THINQTANQ HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY (V2)

Version 2.0 - reviewed and consolidated

Effective from: 10/10/2026 Reviewed annually.

1. Policy statement

THINQTANQ Plymouth Ltd recognises and accepts its health and safety duties, so far as is reasonably practicable, for providing a safe and healthy working environment for all its members, workers (paid or volunteer), visitors and contractors, under:

the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
other relevant legislation and common law duties of care

Throughout this policy, terms such as "members", "staff", "workers" and "employees" include both paid and volunteer workers. It is the policy of THINQTANQ Plymouth Ltd to promote the health, safety and welfare of all members, volunteers, staff and visitors to the premises ("the Premises"), and to that end to:

1. Take all reasonably practicable steps to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of all members and personnel on the Premises.

2. Provide adequate working conditions with proper facilities to safeguard health and safety, and ensure that any work undertaken produces no unnecessary risk to health or safety.

3. Encourage everyone on the Premises to co-operate in all safety matters, in identifying hazards and in reporting any condition that may appear dangerous or unsatisfactory.

4. Ensure the provision and maintenance of plant, equipment and systems of work that are safe.

5. Maintain safe arrangements for the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances.

6. Provide sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision to enable everyone to avoid hazards and contribute to their own safety and health.

7. Provide specific information, instruction, training and supervision to personnel with particular health and safety responsibilities.

8. Make, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe arrangements for protection against any risk to the health and safety of the public or other persons arising from our activities.

9. Make suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of employees and of persons not in our employment arising out of or in connection with our activities, including specific assessment of risks to new or expectant mothers and young people under the age of eighteen.

10. Provide information to other employers of any risks to which their workers on the Premises may be exposed.

This policy statement and/or the procedures for its implementation may be altered at any time by the THINQTANQ management team. The statement and procedures are reviewed annually.

2. Duties and responsibilities

THINQTANQ Plymouth Ltd

We will comply with our duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of our workers and of visitors to the Premises, and in general to:

Make workplaces safe and without risks to health.
Ensure plant and machinery are safe and that safe systems of work are set and followed.
Ensure articles and substances are moved, stored and used safely.
Give members, volunteers and workers the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary for their health and safety.

In particular, we will:

Assess the risks to the health and safety of members, volunteers and workers.
Make arrangements for implementing the health and safety measures identified by this assessment.
Record the significant findings of the risk assessment and the arrangements for health and safety measures.
Provide adequate first aid facilities.
Ensure that the workplace satisfies health, safety and welfare requirements, for example ventilation, temperature, lighting, and sanitary, washing and rest facilities.
Ensure that work equipment is suitable for its intended use as far as health and safety is concerned, and that it is properly maintained and used.
Prevent or adequately control exposure to substances that may damage health.
Take precautions against danger from flammable or explosive hazards, electrical equipment, noise and radiation.
Avoid hazardous manual handling operations and, where they cannot be avoided, reduce the risk of injury.
Ensure that appropriate safety signs are provided and maintained.
Report certain injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the appropriate health and safety enforcing authority (RIDDOR).

Members, volunteers and workers

Members, volunteers and employees also have legal duties, and THINQTANQ requests that all observe them. These include:

Taking reasonable care for their own health and safety, and that of other persons who may be affected by what they do or do not do.
Co-operating with the THINQTANQ management team on health and safety.
Using items provided by THINQTANQ correctly, including personal protective equipment, in accordance with training or instructions.
Not interfering with or misusing anything provided for health, safety and welfare purposes.

Visitors and contractors

On arrival, all visitors - including contractors and their workers - must sign in using the sign-in system provided and sign out before leaving. Visitors should either be familiar with the building or be under the direct supervision of a current member or member of staff, who takes responsibility for the visitor(s), assists in their evacuation from the building during an emergency, and arranges help in the event of an accident.

Contractors working in the building should report any concerns relating to their own safety or suspected unsafe working practices to the THINQTANQ team, who will investigate and remedy where appropriate.

3. General health and safety rules

All members, volunteers and workers must exercise ordinary care to avoid accidents in their activities at work, and comply with the following general rules and with any further rules THINQTANQ Plymouth Ltd may publish from time to time.

Fire precautions. All personnel must familiarise themselves with fire escape routes and procedures and follow the directions of THINQTANQ in relation to fire.
Safety clearways. Corridors and doorways must be kept free of obstructions and properly lit. All thoroughfares, exits and gates must be left clear at all times. Corridors and fire exits must not be blocked by furniture or equipment.
Maintenance. Defective equipment, furniture and structures must be reported without delay.
Alcohol, drugs and tobacco. Smoking within the Premises, and the use of drugs (except under medical supervision) on the Premises, are prohibited at all times.
Vehicles. Vehicles must not be parked near the building so as to cause any obstruction or hazard.
Portable equipment. All portable machinery must be switched off and unplugged when not in use. Wandering cables are a hazard; use with caution and safety in mind.
Portable appliance testing (PAT). Members are responsible for ensuring that any electrical equipment they bring onto the premises is safe and in good working order, and for complying with any PAT requirements notified by THINQTANQ. THINQTANQ may ask for evidence that equipment has been PAT tested and may arrange for testing of equipment on the premises. Equipment we reasonably consider unsafe must be disconnected and may be removed from the premises.
Reporting hazards. Hazards or suspected hazards, or any other health and safety matters, should be reported to the management team or a member of staff on site immediately, or as soon as practicable, so that action can be taken. If the hazard is of a serious nature, immediate action must be taken to protect or clear the area to prevent injury to members, staff or other users. If you think there is a hazard, please report it - better to be safe than sorry.

4. Lone working

THINQTANQ recognises the additional risks of working alone, particularly outside core hours. Members, volunteers and workers working at THINQTANQ outside core hours (for example after 5pm, at weekends or on bank holidays) when no THINQTANQ team member is present must:

sign in on arrival and sign out when they leave, using the sign-in system;
notify the team when they arrive and again when they leave, by email, WhatsApp or text, so that someone knows they are safe and accounted for;
follow the locking-up procedure if they are the last person to leave;
contact the team or the emergency services if they have an accident or feel unwell while working alone.

5. Fire safety arrangements

Fire drills

All members, workers and volunteers must know the fire procedures, the position of fire appliances and the escape routes.
The fire alarm system is tested by the management team every week (and not less than once per month), with the test entered in the log.
The last person securing the Premises will ensure Fire Prevention Close Down Checks are made of all parts of the building at the end of a session. This includes closing all windows and fire doors, and ensuring all appliances and lights that can be switched off are.

In the event of fire

Persons discovering a fire should sound the nearest alarm.
The first duty of all staff is to evacuate all people from the building by the nearest exit immediately the fire is discovered.
All persons must evacuate the building and, where possible without personal risk, leave all doors and windows closed.
The assembly point for the building is in the square outside and to the front of the building.
No one should leave the assembly point without the permission of a member of staff.
If any fire occurs, however minor, the Fire and Rescue Service must be called immediately by dialling 999 and asking for "Fire".
When the Fire and Rescue Service arrives, advise whether all persons are accounted for and the location of the fire.

*THINQTANQ Plymouth Limited. Registered in England and Wales, company number 08202834.*

Health and Safety Policy