CONTENTS:

Policy Statement
Organisation for Implementation of the Policy and its Monitoring
Risk Assessments
Review

POLICY STATEMENT

It is the policy of the choir to be committed to Health and Safety and:

a. to provide a healthy and safe environment in order to ensure welfare of choir members, helpers, guests and where it is the choir’s responsibility, the audience.
b. to establish and maintain healthy and safe working procedures and promote the observance of all statutory provisions by choir members, helpers, guests by the provision of appropriate training, supervision and effective information notices.
c. to develop and maintain a sense of safety awareness and responsible attitudes by all members of the choir, helpers and guests.
d. to ensure that there is a clear understanding that choir members, helpers and guests are required to exercise personal responsibility for the safety of themselves and others.
e. to create a culture where choir members, helpers and guests feel valued and able to raise concerns or give ideas to improve safety awareness.
f. to update and supplement this policy as necessary.

ORGANISATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICY AND MONITORING

The Choir Manager shall be responsible for Health and Safety with due consultation with the elected committee. The Manager will also ensure that the choir has adequate insurance cover.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR MANAGING HEALTH AND SAFETY

a. an accident and incident book will be kept.
b. appropriate risk assessments will be carried out (see below).
c. the contract that is used to agree concerts will include a request for clarification of Health and Safety issues.
d. the committee will encourage at least one member of the choir to undertake official First Aid training.
e. the committee will monitor and check that actions are carried out.

RISK ASSESSMENTS

Theatres – participation in Shows/Concerts theatres is done under the auspices of the theatre’s rules for Health and Safety ie booking in procedures at the stage door etc. Evacuation arrangements and any other relevant information will be communicated by the theatre management or a representative to the participants before the first rehearsal at the theatre. If a child aged 16 and under is performing, then a parent must be present in the wing at all times.

Other Concert Venues – clarification of Health and Safety issues must be made clear at the booking stage of the concert. The organisers and/or the venue staff should be responsible for the ‘domestic’ arrangements ie evacuation procedures, location of toilets etc, and communicated to the choir and audience at the commencement of the concert. For the choir, a register of attendance must be kept at each concert. If a child aged 16 and under is performing, then a parent must be present at all times.

Rehearsal Rooms (presently The Des Moffatt, Western Community Centre) – choir members must be made aware of the evacuation procedures (the fire alarms, positioning of the exit fire doors and gathering point outside the buildings). An attendance register must be kept at all rehearsals and taken by the register monitor to the gathering point in the event of an evacuation.

Parents/Guardians – It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to accompany the choir members 16 and under to and from rehearsals, concerts and official travel. Parents/guardians must give written permission for any member under 18 driving a vehicle to and from rehearsals, concerts and official travel. Parents/guardians must give written permission for any member under 18 to share an adult dressing room.

Travel – a reputable coach company must be used. Choir members are responsible for their own safety when travelling to and from the coach pick-up point and when travelling directly to concerts. A register, to include names, addresses and next of kin telephone numbers of all choir members will be maintained and taken on each journey by the register monitor. A ‘tick list’ against the names on the register will be taken of all those travelling on the coach.
Use of Electrical Equipment – all electrical equipment which is the property of the choir must be subject to an annual electrical check. The owners of any other electrical equipment used at concerts or rehearsals are encouraged to have the same annual electrical check.

REVIEW

Health and Safety will be an agenda item at committee meetings and the AGM when it is deemed to be relevant.

October 2006
Reviewed November 2008
Reviewed February 2011
Reviewed September 2014
Reviewed January 2020