carried out its own risk assessment, then the H&S Officer will liaise closely with the theatre.

All members attending a performance venue for the first time will be expected to make themselves familiar with the layout of the building.

In the case if emergencies, cast and crew will follow instructions given by the Theatre’s in house stage manager and technical crew or the Society’s H&S Officer or deputy and will report to the Stage Manager/ H&S Officer at the assembly point.

 

Front of house

The ROS Front of House Manager will liaise with the Theatre Front of House staff so that each has identified themselves to each other and each party has understood the respective roles of the parties concerned.

In the case of emergencies, the ROS front of house team will follow instructions given by the Theatre staff, and will report to the ROS Front of House Manager at the assembly point.

 

Orchestra Pit

The H&S Officer will inform the Musical Director about health and safety procedures. The MD must check that the orchestra is familiar with the procedures.

No unauthorised members of the Society should enter the orchestra pit.

In the case of emergencies, the MD and orchestra will follow instructions given by the Theatre staff, and will report to the Stage Manager at the assembly point.

 

Safety Clearways

Corridors and doorways must be kept free of obstructions and properly lit.

 

Sign-in sign-out

ROS will use a sign-in and sign-out register for its performance venues. Each member is required to sign-in and sign-out.

 

Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco 

Smoking on the premises and the use of Drugs (except under medical supervision) on the premises are prohibited at all times.  The use of intoxicants (alcohol) is prohibited and no member or volunteer may participate in any activities if under the influence of alcohol or drugs (except under medical supervision)

 

Children

ROS defines a child as a person aged from 5 to 16 years of age. And a young person as a person aged from 16 to 17 years (up until their 18th birthday) No child under 5 will take part in ROS activities.

The designated Safeguarding Officer is responsible for telling children about our H&S procedures.

Adult members are reminded of the need to exercise special care and attention when performing with children and young persons. (For more information please refer to our safeguarding policy)

 

General information

The H&S Officer (or in their absence the Assistant to the Director) is responsible for checking that props and staging are safe. Members must work safely with props, and refuse to use any that are, in their reasonable opinion, unsafe. In particular members are forbidden to stand on makeshift rostra such as plastic nesting chairs or fold-up tables.

Members are asked to attend rehearsals wearing suitable loose fitting clothing and footwear that is nonslip.

In the event of an injury or illness, inform the designated first aid officer or ring for an ambulance directly.  To call an ambulance – dial 999 (or 112) and ask for “ambulance”;

Any volunteer with a health and safety concern must first tell the responsible Committee member. If, after investigation, the problem is not corrected in a reasonable time, or the responsible committee member decides that no action is required but the volunteer is not satisfied with this, the volunteer may then refer the matter to the management committee chairperson. This must be in writing. If the volunteer is still dissatisfied, the matter will be entered on the agenda for the next meeting of the Management Committee.

Electrical equipment used by the Society will be subject to Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) where deemed appropriate and necessary.

To help prevent manual handling injuries, members and volunteers are expected to exercise caution when lifting any heavy objects, using correct back posture and assistance from another person when possible.

  

This policy will be monitored by the Committee to make sure that our health and safety objectives are achieved and maintained and will be subject to annual review.