Health and Safety Policy

The Game Change Project (TGCP) is committed to upholding excellent levels of health and safety in order to safeguard the health and wellbeing of all our volunteers, staff, young people and visitors. To ensure this, TGCP is committed to:

providing adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from our activities through a risk assessment process
consulting with our workers on matters affecting their health and safety
providing and maintaining safe premises and equipment
ensuring information, support and guidance is provided on the safe handling and use of substances
ensuring all workers are competent to do their tasks, and to give them adequate training, instruction and supervision
preventing accidents and cases of work-related ill health
maintaining safe and healthy working conditions
reviewing and revising this policy as necessary at regular intervals.

The Game Change Project Board/Management Committee

The Board/Management Committee is ultimately responsible for the Health and Safety policy and practice of TGCP. Their role is to:

Ensure a policy is in place.
Ensure roles are allocated for its enactment.
Monitor and review the policy annually.
Consider reports of accidents and incidents.
Consider training needs.
Ensure adequate resources are allocated for Health and Safety training.

Employees and volunteers

All workers have an obligation to take reasonable care for their own health and safety, and for that of others, and to co-operate with TGCP with respect to health and safety matters. Workers are requested to:

Report any significant hazard or malfunction (e.g. trip hazards or broken equipment) to their supervisor.
Conform to all instructions, written or verbal given to promote personal safety and the safety of others.
Be sensibly and safely dressed for their particular task, location and conditions and to use appropriately and effectively all safety equipment and any other safety equipment that may be provided.
Avoid improvisation in any form which could create unnecessary risks to health and safety (e.g. climbing on a chair to reach heights)
Not bring into TGC, without the appropriate authority, any tool, substance or piece of equipment of their own which is potentially hazardous to the health and safety of themselves or others.
Report to their supervisor all accidents, whether injury was sustained or not, including any incidents of violence and aggression.
Attend and participate in training as required.
Be aware of the emergency evacuation procedures, positions of fire alarms, equipment and exits.

Accident Reporting

It is the responsibility of the Health & Safety Officer Andrew Evans to ensure that the following procedures for reporting and investigation of all accidents are implemented, and that all staff and volunteers are aware of these procedures:

All accidents (and 'near misses') are recorded on an Accident Form and then logged in the Accident Book; copies of Accident Forms are kept in filing cabinet, main office cabin and the Accident Book is kept in the same location.
All accidents will be investigated by Andrew Evans and a note of the investigation will be made on the relevant Accident form.
Corrective action is taken to prevent a reoccurrence.
Report forms and full details of reportable accidents and incidents are kept and maintained.

Procedures and Guidelines

Whilst the TGCP Board has overall responsibility for Health and Safety, the Health and Safety Officer is responsible for co-ordinating the day to day implementation of the Health and Safety policy and procedures. This includes: Regularly meeting with the First Aid Officer and the Fire Safety Officer to discuss issues

Ensure the First Aid Officer and the Fire Safety Officer are adequately trained and supported to carry out their roles
Carrying out necessary Risk Assessments with colleagues
Reporting any Health and Safety issues or incidents to the Board
Ensuring that Health and Safety information is included in new volunteer inductions

First Aid

The First Aid Officer is Sian Roberts and Andrew Evans
The First Aid kit will be regularly checked and restocked by the First Aider
The First Aid box is kept in both cabins and workshop.
The Accident Book is (in a confidential secure place) and Accident Forms are available from Sian Roberts, Andrew Evans and Claire Miller.

Fire Safety

The Fire Safety Officer is Andrew Evans
The Fire Safety Officer will ensure that all workers receive information about Fire regulations and Fire drills are held regularly
The Fire Extinguishers are located in all buildings
The Fire Exits are marked
The Emergency assembly point is Car Park.

Insurance

The group has appropriate insurance for its needs. This is:

RSA Insurance Group
Policy Number RKL23467/01/890
XS8478

Risk Assessment

TGCP’s activities are risk assessed to ensure that all necessary measures are put in place to safeguard workers, young people and the public. All risk assessments are carried out by a minimum of two workers (including worker supervising activity) and kept by Health and Safety Officer and regularly reviewed and updated. The risk assessment template can be found in Appendix 1.

Whilst every risk assessment is different, it is likely that they will cover the need for:
Consent and Information forms for young people
Information and emergency contact details for workers
Continuous implementation of Child Protection Policy and Procedures
Regular checking of all equipment (including First Aid and Fire Alarms) and premises used by TGCP.
Appropriate insurance for all activities
Adequate worker ratios, training and supervision for all activities

Review Period: Annual
Date Reviewed: 17/06/25 Signed. KS Roberts
Next Review Date June 2026.

Policies:

The Game Change Project Whistleblowing Policy

The purpose of this policy is to prevent malpractice by the organisation, its employees, agents and partners by advising staff how to raise concerns with the organisation’s management or, if necessary, with its auditors or sponsoring department.

Safeguarding Policy

The Game Change Project CIC Safeguarding Policy

Data Protection Policy

The Game Change Project is committed to a policy of protecting the rights and privacy of individuals, volunteers, staff and service users in accordance with The Data Protection Act 2018. The policy applies to all participants, sponsors, volunteers, board members and staff.

Volunteer Policy

Volunteer Policy - This volunteer policy sets out the principles and practice by which we involve volunteers and is relevant to staff, volunteers and trustees within the organisation...

Welsh Language Policy

The Game Change Project has adopted the principle that in the conduct of its business in Wales it will treat the English and Welsh languages on the basis of equality...

VAWDASV

THE GAME CHANGE PROJECT recognises that, statistically, a number of employees/ volunteers may be experiencing domestic abuse in their personal relationships and, through this policy, seeks to provide effective, confidential and sympathetic support to these employees...

Safer Recruitment Policy Statement

The Game Change Project is committed to safeguarding and protecting all children and young people by implementing robust safer recruitment practices: We will do this by...

Online safety and social media policy

This policy provides guidance on how our organisation uses the internet and social media, and the procedures for doing so...

The Game Change Project Equality & Diversity Policy

The Game Change Project Equality & Diversity Policy - The Management committee of The Game Change Project is committed to equality and diversity. The project is open to all regardless of age, colour, disability, ethnic origin, sex, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership...

The Game Change Project Environmental Policy Statement

The Game Change Project is committed to minimising the impact of its activities on the environment...

Complaints and Grievance Policy

The Game Change Project recognises that volunteers have the right to raise grievances about any matter related to their volunteering (this could be in relation to another volunteer, a member of the paid staff, or the manner in which they are being treated by the Game Change Project. In addition, any other person is entitled to make a complaint about the organisation.