Health &
Safety Policy

Statement of intent

Slowdutch Studio Limited is committed to ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all its employees, directors, contractors, and any other persons who may be affected by its activities.

As a small technology consultancy with two members of staff operating on a fully remote basis, we recognise that our primary working environment is the home office. We take our responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and associated regulations seriously, and will ensure that appropriate measures are in place to protect the wellbeing of our team.

This policy will be reviewed annually or following any significant change to our operations.

Responsibilities

Director (policy owner)

The Director of Slowdutch Studio Limited takes overall responsibility for health and safety within the organisation. This includes:

• Ensuring this policy is implemented, communicated, and reviewed
• Conducting or commissioning risk assessments as required
• Ensuring that any equipment provided to staff is safe and fit for purpose
• Responding promptly to any health and safety concerns raised by staff
• Maintaining appropriate insurance cover including Employers Liability insurance (£10,000,000)

All staff

All members of staff are expected to:

• Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others
• Follow safe working practices and any guidance issued by the Director
• Report any health and safety concerns, incidents or near-misses to the Director promptly
• Use any equipment provided in accordance with instructions and training given
• Not misuse or interfere with anything provided for health and safety purposes

Remote working arrangements

Slowdutch Studio Limited operates on a fully remote basis. All staff work from home. The following measures are in place to protect staff health and safety in their home working environment.

Display Screen Equipment (DSE)

• All staff are provided with or reimbursed for appropriate DSE equipment including monitor, keyboard, and mouse
• DSE assessments are completed for each member of staff and reviewed annually or following any change in working arrangements
• Staff are encouraged to take regular breaks from screen-based work in accordance with the DSE Regulations 1992

Workstation setup

• Staff are supported in setting up an ergonomically appropriate workstation at home
• Guidance on correct posture, chair height, monitor positioning, and lighting is provided to all staff
• Any equipment identified as necessary following a DSE assessment will be provided by the company

Mental health and wellbeing

• The Director maintains regular contact with all staff to monitor workload and wellbeing
• Staff are encouraged to maintain clear boundaries between working and non-working hours
• Any concerns regarding stress, workload or mental health are treated confidentially and supportively

Electrical safety

• Staff are advised to ensure that home electrical systems and any company-provided equipment are maintained in good condition
• Any faulty equipment must be reported and removed from use immediately

Risk assessment

A general risk assessment has been completed covering the primary activities and working environment of Slowdutch Studio Limited. Key identified risks and controls include:

Risk assessments will be reviewed annually and following any incident or significant change to working practices.

Accidents and incidents

Although the risk of serious accident is low given the nature of our remote office-based work, the following procedure applies:

• All accidents, incidents and near-misses must be reported to the Director as soon as practicable
• A written record will be maintained of all reported incidents
• Where required under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013), incidents will be reported to the Health and Safety Executive

Emergency procedures

Staff working from home are responsible for familiarising themselves with the emergency procedures applicable to their home, including fire evacuation routes. The company will:

• Remind staff annually to test smoke alarms and maintain clear evacuation routes
• Ensure staff know how to contact emergency services

Insurance

Slowdutch Studio Limited holds the following insurance cover:

• Employers Liability Insurance: £10,000,000
• Public Liability Insurance: £5,000,000
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: £5,000,000

Certificates of insurance are available on request.

Consultation and communication

Given the small size of the organisation, health and safety matters are discussed directly between the Director and all staff. Staff are encouraged to raise any concerns at any time. This policy is made available to all staff and will be provided to clients and contracting authorities on request.

Review

This policy will be reviewed:

• Annually (next review: April 2027)
• Following any workplace incident
• Following any significant change to the nature or scale of our operations