Park View Primary School

HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY STATEMENT

Rationale

This policy is a statement setting out how health and safety is managed in our school.

Aims

The health and safety of all adults and children engaged in school activities both on and offsite is of paramount importance to us.

Our over-riding aim is to enable each member of the school community to function in an environment which “so far as is reasonably practical…..ensures…..the health and safety of all” (Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974)

We also strive to create a pleasing working environment and one which stimulates effective learning for all pupils.

Our statement of general policy is:

• To provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising out of our work activities
• To consult with our members of staff on matters affecting their health and safety
• To provide and maintain safe equipment
• To ensure the safe handling and use of substances
• To provide information, instruction and supervision for staff
• To ensure that all members of staff are competent to carry out their duties, and to give them adequate training
• To prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health
• To maintain a safe and health environment for pupils and staff

Practice

In order to fulfil our aims, the School Governors adopted this policy which is based on the School Health and Safety Policy from the HSE. The school will also take account of any other Local Authority guidance relating to health and safety in educational establishments. This policy is regularly updated to take account of the relevant changes in legislation and in practice. This document was adopted by the Governing body on

Responsibilities

The overall and final responsibility for health and safety is that of the Governing Body and the Local Authority. The named Governor for Health and Safety is Mr Alan Quinn. The Headteacher is responsible for the day to day management of health and safety matters. In the absence of the Headteacher this responsibility is delegated to the Deputy Headteacher.

To ensure health and safety standards are maintained the following post holders have specified responsibilities that are included in their job descriptions.

All employees have a duty to:

• Co-operate with mangers and co-ordinators on health and safety matters.
• Not interfere with anything provided to safeguard their health and safety
• Take reasonable care of their own health and safety
• Report all health and safety concerns to the appropriate person as detailed in this policy statement.

Health and safety risks arising from work activities

• Risk assessments will be undertaken by the School Leadership Group. There may be occasions when another member of staff carries out a risk assessment. In this case a member of the Leadership Group will countersign the assessment.
• The findings of risk assessments will be communicated to the staff undertaking the activity to which it relates
• Action required to remove/control risks will be approved by a member of the Leadership Group, who will also be responsible for ensuring the action required is implemented and effective in removing/reducing the risks
• Risk Assessments will be reviewed every 2 years or when the activity changes, whichever is the soonest.

Consultation with employees

• Employee representatives will usually be the Professional Association Representative of the member(s) concerned.
• Consultation with employees is provided by means of informal discussion or at a scheduled meeting led by a member of the School Leadership Group.

Safe equipment

• The Headteacher and the School Caretaker will be responsible for identifying equipment needing regular maintenance
• The Headteacher will be responsible for ensuring that maintenance procedures are in place
• All employees have a duty to inform either the Headteacher or the Caretaker of any faulty equipment that is likely to be or has become unsafe.

Safe handling and use of substances

• EDS will be responsible for identifying all substances which need COSHH assessment
• EDS will be responsible for providing COSHH assessments
• The Headteacher will be responsible for ensuring that all relevant employees are informed about COSHH assessments
• The Caretaker will check that new substances can be used safely before they are purchased
• COSHH assessments will be kept in the blue book issued by EDS

Information, instruction and supervision

• The Health and Safety Law poster is displayed in the staffroom.
• As they become available, Health and Safety leaflets will be circulated to staff and information notices will be displayed in the staffroom.
• Health and Safety advice is available from the Headteacher who will consult the LA Health and Safety Section as appropriate.
• Supervision of young workers and trainees (usually student placements) will be undertaken by the member of staff working with the person concerned.

Competency for tasks and training

• Induction training will be provided or accessed fro all employees by a member of the School Leadership Group as appropriate
• Job specific training will be provided by the LA or by EDS
• Training related to specific posts and responsibilities is made available by the LA and by EDS. This would normally apply to the following posts:

School Caretaker

Cleaner

First Aiders

Educational Visits co-ordinator (EVC)

Safeguarding – Named Person

• Training will be arranged and monitored by the Headteacher
• Training records are kept by the Headteacher in the office.

