GREAT OAKS SMALL SCHOOL

Transcription

1 GREAT OAKS SMALL SCHOOL OVERARCHING RISK ASSESSMENT POLICY HEAD TEACHER: JULIE KELLY HEALTH AND SAFETY LEAD: ANDY CRANE PASTORAL LEAD: JACQUELINE FREESTON SENCO: KERRI BAKER HEALTH AND SAFETY TRUSTEE: JANET YAPP Introduction In accordance with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 employers (including schools) are required to carry out risk assessments and record the significant findings. This policy is written with reference to: 1

2 Health and safety: advice on legal duties and powers For local authorities, school leaders, school staff and governing bodies (DfE 2014) Kent County Council s advice and guidance on risk assessment ( This Policy should be read in conjunction with the following policies Safeguarding Policy & related policies e.g. online safety, CSE, FGM, Health and Safety Policy Risk Assessment Policy for Student Welfare Emergency Planning Policy and Procedures At Great Oaks Small School, Senior Leaders must identify and risk-assess the hazards, and potential hazards, faced by staff, students, parents/carers, cleaners, contractors, agency staff, visitors, volunteers and members of the public. Definitions Hazard anything with the potential to cause harm. Risk the chance (high, medium or low) that somebody will be harmed by the hazard Risk assessment an examination of the workplace and activities to identify the measures that need to be taken to eliminate or minimise the risk of injuries and ill-health Basic principles Health and Safety is everybody s responsibility all staff at all times prioritise their own safety and well-being and that of the students Robust risk assessments, which are regularly reviewed, ensure risks are anticipated and steps taken to eliminate or minimise those risks. Not all risks can be anticipated and prevented accidents can and may happen at any time. It is vital that all staff are vigilant and aware of their surroundings, students and other adults and feel empowered to take early preventative action if they see a problem arising Aims and Objectives To ensure everybody is aware of the risks they face by carrying out risk assessments and providing all those affected with the latest detailed information as required. To eliminating or avoid hazardous activities where possible. 2

3 To provide details of safe systems of working and emergency procedures based upon the outcome of risk assessments. To ensuring everybody has the information and instructions they need and are adequately trained to carry out each specific task to the level required. To monitor, review and, where required, revise the control systems that are in place. Responsibilities Trustees Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the Risk Assessment Policy Head Teacher Is responsible for Health and Safety in the school and delegates responsibility to the Health and Safety Lead Health and Safety Lead Establish, with staff, the activities/tasks/locations/work equipment to be assessed Identify competent * people to carry out the assessments Define the system to manage completed assessments, any associated actions, communication and review Establish communication and information sharing for the outcomes of the risk assessment with all staff and others who may be affected by the risk involve staff in assessing the risks * competent This means they will have sufficient knowledge, experience and, if required, training i.e. an ability to make sound judgement; and knowledge of the best practicable means to reduce those risks identified. Staff Be aware of risk assessment and control measures for their area of work and responsibility Co-operate with and engage in the risk assessment process Use and comply with control measures implemented to ensure the health and safety of themselves or others Report any workplace hazards or concerns regarding health and safety of themselves or others. 3

4 Carry out on the spot (dynamic) risk assessments within the context of their own competencies and in consultation with others, as situations arise. RISK ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE The risk assessment process outlined below is a formal record of how we manage risks on a regular basis. Staff should feel confident and aware of the activities they, other staff and students undertake before carrying out a risk assessment and should seek advice and support from senior leaders if needed. (see Risk Assessment Flo-Chart (Appendix 1) Step 1 Identify the hazards Staff will identify all the hazards associated with their area of responsibility that could reasonably be expected to cause harm. Hazards can be identified by: Observing / examining the area, tasks. Activities Referring to available guidance and information about best practice Looking at accident and ill-health records Checking manufacturers instructions for equipment / resources Asking staff for their views. Considering students individual risk assessments (see below) Step 2 Decide who might be harmed and how For each hazard the groups of people who might be harmed and how must be identified. The groups of people to be considered include: staff and students with particular requirements e.g. people with disabilities, new or expectant mothers; cleaners, visitors, contractors, maintenance workers who may not be in the workplace all the time; members of the public, and in shared workplaces how the work affects others and the risks to staff from those who share the workspace Step 3 Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions For each hazard identified the level of risk must be evaluated (High/Medium/Low). This evaluation may include the level of harm presented by the hazard, the number of people involved, and the likelihood of the harm occurring. Once the level of risk is established staff must consider what control measures are already in place and what actions are already being taken to reduce the risk, consider whether these are suitable and sufficient and whether further control measures are required. 4

