St Teresa s Catholic Primary School Health and Safety Policy Policy Aims St Teresa s school is committed to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment for our staff and for ensuring that the schools premises and activities do not adversely affect the health and safety of our pupils, staff or any other school visitors. The school s aim is to integrate health and safety into everything we plan and do so that it becomes an intrinsic part of our culture. The Headteacher and the Governing Body recognise and accept their responsibilities for putting the Wokingham Borough Council Health and Safety Policy into effect by: providing adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from the school s work activities; consulting with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety; providing and maintaining safe plant and equipment; ensuring the safe handling and use of substances; providing information, instruction and supervision for staff; ensuring all employees are competent to do their tasks, and to give them adequate training; preventing accidents and cases of work-related ill health; maintaining safe and healthy working conditions; and review and revision as necessary of this policy including the organisation for its implementation and the health and safety procedures. Responsibilities for health and safety and the school s health and safety procedures are set out below:- Governing Body Responsibilities: The Governing Body will be responsible for monitoring the schools arrangements for health and safety management. This will be achieved by ensuring: that a member of the Governing Body should be nominated for health and safety; that health and safety is considered regularly, at least termly, (and more frequently should circumstances require), by the Buildings Committee which has been delegated responsibility for monitoring the schools health and safety matters, with a duty under its Terms of Reference to report at least annually to the full Governing Body;
a summary report of the Health & Safety / Maintenance Action Plan to be presented annually by the Health & Safety Governor to the full Governing Body; consideration of any report of an health and safety audit or inspection carried out by the authority and for ensuring follow through on the recommended actions; an annual report on health and safety is reviewed by the governors Building Committee, and any recommendations are considered by the FGB that adequate resources are available for compliance with health and safety legislation and to meet the standards set by Wokingham Borough Council; holding staff training annually to encourage awareness of potential hazards and near miss incidents that a full safety inspection of the site is carried out termly with the full involvement of at least one member of the Governing Body; periodical review of accident statistics by the Buildings Committee; regular fire alarm checks and evacuation drills are carried out by the school; that any contractors appointed directly by the school are competent, have good safety arrangements in place and are aware of any inherent risks present in the building or because of any specific activities likely to take place. Responsibilities of the Headteacher: The Headteacher shall have responsibilities for ensuring effective management, so far as is reasonably practicable, of all health and safety matters affecting the operations and activities of the school. These include those organised on behalf of the school but being undertaken away from the school site. To do this effectively the Headteacher will work with the Governing Body and keep them fully informed of the authorities policies affecting the health, safety and welfare of staff, pupils and other persons of their responsibility. The following points summarise the main responsibilities and duties of the Headteacher: ensuring at all times the health safety and welfare of staff pupils and others using the school premises or facilities or services or attending or taking part in school sponsored activities; ensuring safe working practices and procedures throughout the school; day-to-day responsibility for all health and safety matters in the operations of the school; ensuring effective co-ordination of safety management by either assuming the role of safety co-ordinator or nominating another appropriate person to take on this role; ensuring compliance with the policy and procedures of Wokingham Borough Council as set out in the safety manual; ensuring that the school produces an action plan which is kept up to date by regular review;
ensuring effective communications on health and safety matters exist between the school s Health and Safety Coordinator and the governors supporting the Health & Safety Governor to provide Governors with an annual report on all matters affecting health and safety in the school; ensuring that the school carries out adequate assessments and controls the risks to health and safety of all persons from hazards within the school and any other of its activities, wherever they are undertaken; ensuring that the school provides equipment and articles for the school that are adequate for their intended use, are correctly serviced and properly maintained; periodically evaluating the need for health and safety training of staff and arranging its delivery; bringing to the attention of the Governing Body and the authority any matters of health and safety that cannot be resolved, or are of imminent danger to any person; and ensuring the school's health and safety policy is kept under review and any amendments brought to the notice of all staff. The Headteacher will be advised and guided in these responsibilities by specialists appointed by the authority. The Headteacher may