Health & Safety Policy

Barrow Mountaineering & Ski Club
Health and Safety Policy

Approved by the Annual General Meeting. 26 October 2006

The committee of the Barrow Mountaineering and Ski Club (BMSC) recognises that members of the club, guests and others are faced with a wide variety of hazards whilst involved in club activities and whilst working on or staying in the club cottage. The committee recognises that it, on behalf of the club, has a duty of care to all members and all other visitors to its premises as well as specific statuary duties.

In relation to the mountain activities of members and guests, particularly when on organised club meets, the committee recognises and endorses the British Mountaineering Council’s Participation Statement :

The BMC recognises that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death.
Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.

The Committee, on behalf of the club expects all members and guests to accept the principles of the above statement.
Whilst acknowledging these hazards, the committee of the BM&SC is determined to reduce the risks associated with such hazards, as far as is reasonably practical, and as far as they are within their control.

In particular, the aims of this policy are:

1. To provide club premises that are safe for all members, guests, visitors, contractors and members of the public.

2. To encourage a safe approach to the mountain, and other activities of members and guests whilst using club premises and whilst on club meets.

This policy document will be made available to all members and guests in the club cottage.

This policy will be reviewed when necessary by the committee or by those appointed by the committee to undertake such a task.

Organisation
The BM&SC is managed by a Committee, 9 Officers and 6 Members. Posts and names are published on the annually renewed club membership card. All posts are elected at an annual general meeting.

The committee shall regularly review compliance with H&S policy as a minuted agenda item of all committee meetings. They shall implement all actions necessary to continually improve compliance whenever possible.

Management of the Club Cottage
The Club cottage situated in the Coppermines Valley, Coniston .The Cottage is owned by the club and is managed by Hut Wardens who are elected officers of the Club. They jointly coordinate and implement all matters arising from this H & S policy in regard to the Cottage.

Club meets
A meet is any gathering of the club that is published in the Meets List for the current year. Participants are members, prospective members their personal guests and guests of the club assembled for the purposes of the meet. Club meets are an opportunity for members and others to get together and participate in their own activities. Club meets will not provide led or guided mountain activities. Each meet will have a named Meet Co-ordinator. The role of the Meet
Co–ordinator is to oversee the administrative details of the meet, introduce members and act as a focal point for the participants during the meet. It is not the role of the Meet Co-ordinator to check the health, fitness or competence of participants for their intended activity. Similarly it is not the role of the Meet
Co-ordinator to check the equipment of participants on a meet.

H&S Arrangements
This section describes the systems and procedures used to protect members’ health and safety.

Accident Reporting
Accidents will be recorded in an Accident Book located in the cottage Any accident which requires the opening of the first aid box should be recorded in the Accident Book.
The accident book will be reviewed by the committee in regard to each individual entry regularly.

Chemicals
The club recognises the need for care with hazardous household chemicals in the club cottage, particulary in areas likely to be used by children. Hut Wardens will ensure that the least hazardous substances possible are provided and a safe location for their storage is identified.

Electrical Safety
The cottage has a modern wiring system which complies with regulations.
Installation is tested every five years and portable electrical appliances are tested annually.

Fire Safety
The cottage is fitted with modern fire alarm systems,emergency lighting and appropriate fire extinguishers. All of these are tested annually. Fire risk assessments have been undertaken , fire exits are clearly marked with appropriate signs.

Gas Safety
The Club cottage has an installed gas system providing cooking and hot water facilities.
The system , designed and installed and maintained to date by registered personnel, is planned to be surveyed as the basis for annual testing in accordance with regulations.
There is no gas storage within the cottage, no connection/disconnection of gas bottles is required.

First Aid
First aid boxes are provided in both Members and Guest areas of the Cottage.
Recommended contents are given below:
1 guidance card
20 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressing (plasters)
2 sterile eye pads
4 individually wrapped triangular bandages
6 safety pins
6 medium sized individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings (approx 12x12 cm)
3 large sterile individually wrapped wound dressings (approx 18x18 cm)
2 pairs of disposable fine plastic gloves to prevent bodily fluid contact
1 pair of blunt-ended steel scissors at least 13cm (5 in) long.

Cottage Maintenance
Two work meets are held each year to carry out repairs and other work tp the fabric of the building and facilities. The club recognises that this work has the potential to create an increased level of risk for those participating . A separate risk assessment will be undertaken for each work meet and the hut warden will ensure that all reasonable precautions have been taken.

Mountain Activities
The primary objective of the club is to encourage mountaineering. This activity is inherently hazardous and the club recognises the BMC Participation Statement. Whilst the club does not accept any responsibility for the mountain activity of members or guests they are encouraged to use equipment and clothing appropriate to their activity, bearing in mind their experience and taking into account the prevailing conditions.
All members and guests staying at the club cottage are encouraged to leave information in the cottage destination book or with the meet co-ordinator when attending meets away from the cottage, about their planned mountain activities and an expected return time.
Members and guests are individually responsible having appropriate insurance including cover for third party liability. (All members of BMSC, affiliated to the BMC, have such third party cover) .

Risk Assessment
The management, maintenance and general good housekeeping of the club cottage is the predominant area of club activity where risk assessment has resulted in the contractual engagement of qualified professionals to survey and maintain gas, electricity, fire detection, alarms, evacuation and extinguishing systems.
The club will ensure that adequate ongoing assessment of all cottage activity is maintained in order to avoid impairment of any of these vital safety systems

Young persons
Whilst at the club cottage , all young persons under 18 shall be under appropriate supervision of a responsible adult, i.e. parent/ guardian or one nominated as such by the parent /guardian.
When families with children are using the club cottage, both the families and other cottage users must remain aware of the needs of each other. Extra care must be taken in hazardous areas such as kitchens and with the use and care of fires. Similarly, in dormitories and washrooms , cottage users are expected to remain sensitive to the presence of young people

Review
The Committee shall review this Health and Safety Policy at least once a year, or at any such time the practices or property undergo significant alteration.