HEALTH GAP CIC

HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY

1. Policy Statement

Health Gap CIC is committed to providing safe and healthy working conditions for staff, volunteers, contractors, and the communities we serve.
As a community-interest organisation delivering health awareness, support, and outreach programmes, we recognise our duty of care to prevent injury or ill-health among staff, participants, and the public, and to promote wellbeing in all that we do.

This policy fulfils the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and related legislation. It also aligns with Health Gap’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion principles under the Equality Act 2010.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all:

  • Employees and freelancers 

  • Volunteers and associates 

  • Board members and partners 

  • Service users, participants and communities we work with 

2.1. Why and how it applies

All individuals have legal and moral duties to protect their own health and safety and that of others. The organisation must manage risks “so far as is reasonably practicable” through sensible, proportionate measures and continual improvement.

3. Policy/ Guidance

3.1 Overall responsibilities

Ultimate responsibility for health and safety rests with:

Anna Firth, Chief Executive / Director

Health Gap CIC

They ensure appropriate resources, oversight, and review of this policy.

Operational responsibility is delegated to the Operations Manager and Project Leads, who ensure safe practice day-to-day.

3.2 Organisational responsibilities

Health Gap CIC will:

  • Provide and maintain healthy, safe working conditions and welfare facilities.

  • Identify risks, complete assessments, and implement control measures.

  • Provide information, instruction, and training suitable to each role.

  • Encourage open reporting of hazards and near-misses.

  • Ensure accidents and incidents are recorded, reported, and reviewed.

  • Maintain appropriate insurance and emergency-response arrangements.

  • Review this policy annually or after incidents, changes in law, or new projects.

3.2 Community and outreach activities

For events, workshops, pop-up clinics, and public spaces:

  • Conduct written risk assessments before each event.

  • Ensure venues have safe access, adequate lighting, exits, first-aid cover, and welfare facilities.

  • Manage manual-handling risks when transporting materials and stands.

  • Provide volunteers and contractors with pre-event safety briefings.

  • Ensure children or vulnerable participants are supervised under Safeguarding Policy rules.

  • Keep emergency contact and first-aid information accessible at all times.

3.3  Lone working and home visits

Where staff or volunteers work alone or visit participants at home:

  • Complete lone-working risk assessments and maintain current location logs.

  • Pre-screen appointments where possible and respect personal-safety protocols.

  • Carry a charged phone and communicate estimated arrival/departure times.

  • Do not enter environments where an individual feels unsafe.

  • Report concerns or incidents immediately to the line manager.

3.4  Infection control and public health

Given Health Gap’s role in community health improvement:

  • Follow national guidance on infection prevention (e.g., NHS / UKHSA).

  • Maintain stocks of sanitiser, gloves, and PPE appropriate to activity.

  • Clean shared equipment before and after each use.

  • Staff or volunteers experiencing symptoms of communicable illness must not attend events or visits.

  • Report any exposure incidents promptly through internal reporting channels.

3.5  Employee and volunteer responsibilities

Everyone has a part to play in maintaining safety:

  • Take reasonable care of personal health and safety and that of others.

  • Follow instructions and safe-working systems at all times.

  • Cooperate fully with managers on safety measures and training.

  • Not misuse or interfere with safety equipment.

  • Raise hazards, stress, fatigue, or wellbeing concerns early.

  • Immediately report incidents, near-misses, or suspected safeguarding issues.

Breaches of safety rules may result in disciplinary action or, if applicable, enforcement under statutory regulations.


Approved by: The Board of Directors – Health Gap CIC
Date: May 2026
Next review: May 2027