Health & Safety

HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY STATEMENT FOR MEARNS KIRK CHURCH OF SCOTLAND CONGREGATION

POLICY STATEMENT

This is the Health & Safety Policy Statement of Mearns Kirk Church of Scotland Congregation.

The general policy of the H&S Committee, Congregation is:

• to provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from all of the Congregation’s activities
• to consult with employees and any other relevant persons on matters affecting their health and safety
• to provide and maintain safe plant and equipment
• to ensure safe handling and use of substances
• to provide information, instruction and supervision for employees, where required
• to ensure all employees are competent to do their tasks, and to give them adequate training, if necessary
• to prevent accidents, so far as reasonably possible
• to maintain safe and healthy working conditions and premises.

RESPONSIBILITIES & RISK ASSESSMENT

Responsibility for health and safety matters rests with Health and Safety Committee which will carry out regular risk assessments (including fire safety assessments) for all of the Congregation’s properties.

The Health and Safety Committee shall be responsible for dealing with health and safety matters arising on a day-to-day basis.

Employees, volunteers and those using the Halls should take appropriate steps to protect their

own health and safety and all potential risks or concerns should be reported to the Office as soon as possible.

ACCIDENTS & FIRST AID

• First aid boxes are kept at both the Church and in the Halls
• All accidents and case of work-related ill health will be recorded in an Accident Book.
• The book is kept by Church Administrator in the Halls Office
• The Health and Safety Committee is responsible for reporting accidents to the Local Authority where there is an obligation to do so.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Fire and Evacuation

The Health and Safety Committee is responsible for ensuring that fire risk assessments are undertaken and implemented and that appropriate fire safety measures and evacuation procedures are in place.

MANAGEMENT OF ASBESTOS

The Fabric Committee has put in place an appropriate asbestos risk-management plan and will ensure that it is kept up to date.

USE OF HALLS

All users of Halls, particularly non-Congregational groups, and the leaders thereof are reminded that they are required to take all reasonable steps to ensure that their activities are safe and the persons that they are responsible for are not subject to risk. In particular all users and leaders should be aware of fire safety procedures.

The following rules will apply to use of the Halls.

Group leaders and members of groups are required to comply with these rules as a condition of

using the Halls: –

• Attendance of Hall Users Meetings
• Adherence to the Hall housekeeping rules
• Adherence to the Food Safety Procedures
• Responsible for regular fire drills for their groups

On behalf of The Health and Safety Committee,

28th FEBRUAY 2026.

Ian McIntosh