Health and Safety Policy 2005

Newtown C of E (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School
Health and Safety Policy
Statement of intent

Newtown CofE Primary accepts its responsibility to provide, as far as is reasonably practicable, a safe and healthy environment for children, staff and other users of the premises. The school will take all reasonable steps to meet this responsibility and expects appropriate support from children, staff and visitors.

The objectives of this policy are to:
- Maintain a safe environment throughout the school
- Establish safe working procedures among staff and children
- Develop safety awareness as a general objective.


The L.E.A. is the ultimate body responsible for Health and Safety within the school. The school however recognises its responsibility to provide, as far as is reasonably practical, a safe and healthy environment for all users of the premises.

Our safety policy therefore has the following objectives:

a) to comply with the County Safety Policy
b) to establish a safe environment throughout the school for all employees, children, and visitors who use the premises
c) to establish and maintain safe working procedures among staff and children
d) to develop safety consciousness

The headteacher is responsible for all aspects of safety within the school, and to notify the L.E.A. when a hazard has been identified which is within their authority.

In order to meet our stated objectives it is necessary for all staff to co-operate by taking an active role in being vigilant about all aspects of health and safety.

All concerns and hazards should be reported to the Health and Safety representative. These will then be passed on to the headteacher.

We are committed to provide sufficient information and training in health and safety matters for all staff.

All staff will be consulted on health and safety matters and a briefing on this policy will be given to all new staff as part of the induction process. This policy will form part of the induction pack.


Organisation

All employees have responsibilities under health and safety legislation and are expected to carry out these responsibilities, as appropriate, at all times. These include:

using all equipment safely

reporting situations which may present a serious and imminent danger

reporting shortcomings in health and safety arrangements

taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by what they may or may not do.

The following members of staff have particular duties as identified:

Headteacher:
 responsibility for all health and safety matters in the school
 responsibility for producing accident statistics every half term

Health and Safety Representative:
 responsibility for collecting information relating to health and safety, either internally or from external sources and informing other staff.
 responsibility for carrying out health and safety checks at least once a term and report findings to the headteacher
 responsibility for representing the staff on health and safety matters

Governors Health and Safety Committee:
 responsibility for carrying out termly checks and producing a report, together with the health and safety rep.
 responsibility for making recommendations to the governing body relating to health and safety

Qualified First Aiders:
 to be able to give advice in the event of illness or accident

All staff will be given basic first aid training, which will be updated as necessary. Every support will be given to staff wishing to become qualified first aiders.

Arrangements

Arrangements for carrying out this policy area available in the Health and Safety procedure.

Sources of Information

A number of Health and Safety documents are available in school, as listed in Appendices a,b,c,d,e


This policy will be reviewed every year.
Health and Safety Procedure

Purpose

To ensure the health and safety of all who visit or work in the school.

Scope/Objective

To comply with LEA Safety Policies
To establish and maintain consistent working procedures among staff and pupils.

Responsibility

The headteacher is responsible for health and safety within the school.
Responsibility for supervision at playtimes and classtime is delegated to members of teaching staff and non-teaching staff. Teacher's responsibilities extend beyond the school gates for all off-site activities.
At lunch time responsibility for the children's safety is delegated to the supervisory assistants. All staff have an obligation to report any unsafe situation to the headteacher.

References

School Handbook
Curriculum safety guidelines
Off-Site Activities Regulations
Health and Safety File
Red Cross First Aid Handbook
Health and Safety Policy

Forms
Accident form (internal) Accident Book BI 510 (May 2003): to record all injuries, however minor (children)
Accident form C84: for all serious injuries (staff and children)
Yellow Accident book: for all staff injuries
Fire Safety Manual and Record Book

Review Process

This procedure will be reviewed annually and after every major incident by a team of staff including the headteacher, the health and safety representative, the caretaker, an approved first aider and the senior supervisory assistant.

Health and Safety Procedure

General

1. All reasonable precautions will be taken to ensure that procedures are devised to ensure children's safety.
2. Most hazards can be avoided by promptly reporting defects to the headteacher or the health and safety representative. Staff will be encouraged to carry out risk assessments in all potentially hazardous situations.
3. All adults will challenge any unrecognised visitor (see Visitors Procedure).
4. At all times we will walk in an orderly manner around the school.

