Gasóga na hÉireann / Scouting Ireland
Category: Project Team – Terms of Reference
Corporate Services Department : Safety Advisory Team
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Description
The ‘Safety Advisory Team’ will be a project team serving Scouting Ireland within the Corporate Services Department. This team will support the overall planning and development of safety management in line with the Scouting Ireland Strategic Plan. Individuals can apply through an open call. A Project Team Lead will be appointed by the Core Team and will lead this Project Team.
Duration of Term
Project Team duration: 3 years
Commencing: 1st June 2024
Termination: 31st May 2026
There will be open calls for this team, with the open call for 2025/ 2026 planned for April 2024.
Aims of the Team
The ‘Safety Advisory Team’ aims are as follows:
• Act as the ‘Competent Person’ within its meaning in safety legislation in Ireland and Northern Ireland
• Compile and maintain a safety risk register and advise the CEO or delegated representative and the Health and safety subcommittee (or other appropriate committee) of both the top and elevated enterprise risks to safety and health in Scouting Ireland.
• Develop proposals and policies on how to promote all aspects of safety for both the professional staff and volunteers in Scouting Ireland.
• Advise the CEO on all insurance related matters, including insurance cover for its members, properties and activities.
• Assess the activities referred in writing by Campsites, Facilities, Programme and Provincial, National and International Events from a safety risk or insurance related point of view and advise accordingly on how to manage the risks arising
• Propose, develop and review procedures for reporting accidents/incidents and for follow up investigations and evaluations.
• Review incident reports received by the National Office and propose any changes required to guidelines or procedures, which would avoid recurrence.
Review Safety in Activity Guidelines in conjunction with the Programme Services Department, and any other relevant department.
Review Safety in Premises Guidelines in conjunction with the National Centres Manager, and any other relevant department.
• Identify training needs of Scouters with regard to Safety Risk Management policies in conjunction with the Volunteer Resource Management and Group Support Department.
• Assess any decision-making options available to the Board of Directors from Safety Risk Management aspects where such matters are referred to it for comment/assessment or when it becomes aware of potential safety risks.
Accountability
The members of the Safety Advisory team are accountable for full compliance with the statutory provisions as Competent Person as defined in Health and Safety legislation.
All persons on the ‘Safety Advisory Team’ will be accountable to the CEO or their delegate, through the Project Team Lead.
All members of the team must adhere to the Project Team Code of Conduct and will receive a Letter of Appointment.
Reviews
An annual report and review should be submitted to the CEO within 6 weeks of a new calendar year.
Assigned Duties
1. Planning, implementing and monitoring of the Scouting Ireland Safety Risk Management plan which supports the Scouting Ireland strategy
2. Contributing to the Scouting Ireland Risk Register with respect to safety
CSD-TOR-07 Safety Advisor Team
3. Act as the ‘Competent Person’ as defined in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work act 2005 (Irl) as amended or substituted, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (SI 388) as amended or substituted.
4. Maintain a watching brief for the latest health and safety developments, best practices, and other opportunities relevant to Scouting Ireland
5. Give due consideration to laws and regulations and the provision of any relevant Code as appropriate, in both jurisdictions.
6. When requested, advise on the safety management requirements for the management of National Scout Centres, events and activities
7. Make whatever recommendations to the Board (or CEO) it deems appropriate on any area within its remit where action or improvement is needed
8. The SAT may be authorised by the Board to obtain, at the company’s expense, outside legal or other professional advice on any matters within its terms of reference in compliance with company financial handbook
9. Safety matters that require immediate action will be reported to the CEO Any safety concerns which have not been dealt with effectively by the CEO will be referred to the Board directly should the concern persist
10. Meet at least annually with the insurance brokers for Scouting Ireland in order to review policies, claims and procedures and plan for the future management of risks in Scouting Ireland. Meet with the Insurance Company to review outstanding claims.
11. Other duties that may arise relevant to this project team
Meetings
Project Teams will meet a minimum six times a year. Members of the management Team may attend in an advisory capacity.
