The basics of what Masajid & Madaris need to know Think about health and safety

What is health and safety…?

Everyone! The employer/Executive Committee/Trustees – overall responsibility for health and safety The chief executive – responsibility for implementing and managing the health and safety strategy and policy for the authority Line managers/Imams – day to day responsibility for themselves, their employees and others, including members of the public Employees – responsibility for themselves and others Who’s responsible for health and safety in your Masjid?

Because it is our duty... Legal Financial Moral (Islamic) Why think about health and safety?

A summary of the key pieces of legislation: The Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 The Regulatory (Fire Safety) Order 2005 The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2006 The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 The Equality Act 2010 The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 Food Safety Act 1990 Legal?

Every year in the UK, many lives are lost or ruined by accidents at work In a single recent year, there were 299,000 serious work accidents, including 233 deaths How many of these were in the community you’re responsible for? Legal?

Enforcement 551 cases were prosecuted by HSE 129 cases were prosecuted by Local authorities enforcement notices were issued by all enforcing authorities Legal?

In 2002, an outbreak of legionnaire’s disease at an arts and leisure centre run by Barrow led to seven deaths The Council was fined £125,000 plus £90,000 costs The design services manager was personally fined £15,000 The case of Barrow Borough Council

The judge said: “The failings... went all the way... to the top of the council in terms of its serving officers. It is likely they went beyond the officers to the councillors, because there is no evidence that there was proper attention given to health and safety within the borough” Council leader Bill Joughin admitted: “We had policies written on paper but... it was not part of the culture of the organisation, and there was no chain of command. We ticked all the boxes, but there was not a procedure which ensured it was all adhered to” The case of Barrow Borough Council

The latest information for health and safety cases shows: ■ In 2010/11p, HSE prosecuted 551 cases ■ Of these 551 cases, a conviction was secured against at least one offence in 517 cases (a conviction rate of 94%). ■ Duty holders found guilty of health and safety offences received fines totalling £18.6 million, giving average penalties on conviction of £35,938 per case. Financial?

■ In 2010/11, local authorities prosecuted 129 cases ■ Of these 129 cases, a conviction was secured against at least one offence in 125 cases (97% of all cases proposed). ■ Duty holders found guilty of health and safety offences received fines totalling £2.2 million, giving average penalties on conviction of £17,612 per case Financial?

“The Blood of a Muslim is worth more than the Ka’aba and it's surroundings.” (Sunan Ibn Majah) All living creatures including animals and plants have rights! Unjust treatment to animals and even plants is haraam in Islam! To remove harm from the path is considered sadaqah (charity)! “He will not enter Paradise from whose harm his neighbour is not safe.” (Muslim). “The best of companions with Allaah is the one who is best to his companion, and the best of neighbours with Him is the one who is best to his neighbour.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari in al-Adab al-Mufrad, 115) Moral?

“Worship Allaah and join none with Him (in worship); and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masaakeen (the poor), the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side…”[al-Nisaa’ 4:36] “Each of you is a caretaker, and each of you will be asked about your duty as a caretaker” "All of you are shepherds and each one is responsible for his flock. A leader of a people is a shepherd and responsible for them. A man is a shepherd over his family and is responsible for them. A woman is a shepherd over her husband's house and his children and she is responsible for them. And a servant is a guardian over his master's property and is responsible for it. So all of you are guardians and are responsible for your charges." (Bukhari) Moral?

1.Do I know enough about health and safety and the risks that people face in my Masjid? 2.Do I understand the health and safety issues in the service areas I’m involved with? 3.Has my Masjid set the right health and safety strategy and budget? 4.Do I show commitment to health and safety when I talk to people in the team? 5.Have any decisions I’ve made put people at risk? Ask yourself...

saves lives keeps people from harm improves morale saves money improves efficiency sends out a positive message to others, including service users, employees, contractors and service users sets a good example Getting health and safety right...

Policy Make sure your Masjid/Madrassah has a policy that: defines the structure of health and safety risk management says how it should function identifies the people who have specific roles and responsibilities is communicated to all employees is reviewed periodically How can you help to get health and safety right?

Management It’s recommended that your executive committee should: Ensure personnel have received appropriate training/supervision/information in line with their duties (competent) Adequate welfare facilities are provided Ensure safe systems of work are in active form and premises are also safe Consider emergency situations Risk Assessments are carried out and reviewed periodically Consult those likely to be affected for recommendations & ideas

Advice Make sure you and your Masjid/Madrassah get: the right advice from competent health and safety professionals sound occupational health advice How can you help to get health and safety right?

Training Training makes people safer and reduces accidents and incidents Everyone needs some form of health and safety training: elected members need to know their broad strategic responsibilities and recognise the resources needed managers and supervisors need training to help them plan work safely and understand the implications if they don’t ‘frontline’ employees need basic training, eg on safe systems of work How can you help to get health and safety right?

Sensible risk management … isn’t about: stopping activities for trivial reasons and where the risks have been assessed generating useless paperwork creating a totally risk-free environment scaring people by exaggerating trivial risks How can you help to get health and safety right?

Sensible risk management … is about: protecting workers and the public balancing benefits and risks – reducing risks that have serious consequences and those that come up more often making sure that those who create risks manage them responsibly helping people understand that, as well as having a right to protection, they have to take responsibility for themselves and others How can you help to get health and safety right?

Slips, Trips and Falls (Wudhu area, shoes area etc.) Fire Safety Asbestos Safeguarding children Safeguarding Teachers/Imams? Waste management Food Safety What can YOU do about these issues? What are the major health and safety issues in your Masjid?

Health and safety is part of everything you do Health and safety is relevant to every department in your Masjid, and to every activity! Remember…

Majid Waris LLB (Hons), AIIRSM, TechIOSH Telephone: Website: Free guidance documents Free advice Exclusive rates for all other services - FOR MASAJID/MADARIS ONLY! WARIS CONSULTING