Governors Health and Governors Health and Safety TrainingSafety Training

With theWith the

Corporate Corporate Health and Safety UnitHealth and Safety Unit

Presented by:Nic Carstens

Health and Safety Officer

Telephone: 0208 891 7111

Email: n.carstens@richmond.gov.uk

Extranet: http://schools.richmond.gov.uk

Housekeeping

• No fire drills planned

• Exit to rear of room

• Assembly point at front courtyard

• Have you signed in yet?

What we do:• revise and produce council H&S policy• health and safety inspections & audits• review high risk school journeys• administer the accident reporting system• investigate serious accidents & incidents• general advice on health and safety• asbestos and fire safety management• assist the HSE in serious investigations• disability access issues• Etc.

General duties:

Employers are responsible, so far as is reasonably practicable, for the health, safety and welfare of their

employees, and anyone else affected by their undertaking

The employer: DFES Responsibilities & Powers

• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places overall responsibility for health and safety with the employer. Who this is varies with the type of school.

• For community schools, community special schools, voluntary controlled schools, maintained nursery schools and pupil referral units the employer is the Local Education Authority (LEA).

• For foundation schools, foundation special schools and voluntary aided schools, the employer is usually the governing body.

• For independent schools, the employer is usually the governing body or proprietor.

Managing Risk…

What is risk?

• A hazards is anything that has the potential to cause harm

• Risk is it likelihood of actually causing harm, and its possible severity.

Risk = Probability x Severity

How to Risk Assess• Follow the HSE’s 5 steps to risk assessment (refer to

HSE handout)• Walk around and look, feel (within limits) and observe• Talk to specialists, such as safety officers• Read guidance and legislation• Talk to the people on the front line• Would you do it?

Control Measures• Hierarchy of control

– Eliminate– Reduce– Isolate– Control– Personal Protective Equipment– Discipline

• So far as is reasonably practicable (SFARP) – control measures proportionate to risks involved

• Weighing a risk against the time, trouble, money needed to control it

Risk Management Tools..

• Security

• Playground Supervision

• Boiler rooms assessment

• School Journeys

School Journeys:• Journeys split into two categories, A & B.• A is any trip abroad, activity centres, high

risk sites.• B is a local residential trip, such as

museums etc.• Cat A trips must be approved by the LA• ALL cat A & B must be risk assessed• You need to be told of ALL trips!

How we manage School Journeys• Named Educational Visits Coordinator at

the school to oversee planning & approving

• Policy is available online for guidance• Forms to complete on Extranet and can be

sent electronically or faxed.• Feedback given to Schools by LA and

approval granted (cat A only)

Lessons from the past:• Max Palmer• Plunge pooling accident in

Lake District• Lack of suitable risk

assessment & management system

• Poor supervision & competency by leaders

• Teacher sentenced to 10 years for manslaughter

Before you let them go…

• Have they done a risk assessment

• Is to a suitable standard

• Have they received approval

Workstation Assessments

Applies to users:

• If you use the PC as part of your job or in excess of 1 hour at a time

• Teachers usually spend time on a PC, as do all admin staff

Display Screen Equipment Regulations 2002• decide who is covered, assess workstations, ensure equipment

meets minimum standards, plan for changes of activities, provide eye tests, and provide training and information

The employer must…• Ensure all staff complete a self assessment• Arrange for adjustments to workstation to be made as identified in

risk assessment• Regularly monitor and review• Pay particular care when dealing with DDA

How to assess DSE

• Cardinus online system can be set up and used

or

• Paper based copy to be completed and signed by user, then given to schools

Most common problems:

• Objects stored under desk, interfering with legs

• Desk covered in excess papers and books, disturbing posture and mouse position

• Chair having no adjustment

• Screen too low

Fire Safety and

Fire Risk Assessment

Fire Safety

Background• 2006 – 491 fire related deaths in the UK

– 40% overcome by smoke

• 2004 total cost of fire estimated at £7.08 billion– £2.77 billion in anticipation of fire eg fire precautions– £2.4 billion due to arson– Average cost of a business related fire £43,800

• Other costs– Loss of life – Property loss– Disruption to education

Responsibilities:• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005

– Came into force 1 October 2006– Self regulating, fire certificates no longer valid

• Duty for fire safety lies with the Responsible Person. Duties include:– To ensure a suitable and sufficient risk assessment is

carried out and regularly reviewed– To take greater account of those with special needs– Ensuring the maintenance and inspection of fire

precautions on the premises

What to check..

