Health and Safety

1.1
The Members of Council of the King Alfred Society recognise that they have a legal duty to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all their employees. They acknowledge that they have responsibilities towards pupils, the public and visitors who use King Alfred School (KAS), these duties being implicit in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other legislation. In fulfilling these responsibilities Council seeks to achieve a balance between practicable safety precautions and reasonable levels of risk that may be retained in support of the KAS ethos and style of education.
1.2
The Members of Council accept these responsibilities. It is and will continue to be their policy to promote higher standards of health, safety and welfare in accordance with the terms and requirements of the above Act, Regulations made under that Act and Approved Codes of Practice. Council and management recognise that they have an obligation to establish and maintain exemplary standards. Through their positive attitude and approach they will lead by example and encourage all staff to adopt a similar approach.
1.3
The School’s policy and arrangements in relation to Health and Safety are laid out in this document. It will be brought to the attention of all existing staff and will be part of the induction training of all new staff.
2.0 THE HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
2.1 The Members of Council will take reasonable steps to ensure:
• The maintenance of safe and healthy working places and systems of work
• The protection of all employees, pupils and others, including the public, in so far as they come into contact with foreseeable hazards;
• The provision and maintenance of a safe and healthy teaching environment for all employees and pupils with adequate facilities and arrangements for their welfare;
• The provision to all employees and pupils of the information, instruction, training and supervision that they require to work safely and efficiently. The School's external Health and Safety Consultants will be available to provide relevant information and this will be disseminated to staff, as appropriate;
• The development of safety awareness amongst all employees and pupils and, as a result of this, the acceptance of individual responsibility for health and safety by everybody;
• The provision of a safe environment for all visitors to the School's premises bearing in mind that these visitors may not necessarily be attuned to the School's environment;
• The effective control of outside contractors when on the School's premises. Apart from routine supervision and control of contractors, this will be achieved by requiring contractors to provide information on safe working at the tender stage;
• The encouragement of effective two-way communication on health and safety matters, utilising the management structure of the School and existing committees;
• That this Policy is a working document, subject to annual review to ensure accordance with best practice;
• The School is conscious of the external environment that may be affected by its activities and will pay full regard to the implications of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 including the duty of care as regards waste;
• The school complies with legislation and guidance on Safeguarding Children in Education, as amended from time to time;
• The School will provide and maintain a written risk assessment of the risks to the health and safety of its staff whilst they are at work, as required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999;
• To these ends the Bursar will continue to employ an external Risk Management Company to act as Competent Persons to provide the necessary legal, technical and practical health and safety assistance and information and to act as an independent monitoring service for the activities of the School.
2.2 Council has delegated responsibility for the implementation of this policy to the Head and Bursar. Through them responsibilities are delegated to all members of the management team, the Heads and Department and Departmental Managers and staff. Health and Safety is regarded as an intrinsic responsibility of all members of the King Alfred School community and integral to all its activities.
3.0 SAFETY ORGANISATION
3.1 Management Responsibilities
3.1.1
Head and Bursar
The Head of King Alfred School has primary responsibility for the implementation of this Health and Safety Policy within the School, particularly in relation to the educational aspects and the welfare of pupils.
The Bursar has responsibility for ensuring that the premises are safe and that there are safe systems of working in place. She chairs the Health and Safety Committee and places the contract for the annual external safety audit. She is responsible for the preparation of the annual safety plan. Together with the Estates Manager she is responsible for monitoring legislative changes and ensuring the school’s continuing compliance.
The Head or Bursar may refer staff for occupational health assessment. They are responsible for ensuring that there are sufficient, trained first aiders and fire wardens.
