Health & Safety at Equerapy is taken very seriously, as such we strive to meet and where possible exceed standards. To ensure we do this we:

Hold public liability insurance to £10 million

Assess risk & goals either directly or indirectly

Where applicable require all independent consultants hold their own public liability insurance to £2 million

Those providing services at Equerapy hold where applicable an up to date enhanced DBS checks and appropriate training

Ensure that a qualified First Aider is on site

Can provide a safety hat

Ensure that we attend regular training & CPD

Work on an appointment basis only

Equerapy so far as reasonably practicable:

Regularly reviews health, safety and welfare risks arising from its activities

Maintains safe & healthy working environment & conditions

Provides & maintains safe areas of work & equipment

Ensures, where applicable, safe storage, use and handling of substances

Provides information, instruction, and supervision for people regarding health and safety

Ensures all people and volunteers are competent to do their tasks and to provide them with adequate training

Prevents and/or minimisers as far as is reasonably practicable all accidents and cases of work-related ill health

Regularly reviews and revises this policy as necessary

Health & Safety Responsibilities:

Kai Manchester is responsible for all health & safety matters at Equerapy including:

Acting on health & safety concerns

Investigating breaches of health & safety policy & procedures

Monitoring compliance with health & safety procedures

Training:

Health & safety awareness and training is ongoing at Equerapy and part of everyday activities. Whilst at Equerapy we explain why we do the things in the way that we do to keep animals and people safe and healthy

Vehicles:

May be parked at Equerapy (never left at the front gate) when visiting Equerapy

On entering and leaving the main gate to Equerapy please ensure that no loose animals leave the premises and that the main gate is closed before opening the second gate down to Equerapy and vice versa

Whilst can be parked at Equerapy it is acknowledged that machinery is operated, and animals run free

Must always be driven slowly and with utmost care, while not exceeding 10 mph speed limit when onsite

Whilst can be parked at Equerapy during your visit, parking a vehicle is entirely at your own risk and you always need to be aware of people and animals

People/Equerapy team members/Volunteers:

Are responsible for keeping themselves safe and for the protection of colleagues, clients and any visitors to Equerapy

Understand that they should (and should outline to clients and any visitors to Equerapy) always wear gloves to protect their hands, safety hat to protect their head, hard-soled, fully enclosed shoes or boots and socks to protect feet and long trousers to protect legs while working around or interacting with horses at Equerapy

Surfaces are uneven at Equerapy so care should always be taken that the appropriate footwear is worn, and attention made when walking around Equerapy

Always supervise clients and visitors at Equerapy making sure that areas out of bounds such as the muck heap, areas where medication is stored, equipment the track unless and until supervised are maintained as restricted

Should never be distracted with phones, music or any other distraction impairing vision and/or hearing when amongst the Equerapy herd of horses so that hearing and/or vision is impaired not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol when present with the Equerapy herd of horses

Horses/Animals:

Must not participate in any equine facilitated learning, walk and talk sessions unless and until they have been assessed by Equerapy and passed as being of good temperament, in good condition and suitable. Only suitably trained staff and volunteers should be present and handle them

Visitors to Equerapy must not go onto the horse track system at any time unless accompanied or expressly authorized to do so by Equerapy. The Equerapy herd of horses are managed and cared for daily, brought into the yard areas for feeds and checks and clients/visitors to Equerapy are asked to be respectful of the needs whilst at Equerapy

The Equerapy herd of horse’s routine is that of hay distribution, horse checks, feeds and poo picking throughout the day until into the evening. Horses are brought in for routine checks and feeding. There may be times when other professionals may need to be present at Equerapy and/or deliveries of for example hay and/or feed may occur

There is a no smoking/vaping policy at Equerapy

All gates that are shut are to be kept shut

Equerapy operates electric fencing on a mains system, please Do Not touch/tamper with any fencing without consulting Equerapy

Please make sure all lights are turned off after use

Litter is to be placed in designated bins only or taken with you

No dogs except resident dogs are allowed at Equerapy. Please Do Not touch or permit anyone else to open up the dog area of the resident dogs

Photography:

Is not generally permitted at Equerapy

Please ask if you do wish to take photographs

Please respect the Equerapy brand which belongs to Equerapy, other participants of events and individuals

Photographs that are taken with the consent of Equerapy and/or of Equerapy herd of horses must always make reference to respectively Equerapy and/or Equerapy herd of horses

Accidents:

All accidents and near misses immediately must be notified to Equerapy and reported in the Accident and Incident Book and signed as required. This is an important document and must be retained in the Equerapy office even if it has been replaced by a new book. Serious incidents must be reported in accordance with RIDDOR.

Fire Drill:

All people, volunteers, clients and visitors to Equerapy will be instructed on procedures in cases of fire. This is to include the location of fire assembly points, use of different types of fire extinguishers (where applicable), fire alarm method, evacuation plan for both humans, horses and other animals, location of main water stop tap, electrical supplies and land line telephone.

Covid 19:

All people, volunteers, clients and visitors to Equerapy must maintain social distancing rules per government guidelines 2 meters. When indoors all people unless exempt must wear face coverings. There are hand sanitizing facilities on site, should you feel unwell you should not attend appointments or enter the site. When indoors windows will be open to circulate air and surfaces will be disinfected every hour and between clients. There is a First Aider on site and your practitioner has been vaccinated against covid 19.