St Catherines’s Catholic Primary School
Health and Safety
Jesus is at the centre of all that we do
This policy has been prepared in accordance with the “Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974” and to comply with the:
“Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, 1992;”
“Provision and Use of Work Regulations, 1992;”
“Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations, 1992;”
“Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations, 1992;”
“Personal Protective Equipment at Work (PPE) Regulations, 1992;”
“Education (School Premises) Regulations, 1981.”
The aim of this policy is to ensure that all practicable steps are taken to secure the health, safety and welfare to all persons using the school.
This policy is to be reviewed annually, the next review is due in January 2014.
1. Statement of policy and intent.
1.1 To establish and maintain in so far as is reasonably practicable:
· An environment which is safe and without risk to health
· Safe working procedures among staff and pupils
· Safe and healthy arrangements for the handling, storage and transport of articles and substances
· Safe means of access to and egress from the school
1.2 To ensure, so far as it is reasonably practicable, the provision of information, instruction, training and supervision to enable all staff and pupils to avoid hazards and contribute positively to their own health and safety, and to the health and safety of others in and about the school.
1.3 To teach safety where appropriate as part of the curriculum.
1.4 To lay down procedures to be followed in case of accidents.
1.5 To provide and maintain, so far as it is reasonably practicable, adequate welfare facilities for staff and pupils.
1.6 To provide an effective system of reporting and recording accidents, dangerous occurrences and potential hazards to health and safety.
2. Organisation and arrangements for health and safety.
2.1 The Governing Body
The ultimate responsibility for ensuring a safe and healthy environment within the school rests with the Governing Body.
The Governing Body will report to the D.F.E.. any major threat to the health and safety of employees and users of the school.
2.2 The Headteacher
The Headteacher has the responsibility for the application of this policy.
The Headteacher shall:
Take appropriate action immediately if any hazard is reported to her to stop the use of any plant, tools, equipment, machinery etc where she considers it unsafe until she is satisfied that reasonable measures to reduce the hazard have been taken.
Make recommendations to the Governing Body for additions to or improvements to plant, tools, equipment or machinery etc. which are dangerous or potentially so.
Report on health and safety matters to the Governing Body.
Be the focal point for day-to-day references on safety and give advice or indicate sources of advice.
Co-ordinate the implementation of safety policy procedures.
Maintain contact with outside agencies able to offer expert advice.
Carry out regular inspections of the school and check working practices in it.
Ensure that all accidents and hazards are recorded, reported as appropriate to the Health and Safety Executive and that appropriate remedial action is taken.
Review annually provisions for first aid, emergency procedures and safety procedures.
2.3 Obligations of all employees.
2.3.1. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states:
“It shall be the duty of every employee while at work:
a) to take reasonable care for the health and safety of him/herself and any other persons who may be affected by his/her acts or omissions at work, and
b) as regards any duty or requirement imposed on his/her employer or any other person by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, to co-operate with him/her so far as it is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be so performed or complied with.”
Also that;
“No person shall intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare in pursuance of any of the relevant statutory provisions.”
2.3.2. In order that the law be observed and responsibilities to pupils and other visitors to the school be carried out, all employees are expected:
a) to know the special safety measures and arrangements to be adopted in their own working area and to ensure that they are applied;
b) to observe standards of dress consistent with safety and hygiene;
c) to exercise good housekeeping and cleanliness
d) to know and apply the emergency procedures in respect of fire and first aid;
e) to use and not willfully misuse, neglect or interfere with things provided for their own safety and the safety of others
f) to co-operate with other employees in promoting improved safety measures in the school;
g) to co-operate with any appointed safety representatives and the enforcement officer of the Health and Safety Executive or the Public Health Authority.
2.4. Staff (teaching and non-teaching) holding positions of special responsibility. (E.g. Site Manager, Cook)
2.4.1 Staff holding these positions:
a) are expected to have responsibility for the application of the school safety
policy in their own department or areas of work and should observe instructions given by the Governing Body or the Headteacher;
b) should establish and maintain safe working procedures (e.g. use of chemicals,
boiling water etc.)
c) should resolve any health and safety problem any member of staff or pupil may raise and refer to the Headteacher any problem for which there is not a
satisfactory solution within the resources available;
d) should carry out regular safety inspections of the department or activities for
which they are responsible and submit reports to the Headteacher whenever
found necessary;
e) should ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the provision of sufficient
information, training and supervision to enable other employees and pupils
to avoid hazards and contribute positively to their own safety and health at work;
f) should propose to the Headteacher changes and additions to the plant, tools,
equipment or machinery which are necessary for maintenance of safety;
g) ensure that all donated equipment is safe and where appropriate seek
specialist advice that this is so.
2.5 Particular responsibilities of class teachers.
2.5.1 The safety of pupils in classrooms and other teaching areas is the responsibility of
The class teacher.
2.5.2 A class teacher is expected to:
a) know the emergency procedures in respect of fire and first aid and any special
safety measures adopted in his/her own teaching area and to ensure that they are applied;
b) exercise effective supervision of pupils and ensure that they know of the
general emergency procedures in respect of fire and first aid and the special safety measures of the teaching area;
c) give clear instructions and warnings whenever necessary;
d) ensure that pupils’ coats, bags, lunch boxes etc. are safely stowed away;
e) integrate all relevant aspects of safety into the teaching process and if necessary give special lessons on safety;
f) personally follow safe working procedures;
g) call for protective clothing, special safe working procedures etc. when necessary;
h) make recommendations on safety measures to the Headteacher.
