CHILDREN S SERVICE Local Code of Practice 4 Reporting Accidents, Incidents and Dangerous Occurrences Issued October 2003
Author: Service: Division Peter Dempsey Resources Health & Safety Unit Intended Target Group: Educational Establishments Last Reviewed: October 2003
Introduction: Children s Service Local Code of Practice No 4 Reporting Accidents, Incidents and Dangerous Occurrences The reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 places a legal duty on the LA to report specified injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences The general duty of care imposed by the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 makes it good practice to record all accidents so that trends can be identified and remedial action taken to reduce risk Application: This local code of practice establishes standards to be complied with by all community schools and acts as guidance to both Voluntary Aided and Foundation Schools. Responsibilities: Responsibility for reporting injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences rests with the Premises Controller on duty. Governing Bodies have a general duty to co-operate with the LA in meeting its legal duties to report and record accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences arising out of activities within the control of the LA or Governing Body. Accident Reporting: Appendix A outlines the procedure to be followed when an accident, dangerous occurrence or near miss occurs. An accident has been defined by RIDDOR as including " an act of non consensual physical violence done to a person at work". Accident Investigation: All accidents should be investigated by the Premises Controller or Supervisor responsible for the premises at the time of the incident, with a view to preventing a reoccurrence. Remedial action should be taken promptly. The Safety Liaison Officer shall initiate the investigation of those accidents reportable to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). The Trades Union elected Health & Safety Representative for the workplace also has a statutory right to investigate an accident and the premise's controller should co-operate in this.
Accident/incident statistics Statistics will be monitored as follows: Accidents at schools Health & Safety Unit Accidents in other services/departments By their respective administration sections Records Copies of forms F2508, F2508A and AI 1 forms should be kept on site for a period of 4 years.
Appendix A Notification of Accidents Advice on what action to take following an accident can be obtained from the Safety Liaison Officer Reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 All accidents to members of staff, non employees on council premises or persons for whom the council has a duty of care: 1. Complete an Accident/Incident Report Form (AI1) in full 2. Copy to Health & Safety Unit and Insurance Section 3. Copy to your service/admin department (Non Schools Premises Only) Death or major injury If the accident results in: The death of any person (within 10 days of the incident) Or Major injury to an employee as defined in Appendix B 1. Report the accident immediately by telephone to: RIDDOR on 0845 300 99 23 A copy of the form (F2508) used to record the details of the reported incident will be send to you for correction and signing. A copy of this should be sent to the Health & Safety Unit and a copy kept for your own records. When reporting the incident a reference number will be given, this reference number should be entered onto the AI1 forms, to confirm that a notifiable incident has been reported. Further details are available at www. Riddor.gov.uk 2. Health & Safety Unit on 020 8359 7951 3. Advise the Trades Union elected Health & Safety representatives who are entitled to investigate the cause of any notifiable accident. Employees Only If any accident to an employee results in their being unable to work for more than 3 days ( including non working days) details should be reported to the HSE
When calculating the period of absence, the day that the accident takes place should be excluded, but days not normally worked should all be included. Injuries to non employees Any injury to a person who is not at work (e.g. pupil/visitor) WHICH 1) Results from an accident arising at or in connection with work and 2) Results in their being taken to hospital by whatever means Report immediately by telephone to the HSE (RIDDOR) Report immediately to the Health & Safety Unit on 020 8359 7951 Violent Incidents All verbal and physical violent incidents should be reported: Complete AI1 form in full Copy to Health & Safety Unit Copy to your service admin section ( non schools premises only) Please refer to Local Code of Practice No 23 Prevention of Harassment and Violence at Work for further information and guidance on the reporting of verbal and physical violent incidents. Where any employees is assaulted by another member of staff of a member of the public and the employee dies or suffers a major injury as defined in Appendix B Or Is off work for more than 3 days Report to HSE on 0845 300 9923 The HSE does not require notification for a non employee, even if they are taken straight to hospital Notification of Dangerous Occurrences All Dangerous Occurrences where Council property or equipment is damaged, or where near miss situations where injury might occur in other circumstances must be reported by: Completion of AI1 form in full Copy to Health & Safety Unit
Copy to your service admin section (non schools premises only) If the Dangerous Occurrence is defined in Appendix D as reportable to the HSE, phone 0845 300 99 23 and send copies of the completed F2508 forms to Health & Safety and the service admin section. Reporting Diseases When an employee who does a specific type of work is known to be suffering from a related reportable disease this must be reported to the HSE Non School Premises: On receipt of a medical certificate from an employee, diagnosing a reportable disease, a Human Resources Officer must notify the Health & Safety Unit who will arrange for the Form F2508A to be completed and sent to the HSE. A copy will be sent to the Safety Liaison Officer. Schools: On receipt of a medical certificate from an employee, diagnosing a reportable disease, the Premises Controller must notify the Health & Safety Unit who will arrange for the Form F2508A to be completed and sent to the HSE. Copies will be sent to the Safety Liaison Officer. Reportable Diseases Hepatitis Legionellosis Lyme Disease Rabies Tetanus Tuberculosis Any infection reliably attributable to work with micro-organisms or with animals Please refer to corporate policy arrangement No 4 for a comprehensive list of notifiable diseases
Appendix B Major injuries: As a result of an accident arising out of connection with work Any fracture, other than to fingers or toes Any amputation Dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine Loss of the sight of an eye(whether temporary or permanent), or a chemical, hot metal or penetrating injury Electrical injury or burns leading to unconsciousness or needing resuscitation or admission to hospital for more than 24 hours Any other injury leading to: hypothermia, heat induced illness or to unconsciousness requiring resuscitation requiring admission to hospital for more than 24 hours Loss of consciousness due to lack of oxygen, or by exposure to a harmful substance or biological agent Either of the following conditions, which result in absorption of any substance by inhalation, ingestion or through the skin. Acute illness requiring medical treatment Loss of consciousness Acute illness which required medical treatment where there is reason to believe that this resulted from exposure to a biological agent and its toxins or infected material How do I decide whether an accident arises out of or is in connection with work? An accident will be reportable if it is attributable to: Work organisation (eg the supervision of a field trip) Plant or substances ( eg lifts, machinery. Experiments, experiments etc) The condition of the premises Playground accidents due to collisions, slips and falls are not reportable unless they arise out of or in connection with work eg the condition of the premises or equipment, or the level of supervision.
Appendix C Dangerous Occurrences : The following is a simplified list of dangerous occurrences and should be used for guidance only: 1. Collapse, overturning or failure of a lifting device 2. The failure of any closed pressure vessel or associated pipe work, which has the potential to cause death. 3. Any incident in which plant or equipment comes into contact with an un insulated overhead electric line or causes an electrical discharge from such an electric line by coming into close proximity to it. 4. Electrical short circuit or overload which results in the stopping of work for more than 24 hours 5. The unintentional explosion or ignition of explosives 6. The collapse of scaffolding more than 5 metres high 7. The collapse or partial collapse of any building or structure 8. The uncontrolled release or escape of any substance in quantity sufficient to cause death, major injury or damage to the health of any person.