• Ensure you and your staff know the fire safety arrangements for the school

• Have an emergency plan ready – templates available through H&S department

• Run evacuation drills to test your plans• That everything is where it should be

http://www.safetyphoto.co.uk/photo1/fire_enviro_risk/school_doors/school_fire_6.jpg

No smoking!

How you can help:

Ensure regular testing of systems and equipment through the responsible person

Ensure that the fire log book is kept up to date by the responsible person (you don’t have to do it yourself)

Carry out regular inspections for any fire hazards, as part of safety walks or tours

Report concerns to Head Teacher, and/or Corporate H&S Unit.

The COSHH Regulations

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (2002)

Step 1: Chemical register

Step 2: Assess the risks

Step 3: Hierarchy of control

Step 4: Prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies

Step 5: Information, instruction, training and supervision

Chemicals Management

PPE - personal protective equipment

Eye protection

Chemical resistant glovesCut resistant gloves

Respiratory protection Eyewash station

Safety shoesFace mask

What you need to do…

• Ensure the premises manager is storing chemicals safety and away from children

• Ensure that chemicals and other hazardous substances are not left unguarded by contractors

• Limit the quantity where you can of chemicals stored

• Know what chemicals you have on site

AsbestosAsbestos

How many people in the UK die every month due to asbestos related disease?

• 1?

10?

50?

100?

333 deaths every month

Asbestos

• Kills 4000 people a year in the UK.• That’s 333 people every month.• Time between exposure and symptoms of disease

are up to 30 years, so the number of cases are still rising.

• Asbestos was used from anything from toilet seats, Artex, floor tiles, insulation and walls.

Managing AsbestosIt’s simple, honest!

Prior to any building work, no matter how small ensure

contractors check the asbestos survey. This can be done through

the premises manager

Managing AsbestosIts simple!

• Assume materials contain asbestos• Has the school read and understood the survey• Keep your survey up to date with any new information or any

changes, such as:– The condition of the asbestos suddenly changes– The use of the area changes

• Contractors should be given access to the report so they can check if there is any asbestos in the area they are working

• Do you have a system for letting contractors know about asbestos?

Where you may find asbestos

Cement sheeting Vinyl floor tiles

Where you may find asbestos

Asbestos insulationAsbestos insulating board

Asbestos

• Know where the survey is, and who manages it.• Intrusive works will require further more detailed

examination (Type 3)• Let contractors know about risk assessment!• Is there a management system

Accidents: Reporting and Investigation

Definitions – Accident “Any unplanned event that resulted in injury or ill health of people, or damage or loss to property, plant, materials or the environment or a loss of business opportunity.”

Statistics 2003/04• 235 fatalities, 160,000 RIDDOR reported injuries• An estimated 39 million working days lost - 30

million due to ill health & 9 million due to injury

Accidents

Accident Reporting

• Current paper based system (not recommended)• New Online Database, each school has its own log in

details. • Accident Investigation by Corporate H&S if needed • Identify primary and underlying causes behind accident• Helps prevent accident occurring again• Consider: Materials Equipment Environment Personal

(MEEP)

RIDDOR

Reporting ofInjuriesDiseases andDangerousOccurrencesRegulations 1995

Death or major injuryOver three dayReportable diseasesDangerous occurrences

• “Required to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to enable first aid to be given to your employees if they are injured or become ill at work”

• Levels of provision based on risk assessment:We will look at:– Number of first aid trained employees– Contents of first aid kit– How to access first aid – procedures and information– Medical facilities on site Education (School Premises)

Regulations!

First Aid

Disabilities in School• Governed by the Disability Discrimination Act• Emphasis on reasonable adjustments!• Accessibility Liaison Fund available to schools

to aid alterations too school structure.• What is a disability? It does not have to be

physical.

Risk management• Safer People & Safety Places toolkits

• Consolidate all the information you have seen tonight

• Easy to use with separate guidance

• Not mandatory, but best practice

• Logical approach, good guidance

Recap & Questions?