3.1.2
Estates Manager
The Estates Manager is appointed the school’s Health and Safety Manager. He will carry out the responsibilities delegated to him by the Head and Bursar for the effective implementation of the King Alfred School Health and Safety Policy. His particular functions include:
• monitoring the school’s performance against the annual safety action plan
• establishing procedures for the preparation and checking of risk assessments
• preparing generic risk assessments and risk assessment templates
• day to day management of school premises and equipment
• vehicle safety
• fire safety
• evacuation procedures
• in conjunction with the School’s Architect and other managers, the supervision of contractors on school premises
• coordination of classroom audits
• advising on the appointment of, and liaising with the External Risk Management Company
• obtaining, interpreting and disseminating information on Health and Safety to promote a positive and proactive safety culture
• facilitation of training on Health and Safety matters
• serving as a contact point for staff who require advice on Health and Safety issues and the balance between practicable safety precautions and reasonable levels of risk that may be retained in support of the KAS ethos and education
• provision of checklists and templates
• in conjunction with the Bursar, monitoring of legislative changes
• ensuring that there is a proper system for reporting accidents, incidents and near misses, investigating where required
• liaison with and reporting to the Health and Safety Executive as required
• facilitating provision of external specialist advice where required
• coordinating the work of the Health and Safety Committee and alerting it and management to issues that may raise Health and Safety concerns
• carrying out his own departmental Health and Safety responsibilities
3.1.3
Heads of Department and Departmental Managers
The Heads of Department (HOD), the School Architect, Estates Manager, Catering Manager and Head of ICT Support Services are responsible for overseeing the implementation of the School Health and Safety Policy within their own department and area of operation. They are responsible for ensuring that safe systems of work are established and maintained and these are followed by all staff in their area. In particular each HOD and manager is responsible for:
• agreeing the health and safety priorities within their Department
• for ensuring the allocation of adequate and appropriate resources
• ensuring that appropriate procedures for safe working are developed and followed
• monitoring and reviewing the Health and Safety performance within their own Department
• taking prompt action to correct any deficiencies
Each HOD and Departmental Manager will:
• Familiarise themselves with the contents of King Alfred School’s Health and Safety Policy. They will ensure that the staff under their management have received suitable briefing on the contents of these safety documents and procedures
• Arrange for the identification of risks which may be present in their work area (such as science experiments, cooking and the use of aerosols) and activities through effective risk assessment. Once completed the HOD or manager will ensure that any necessary remedial action identified in the assessment is actioned and safe methods of working established and followed. The record of risk assessments will be retained within the department.
• Set up a system for routine safety inspections in their work area, (including fire extinguishers, fire blankets and fume cupboards) and ensure that any remedial issues are addressed. Records of assessments will be kept in the area. The manager will maintain a record of these safety inspections.
• Arrange for all new staff to receive safety training in accordance with the needs of their work including COSHH. Records of the training will be kept within the Department.
• Investigate all accidents and incidents which occur in their department and prepare the necessary report forms for the Estates Manager.
• Complete and return classroom audit sheets in accordance with the published timescale.
• Unless delegated to the departmental technician, ensure adequate testing, examination, maintenance, servicing and repair of specialist equipment.
• Ensure that for classroom activities, day trips, field trips and other activities that a risk assessment is completed in good time and a record sent to the Estates Manager for checking and advice, in accordance with published timescales.
• Refer any safety matter not within their competence to the Estates Manager or Bursar.
3.1.4
Art, CDT, ICT and Science Technicians
Technicians will be responsible to Heads of Department for:
• isolating gas supplies to laboratories/workshops at end of each teaching day. Shut off supplies during breaks.
• the constant security of all toxic and highly flammable substances which may be used in their department, locking them away during breaks or when rooms are not in use for teaching
• ensuring that a sufficient number of the correct fire extinguishers and fire blankets are available within or close to, workshops, laboratories and prep rooms
• ensuring the adequate testing, examination, maintenance, servicing and repair of specialist equipment.
3.1.5
Staff Responsibilities
All KAS staff have a responsibility for safety and are expected to:
• take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
• co-operate with management to enable it to comply with its statutory duties and to implement its safety policy.
• not to intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse any equipment or property of the school
• report any unsafe act or situation to their HOD or departmental manager
These staff duties are legal responsibilities. Failure to observe these responsibilities may have significant personal consequences, including possible prosecution and/or disciplinary action.
3.1.6
Health and Safety Committee
The role of the Health and Safety Committee is governed by its terms of reference (copy in Appendix A). The committee is chaired by the Bursar and comprises the Head, Bursar, Deputy Heads, the Heads of Art, CDT, PE and Science, the School Architect, the Estates Manager, the Catering Manager, the Head of ICT Support Services, the technicians, designated safety representatives from Lower School and three members of Council. Other members of staff or Council may be invited to meetings as required.
The main responsibilities of the committee include:
• co-ordinating and promoting health and safety issues within the school
• reviewing draft policies and updates and recommending safety policy to Council
• monitoring policy implementation and safety performance within the school
• considering the annual safety audit and agreeing and monitoring the implementation of the annual safety plan
• approving safety standards within the school
• reviewing Health and Safety procedures, including risk assessment procedures to ensure that they are properly conducted
• reviewing accidents and incidents and agreeing actions for avoiding future incidents
4.0 SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS
4.1 Risk Assessments
Guidance on the preparation and content of Risk Assessments is available from the Estates Manager.
