Unit 3 - Getting It Right In the Leisure Industry

You are here: home > unit 3 > Safe Working Practices in the Leisure Industry

Overview

You need to understand why it is essential for an organisation to apply safe working practices. Failure to do this can result in a range of adverse consequences. You need to know the reasons for applying safe working practices and the consequences of not doing so for:
• the organisation, facility or event
• the staff
• the customers
• the environment.

You need to understand the key intentions and requirements of the most important laws affecting the industry, including the responsibilities of employers and employees.

You need to establish which laws are relevant to the leisure organisation that you are studying. These laws are:

Laws	Sources of evidence
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974	p62 Collins Leisure Studies
European Union directives on health and safety (covering health and safety management, work equipment safety, manual handling of loads, workplace conditions, personal protective equipment, display screen equipment)	p63-65 Collins Leisure Studies
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002	p66 Collins Leisure Studies
Working Time Regulations 1998
Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981	p68 Collins Leisure Studies
Children Act 1989	p70 Collins Leisure Studies
Data Protection Act 1998	p71 Collins Leisure Studies
Food Safety Act 1990	p70 Collins Leisure Studies
Fire Safety and Safety of Place of Sport Act 1987	p69 Collins Leisure Studies
Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975
Licensing Laws
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurence 1995 (RIDDOR)	p67 Collins Leisure Studeis

It is also important to understand the role of agencies that enforce the legislation, such as the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive, as well as local authorities. Health and safety law in the UK and the rest of Europe is now based on the principle of risk assessment. The onus is on the employers to assess health and safety hazards and risks, and then take appropriate measures to remove or control them. You need to understand the differences between hazards and risks, and how to ensure that these are minimised as far as possible.

Managers of all facilities and events must carry out risk assessments. You need to understand the risk assessment procedures and be aware of the most common hazards found in the leisure industry.

The key stages of a risk assessment include:
• identifying the hazards
• deciding who might be harmed and how
• evaluating the risks arising from the hazards
• proposing measures to eliminate or reduce risks to an acceptable level
• periodically reviewing the assessment and revising it if necessary.

Risk Assessment	Source of Information
Risk Assessment Terminology	p72 Collins Leisure Studies
Six Stages of Risk Assessment	p73-75 Collins Leisure Studies

It is important to remember that ensuring health and safety in the leisure workplace is a continuous process, needing the support and commitment of all working in the industry. You need to be aware of the need to regularly inspect facilities, train staff, implement health and safety legislation and codes of practice, budget for health and safety and deal with visitors and staff with special needs. You need to be able to identify these risks, present in all facilities and events, such as:
• violence to staff and/or visitors
• theft of property or money
• fraud
• sabotage
• accidental damage
• theft of information.

How will I be assessed?

Level 1 - Brief statements of the safe working practices in the chosen leisure organisation . Limited references to relevent laws and codes of practice. The handbook is limited and may contain ommisions.

Level 2 - Clear statements of the safe working practices in the chosen leisure organisation. Begins tounderstand how the relevant laws and codes of practice help to ensure the health, safety, security of staff and customers. Begins to show how to carry out a risk assessment. The handbook is clear with only a few errors or omissions.

Level 3 - Detailed knowledge and understanding of the safe working practices in the chosen leisure organisation.
Shows understanding of how these procedures, along with relevant laws and codes of practice, help to ensure the health, safety, security of staff and customers. Some appropriate advice on how to carry out an effective risk assessment. The handbook is easy to follow and reasonably detailed.

Level 4 - Well developed knowledge and understanding of the safe working practices in the chosen leisure organisation. Considerable understanding of how these procedures along with relevant laws and codes of practice help to ensure the health, safety, security of staff and customers. Full instructions on how to carry out an effective risk assessment. The handbook is appropriately presented, well developed and accurate.

Assignment

You are to produce a staff handbook for a newly appointed member of the management team dealing with issues arising from safe working practices in the leisure industry which affect the running of an organisation of your choice.

1. Produce an introduction to your handbook.

2. Provide an overview of the safe working practices in your chosen organisation. This could include an outline of Training for new staff, use of equipment, pregnancy, wet leisure supervision policy, use of ICT equipment (display screen equipment), safety meetings etc. How do these ensure the health, safety and secutiry of staff and customers.

3. Provide an overview of the safe working practice laws that apply to your organisation. For each of these explain the reasons for applying safe working practices and the consequences of not doing so for:

• the organisation, facility or event
• the staff
• the customers
• the environment

3. Health and safety law in the UK and the rest of Europe is now based on the principle of risk assessment. The onus is on the employers to assess health and safety hazards and risks, and then take appropriate measures to remove or control them. Provide an overview of this.

4. Explain what a risk assessment is, why it is important and provide full instructions as to how to complete one. You should also include examples of risk assessments.

5. It is important to remember that ensuring health and safety in the leisure workplace is a continuous process, needing the support and commitment of all working in the industry. Provide an outline to make the new member of staff aware of the need to regularly inspect facilities, train staff, implement health and safety legislation and codes of practice, budget for health and safety and deal with visitors and staff with special needs. You need to be able to identify these risks, present in all facilities and events, such as:
• violence to staff and/or visitors
• theft of property or money
• fraud
• sabotage
• accidental damage
• theft of information.

Learning Resources

What should be included in a leisure centre health and safety handbook? - Advice from Aberdeenshire Council