Accident and Sickness Procedure Appendix A

1. In the event of an injury or sickness the person will be taken to the medical area to be dealt with by the person on duty, the secretary, a learning assistant or at lunchtime, the appointed supervisory assistant.
2. In more serious cases or when the person cannot be moved a qualified first aider will be called on to advise or, if appropriate, administer first aid. If neither first aider is available an ambulance will be called for using the 999 code.
3. In all cases of serious injury the headteacher or his representative will be informed and entered in the accident book and form C84. All accidents will be noted on the accident forms. Injured staff will be asked to complete an accident report in the yellow accident book. Half-termly accident statistics will be kept by the headteacher. Every effort will be made to use the information provided by the statistics to reduce the possible causes of accidents.
4. In cases involving children parents will always be informed of all but the most minor injuries or sickness either by letter or phone. All head injuries will be reported in writing to parents. Letters home will be given to the class teacher rather than directly to children. A sticker will also be issued to the child.
5. If hospital treatment is thought necessary normally a member of staff will contact a parent or guardian to accompany the child. If no one is available an ambulance will be called using the 999 code. A member of staff will then accompany the child to hospital with the child's record card and remain until the parent arrives.
6. Whenever practical all treatment requiring a sink will take place in the medical area where plastic gloves and aprons are available for staff dealing with body fluids. We will use wrapped, moist cleaning wipes on all open cuts. Cotton wool will not be used.
7. First aid facilities are located in the medical area and at the end of the corridors. Signs around the school clearly show where they can be found.


AIDS Infection Control Procedure Appendix B

The following procedure will be followed by all staff who may have to deal with the cleaning and disposal of potentially contaminated waste.

1. Wear disposable gloves and aprons.
2. Spillages of blood and vomit will be dealt with immediately. Sawdust will not be used to clean vomit. The chemical, Sanitaire, must be used, which is to be found in the Medical Office.
3. The types of surface will determine which disinfectant will be used:
a) For all hard surfaces use a 1:10 solution bleach and cold water.
b) For all carpets and soft furnishings 2% solution Covguard in cold water, i.e. 2 complete strokes of the dispensing pump (up and down = one stroke) to one gallon of water.
4. Prepare disinfectant as above, pour gently over spillage and cover with paper towels and where possible leave for 30 minutes. Remove with paper towels and discard into double yellow bags for disposal along with gloves and aprons.
5. Toilets can be cleaned by normal cleaning methods, but remember to use disposable cloths and wear disposable gloves (dispose in double yellow bags). Yellow bags are placed in the large refuse bins, clearly visible to distinguish them from other rubbish.
Syringe and pipette needles will be placed in a 'sharp box' before being disposed of.

Emergency Evacuation Procedure Appendix C

1. In the event of a fire or bomb alert, break the glass to operate the alarm bells. These bells ring continuously. On hearing such a signal everyone will leave the building by the nearest safe exit.
2. In the case of a bomb alert teachers will be informed in the playground and will lead the class to Christ Church. Key obtainable in the back office.
3. As in the case of a fire, at fire drills all children will stop work immediately, line up at the classroom door and walk out to their pre-arranged position on the playground. (see attached plan) The main priority will be the immediate clearance of the building, with the teacher being the last person to leave the classroom and close the door.
4. Before leaving the building close all windows and doors if possible. On arrival in the playground names will be checked against the registers to ensure that nobody is left in the building. The importance of keeping accurate registers cannot be over emphasised.
The headteacher will check children's toilets and office staff will bring out the registers. The toilets will be checked by the senior member of staff in charge in the absence of the Headteacher.
5. At lunchtime this will be the responsibility of the senior supervisory assistant. (See Lunchtime Supervision Procedure).
6. Fire practices will be held once a term and at different times of the day. Fire bells will be tested regularly, once a week by the caretaker. In case of emergency dial 999. Fire fighting equipment will not be used without the authority of the headteacher and will be tested annually by a qualified person. A record is kept of the circumstances of all fire practices. Fire alarms are tested by an approved contractor.
7. Portsmouth Naval base has facilities for nuclear powered vessels and there is an emergency plan for public safety if an accident happens. It is very unlikely indeed that such an emergency will take place, but we need to be ready. National regulations mean that Portsmouth City Council is responsible for the emergency plan.
All schools within 2 ½ km (1 ¼ miles) of the naval base national regulations require a plan to be in place to give children attending the school maximum available protection should a radiation emergency occur. The protection will require the children and staff to take Potassium Iodate tablets and to remain indoors at the school until such a time as the radiation emergency is over. Newtown is supplied with tablets before any nuclear powered vessel enters the naval base and are removed from school when the vessel leaves.



