Health & Safety Policy

Philosophy Statement

Aims

Fire

Electrical Equipment

Lifting / Carrying

Accident Reporting and Investigations

Audits and Site Inspections

Diseases

Risk Assessments

First Aid

Philosophy Statement

Warren Primary School recognises and accepts its responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment for its staff, pupils and visitors. A positive culture will be encouraged and actively supported by Governors and senior managers where all adults are involved in the decision-making processes. The approach to health and safety will be based on the identification and control of risks ensuring that the appropriate levels of resources will be allocated to keep risks at a minimum. Warren also recognises and supports Thurrock?s policies relating to health and safety. Back to top

Aims

- To provide and make readily available the necessary information, instruction, supervision and training to staff that may be required.
- To ensure that all visitors, contractors and suppliers of goods and services comply with relevant health and safety requirements
- To ensure that health and safety rates equal to all other functions and will attach equal importance to achieving health and safety targets.
- To ensure that appropriate systems are developed and maintained for the effective communication of health and safety matters throughout the organisation. Back to top

Fire

There will be a fire drill each half term that is known about so that staff can remind children of the procedures. There will also be an unknown drill each half term where one route is blocked.

Every room will have a fire drill posted.

The fire alarm will be tested every Friday at 10.00 am. This is the only time the alarm can be ignored.

The fire assembly points will have clear signs.

There will be a member of staff assigned to each assembly point to coordinate evacuation.

All children and adults other than Reception and Nursery children who can not hear the alarm will have vibrating personal alarms.

The office staff will be responsible for taking out registers, visitors? books and ?children off premises? book.

At lunch time the LSA with responsibility for the class will make the initial count of children.

Fire extinguishers will be checked in accordance with manufactures recommendations.

Staff will be trained in the use of extinguishers.

All fire exits will be kept clear.

No additional forms of heating will be used without the express permission of the Headteacher.

All fire doors will be kept closed and corridors kept clear. All fire doors will be marked

Combustible waste will be stored away from the building and in appropriate receptacles.

The school will conform to the Fire Regulations. Back to top

Electrical Equipment

Any personal portable electrical equipment must be tested and tagged before it is used.

Any electrical machinery must only be operated after appropriate training has been given.

Anyone who notices frayed wires should report this to the caretaker.

Wires should not be placed in such a way that they cause a hazard to the people working in the room. Any hazard which is noted should be reported to the office where it will be recorded and acted upon.

Sockets and extensions must not be overloaded. Any extensions or adaptors must be approved by the caretaker.

The caretaker will conduct regular inspections (every term) of plugs, sockets and equipment, looking for wear and tear.

All sockets in the Nursery will be fitted with covers

Children should be shown how to switch off the source before unplugging an appliance.

Supervision of children using electrical equipment should be commensurate with their age and experience. If in doubt err on the side of caution. Back to top

Lifting / Carrying

Lifting / Carrying Children
Generally children should not be lifted or carried. However very young children (Nursery and Reception) may need to be comforted or restrained or 'rescued'. Consideration should be given to size and /or gender of the child before carrying or lifting

Under no circumstances should a child who has been injured be lifted but rather encouraged to get up from the ground unassisted.

Children should not sit on the laps of staff, except in the case of Nursery or Reception children. It is advisable not to have close physical contact with any child if no other adult is present.

Staff working with physically challenged children will receive appropriate manual handling training. Annual risk assessments for these children will be undertaken.


Lifting / Carrying Equipment
The appropriate trolleys should be used for carrying equipment and each individual should make assess the risk as to whether the task is within their capabilities or not.

Children should not be allowed to carry heavy equipment and they should be trained never to walk backwards when carrying tables etc. KS2 children should not carry more than three chairs at a time and KS1 children should carry chairs singly. Back to top

Accident Reporting and Investigations

Accidents to Staff
All accidents to staff will be noted and an accident report form completed as soon after the accident as possible. These will always be signed by the senior member of staff who will make an informed decision as to the extent of the investigation which should take place. Where machinery or equipment is involved then an investigation will take place and guidelines revisited. A note of the investigation will be attached to a copy of the accident report form. Where there is a serious injury that results in time being lost from work then secondary and tertiary witness will be sort.

Accidents to Children
Any first aid given to children will be recorded. If the injury is inflicted by another child then an investigation will be made as to how the injury occurred. Dependent on the severity of the incident an accident report form will be completed A bump to the head will be reported by letter to the carers at the end of the day. Where equipment or machinery is involved an investigation will take place and depending upon the severity of the injury (e.g. the child has to be taken to A&E) then the investigation will be recorded and attached to a copy of the accident report form.

Any accident requiring a hospital visit by either adult or child will be reported to the Governing body through the Head teacher's report.

Any first aid which is administered during session time or break times is recorded in the general first aid book or if the accident happens during the lunch break the individual first aid book in order that the class teacher may monitor the child if necessary. Any accident, which is reported to the Health and Safety executive, will be reported to the Chair of Governors immediately.

All first aid which is administered to children during the school day is recorded in a book kept in the medical room. All first aid, which is given to children during the lunch hour, is recorded in a class book that is returned to the class after lunch in order that the class teacher is aware and can monitor the child during the afternoon.

Any near miss will be reported, recorded and investigated. Back to top

Audits and Site Inspections

The Governor with responsibility for the health and safety will make a termly inspection with the site manager to ensure that a fresh and objective view is gained of the site. The Governor will ensure that they have relevant training where possible. A short written report will be submitted to the termly Governors meeting. Any hazard which is identified should also be reported immediately to the senior member of staff. Back to top

Diseases

Reference will be made to the Thurrock guidance on communicable diseases and the guidance followed. Back to top

Risk Assessments

Risk assessments will be made and recorded for all out of school activities or for activities that are a variation from the normal timetable.

A risk assessment will be made on any new apparatus or equipment that is purchased when it is appropriate to do so. Back to top

First Aid

There will always be a minimum of two qualified first aiders on the staff. The office manager will be responsible for ensuring that the first aid boxes are always fully stocked.

There will be a First aid box that will contain:
General guidance leaflet on first aid
20 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings (assorted sizes.
Sterile eye pads with attachment
Individually wrapped triangular bandages (20)
Safety pins (6)
6 medium sized individually wrapped sterile undedicated wound dressings (approximately 12 cm by 12 cm)
Disposable gloves
Individually wrapped moist cleaning wipes.

There will also be a travelling first aid kit which must always be taken on any out of school activities. This should contain:
Disposable gloves
Individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings
Triangular bandage
Safety pins
Individually wrapped moist wipes.

Any first aid which is administered should be reported in the first aid books.

All staff should remember to wear gloves if they are treating children where there is blood or other bodily fluids involved.

Staff must also remember to wear gloves if they have open wounds on their hands.

Staff must never move a child who is injured and lying on the floor. Back to top