Policies: Health and Safety

HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ETC. ACT 1974

 

FRAMEWORK HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

FOR EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS

 

 

                                                WITHERNSEA JUNIOR SCHOOL

 

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INTRODUCTION

 

The policy of this school is to provide and maintain, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work for all employees and other persons and to provide such information, training and supervision as is necessary to achieve this aim.

 

This des not replace the Authority's Statement of Safety Policy or the Local Education Authority's Policy but is additional to it, for the benefit of all employees, visitors and other individuals, including contractors.

 

The Policy will be reviewed on an annual basis or when changes in ligislation so warrant.

 

AIMS OF THE POLICY STATEMENT

 

The aim of the Policy is to ensure that reasonable action is taken to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all persons using the premises:

 

a)    to establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment throughout the school;

b)   to promote and maintain safe working procedures for employees and other persons;

c)    to make arrangements for ensuring safety and absence of risks to health in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances;

d)   to ensure the provision of sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision;

e)    to maintain a safe and healthy place of work and safe access and egress from it;

f)    to produce effective emergency evacuation procedures;

g)   to produce adequate accident reporting procedures;

h)   to provide and maintain adequate welfare facilities;

i)     to make any special arrangements as may be necessary to ensure health and safety of any disabled person using the premises.

 

ORGANISATION

 

The Director of Education, Leisure and Libraries will issue and review, as necessary, the Local Education Authority Policy based upon the Authority's Statement of Safety Policy, Safe systems of work and other documents which will be drawn to the attention of every employee.

 

 

Each person in charge of premises will provide a site specific Safety Policy which includes reference to the Authority's Statement of Safety Policy and the Local Education Authority's Policy, ensuring that the necessary steps are taken to ensure the health and safety of employees  and other persons, including the public, clients, pupils, students, contractors and visitors.  The Director of Education, Leisure and Libraries will ensure that adequate guidance is given to employees tasked with this duty.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The Local Education Authority retains overall responsibility for health, safety and welfare within education establishments.

 

The Governing Body has responsibility for ensuring that any health and safety directions issued by the Local Education Authority are complied with and that there is a regular oversight of health and safety issues within the school.

 

The duties of the Governors are to:

 

a)   monitor (including consideration of inspection reports);

b)   prioritise actions where resources are required;

c)    ensure actions are taken;

d)   include health & safety on the Governors' meeting agenda;

e)    discuss and implement the Headteacher's health & safety report;

f)    consider and ratify the health & safety policy & guidelines for the school premises;

g)   act as client under Construction Design and Management Regulations where building projects are not funded by the Council; if the school funds a construction project with no financial input from the Authority then governors have the responsibility for ensuring compliance with the CDM Regulations.  In this situation the cost of any training required to become conversant with the regulations will have to be borne by the school;

h)   Monitor and manage, in conjunction with the Headteacher, all minor building/contract work not subject to the Construction Design Management Regulations authorised by the school but not executed by the Council.  Governors' attention is drawn to 3.13h in the host policy (Education , Leisure and Libraries Health & Safety Policy).

 

The Headteacher undertakes the day to day management of health and safety within the school and ensures inspections are undertaken in accordance with the LEA policy.

 

Duties of the Headteacher are to :

 

a)    manage on a day to day basis all health & safety matters in the school in accordance with the LEA's policy;

b)   arrange for risk assessments to be carried out and to undertake an annual reveiw;

c)    act as or appoint a competent Safety Supervisor to co-ordinate and distribute health & safety information to all staff employed or working at the school;

d)   ensure regular inspections of the whole school are carried out;

e)    submit inspection reports to Governors and/or the Education Authority;

f)    ensure action is taken regarding health, safety and welfare matters to appropriate people;

g)   prepare an annual health & safety report for the Governors;

h)   pass on information received on health, safety and welfare matters to appropriate people;

i)     ensure that an investigation into all major accident/dangerous occurrences is undertaken;

j)     arrange for staff training needs to be addressed;

k)   consult with Governors and /or Education Authority on policy issues and any problems in implementing the Health & Safety Policy;

l)     co-operate with and provide the necessary facilities for trade union's safety representatives and representatives for emplyees' safety;

m) in conjuction with the Governors, monitor and manage all miner building/contract work not subject to Construction (Design & Management) and Regulations authorised by the school but not executed by the Council. (Attention is drawn to 3.13h);

 

 

Employees have a duty to look after their own health and safety and that of others and comply with the employer's instructions regarding  health and safety.  Employees must tell their line management of any shortcoming in health and safety arrangements.

 

The duties of all other school based employees are:

 

a)    conduct their work in accordance with the health and safety policy;

b)   check classrooms/work areas are safe daily;

c)    check equipment is safe before use;

d)   ensure safe procedures are folowed at all times;

e)    ensure protective equipment is used, where appropriate;

f)    patricipate in inspections;

g)   bring problems to the relevant manager's attention.

 

For more detail regarding responsibilities refer to the host policy.

 

ARRANGEMENTS:

 

For the following items reference must be made to any guidelines issued by the Department of Education, Leisure and Libraries - Departmental Administration  Manager.

 

Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992

 

All DSE work stations should comply with the Authority's 'User' Assessment Form.

 

Display screen eqipment users will be entitled to eye and eyesight tests and provided with corrective appliances (spectacles) if deemed necessary.  Further information is available from the Occupational Health Unit.

 

Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

 

Assessments for the manual handling of loads, persons and animals will be undertaken by the appropriate premises manager or line manager and the assessments will be retained by ............................ Refer to the Guidance Relating to Manual Handling.

 

Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992

 

The provision of personal protective equioment will be determined by the appropriate line manager and agreed with the Director of Education, Leisure and Libraries.  Advice on these regulations can be obtained by contacting the Safety Services Unit.

 

Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992

 

Wherever possible, any equipment provided for use at work will be purchased to meet an appropriate (Conformite European) mark or relevant British Standard, in line with the Guidelines Relating to the Provision and Use of Work Eqipment.

 

RISK ASSESSMENT