Health and Safety Policy

Stage Door Studios and Academy CIC

Policy Title: Health and Safety Policy
Applies To: All staff, volunteers, contractors, visitors, service users, children, young people, vulnerable adults, and members of the public using the premises and services of Stage Door Studios and Academy CIC
Policy Owner: Directors of Stage Door Studios and Academy CIC
Approved By: Board of Directors
Directors: Joseph Edwards, Holly Williams, Kylie Ferguson, Zara Bowden
Effective From: April 2026
Review Date: April 2027 (and annually thereafter)

1. Statement of Intent

Stage Door Studios and Academy CIC is committed to ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, welfare, and safeguarding of all employees, volunteers, contractors, visitors, children, young people, vulnerable adults, and members of the public using our facilities and services.

This policy is established in accordance with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and reflects our duty to provide a safe and healthy environment for everyone who enters or uses our premises.

As an organisation working closely with children, young people, families, and vulnerable adults, health and safety is inseparable from safeguarding and wellbeing. This policy operates alongside our Safeguarding, Child Protection, Fire Safety, First Aid, Equality and Diversity, and Lone Working policies.

Stage Door Studios and Academy CIC will:

• Provide and maintain a safe environment for all users of the venue

• Prevent accidents, injuries, illness, abuse, neglect, and foreseeable harm

• Carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments

• Ensure safe systems of work and effective supervision

• Provide training, information, and instruction to staff and volunteers

• Maintain safe equipment, facilities, and emergency procedures

• Promote a culture of vigilance, accountability, and continuous improvement

2. Legal Framework

This policy is informed by the following legislation and guidance:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002

• Children Act 1989

• Children Act 2004

• Care Act 2014

• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

• Working Together to Safeguard Children

• Relevant Local Authority Safeguarding Procedures

3. Responsibilities

3.1 Directors

The Directors of Stage Door Studios and Academy CIC — Joseph Edwards, Holly Williams, Kylie Ferguson, and Zara Bowden — are responsible for:

• Ensuring legal compliance with all health and safety obligations

• Approving and reviewing this policy annually

• Allocating sufficient resources for health and safety management

• Ensuring suitable insurance cover is in place

• Appointing a competent person responsible for health and safety oversight

• Monitoring accidents, incidents, safeguarding concerns, and compliance

3.2 Designated Health and Safety Lead

The appointed Health and Safety Lead will:

• Conduct and review risk assessments

• Monitor the safety of premises and facilities

• Ensure accident and incident reporting is completed

• Investigate accidents and near misses

• Coordinate fire safety and emergency planning

• Ensure first aid provision is adequate

• Work closely with safeguarding leads where risks overlap

3.3 Staff and Volunteers

All staff and volunteers must:

• Take reasonable care for their own safety and the safety of others

• Follow all policies and safe working procedures

• Report hazards, accidents, near misses, and concerns immediately

• Maintain professional boundaries with children and vulnerable adults

• Attend required training and supervision sessions

• Never ignore safeguarding, welfare, or health concerns

3.4 Visitors, Contractors and Hirers

All visitors, contractors, and external hirers must:

• Follow site rules and staff instructions

• Sign in and out where required

• Not access restricted areas without permission

• Report hazards immediately

• Provide appropriate insurance documentation and risk assessments where required

4. Area-Specific Safety Arrangements

4.1 Dance Studio

Risks include slips, trips, falls, injury during movement, manual handling, equipment hazards, and safeguarding concerns.

Control measures include:

• Floor inspections before every session

• Appropriate footwear and clothing guidance

• Safe supervision ratios for children and young people

• No unsupervised access for minors

• Safe storage of props and equipment

• Maintenance of mirrors, lighting, flooring, and ventilation

• Injury reporting procedures

• Qualified instructors and approved session leaders only

4.2 Café Space

Risks include burns, food hygiene hazards, allergies, slips, sharp objects, and lone working.

