The health and safety policy explains how NHS Essex ICB protects the health, safety and wellbeing of its staff, Board members, contractors, visitors and others affected by its activities. The policy sets out the responsibilities, arrangements and standards in place to create a safe working environment, including fire safety, first aid and manual handling.
For more information, read the full policy by downloading the accessible Word document at the end of this page.
Who the policy applies to
This health and safety policy applies to:
- Essex Integrated Care Board members
- all staff, including temporary, bank, agency, voluntary and work experience staff
- contractors working on behalf of NHS Essex
- staff from partner organisations involved in ICB committees and groups
- visitors to NHS Essex premises
The policy applies to both office-based and home-based working.
Purpose of the health and safety policy
This policy helps NHS Essex to:
- comply with health and safety legislation
- provide a safe and healthy working environment
- prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health
- promote staff wellbeing
- identify and manage workplace risks
- support safe working practices across the organisation
- encourage learning from incidents and near misses
Health and safety responsibilities
Everyone has a role in supporting the Health and Safety Policy.
The Board and senior leaders are responsible for ensuring effective health and safety arrangements are in place.
Managers are responsible for identifying risks, supporting staff and ensuring appropriate training is completed.
All staff are responsible for taking reasonable care of their own health and safety, following policies and procedures, completing mandatory training and reporting concerns, incidents and near misses.
Managing health and safety risks
NHS Essex carries out risk assessments to identify hazards and reduce risks to staff, visitors and others.
Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and cover areas such as:
- office environments
- home working
- fire safety
- manual handling
- display screen equipment (DSE)
- lone working
- workplace security
- health and wellbeing
Workplace safety
The health and safety policy includes arrangements to ensure:
- safe access to workplaces
- suitable heating, lighting and ventilation
- clean welfare facilities
- safe work equipment
- workplace inspections
- emergency procedures and business continuity arrangements
- support for staff working from home
Fire safety
Fire safety is an important part of the Health and Safety Policy.
NHS Essex works with landlords and building managers to maintain fire safety systems and evacuation procedures.
The organisation appoints and trains Fire Marshals, carries out regular fire drills and provides support for staff who may require assistance during an evacuation through Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs).
First aid
The health and safety policy sets out arrangements for first aid across NHS Essex premises.
This includes:
- first aid equipment and supplies
- trained first aiders
- access to defibrillators
- emergency response arrangements
Manual handling
The policy aims to reduce the risk of injury caused by lifting, carrying, pushing or moving loads.
Where manual handling activities cannot be avoided, risk assessments and appropriate training are provided.
Health and wellbeing
NHS Essex is committed to supporting both physical and mental wellbeing.
Support includes:
- occupational health services
- mental health first aiders
- employee assistance programmes
- stress management arrangements
- workplace adjustments where required
Reporting incidents
All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported in line with the incident reporting policy.
Investigating incidents helps the organisation learn lessons, improve safety and prevent similar incidents from happening again.
Policy review
This policy was approved on 1 April 2026 and is due for review in April 2027.
For more information, read the full health and safety policy by downloading the accessible Word document below.