Health & Safety Policy

Onchan District Commissioners are fully committed to meeting its responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work, Etc. Act 1974, (as applied to the Isle of Man) the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 2003, and associated protective legislation, both as an Employer and as a Local Authority.

To achieve those objectives it has appointed designated member(s) of staff to be responsible for health and safety; to keep workplace health, safety and welfare procedures under constant review; to liaise with the Health and Safety Executive wherever necessary; and to keep the Authority and its Board abreast of new legislation, EU Directives, Regulations and British Standards, in order to ensure on-going compliance with the law.

The main responsibility for health and safety lies with the Chief Executive and the Board of Commissioners. The Authority is bound by any acts and/or omissions of the Chief Executive/Clerk, or manager, giving rise to legal liability, provided only that such acts and/or omissions was authorised, consented to or attributable to connivance or neglect on the part of the Authority. 

To comply with its statutory and common law duties, the Authority has arranged insurance against liability for death, injury and/or disease suffered by any of its employees arising out of and in the course of employment, if caused by negligence and/or breach of statutory duty on the part of the Authority.

Authority employees agree, as part of their contract of employment, to comply with their individual duties under both the Health and Safety at Work Act (as applied to the Isle of Man) and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 2003 and will co-operate with their Employer to enable him to carry out his health and safety duties under the Act. Failure to comply with health and safety duties, regulations, work rules and procedures regarding health and safety, on the part of any employee, may lead to dismissal in the case of serious breaches or repeated breaches; such dismissal may be instant and without prior warning.

In accordance with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, the Authority has instituted a system for reporting accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the Health and Safety Executive, in addition to its statutory duty to provide an Accident Book.

The Authority will comply with its duties towards employees under the Health and Safety at Work Act (as applied to the Isle of Man) and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 2003, so far as is reasonably practicable, in order to:

• Provide and maintain plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health, a safe place of work, a safe system of work.
• Ensure the safety and absence of risks to health in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances.
• Provide such information, instruction, training and supervision as may be necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of its employees.
• Make regular risk assessments available to employees.
• Take appropriate preventive/protective measures.
• Provide employees with health surveillance where necessary.
• Appoint competent personnel to secure compliance with statutory duties and to undertake reviews of the policy as necessary.

This policy has been prepared in compliance with Section 3, Part 1 of the Health and Safety at Work Order 1995 and binds all Commissioners, Managers and Employees, in the interests of Employees, Clients and General Public affected by the Authorities undertakings. We request that our Customers and Visitors respect this Policy, a copy of which can be obtained on demand.