Our Purpose

Policy Statement

ON THE USE OF THE HEREFORDSHIRE HEALTH AND SAFETY GROUP NAME AND THE PUBLICATION AND USE OF MEMBER ORGANISATIONS' NAMES AND CONTACT.

Formed in 1968, the Herefordshire Health and Safety Group is a voluntary / nonprofit making association of member organisations within Herefordshire; promoting health and safety initiatives, awareness and aims to raise the health and safety standards within those organisations. The Herefordshire Health and Safety Group is a member of the national Health and Safety Council, a registered charity and affiliated to RoSPA.

It is the policy of the Herefordshire Health and Safety Group (hereafter known as "the Group") as follows:

BUSINESS PROMOTION

1.1 The name of the Group shall NOT be used in any way for business promotion.

1.2 Any organisation who approaches members of the Group does so the direct endorsement of the Group. Such approaches must be on a business to business or person to person basis without using the name of the Group.

1.3 The Group is impartial and will not endorse business initiatives or products of a sales nature to further financial aspirations / gains. However the Group reserves the right to notify its members of health and safety improvements in equipment, plant, materials, procedures or information to their (the Members) benefit.

1.4 The Group seeks to discourage appointed guest speakers from obvious advertising

2. DISCOUNTS OR INDUCEMENTS

2.1 Should organisations wish to offer discounts or other inducements to members of the Group this shall be offered on a business to business basis without the involvement of the Group

3. ANNUAL PROGRAMME

3.1 The Group may print the following on the Annual Programme:

· Names, organization names and contact addresses and contact telephone numbers of Officers of the Group

· Names, organisation names and contact addresses and contact telephone numbers of Committee Members of the Group

· A list of all members of the group 9organisation names only)

· A list of Honorary Life Members of the Group (names only)

3.2 The Group will not release any other details regarding the Group’s membership other than those printed on the Annual Programme

4. CONTACT WITH MEMBERS

4.1 Officers, committee members or members of the Group will not release any addresses, telephone numbers, fax number, electronic mail addresses or other communicable identity without the consent of that organisation or person.

4.2 Enquiries specifically requesting contact with a member (or a person within that organisation) of the Group will be dealt with in the following manner:

4.3 Details of the enquirer will be passed to the member (or person within that organisation) of the Group for them to contact the enquirer (should they so wish).

5. HEALTH AND SAFETY INITIATIVES OR CAMPAIGNS

5.1 The Group will, when and where possible, support local and national health and safety initiatives or campaigns

1.         Title

            1.1       The Name of the group shall be “Herefordshire Health and Safety Group”.

1.2 It shall be an independent group affiliated to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) and the Safety Groups UK.

2. Objectives

The objectives of the group shall be:-

2.1 To promote interest in, and awareness of accident prevention among employers, employees, the self employed and the public within the group area, and to maintain the interest of the members in the study, application and improvement of accident prevention methods, occupational health and environmental protection.

2.2 To foster and to develop the spirit of co-operation between employer, employee and the self employed regarding health and safety and to encourage the establishment of active and efficient safety management in member’s activities, and the continuing professional development of individual safety practitioners.

2.3 To afford facilities for the pooling and dissemination of knowledge, for the study of the appropriate statutory requirements, for the reading of papers and the promotion of lectures and discussions and for such other activities as may tend to further the general objectives of the group.

3. Membership

3.1 Membership of the group shall be open to all industries and commercial organisations, the self employed and other interested organisations and persons within the area covered by the group. On the payment of the appropriate subscription fees the organisation, representative or individual will be registered as a member. At an extraordinary general meeting the committee may suspend any member who brings the group into disrepute.

3.2 The Executive Committee may from time to time elect any organisation who may become members without subscription.

3.3 The Executive Committee may from time to time elect any persons, who shall sign a written consent to their elections, to be Honorary members for life or for such other periods as the Executive Committee may determine. Honorary members shall be entitled to the rights of full membership.