2.6 Responsibilities of pupils.
2.6.1. Pupils are expected to:
a) exercise personal responsibility for safety of themselves and others;
b) observe standards of dress consistent with safety and hygiene;
c) observe the safety rules of the school and in particular the instructions of staff given in an emergency;
d) use and not willfully misuse, neglect or interfere with things provided for safety.
2.7. Safety Representatives
2.7.1 Safety representatives may be appointed by any recognized trade unions representing the teaching staff or non teaching staff of the school, in accordance with “The Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations, 1977.” The trade union should inform the Headteacher in writing of the names of the appointed representatives and who they represent.
2.7.2. Health and safety representatives are not liable in law and have no additional duties other than those of all employees as laid down in Sections 7 and 8 of the “Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974”, and do not carry any legal liability for either their activities or omissions as safety representatives.
2.7.3. The functions of safety representatives are as follows:
a) to investigate potential hazards and dangerous occurrences and to examine the cause of accidents;
b) to investigate complaints by any employee he/she represents relating to that employee’s health, safety or welfare at the workplace;
c) to make representations to the employer on general matters arising out of a and b above;
d) to make representations to the employer on general matters affecting the health, safety or welfare at work of the employees;
e) to carry out inspection;
f) to represent the employees he/she is appointed to represent in consultations at the workplace with Inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive and any other enforcing authority;
g) to receive information from Inspectors in accordance with Section 28 (8) of the 1974 Act;
h) to attend meetings of safety committees in the capacity of safety representative.
2.8 Safety Committee
2.8.1. Under Section 2(7) of the 1974 Act, a safety committee will be established, if requested in writing by safety representatives. The membership of the committee comprises the Headteacher and all appointed safety representatives.
3. Specific Arrangements
3.1. Fire Precautions
Under Regulation 7 of the “Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992,” and the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981”, the following policies shall be adopted:
3.1.1. Training and Information.
a) Notices showing action to be taken in the event of a fire shall be displayed in classrooms, staffrooms and at conspicuous places throughout the building.
b) All members of staff, others working in the school and newly admitted pupils shall be conducted over the primary and secondary escape routes, shown the position of the fire alarm point and given verbal instruction in fire procedure.
c) All emergency exits, marked as such in accordance with BS5499 Part 1, shall be kept unlocked when the premises are occupied and kept free of obstruction.
3.1.2. Evacuation Plan
In the event of the fire alarm sounding;
a) Pupils shall proceed to the class assembly points outside the school building on the school field, through the designated exit points for each class. This shall be done in an orderly fashion without talking or running.
b) Pupils with mobility difficulties will use the evac Chair and be evacuated by the designated persons;
c) Teaching staff with class responsibilities shall accompany and assemble with their respective class groups.
d) The site manager and trained fire wardens shall ensure that the building is evacuated and then assemble with the class groups to which they are assigned at the time.
e) Catering staff, admin staff and visitors shall evacuate the building and assemble on the playground with the rest of the school.
f) The responsibility of the distribution of class registers to class teachers rests with the Headteacher.
g) Class teachers are to take a roll call and report to the Headteacher or the AssociateHead.
h) The responsibility to authorize a return to the building rests solely with the Headteacher or the Associate Head. If the Fire Brigade is present this authorization shall only be given with the permission of the Senior Fire Officer.
3.1.3 Testing of Alarms
Testing of alarms shall be done on a weekly basis, by the site manager. A different alarm point shall be tested each term.
3.1.4. Fire Drill
Fire drill shall take place each term, and be recorded in the fire log.
3.1.5. Maintenance of fire equipment
All fire fighting equipment shall be subject to an annual maintenance inspection from an authorized contractor and records kept of each inspection.
3.1.6. Bomb Threats
The building shall be evacuated as calmly and quickly as possible, all windows left open and each person to take any personal belongings with them.
3.2. Electrical Safety
Under the terms of the “Electricity at Work Regulations 1989” and the “Health and Safety Executive Guidance Note GS23 – Electrical Safety in Schools,” the following policies shall be adopted:
3.2.1 All electrical installations and electrical equipment shall be constructed, maintained and used so as to prevent danger. There shall be no working on any live circuit unless it is reasonable to do so and unless suitable precautions have been taken to prevent injury and any persons doing so must have sufficient knowledge to prevent danger or be under competent supervision.
3.2.2. All items of electrical equipment which are suspected of being dangerous are to be taken out of use immediately.
3.2.3. Electrical installations, extensions or repairs are only to be carried out by qualified contractors who must:
a) be registered with the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC).
b) Carry public liability insurance and
c) Carry out any works in accordance with the recommendations contained in the current edition of the Institute of Electrical Engineers Wiring Regulations handbook.
3.2.4. Every year there shall be an inspection by a contractor fulfilling the requirements in 3.2.3. above, of all portable electrical appliances. The inspection shall include the testing of earth continuity, insulation resistance, loading and earth leakage, and a report shall be produced.
A register shall be kept of portable electrical appliances containing details of the latest test report.
3.3 First Aid.
The following policies are in accordance with the revised “Approved Code of Practice and Guidance” (1990) published by the Health and Safety Commission under the “First Aid Regulations 1981”.
3.3.1 A proportion of the teaching staff shall have attended a course of first aid training and have a current certificate issued by an organization approved by the Health and Safety Executive.
3.3.2. There are two qualified First Aid at Work persons
3.3.3. First Aid boxes shall comply with paragraphs 12 to 16 of the Approved Code of Practice as regards their contents.
3.3.4. The “Appointed Person” for the purposes of compliance with the Approved Code of Practice shall be the Headteacher or the Deputy Head.