The Hygiene Bank: Health and Safety Policy

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Hygiene Bank is a charity registered in England and Wales (1181267) and Scotland (SC049895) operating throughout the UK via a network of volunteers involved in the collection of donated hygiene products and distribution through a network of Community Partners including schools, food banks and other organisations supporting those in need.

The Hygiene Bank is committed to ensuring that its activities are safe and it will do whatever it can to provide for the health, safety and welfare of all volunteers and staff ensuring that risks are minimised at all times.

 

2.0 AIMS OF THE POLICY

The Hygiene Bank is committed to ensuring that its activities are safe and it will do whatever it can to provide for the health, safety and welfare of all employees, volunteers, visitors and community partners, ensuring that risks are minimised at all times.

Supplementary to this general policy statement, there will be specific risk assessments covering tasks carried out at project level within the organisation.

 

3.0 SCOPE OF THE POLICY

Health and safety is a collective task shared between The Hygiene Bank, employees and volunteers.

It is the policy of the charity to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of its employees while they are at work, and of others who may be affected by the charity’s undertakings, and to comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and all other allied relevant legislation, as appropriate.

 

3.1 Objectives

The charity has the following objectives:

  • To set and maintain standards for health, safety and the protection of the work environment
  • To identify risks and set in place guidance to reduce these risks to a level as low as is reasonably practicable.
  • To ensure that these standards are communicated to all employees, volunteers, visitors and community partners where necessary.
  • To ensure that all personnel are given the appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision to enable them to work in a safe manner.
  • To ensure that the appropriate resources are made available to enable the policy to be implemented.

 

3.2 Responsibility

To ensure the prevention of ill health, the avoidance of accidents and the promotion of safe and healthy workplaces, the following responsibilities have been established:

  • The Board of Trustees is responsible for establishing the overall Health and Safety Policy for the charity and has ultimate responsibility for all health and safety matters including:
    • The promotion of good practice within health and safety
    • The allocation of necessary resources
    • Oversight of the implementation of health and safety practices.

  • The Head of Operations is authorized, through the Board of Trustees, and has responsibility for implementing and monitoring the policy and will:
    • Keep the Health and Safety Policy under review, bringing to the trustees’ attention any faults or areas of weakness in the policy and ensuring that it is revised as and when necessary.
    • Monitor the Policy’s implementation, set targets or objectives where appropriate and report progress to the board.
    • Ensure the dissemination and discussion of relevant information on health and safety.
    • Report details to the Board of Trustees where an accident/ incident has occurred which may result in significant risk to the charity.

  • Line Managers and Project Leads are responsible for:
    • Ensuring the awareness and practical implementation by colleagues and relevant external parties of the Health & Safety policies and practices of the charity
    • Ensuring that the operations under their control, so far as is reasonably practical, are conducted without detriment to the health and safety of employees or others who may be affected by their activities.
    • Ensuring that their area of responsibility is subject to regular risk assessment and audit.
    • Ensuring that all accidents, incidents and near misses, within their area of responsibility, are reported to the Head of Operations reviewing all such reports and ensuring, where appropriate, that a full investigation is carried out and appropriate remedial action taken, where necessary.

  • Individual Responsibilities – All employees, volunteers, visitors and community partners are required to:
    • Co-operate in implementing the requirements of the Health and Safety Policy, legislation, related codes of practice and safety instructions.
    • Refrain from doing anything which constitutes a danger to themselves or others.
    • Bring to the immediate attention of their Project Co-Ordinator, Partnership Manager or Line Manager/ main contact any situations or practices that are noted which might lead to injuries or ill health.
    • Ensure that any equipment issued to them, or for which they are responsible, is correctly used and properly stored.
    • Be responsible for good housekeeping in the area in which they are working.
    • Report all accidents, incidents, dangerous occurrences and near misses, in accordance with the charity’s guidance.

 

4.0 CONTRACTORS, VISITORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS

All contractors, visitors and community partners working on the charity’s property are required to comply with appropriate rules and regulations governing their work activities. Contractors are legally responsible for their own workforce and for ensuring that their work is carried out in a safe manner.

 

5.0 CONSULTATION AND TRAINING

The Board of Trustees and Head of Operations are committed to involving employees at all levels in the maintenance of health and safety standards and to provide them with adequate information, instruction and training. External health and safety consultants will be used to provide professional health, safety, environmental and occupational advice, as required.

 

Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure that it remains relevant and up-to-date with any changes in data privacy regulations or company practices. The policy may be subject to changes or updates in accordance with applicable legislation and/or best practice requirements. Any updates or revisions to this policy will be communicated to all affected users.

 

Version V.2

Review frequency: Annually

Date approved: July 2025

Review date: July 2026