HEALTH AND SAFETY
We have developed this policy with the support of Thick and Tight, as we believe their policies have been very well implemented.
Eric Longa will do everything we reasonably can to ensure your safety while working for us. As a freelancer, you are also responsible for your own and others’ safety while working. If you are involved in an accident while working for Eric Longa, you must tell us and we will make a note of it. It is your responsibility to have your own public liability insurance.
Eric Longa will:
provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from our work activities
provide information, instruction and supervision for freelancers
ensure all freelancers are competent to do their tasks, and to give them adequate training or support
prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health
maintain safe and healthy working conditions
review and revise this policy as necessary at regular intervals
Responsibilities
The Director (Patricia Langa) has overall and final responsibility for health and safety at Eric Longa. Day-to-day responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into practice by the Director unless:
she is not present, for example if a rehearsal director is working with a group after a work has been set
she has clearly appointed another member of the company as responsible for Health & Safety such as a Stage Manager
The Director will try to make it as clear as possible who is responsible for everyone's health & safety when entering different environments.
All freelancers must:
cooperate with the Director or anyone they have appointed as interim managers on health and safety matters, including anything provided to safeguard their health and safety
take reasonable care of their own health and safety
take out their own Public Liability Insurance
report all health and safety concerns to the Director or, depending on the situation, the appointed health & safety officer such as Stage Manager
Eric Longa Assessments
Risk assessments are undertaken for Eric Longa’s regular activities, in liaison with the venues concerned. Any action required to remove/control risks is monitored by the Director or Stage Manager. Risk assessments for individual activities/projects are regularly reviewed.
Reporting accidents and illness
All accidents and cases of work-related ill health are to be reported to the Director who will record them in Eric Longa’s digital accident book.
Sickness absences
The Director is responsible for investigating work-related causes of sickness absences.
First Aid
Eric Longa does not currently have an appointed First Aider but I’m seeking to be trained soon. I’m also seeking training in Mental Health First Aid.
Fire safety and procedures
The Director, unless otherwise stated in certain situations i.e. in a theatre with specific health and safety officers, is responsible for ensuring that a fire risk assessment is undertaken and implemented.
This includes making sure that:
freelancers are familiar with fire escape routes
somebody present knows where fire extinguishers are located and how to use them
Date of last policy review: 18th of April 2024
Date of next review: August 2024
Signed: Patricia Langa (Company Director)