Health and Safety Charter

Appendix 2 – Health and Safety Charter

[ Church name ] church

Health and safety charter

Purpose

This Charter sets out the framework for health and safety governance at [ CHURCH NAME ] Church and defines the roles and responsibilities of the Health and Safety Committee (if established) or equivalent health and safety management arrangements.

Scope

This Charter covers all church activities, facilities, staff, volunteers, and visitors.

Health and Safety Committee Composition (if applicable)

The Health and Safety Committee shall consist of: - Chair (appointed by Church Leadership) - Health and Safety Champion - Senior Pastor or designated representative - Staff representative - Volunteer representative - Elder/Board representative - Additional members as necessary.

Roles and Responsibilities

Committee Chair: Lead committee meetings and ensure they run smoothly; report to Church Leadership on health and safety issues; ensure committee recommendations are implemented.

Committee Members: - Actively participate in committee meetings and activities. Represent the interests of their respective groups. Communicate health and safety information to their constituencies. Assist with the implementation of health and safety initiatives.

Meeting Frequency

The Committee will meet: - At least quarterly - Following any serious incident - When there are significant changes to operations - Whenever otherwise necessary

Committee Functions

The Committee will:

  1. Policy and Planning
    • Review and recommend health and safety policies
    • Develop annual health and safety improvement plans
    • Set health and safety objectives and targets
  2. Risk Management
    • Review risk assessments and hazard identification processes
    • Monitor the effectiveness of control measures
    • Recommend improvements to risk management processes
  3. Incident Management
    • Review incident reports and investigation findings
    • Identify trends and recommend preventive measures
    • Monitor implementation of corrective actions
  4. Training and Communication
    • Identify training needs and recommend training programs
    • Develop health and safety communication strategies
    • Promote health and safety awareness throughout the church
  5. Monitoring and Review
    • Monitor health and safety performance indicators
    • Conduct regular reviews of the health and safety management system
    • Recommend continuous improvement initiatives

Authority

The Committee has the authority to: - Access all areas of church facilities for inspection purposes; - Request information and reports on health and safety matters; - Make recommendations to Church Leadership;

  • Establish sub-committees or working groups as required.

Reporting

The Committee will: - Keep minutes of all meetings - Provide quarterly reports to Church Leadership - Report immediately on any serious health and safety concerns - Prepare an annual health and safety report

Resources

Church Leadership will provide: - Adequate time for committee members to carry out their duties - Access to relevant information and expertise - Financial resources for approved health and safety initiatives - Administrative support as required.

Review

This Charter will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to ensure it remains effective and relevant.

Charter Approved by:

Signed: ___________________________ Date: _______________

Name: ___________________________

Position: Chair of Elders / Board Chair

Date of Issue: _______________

Next Review Date: _______________

Version: 1.0

All policies