In the Diocese of Lancaster – priests and people – we are glad to engage with our renewed Health and Safety Policy and provision with Safety Toolbox. We hope that our engagement with it will be a real help to cultivating safe and healthy procedures across our parishes and communities.
We have a legal, moral and ethical duty to look after people’s safety, welfare and health – whilst in our care – so that the chance of someone suffering an injury or (work-related) ill health is minimised.
The Diocese has to abide by and to meet the requirements specified in both civil legislation and in
canon law. Indeed, under canon law, the Parish Priest/Parochial Administrator – assisted by Parish Representatives – is entrusted with the care of souls within his parish and this includes all visitors to the parish too. It is thus his duty, too, to ensure that all health and safety matters have been considered and that identified risks have been mitigated in every way humanly possible.
Diocesan Health & Safety Practitioner:
Mrs Lesley Routh
Email: lesley.routh@lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk
Tel: 01524 596064
Diocesan Health & Safety Committee: (A Sub-Committee of the Diocesan Trustees)
Canon Peter Hart (Chair), Canon R Dewhurst, K Dennis, G Bissett, L Routh, R Caredice, M Atkinson, K Hilton, K Woods (Minute Secretary)
Useful Documents:
Diocese of Lancaster Health & Safety Policy (pdf)
Links:
Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
Safety Toolbox
N.B. Parish Priests/Parochial Administrators: If a serious incident occurs in your parish you should report this immediately to the Diocesan Health & Safety Practitioner – Mrs Lesley Routh
Tel: 01524 596064 or Email to lesley.routh@lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk
