SAFETY UPDATE

01/06/14 |

Safety Update

FROM STEVE GANDY
HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGER (Merseyside and Greater Manchester)
June 2014

Hi All,

I hope you are enjoying the Hot Weather, whilst it is pleasing to finally have a summer, long may it continue at Least until August…

During my inspections and answering some questions posed, it would appear we are making the most of this hot spell with an increasing number of calls relating to Barbecue safety.

Barbecues are fine whilst supporting people and forms part of positive risk taking so as to ensure people we support are included in as many activities as possible this summer. However they are not without their hazards. Hence together with ensuring you adhere to the good practice note attached and give due consideration to the obvious hazards of the sun and provide plenty of fluids, sun cream, hats and a cover up policy, we can look forward to those sunny days ahead ( fingers crossed).

Could you please give some consideration to the use of these types of cheap barbecues, whilst they are convenient they don’t offer the same protection as the more robust stand up type.

I would recommend that a more robust type is purchased with legs and a hood. They are also very cheap and will be more cost effective to the people we support if used more than once.

Steve