3.4              As at 11^th April 2006, the following are Honorary members:-

NAME                                                                                     POST HELD

Mr T. O. Carr (MBE)                                                              President

Mr G. J. Young                                                                                   Secretary

Mr F. Parkin                                                                            Chairman

4. Subscriptions

4.1 The annual subscription per member shall be that determined and agreed at the Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.) payable after the A.G.M. The first subscription shall become due on the date of membership acceptance.

4.2 If any members subscription is in arrears the Treasurer/Membership Secretary shall send to that member a Notice and if within 30 days from the postage of such Notice, the arrears are not paid, the Committee may remove the organisation from membership. The Executive Committee may at their discretion, restore membership upon payment of subscriptions.

5. President

5.1 The President of the group will be appointed by the Executive Committee, and will server in an ex-officio capacity for a period of 2 years. The President may serve additional terms if re-appointed.

6. Officers

6.1 The group shall have the following Officers:-

Chairman

Vice – Chairman

Secretary

Treasurer & Membership Secretary

Committee Members

6.2 Officers shall be elected at the A.G.M. and must have agreed to stand for election.

6.3 Nominations for Officers will only be accepted from fully paid up individuals or representatives from fully paid up organisations.

7. Management

7.1 The group shall be managed by an Executive Committee composed of all Officers together with nominated representatives of members.

7.2 Four (4) members shall form a quorum including at least 2 officers.

7.3 The Executive Committee shall meet not less than twice in each year and shall have the power to co-opt any person whose knowledge may be useful to the group.

7.4 Executive Committee members will be elected at the A.G.M. and must have agreed to stand for election.

7.5 Nominations for Executive Committee members will only be accepted from fully paid up individuals or representatives from fully paid up organisations.

8. Representation on Other Bodies

8.1 Proposals for a group representative to serve on other committees, councils or official bodies/organisations will be considered by the Executive Committee.

8.2 If agreed by the Executive Committee the group representative will serve on that body in accordance with the terms of reference given to that person by the Executive Committee.

9. General Meetings

9.1 Annual General Meetings

The first A.G.M was held in May 1969 and in April of each succeeding year for the purpose of presenting the Annual report, Statements of Accounts, Election of Officers and Executive Committee and any other relevant business.

Two weeks notice, in writing, of this meeting must be given to each member of the Group, together with a copy of the Agenda.

9.2 Extraordinary General Meetings

An E.G.M. of the group shall be called by the Secretary within 21 days of receipt of a request signed by at least 10 members or at any time by the Executive Committee, together with the agenda.

After an agenda has been sent, an E.G.M. must consist of at least 25% of all members (this shall form a quorum).

10. Voting

10.1 General Meetings

Each member shall have one vote. The Chairman shall have a second or casting vote in the event of equality of votes.

10.2 Executive Committee Meetings

Each member of the Committee, except co-opted members, shall have one vote. The Chairman shall have a second or casting vote in the event of equality of votes.

11. Finance and Expenditure

11.1 The financial year of the group shall end on the last day of March. Cheques will be signed by any two of the following officers:- Treasurer & membership Secretary, Chairman, Secretary.

11.2 A financial and general report shall be submitted to each A.G.M. by the Treasurer and the Secretary respectively.

11.3 An external auditor shall be elected by the treasurer and membership secretary and approved by the Executive Committee at each A.G.M. to act as Honorary Auditors for the ensuing year and to report on the accounts at the next A.G.M.

12. Alterations to the Constitution

12.1 This Constitution may be amended, replaced or added to by a majority vote at any A.G.M. or E.G.M. allowing the Executive Committee to make any necessary amendments, replacements or additions.

12.2 At least 3 weeks notice must be given to the Secretary of any such motion for such amendments, replacements or additions.

13. Adoption of this Constitution

13.1 The original Constitution was produced in 1969 and later revised and reprinted on 15.09.80 and amended on 12.04.94.

13.2 This Constitution was adopted at the meeting of the Group on 12^th September 2006, at an E.G.M. required for this Constitution to be updated to reflect the current organisational climate.