Additional Information
• Meetings may be conducted via teleconferencing platform and in person as appropriate
• Project roles and team structure will be defined by these terms of reference
• In consultation and by agreement with the Project Team t he CEO may request additional duties to be assigned to the Project Team
• In consultation and by agreement with the Project Team t he terms of reference can be subject to change by the CEO
• Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed for expenditure incurred in carrying out these roles
• The Scouting Ireland Financial Handbook must be adhered to
• All individuals appointed will be required to complete and agree to a verification process
• The work of the project team must support Scouting Ireland’s Strategy
• The work of the project team must not compromise Scouting Irelands risk register
• The work of the project team must be in line with good governance
Measurables
• Contribute to the Scouting Ireland Risk Register with respect to safety risks
Safety Advisor Team
• Prepare an annual report. The report shall describe the activities of the Safety Advisory Team for the preceding year, a summary of safety performance for Scouting Ireland, details of any significant incidents, risks or trends, and any other matters that are deemed relevant.
• Provide a summary of recommendation with details of actions completed with respect to these recommendations
Apply
Please click HERE to apply.
Competent Person (ROI)
Safety, health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. 18. (1) ... an employer shall, for the purpose of complying with the relevant statutory provisions, appoint one or more competent persons to perform such functions as are specified by the employer, relating to the protection from and the prevention of risks to safety, health and welfare at work.
(3) Every employer shall
(a) ensure that
(i) the number of persons appointed, and (ii) the time available to them and the means at their disposal to perform their functions under this section, are adequate having regard to the size of the place of work, the risks to which employees are exposed and the distribution of those risks in the place of work, and
(b) make arrangements for ensuring adequate co-operation between those persons and safety representatives (if any) appointed under section 25 whenever necessary.
(4) Where there is a competent person in the employer's employment, that person shall be appointed for the purposes of this section in preference to a competent person who is not in his or her employment except where the knowledge and experience of the person first referred to is not adequate or appropriate to the functions conferred by this section.
(5) An employer shall provide the competent person appointed under this section who is not in his or her employment with the following information:
(a) the factors known by the employer to affect, or suspected by the employer of affecting, the safety, health and welfare of his or her employees;
(b) the risks to safety, health and welfare and the protective and preventive measures and activities in respect of the place of work and the work carried out there;
(c) the measures for the evacuation of employees and other persons to be taken under section 11 , including the employees designated to implement the plans and measures referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of that section; and
(d) such reasonable information about any person in the place of work concerned who is a fixed-term employee or a temporary employee as is necessary to enable the competent person to perform his or her functions under this section
Competent Person (NI)
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000
Health and safety assistance
7. (1) Every employer shall, subject to paragraphs (6) and (7), appoint one or more competent persons to assist him in undertaking the measures he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed upon him by or under the relevant statutory provisions.
(2) Where an employer appoints persons in accordance with paragraph (1), he shall make arrangements for ensuring adequate co-operation between them.
(3) The employer shall ensure that the number of persons appointed under paragraph (1), the time available for them to fulfil their functions and the means at their disposal are adequate having regard to the size of his undertaking, the risks to which his employees are exposed and the distribution of those risks throughout the undertaking.
(4) The employer shall ensure that
(a)any person appointed by him in accordance with paragraph (1) who is not in his employment
(i)is informed of the factors known by him to affect, or suspected by him of affecting, the health and safety of any other person who may be affected by the conduct of his undertaking, and
(ii)has access to the information referred to in regulation 10; and
(b)any person appointed by him in accordance with paragraph (1) is given such information about any person working in his undertaking who is
(i)employed by him under a fixed-term contract of employment, or
(ii)employed in an employment business, as is necessary to enable that person properly to carry out the function specified in that paragraph.
(5) A person shall be regarded as competent for the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (8) where he has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable him properly to assist in undertaking the measures referred to in paragraph (1).