Accidents, First Aid and work-related ill health

• Health surveillance is not a requirement of any jobs undertaken in school
• First Aid boxes are kept on the corridors, in classrooms and the staffroom
• The First Aid box for outdoor and off-site activities is kept in the staffroom
• All First Aid boxes are maintained by the Designated First Aider
• All accidents are to be recorded in the accident book which is kept in the Head teachers office
• Documents relating to cases of work-related ill health are to be kept by the Headteacher
• The Headteacher is responsible for reporting accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the enforcing authority.

First Aid Personnel

Appointed Persons:                   Tony Knipe

                                      Angela Tress (Lunchtime)

First Aiders:                  Joanne Smith

                                      Janet Pattison

                                      Claire Truelove

                                      Elaine Thomas

Monitoring

To check our working conditions and to ensure safe working practices are being followed, we will:

• Maintain risk assessments
• Carry out regular DSE workstation assessments
• Make routine interior and exterior checks of the premises
• Flush water outlets each week
• Carry out monthly Legionella control measures and hot water temperature checks
• Test the fire alarm each week
• Check escape routes each week
• Check fire-fighting appliances annually
• Carry out asbestos monitoring
• Carry out regular checks of outdoor play equipment
• Check electrical appliances annually
• Conduct fire drills each half-term
• Keep records of routine inspections and incidents

The Headteacher is responsible for investigating accidents

The School Governors are responsible for acting on investigation findings to prevent a recurrence

The LA is responsible for following up work-related causes of sickness absence

The Headteacher will report to the Governors on health and safety matters each term.

Emergency procedures – fire and evacuation

• The School Governors are responsible for ensuring the fire risk assessment is undertaken and implemented
• Regular fire checks are made (see Monitoring section above – items relating to fire procedures)

Awareness of key areas of risk

Health and safety awareness is crucial to maintaining a safe working environment and minimising risk. The following key areas have been identified in our school setting:

• Asbestos – Monitored by the LA. Removed/sealed as required.
• Cleaning Chemicals – COSHH assessments in place
• Control of infectious & notifiable diseases – LA guidance is followed. The School Nurse and the Occupational Health Unit are available for consultation
• Display screen equipment – Workstation assessment applies to the School Office
• Electricity – Appliances are checked annually
• Fire – Procedures are in place
• HIV/Aids – Guidance is followed. All staff are informed of the practice to be followed when dealing with body fluids
• LCD projectors – Adults and children are discouraged from standing in the light beam
• Manual handling – The Caretaker has been trained. Other staff should not undertake tasks that involve manual handling
• Slips, trips and falls – Safe practice is encouraged
• Stress – All staff are aware of the need to  reduce stress in the workplace and the LA Stress Counselling service is accessible to all employees
• Temperature – Every effort is made to maintain a comfortable working temperature. However, the design and age of the building and plant presents difficulties
• Transport and Offsite Activities – LA guidance is adhered to and risk assessments are carried out. All operators/providers are required to meet current H&S standards
• Working alone – This practice is kept to a minimum. However, when alone on the premises all external doors should be kept locked and a phone should be easily accessible.

Additional Information

Every Child Matters: Be healthy and stay safe are two of the principles underpinning the Governments ECM agenda. We believe that the implementation of an effective Health and Safety Policy helps us to achieve these goals for children.

Meeting the need of pupils requiring medication: Attendance in school is one of the keys to effective learning and we do all we can to facilitate the attendance of children requiring both short and long term medication during the school day. We have a Medical Policy in place. The EWO and the School Nurse are available for advice.

Smoking in public places: The school has operated a no smoking policy both indoors and out since 2004. This has been superseded by 2007 legislation

Safety in the teaching of Science, Technology, Physical Education and Water Safety: Guidance is followed by all teaching staff. Risk assessments are undertaken as appropriate.

Health Education: We are working towards the new Healthy Schools Standards. Healthy lifestyles feature in out teaching and the SEAL PSHE programme is in place.  A policy for Drug Related incidents has been approved by Governors. All food in school complies with the 2007 standards.

Safeguarding Children: The Headteacher and the SENCO are the named people in school and are responsible for ensuring that safeguarding procedures are followed. The Headteacher has received Safe Recruitment training. Training for the wider school workforce and in the CAF was conducted in 2008. Our Prospectus includes a statement relating to our responsibilities with regard to Safeguarding Children. The Advice and Assessment Team are available for consultation.

Policy review

This policy will be reviewed as necessary and revised every 2 years.

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