The Wensleydale Railway plc’s Health and Safety Policy is to ensure that its activities do not knowingly put at risk the health and safety of its staff (which term includes both employees and volunteers), its customers and the community in which it operates.

The Board considers that the health and safety of all its staff is of primary importance to the well-being of the Company and its operations. To support this, one Director is appointed with specific responsibility for overseeing safe operation of the Company’s activities.  It is the Board’s continuing aim to make the Company a safer organisation in which to work, and to this end, it requires a high standard of individual commitment from management and staff alike.

The Board wishes to make clear to managers and staff that their efforts in the field on accident prevention will be valued no less highly than those in the fields of operation, maintenance, sales and cost of efficiency improvement.

In particular the Board requires its managers to assess and prioritise risks to all its staff, customers and the community and to take such actions as are reasonably practicable to minimise those risks.

The Board will rigidly apply the rules which appertain to drugs and alcohol. Staff are not to consume alcohol whilst at work or bring alcohol to work for any reason.  Drug or alcohol abuse that affects performance at work is unacceptable and the Board re-affirms that any incidents detected will result in disciplinary action that may lead to dismissal.

The Board commits itself to provide adequate and appropriate training to its managers and staff together with equipment which is safe and fit for purpose.

The Board commits itself to work within current safety legislation and so comply.

The Board welcomes the involvement of all managers and staff in the promotion and development of measures to minimise the risk to the health and safety of all involved in the Company’s operations.

It is the Board’s belief that the required high standard of health and safety can only be achieved if every member of staff accepts a personal responsibility for the prevention of injury and loss to his or herself and for the care of others.

Ian Sesnan Chairman
Wensleydale Railway plc
1 April 2009