Procedures for use of St. Vincent's Field Appendix D

The caretaker will make a check of the area used by Newtown school on a weekly basis (in summer months)and will liase with the ground staff at St. Vincent's should the state of the field become such that it becomes to difficult to keep safe.

Staff will make a quick inspection of the field before it is used by the children for break time or for PE activities. They will do as much as is practicable to identify and /or remove hazards. Areas can be marked and avoided by the use of cones.

Children should on no account be involved in removal of health hazards.

If a dog is present on the field when children are involved in an activity the member of staff should approach the owner of the dog at the earliest possible opportunity and ask them to place it on a lead and take the dog away.

If the dog continues to be a nuisance or presents itself as a threat to the children then they should immediately make their way back onto the playground where the gate can be shut.

A message should then be sent to the Headteacher. It may then be necessary to request police assistance.


Other Arrangements Appendix E

1. Two-way electric plugs will not be used in classrooms. Items of personal equipment, which may constitute a hazard (e.g. electric fires), will not be used in the classrooms. All electric equipment in school will be tested annually by an approved contractor.
2. P.E. apparatus will only be used when the children are being closely supervised and when they are wearing appropriate clothing (see P.E. policy). All P.E. equipment will be tested annually by an approved contractor.
3. All teaching areas will be properly heated and ventilated during the school day. Minimum and maximum temperatures for different areas of the building can be found in the caretaking manual.
4. Children will be given safety guidance about all potentially dangerous classroom equipment before they are allowed to use them. LEA safety guidance for classroom equipment will be complied with. Glue guns will only be used by Junior children and goggles will always be worn. Cold water and a sponge will be on hand. Children will not use correction fluid or any equipment giving off noxious fumes without close supervision.
5. No child or member of staff will use tables, chairs or other furniture to reach high points: step ladders are provided.
6. Cycling proficiency lessons take place on the roads surrounding the school under strict supervision and according to local traffic regulations.
7. Risk assessments on equipment and resources have been carried out by the L.E.A. and are displayed with appropriate equipment.
8. Any member of staff taking children off site will be familiar with County regulations and adhere to them. A first aid kit will always be carried by a member of staff. Minibuses can only be driven by staff with the appropriate county qualification. Staff leading groups of children on residential visits will hold an up to date Hazardous Pursuits certificate. Children travelling on coaches will not be permitted to sit three on seat, or in the middle of the back seat. At all times seat belts must be worn. If travelling on public transport buses where no seat belts are available parents should first be informed and no children allowed to sit on front seats or the centre isle seat. A written risk assessment will always be carried out for such visits. (See also Outdoor Policy). Buses may be used for local visits which do not go on to the motorway.
9. Staff taking children swimming as part of the curriculum will refer to
10. Our pupils will be taught to use tools safely. Classrooms and resource areas will be organised so that children will be able to use and return equipment sensibly and keep work areas tidy. (Refer to safety documents referring to science, technology and art.)
11. Medicines will not be administered in school by staff. Parents or those appointed by them may come in to school to give medicine. Inhalers can be kept in school to be taken by children and will be kept in the nearest convenient place for the child. In some cases this will mean the child will keep their own inhaler.
12. Staff using computer screens regularly will take a 10-minute break after every concentrated hour of work. Seating will be adequate to ensure a good working position for staff using the computer. Office lighting will be regularly checked by the caretaker.




Reviewed March - 2005
To be reviewed - March 2006 Back to top