Nigel Purchon recommends a digest of risk management for schools Every school must have a written Health and Safety Policy. If you have not yet got one, you will find a model and much more in the Croner Guide.
Croner provides the “responsible officer” (head , deputy or safety officer) with an overview of the legislation. Most, if not all, of your questions will be answered. What does “so far as is reasonably practicable” actually mean? Look it up in Croner or find out in court. How will you identify the hazards and assess risks? Every employee has the right to work in a safe place and all pupils have the right to learn in a safe school.
The first section clearly sets out the legal duties of governors and headsas employers and the duties of employees. It explains the background and purpose of the legislation and shows that the management of health and safety in schools is not the daunting task it first seemed.
Section 2 describes the aims and objectives of safety management. Busy teachers do not have time to wade through all the relevant Acts and Regulations; this has been done for us. However, understanding the legislation is not sufficient. Employers must take steps to provide a safe environment for staff, pupils and other lawful visitors. Guidance is provided on risk assessment. The responsible officer should know to whom responsibilities for safety has been delegated. The guide gives further guidance on monitoring and review.
Section 3, the bulk of the manual (records and procedures), consists of check-lists and record sheets for use in all areas of the school. These can be modified as required and photocopied for internal use. More efficient editing might be possible if they were also available on computer disc. Even if your school already has good recording procedures, key points in the check-lists will put your mind at rest or identify the omissions. This section is divided into sub-sections on art, design and technology; emergency procedures; general issues; kitchens and dining rooms; out-of-school visits; personnel issues; physical education and organised games; premises management; science laboratories and workplaces; transport issues; and work experience. Model policies for individual departments would be a welcome addition.
The recording forms highlight the fact that the science department is not the only area in the school which uses hazardous substances. What about the chemicals in the art department’s photographic darkroom or the bleach under the staffroom sink.
Accidents are impossible to predict, but it may be necessary to show that reasonable steps were taken to identify hazards and reduce unnecessary risks. This is what the manual is all about. The content justifies Croner’s statement “School Health and Safety Management offers a fully integrated health and safety information service which combines legislative and management guidance and a series of records and procedures which schools can adapt to their own particular circumstances”.
Nigel Purchon is a member of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers’ health and safety group.
