PART I - HM TREASURY HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

GENERAL STATEMENT OF INTENT

1. The Department is committed to maintaining a safe working environment for all it staff. The key elements of that commitment are contained in this policy statement.

2. The Treasury recognises and accepts its responsibility as a good employer for ensuring, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees and to ensure that the health and safety of visitors, contractors and the general public are not affected as a result of the Department's activities. This is fully in keeping with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA), and other relevant legislation.

3. Employees also have responsibilities. I expect everyone to take reasonable care to ensure their own safety and that of other people who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. I also look to them to co-operate with the Treasury, its Management Board, and professional and supervisory staff in achieving our commitment to provide a safe and healthy working environment.

The Treasury's objectives

4. In meeting the Department's responsibilities required by Section 2 of the HSWA, and other relevant legislation, the Treasury has set the following specific objectives relating to health and safety and is committed to

• providing a safe working environment for everyone without risk to health;
• providing all employees with appropriate and sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision to enable them to: avoid hazards, identify risks, understand how these risks are controlled and contribute in a positive way to their own safety and health at work;
• providing full opportunities for employer/employee consultation on health, safety and welfare;
• making suitable and sufficient assessments of the risks to health and safety as required by Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1992 and other legislation, to keep clear and accurate records of all risk assessments and ensure they are reviewed on a regular basis or in the light of change;
• ensuring safe means of entry and exit to all places of work;
• ensuring a healthy working environment exists with adequate welfare facilities.

5. In other to provide a safe working environment, the Department relies on a large number of people working together and effectively towards that end. In particular, our ability to react properly to any incident depends on the commitment and effort of those volunteers who make up our emergency control team, including fire wardens and first aiders. I very much welcome and appreciate their contribution.

6. The Treasury has a good health and safety record. We must keep it that way. We will only achieve effective control and success of our policy through the co-operation and support of everyone work works here.

SIR ANDREW TURNBULL
October 1999

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