choose to delegate certain tasks to other members of staff. It is clearly understood by everyone concerned that the delegation of certain duties will not relieve the Headteacher from the overall day to day responsibilities for health and safety within the establishment. The Health and Safety Coordinator is the first point of contact for support with issues that cannot be resolved by staff. Health and Safety Coordinator is responsible for: Nominated by the Headteacher, this person/s will be responsible for ensuring that action is taken to formulate and monitor action at the school to comply with the requirements set out in this policy and in the safety manual. The person will generally support the Headteacher in the setting of objectives for the school and staff. They will also monitor progress taken to meet those objectives and provide assistance and guidance to staff involved. The safety co-ordinator will be seen as the first point of contact for support with issues that cannot be resolved by staff. The safety co-ordinator will be responsible for: Co-ordinating health and safety arrangements, carrying out continuous programmes of audits and checks, ensuring that the requirements of the establishment s health and safety standards are being met, reporting on standards, and recommending provision of such additional facilities and procedures, including financial provision;
Ensuring that all incidents are fully investigated and that action is taken to eliminate the cause, so far as is reasonably practicable; All significant near misses, (significant means it would have resulted in external treatment) are recorded and investigated, and any necessary action taken; Where significant repeated accidents occur, these are investigated and steps taken to mitigate the risk; Ensuring good liaison between the school and contractors, or their representatives undertaking any works on the school site, to ensure the safety of all persons exposed to risk. The Caretaker is responsible for: Monitoring the safety and security of the site and boundaries Monitoring and maintaining equipment around the school and informing the Health and Safety Co-ordinator of any concerns or issues Modelling, demonstrating and facilitating good Health and Safety practice for example, use of and accessibility to ladders for displays Managing contractors to ensure they are informed of school policies and expectations and supervising when necessary to ensure the safety of staff and pupils Teaching Staff and Supervisors are responsible for: Maintaining current risk assessments and up-dating as necessary Carrying out and putting into place actions from risk assessments for all new activities and areas Ensuring appropriate adult supervision for activities Taking sensible precautions at all times to keep pupils safe Lunch Controllers are responsible for: Supervising all lunch time activities and all pupils during the lunch break Recording and reporting all incidents and accidents, and communicating these to relevant staff Having a full knowledge and understanding of Fire, First Aid and food Hygiene procedures Ensuring equipment and areas are left clean and safe for use by pupils Pupils are responsible for:
Following school rules and procedures and doing as instructed at all times Informing a member of staff if another pupil is demonstrating unsafe behaviour Taking sensible precautions at all times to keep pupils safe Responsibilities of employees Under the Health and Safety at work Act etc 1974 all employees have general health and safety responsibilities both. Staff must be aware that they are obliged to take care of their own health and safety whilst at work along with that of others who may be affected by their actions. All employees of the establishment have responsibility to: Take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others in undertaking their work. Comply with the school's health and safety policy and procedures at all times. Report all accidents and incidents in line with the reporting procedure. Co-operate with school management on all matters relating to health and safety. Not to intentionally interfere with or misuse any equipment or fittings provided in the interests of health safety and welfare. Report all defects in condition of premises or equipment and any health and safety concerns immediately to their line manager. Report immediately to their line manager any shortcomings in the arrangements for health and safety. Ensure that they only use equipment or machinery that they are competent to use or have been trained to use. Make use of all necessary control measures and personal protective equipment provided for safety or health reasons. All Employees: Each employee is responsible for his or her own acts or omissions and the effect that these may have upon the safety of themselves or any other person. In addition, all employees; must use safety equipment or clothing in a proper manner and for the purpose intended; must not intentionally or recklessly misuse anything supplied in the interests of health and safety;
must work in accordance with any health and safety instruction or training that has been given; must co-operate fully with the Headteacher to assist in him/her fulfilling their responsibilities for health and safety; must not take part in any task for which they have not been authorised and for which they are not adequately trained; must bring to the attention of a the Headteacher or Safety Co-ordinator any perceived shortcoming in our safety arrangements; and have a duty to familiarise themselves with this policy. Associated Documents and Files: Health and Safety Co-ordinator Job Description Caretaker Job Description Risk Assessment File Accident Reporting Guidelines First Aid Procedure