It is a legal requirement for employers to have health and safety management systems and to conduct risk assessments. Areas of work requiring risk assessment are covered by:
• The Display Screen Equipment Regulations - these regulations cover most VDUs and state that employers must carry out assessments of workstations, meet certain standards, provide training and also provide work breaks and pay for eye tests.
• The Manual Handling Operations Regulations - these regulations state that employers must remove the risks associated with manual handling wherever possible by avoiding lifting, pushing, pulling and moving activities, automating the process, or reducing the risk through other means.
• Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations - Employers must provide suitable personal protective equipment when other safety measures will not remove the risk. Personal protective equipment must be provided free of charge to the user.
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations - these regulations cover all equipment including photocopiers, knives and computers, which must be suitable, safe and well maintained.
• The Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations - these lay down general principles of welfare of staff, including ventilation, temperature, cleanliness, washing facilities and rest rooms
• There is additional legislation requiring risk assessment of areas such as Lone Working, Working at Height, Stress in the Workplace, COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health), Noise and Vibration, Use of Vehicles, Fire Hazards & Control, Electrical Hazards & Control, and Construction Activities.
4.2
Health and Safety Training
4.2.1
All staff will receive health and safety induction information and training shortly after commencing their employment with King Alfred School. This training will cover the basic health and safety requirements for their work area.
4.2.2
HODS and departmental managers will ensure that staff working in areas where specific risks are present are provided with the appropriate specialised training to ensure they may carry out their jobs safely and without risks to health.
4.2.3
Managers will review individual training needs with all employees on at least an annual basis. Records of all staff safety training carried out will be kept within the Department.
4.3
Contractors
4.3.1
External contractors will normally be engaged by the School’s Architect or Estates Manager who will vet them at the tender stage to ensure that:
• they are competent to carry out the project
• have appropriate safe methods of working
• that they meet the requirements for Safeguarding Children in Education
4.3.2
A contractor is anyone who enters school property or premises to carry out work. The way in which contractors are controlled will depend on the type of work they are required to do, and the level of the risk involved.
4.3.3
Both the School and contractors have duties under the “Health and Safety at Work Act”. The responsibilities of both parties should be clearly defined before work begins.
4.3.4
HODS and managers will monitor the activities of contractors working in their Department and will report to the Estates Manager any unsafe actions, behaviours or equipment.
4.4
Accident Reporting and Investigation
4.4.1
All incidents which require first aid treatment will be logged in the First Aid book maintained by the School Nurse. Serious incidents will be investigated by the Estates Manager as soon as reasonably possible - and in any event not later than 72 hours after the incident.
A written accident report will be produced for all incidents except
those which require only minor first aid treatment. These books are located in the nurse’s room, the Bursary and in the Estates Manager’s office. Guidance on their completion is held by the Estates Manager.
4.4.2
Once completed a copy of the accident report/investigation form will be filed and the Estates Manager will arrange for 'notifiable' accident reports to be forwarded to the appropriate office of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE); notifiable reports are required for all deaths, major injuries, accidents resulting in over three days of injury, diseases, dangerous occurrences and gas incidents. The Head will review all accident report forms on a half termly basis and the Health and Safety Committee will review a summary of them on a termly basis.
4.5
First Aid Arrangements
4.5.1
The Head and Bursar will ensure that there are sufficient staff with appropriate levels of training in first aid. Special arrangements will be made for special events and camps.
4.6
Emergency and Contingency Plans
4.6.1
Emergency and contingency plans are determined by the Critical Incident Management Team.
HODs and Managers will ensure that all staff are made aware of necessary arrangements, and are provided with the appropriate information and training as part of their induction.
4.7
Monitoring and Review
4.7.1
King Alfred School’s Health and Safety Committee monitors the implementation of this policy at least once each term.
4.7.2
Safety will be a regular agenda item at management team meetings and the Head and Bursar will address specific incidents and concerns.
4.8
Environmental Health Liaison
4.8.1
The Environmental Health Department at the London Borough of Barnet is responsible for ensuring that health and safety legislation is implemented in the workplace, and that safety standards are maintained to protect both employees and those affected by work activities.
4.8.2
In the event of a visit to an area under the control of King Alfred School by the Environmental Health Department, it is important that a system is in place to ensure that they receive the appropriate information. The Estates Manager for King Alfred School should be notified as soon as possible, and the individual dealing with the enquiry/visit must cooperate at all times with the Environmental Health Department staff.

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