5 Controlling the Risk When controlling risks the following principles should be applied, where possible in the following order: Eliminate the hazard altogether; Substitution by something less hazardous or risk; Prevent access to the hazard e.g. by guarding Organise work to reduce exposure to the hazard e.g. putting barriers between pedestrians and traffic Create safe methods of work and safe systems of work designed to reduce the risk Issue personal protective equipment e.g. clothing, footwear, goggles etc. Provide welfare facilities e.g. first aid and washing facilities for removal of contamination Provide suitable information, instruction and training Ensure appropriate supervision. Dynamic Risk Assessment On rare occasions there may be a need for staff to undertake a Dynamic Risk Assessment The need for a dynamic risk assessment may arise when an unforeseen event occurs and a previously unidentified risk becomes apparent. In these circumstances staff must work within the context of their own competencies and in consultation with others where possible. Once the dynamic risk assessment has been taken place, a formal written risk assessment record must be made of this as soon as is reasonably practicable after the event. Step 4 Record findings and implement them General Risk Assessments Assessments of processes or areas that do not have a specific risk assessment format should be carried out using the general risk assessment form (see Appendix 2). Other Risk Assessments This General Risk Assessment Form may not be suitable for use for recording risks to individuals, complex risk assessments or where there is agreed standard documentation for inter-agency working. 5

6 Risk assessments in other Health and Safety Policy areas A number of risk assessment forms relating to specific areas are available in the Health and Safety file kept in the school office. We will also use specific risk assessment forms, and related guidance, provided by Kent County Council, available electronically on the following link: Examples of specific forms include: First Aid Needs Young People at Work Volunteer Activities Manual Handling Display Screen Equipment Fire Educational Visits Individual Student Risk Assessments All students will be assessed for potential risk to their welfare prior to admission and reviewed during their first term at the school and regularly in formal review meetings. Where a concern is identified, the risk(s) will be assessed and appropriate action will be taken to eliminate or reduce the risks as far is as reasonably practicable, based, on informed judgement and reference to appropriate guidance. Further, detailed information is set out in the Risk Assessment Policy for Student Welfare Step 5 Review assessment and update if necessary The Health and Safety Lead will oversee the review of risk assessments: at regular intervals not exceeding one year following a significant change and /or if there is a reason to suspect it is no longer valid e.g. after an accident, ill-health incident, violent incidence or malfunction has occurred The risk assessment must remain up to date, valid and available at point of use. Once a risk assessment is obsolete it must be archived for a minimum of 5 years. 6

7 Communication The Health and Safety Lead will ensure that the persons at risk are provided with comprehensive and relevant information on the identified risks and the preventive and protective control measures. Everyone should understand what they must do and why. Where necessary, job safety instructions will be issued to individual employees and appropriate training provided. Training Senior leaders responsible for the planning, co-ordination and monitoring of risk assessments will receive appropriate risk assessment training. Staff involved in the creation of risk assessments will receive training in the risk assessment process. Monitoring Staff should report any concerns or defects in control measures, personal protective equipment, etc. immediately to their manager. The Health and Safety Lead and Trustee with responsibility for Health and Safety will monitor the effectiveness of control measures and ensure that physical control measures are used, installed correctly and suitably maintained. Specialist Advice It is important when completing risk assessments to be aware of individual limitations in terms of knowledge and competence. The Health and Safety Lead will seek advice from specialists where appropriate. Appendix 1 7

8 Risk Assessment Flowchart Firstly you must identify all the significant hazards Decide who may be harmed and how Are existing precautions adequate? Evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing precautions are adequate or more needs to be done Put the risks in order of their severity and the actions that need to be carried out Put in place sufficient written procedures and provide adequate information, instruction and training to be able to manage these risks Record your significant findings and what you are doing to manage the risks Monitor, review and revise when necessary i.e. when the task changes, new equipment is introduced, the needs of the individual change etc 8

9 GENERAL RISK ASSESSMENT Appendix 2 Location, activity, or issue being looked at: Hazard (something with the potential to cause harm) What could go wrong? Who may be harmed? What is done now, that helps control the risk? Is the risk still high, mediu m or low? What extra controls need to be put in place? By when? By whom? Name of Assessor: Date: Review Date: Job Title: Sign here to confirm when all actions have been completed: 9