There are several key pieces of legislation that impact how schools manage the health and safety of their employees, pupils, visitors, support workers and parents.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the key piece of health and safety legislation in the UK. It applies to all workplaces, including schools, and sets out the general duties that employers have to their employees, and others who may be affected by their work activities.
In addition to the general duties set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, there are also specific duties that apply to schools. These are set out in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 2012.
The aim of both pieces of legislation is to ensure that schools are safe places to work and learn.
There are a number of ways in which schools can ensure they meet their legal obligations in relation to health and safety.
These include:
– Carrying out risk assessments
– Having appropriate health and safety policies and procedures in place
– Providing health and safety training for employees
– Ensuring that school buildings and facilities are well maintained
– Monitoring compliance with health and safety law
By taking these steps, schools can help to create a safe and healthy environment for everyone who works in or visits the school.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the legislation that sets up the original framework for regulating workplace health, safety, and welfare in UK workplaces. The HSE/local authorities are responsible for enforcing aspects of this act that apply to individual working environments.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSW) requires employers to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to the health and safety of employees, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Schools have a duty under the MHSW to undertake regular risk assessments and review them regularly.
The main purpose of health and safety legislation is to protect employees, but it also has provisions to protect other people who may be affected by the workplace, such as visitors, contractors, and members of the public.
There are a number of key pieces of legislation that apply to schools, including the:
– Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
– Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
– Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
– Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
– Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
– Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
– Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
– The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
– Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997
– Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The Health and Safety of Work Act 1974 requires employers to take responsibility for their employee’s health, safety, and wellbeing. In a school setting, this can be done in various ways:
– Making sure there is an effective way to report any hazards so the appropriate person can take care of it.
Risk assessment is a constant process that every school and all staff members must be constantly aware of. Regular risk assessments of both the premises and activities are required by law, but any potential hazards should be reported to the health and safety officer as they are discovered.
There are a number of potential hazards present in any school setting, including trip and slip hazards, electrical hazards, manual handling hazards and chemicals.
It is the responsibility of the school to take appropriate measures to mitigate these risks, such as ensuring that walkways are clear and well-lit, that electrical equipment is properly maintained, and that staff are properly trained in manual handling techniques.
In the event of an accident or incident, it is important that there is an effective procedure in place so that the necessary action can be taken. This will usually involve reporting the incident to a designated person, such as the health and safety officer, and following their instructions.
All schools should have an emergency plan in place in case of evacuation, and all staff should be familiar with this plan.
It is also important to ensure that first aid provision is adequate, and that there are trained first aiders on site at all times.
By taking these measures, schools can help to ensure the health and safety of all members of the school community.
The safety of ourselves, our co-workers, and the public should be paramount for all staff members. If you witness a potential hazard, please report it to a supervisor immediately. For example, if you are using products that are meant for adult use only: ensure proper storage and handling procedures are being followed.
It is the responsibility of every member of staff to help maintain a safe and healthy environment for everyone in the school, including pupils, teachers, other members of staff and visitors. There are many things that staff can do to help make sure that the school is a safe place, including:
– Identifying hazards and risks around the school and taking action to mitigate them
– Following health and safety procedures and protocols
– Reporting any concerns about health and safety to the appropriate authorities
Staff should also be aware of the potential consequences of their actions if they do not take care to follow health and safety procedures. These can range from minor injuries to more serious accidents, which could result in legal action being taken against the school or individuals.
All schools have policies and procedures that everyone in the setting must follow, including staff and any adult visitors. Children will be taught the basics of health and safety, such as proper hand-washing technique and how to blow their noses. They will also be familiarized with school rules related to their safety, e.g., not running inside the building due to limited space which could result in a tripping or falling accident. There is plenty of room for children to run around outdoors while still remaining safe.
There will be a designated person who is responsible for the health and safety in the school as well, this will usually be the head teacher or site manager.
It’s important that everyone in the school knows what to do if there was an accident or an emergency situation – such as a fire. There will be regular fire drills so everyone knows what to do and where to go if there was a fire in the building.
Everyone in the school should know where first-aid kit is kept and who the first-aider(s) are in case anyone gets hurt or becomes ill at school.
In some schools, there may be areas which are out of bounds to children e.g. the kitchen or boiler room as there maybe hazards in these areas.
In order to reduce the risks of accidents or injuries happening, schools carry out regular risk assessments of the premises and activities taking place.
Some things that might be included in a school’s health and safety policy could be:
– First-aid procedures
– Fire drills
– Risk assessments
– Policies and procedures for visitors
– Behaviour management
– Safe use of equipment
– Use of chemicals
– Excursions/visits
– Medication
– Food hygiene
Schools are legally required to have health and safety policies and procedures in place and to make sure they are followed by everyone in the setting.
The school will have insurance cover in case anyone is injured or becomes ill at school as a result of something that has happened there.
It’s important for parents/carers to be aware of the health and safety procedures in schools and to support them so that everyone stays safe.