Control measures include:

• Compliance with food hygiene regulations

• Allergy awareness procedures and signage

• Immediate spill management

• Safe use of kitchen and catering equipment

• Restricted access to preparation and hot food areas

• Cleaning schedules and hygiene monitoring

• Appropriate temperature controls where required

• Food safety training for relevant staff

4.3 Toilets and Welfare Areas

Risks include slips, hygiene concerns, safeguarding risks, vandalism, and accessibility issues.

Control measures include:

• Regular cleaning and inspection logs

• Appropriate safeguarding monitoring procedures

• Disabled access compliance

• Safe disposal of waste and sharps where applicable

• Prompt repair of faults and damage

4.4 Production Studio

Risks include electrical hazards, cables, sound and lighting equipment, noise exposure, lone working, and misuse of specialist equipment.

Control measures include:

• PAT testing and routine equipment inspections

• Restricted access to authorised users only

• Safe cable management

• Supervised use by children and young people

• Noise level monitoring where appropriate

• Secure storage of technical equipment

• Lone working controls and access restrictions

5. Safeguarding and Welfare

Because Stage Door Studios and Academy CIC works with children, young people, and vulnerable adults:

• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility

• All concerns must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

• Staff and volunteers must hold appropriate DBS clearance where required

• No adult should work alone with a child without approved safeguarding procedures

• Physical intervention must only occur where lawful, necessary, and proportionate

• Confidentiality must be maintained appropriately

• Visitors must never be left unsupervised with children or vulnerable adults

Health and safety and safeguarding must always work together.

6. Risk Assessments

Written risk assessments will be completed for:

• Premises and facilities

• Activities and workshops

• Performances and events

• Trips and external visits

• Lone working

• Contractors and venue hirers

• Work involving vulnerable groups

• Fire and emergency evacuation

Risk assessments will be reviewed:

• Annually

• Following accidents or incidents

• After significant operational changes

• When concerns are raised

7. Fire Safety and Emergencies

Stage Door Studios and Academy CIC will ensure:

• Fire alarms are maintained and tested regularly

• Fire exits remain clear and accessible at all times

• Fire extinguishers are serviced and inspected

• Evacuation plans are clearly displayed

• Fire drills are carried out regularly

• Staff understand assembly points and evacuation procedures

• Emergency contact details are accessible

8. First Aid and Accidents

We will provide:

• Adequate trained first aiders

• Clearly marked and stocked first aid kits

• Accident and incident reporting systems

• Emergency contact procedures for children and young people

• RIDDOR reporting where legally required

All accidents, injuries, near misses, and safeguarding incidents must be recorded and reviewed.

9. Manual Handling

Staff must:

• Avoid unnecessary lifting

• Use correct handling techniques

• Seek assistance where required

• Use suitable equipment where available

Children and young people must never be asked to undertake unsafe lifting or movement of equipment.

10. Lone Working

Lone working must be risk assessed and may apply to:

• Opening and closing the venue

• Evening rehearsals and sessions

• Production studio access

• Café operations

• Cleaning and maintenance duties

Control measures include:

• Check-in and check-out procedures

• Access to emergency contacts

• No isolated one-to-one work with minors unless approved

• Clear escalation procedures for concerns or incidents

11. Training

Mandatory training includes:

• Health and Safety induction

• Fire safety

• First aid awareness

• Safeguarding and child protection

• Manual handling

• Food hygiene (where applicable)

• Role-specific equipment and venue training

Refresher training will be provided regularly and recorded appropriately.

12. Monitoring and Review

This policy will be:

• Reviewed annually every April

• Reviewed immediately following serious incidents

• Updated following legal, operational, or safeguarding changes

Failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action, termination of volunteer placement, exclusion from the premises, or further legal action where appropriate.

Approved by the Directors of Stage Door Studios and Academy CIC:

• Joseph Edwards

• Holly Williams

• Kylie Ferguson

• Zara Bowden

Approval Date: April 2026

Next Review Date: April 2027