Health & Safety Policy

Introduction

Minhaj Institute Walsall ("we", "us", "our") is committed to providing a safe environment for everyone who visits our premises at 49 Woodwards Road, Alumwell, Walsall WS2 9RJ, whether for daily prayers, community events, educational programmes, or private venue hire.

This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety in line with our duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Our Policy Statement

Minhaj Institute Walsall recognises and accepts its responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment for all who use our premises. We are committed to:

• Providing and maintaining a safe place of worship, learning, and community gathering
• Identifying and managing risks to prevent accidents, injury, and ill health
• Ensuring adequate resources, training, and information are available to support health and safety
• Consulting with staff, volunteers, and the community on health and safety matters where appropriate
• Reviewing and improving our health and safety practices on an ongoing basis

Roles and Responsibilities

Trustees and Management Committee

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with our trustees and management committee, who ensure this policy is implemented, resourced, and reviewed regularly.

Designated Health & Safety Coordinator

We have appointed a member of staff to act as our Health & Safety Coordinator, responsible for day-to-day oversight of health and safety matters, including risk assessments, incident reporting, and liaison with emergency services where required.

Staff, Volunteers, and Hirers

All staff, volunteers, and anyone hiring our facilities are responsible for following this policy, taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others, and reporting any hazards, incidents, or near-misses promptly.

Risk Assessment

We carry out regular risk assessments of our premises and activities, in line with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, covering areas such as:

• General premises safety, including flooring, lighting, and access routes
• Capacity limits for our prayer hall and community spaces
• Kitchen and food handling areas used during community events
• Electrical equipment and portable appliance testing (PAT)
• Specific risks associated with large gatherings, such as Jumu'ah prayers or Eid celebrations
• Risks relating to children and vulnerable adults attending our programmes, in conjunction with our Safeguarding Policy

Risk assessments are reviewed annually, or sooner following any incident, change in use of our premises, or change in relevant legislation.

Fire Safety

We maintain a Fire Risk Assessment for our premises in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and take the following measures:

In the event of a fire, all visitors, worshippers, and hirers should follow posted evacuation instructions and proceed calmly to the designated assembly point. Do not use lifts and do not re-enter the building until instructed by a fire marshal or the fire service.

First Aid

We maintain first aid provisions appropriate to the size and use of our premises, including:

• Clearly located and stocked first aid kits
• Staff and volunteers trained in basic first aid where practicable
• A record of accidents and injuries maintained in our incident log

Health & Safety at Events and Gatherings

For community events, Jumu'ah prayers, and larger gatherings such as Eid celebrations, we take additional precautions:

• Monitoring occupancy against the maximum safe capacity of our prayer hall and community spaces
• Ensuring adequate stewarding is in place for larger events
• Maintaining clear access for emergency services at all times
• Providing appropriate crowd management for busy occasions such as Ramadan and Eid
• Ensuring food safety standards are followed where food is served during community gatherings

Health & Safety for Venue Hire

Anyone hiring our community hall or facilities is required to comply with our health and safety requirements, including:

• Not exceeding the maximum occupancy specified for the hired space
• Keeping fire exits and escape routes clear at all times
• Reporting any accidents, injuries, or hazards that occur during their booking
• Ensuring any equipment brought onto our premises is safe and, where applicable, has valid electrical safety certification
• Taking responsibility for the conduct and safety of their own guests or attendees

Full health and safety requirements for venue hire are provided in our booking terms at the time of confirmation.

Accessibility and Vulnerable Visitors

We are committed to ensuring our premises are as safe and accessible as possible for all visitors, including those with disabilities, older visitors, and children. This includes wheelchair access to our main prayer hall, accessible parking, and ground-floor facilities where possible.

Please refer to our separate Accessibility Statement for further information about the accessibility of our premises and website.

Incident Reporting

All accidents, injuries, near-misses, and hazards occurring on our premises should be reported to a member of staff or our Health & Safety Coordinator as soon as possible, and recorded in our incident log.

Where required, we will report certain incidents to the relevant authorities in accordance with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), which is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Policy Review

This Health & Safety Policy is reviewed annually by our trustees, or sooner following any significant incident, change in legislation, or change in the use of our premises.

Any updates to this policy will be published on this page with a revised "Last updated" date.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Health & Safety Policy, wish to report a hazard, or need to discuss safety arrangements for a venue booking, please contact us: