Some headteachers are under so much pressure to improve exam results and juggle budgets that they may be compromising health and safety regulations in their school buildings, the National Governors’ Association (NGA) has said.
Phil Revell, the chief executive, feared that “more than a tiny minority” were breaking the law to save money or because they were distracted by political pressures.
“Heads can be sacked if pupils don’t make the grades. All the pressure is to meet the curriculum standards, and that takes heads’ eyes off management of buildings,” he said.
His concerns were echoed by Mick Brookes, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, who said heads in small primaries were increasingly vulnerable due to the weight of the law.
“A lot of people are being driven mad by health and safety legislation, and the consequence is extreme overload and the risk of missing something important,” he said.
“Shrinking budgets mean there are plenty of heads taking this on themselves and having to choose between having a health and safety survey or keeping a teacher.
“Under the workforce agreement, no headteacher should have to take on this responsibility, but they cannot necessarily afford otherwise.”
Some schools were clubbing together to share a business manager to deal with the health and safety legislation maze, he said, but this was by no means the rule.
Many secondaries, embracing the concept of “distributed leadership”, delegate health and safety matters to a bursar or similar, but the head is still ultimately responsible.
The NGA’s comments came as David Dibb, head of Westonzoyland Primary in Somerset, appeared in court accused of failing to employ a licensed company to remove asbestos from his school. It is believed to be only the second time an individual head has been taken to court by the Health and Safety Executive over asbestos.
In 2006, Phil Robinson, head of Silverhill Primary in Derby, was cleared of any wrongdoing after asbestos was disturbed during works to the building, but Derby city council was fined Pounds 50,000.
Although cases of heads being taken to court are rare, experts say vagueness in the law leaves heads open to prosecution. Richard Bird, legal advisor to the Association of School and College Leaders, and who was a secondary head for 21 years, said the duty of care to visitors, employees and pupils came down to the “owner, occupier or manager” of the premises. In other words, the head and local authority, and potentially the governors, could be found liable if a visitor fell down a hole in the playground or slipped on a wet floor.
As the number of foundation, trust and academy schools rises, more heads and governors could be left prone to prosecution because they do not have the local authority to fall back on.
Mr Bird explained that the pitfalls are many, from making sure asbestos is dealt with properly, to preventing an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the PE changing rooms.
“Schools are even responsible for ensuring trespassers are protected,” he said. In 1999, Knowsley council had to pay Pounds 17,500 to a youth who fell 20 feet after a school skylight he was stamping on gave way.
“But one of the main areas for heads to be aware of is fire safety, as they are personally responsible for breaches,” Mr Bird said.
“There are so many things happening around school that the head needs to be aware of. For example, caretakers propping open fire doors.
“Making sure the regulations are followed, drills are carried out and doors are not blocked - all come down to the head.”
Mr Bird said it was very easy for health and safety issues to “fall by the wayside” and advised that heads routinely employ experts from either the local authority or a local contractor to carry out inspections.
Simon Longbottom, head of the Health and Safety Executive’s education sector team, said: “Increasing local management of schools means that some heads take on additional responsibilities for building maintenance and construction. Heads need to ensure there is a competent project manager and close liaison with contractors so that additional risks to staff and pupils are properly controlled.”
www.hse.gov.ukserviceseducationWHAT SCHOOLS ARE LIABLE FORCommon law dutiesDuties of care to employees; this includes stress as well as safe workingDuties of care to visitorsProtecting parents and children from hazardsUnlawful visitors (trespassers) must also not be put at risk, though the duty of care is less demandingControl of Asbestos Regulations 2006Investigate whether asbestos is on the premisesCarry out a written risk assessmentPrepare and implement a risk management systemProvide anyone working on the premises with information on the location of asbestosWork with asbestos may only be carried out by licensed operatorsThe Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005Managers, as well as the occupiers and owners of premises, are personally liable for any breach of fire regulations, such as obstruction of fire escape routesControl of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (2002)Covers hazardous substances from bleach to radiationSubstances must be recorded and detailed risk assessments madeSafety procedures must be laid down and enforcedThe Health and Safety Executive continuously updates advice on substances and should be checkedHealth and Safety at Work Act 1974 and subsequent regulationsAssess risksEnsure first aid and medical care are arranged (plus contacts with external services)Record health and safety arrangementsEmploy competent peopleArrange safety of contractors on siteProvide safety training as part of inductionKeep records of compliance with the regulationsIn doing so, work with statutory union health and safety representativesComplete accident formsThe working environmentMust be safe (includes non-slip floors)Must be ventilated, safely lit and work spaces be of adequate sizeMust have rest facilitiesGood housekeeping; for example, any spillage must be mopped up promptlyThere must be emergency procedures, such as in case of fireEquipmentOperating hazards must be identifiedAppropriate guards must be providedInduction must include safe operationRichard Bird legal adviser to the ASCL.
