Health and Safety Policy - GG Wildlife Experiences

We regard the safe conduct of all our experiences as the highest of importance and have a comprehensive Health & Safety policy which can be found below.

All participants in our events are reminded of the requirements of our Code of Conduct.

Statement of Policy

This Health and Safety Policy for GG Wildlife Experiences Ltd. (“GGWE”) is designed to prevent accidents and provide adequate control of risks arising from our experiences to event organisers, participants and members of the public.

It reflects the variety of events promoted by GGWE, the import role of the event leader in applying the policy. It adopts the risk management guidelines of the national governing body for each activity where they are applicable.

This policy has been reviewed and approved by the owner of GGWE on the 31st March 2024. It will be reviewed every year and additionally as required by changes in legislation, emergency public health legislation or external advice, the review to include all documents referenced in this policy.

The policy will be available on the website.

Responsibilities

Overall and final responsibility for health and safety is that of the Owner of GGWE.

Implementation of this policy will be the responsibility of the Owner of GGWE.

Day-to-day responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into practice is delegated to the leader of each experience.

Participants in GGWE experience must comply with all of the following:

Assess, and take responsibility for, their own ability to participate in an event based on their experience, fitness and abilities;
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of other participants;
Comply with the instructions of the experience leader regarding health and safety;
Behave in accordance with the GGWE’s Code of Conduct;
Report all health and safety concerns to the appropriate person

Reporting of a health and safety concern should be made as soon as possible to:

If it relates to an experience, the experience leader
If it refers to an incident, policy or general matters, the Owner of GGWE

Advice on this policy can be obtained from the Owner of GGWE.

Activities

Implementation of this health and safety policy will be by the experience leader in accordance with the documentation specific to the activity.

An organised experience will commence with assembly of participants at the meeting point. The experience leader will invite members to introduce themselves. The experience leader will provide a brief overview of the experience and any risks participants should be aware of. An individual member may choose to leave the event early by informing the experience leader of such. On leaving the group, the experience has ended for that individual at that point. An experience ends when the experience leader returns members to the original meeting point, or when the end is declared by the experience leader.

Walking

This includes activities which may be described by the following terms:

Rambling
Hill-walking

The following document should be referred to as appropriate:

Example Risk Assessment – Goring Scenic Circuit

Other activities

Activities not shown above may be advertised by GGWE in order to facilitate additional experiences, which may include:

Boating Trips
Photography Tutorials
Use of Bird Watching/Photography Hide

In all such activities, where required GGWE will provide specific guidance on risk management for each experience – participants must also be responsible and make their own decisions on whether, and how they should pursue such activities.

Incidents

Notification

Any incident must be reported to Owner of GGWE as soon as possible.

An incident is defined as:

a fatal accident.
an injury involving either referral to or actual hospital treatment.
any allegations of libel/slander.
any allegations of Professional Negligence i.e. arising out of tuition, coaching or advice given.
any investigation under any child protection legislation.
any circumstance involving damage to third party property.
any allegation of trespass

An injury is defined as:

any head injury that requires medical treatment (Doctor or Hospital).
any fracture other than to fingers, thumbs or toes.
any amputation, dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine.
loss of sight (whether temporary or permanent).
any injury resulting from electrical shock or burn, leading to unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.
any other injury leading to hypothermia, heat induced illness or to unconsciousness which requires resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.
loss of consciousness caused by asphyxia or by exposure to a harmful substance or biological agent.

The above list is not exhaustive and if you are unsure as to whether an incident should be reported, then please contact the Owner of GGWE for further advice.

Under no circumstances should anyone admit liability or agree to pay for any damage caused as this may prejudice the position of our Insurers and could result in the withdrawal of any indemnity. We have a Liability Policy where Insurers decide if negligence attaches to us. Therefore, any payments you make to any third parties will not necessarily be reimbursed.

Recording

Any notified incident must be recorded by the Experience leader on the Incident Report Form. The printed (and electronic, if applicable) copy will be retained by the Owner for at least 3 years.

Progression

It is important that all incidents that may give rise to a claim are reported to our insurers as soon as possible after the event. This will enable them to carry out investigations at an early stage whilst information relating to the claim remains fresh in the mind. This will also ensure that we are complying fully with our policy terms and conditions.

Contact with the insurers and any other party or organisation may only be from the Owner.

Safeguarding

Policy

The club acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. The club is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice.

The policy recognises that the welfare and interests of safeguarding are paramount in all circumstances.

It aims to ensure that regardless of age, gender, religion or beliefs, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation everyone:

Has a positive and enjoyable experience at all GGWE experiences in a safe environment
Is protected from abuse whilst participating in all GGWE experiences

As part of our safeguarding policy GGWE will:

Promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all experience participants
Ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding
Ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of incidents/concerns of abuse and support provided to the individual/s who raise or disclose the concern
Ensure that confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored

The policy and procedures will be widely promoted and are mandatory for everyone involved in the experiences.

Failure to comply with the policy and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in exclusion from the experiences provided.

Principles

The general principles for safeguarding people that will apply to all experiences organised in the name of GGWE are that:

All participants of experiences under the age of 18 are always accompanied by an adult
All vulnerable adults will be always accompanied by a responsible adult

Progression

Any concerns about safeguarding children, young people or vulnerable adults must be reported immediately to the experience leader, who will:

1. Take immediate action as necessary to safeguard the person; and

2. Record the incident as soon as practicable who will, in all cases, report the matter to Owner of GGWE.

Verified and signed off by: Steven Gozdz - Owner & Founder – GG Wildlife Experiences Ltd. 01/04/2024

Next revision Date: 16/03/2025