IOSH South Downs Branch and the Amberley Museum and Heritage
Centre (AMHC) – Volunteers welcomed!
May 2010
In May 2008 the South Downs Branch was approached by the AMHC
to help them comply with current health and safety
regulations.
The museum’s purpose is to preserve and restore industrial
artefacts such as a steam locomotive railway, vintage buses and
vehicles and quarrying machinery (all by a volunteer
workforce).
However, it was not just the artefacts that needed renovating,
but the methods in renovation that needed an updated health and
safety approach.
The Consultancy Section within the IOSH South Downs Branch
became the core team of volunteers to assist with the integration
of current health and safety best practice. A project plan was
developed to introduce a safety management system so that
eventually the museum would be self-sufficient in this. Activities
included:
- Documentation development
- training
- risk assessment
- safety inspection and
- made recommendations that would be acceptable and affordable to
the heritage site.
Towards the end of 2009, a Memorandum of Understanding was
signed and agreed by the IOSH South Downs Branch and the Amberley
Museum and Heritage Centre. Also, the Branch has successfully
applied for the funding required to ensure the continued
development of this project.
Since March 2010 planning has continued with about twenty IOSH
volunteers who have been matched to specific tasks.
These volunteers have recently:
- Reviewed and rewritten the museum’s fire and emergency
procedures
- completed the first review of the initial draft of their health
and safety policy
- introduced themselves to the heads of the museum sections
and left a ‘wish list’ with each and
- organised a steering group meeting to authorise the release of
various documents which will help brief volunteers and allow them
to commence their work.
The IOSH volunteers who have donated their time to this project
have in return benefitted through their Continued Professional
Development (CPD) and feeling invested in their community.
If you would like to get involved with this growing and worthy
project, please contact Malcolm Pink from the
IOSH South Downs Branch Committee.