HEALTH & SAFETY
POLICY
Safety Policy Statement
- As a staff we are committed to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for all children and adults who come to work within the school premises.
- The Headteacher is responsible for the dissemination of all information and procedures for health and safety issued by the LA to the school and members of staff and pupils as applicable.
- Each individual member of staff has a personal responsibility to ensure that as far as possible he/she promotes and maintains his/her own health and safety at work, also the health and safety of those who work with him/her.
- All information regarding health and safety within school should be available for staff to read.
Policy into Practice
It is essential that all members of staff work together to provide and maintain a safe and healthy environment for everyone in the school: pupils, staff and visitors.
All staff have a responsibility to promote, stimulate and encourage high standards of health and safety in school by taking reasonable care of:
- their own health and safety
- the health and safety of pupils
- the health and safety of colleagues
- the health and safety of members of the public and work persons carrying out duties on the promises.
The safety of the pupils is of the utmost importance and our ultimate aim is to reduce any risk to a minimum by:
- the careful supervision of pupils at all times
- promoting safety rules
- encouraging care, consideration and respect for others
- stressing the importance of taking care and keeping tidy apparatus and the school environment
- expecting high standards of behaviour
Staff need to be aware of potential dangers that could arise from activities in the school. Pupils need to be aware of these dangers, taught how to avoid them and work in a safe manner.
Pupils need to be carefully supervised at all times, but extra vigilance is needed when working on or with potentially dangerous activities or apparatus (PE, cooking, using tools, etc).
*See PE rules on jewellery, footwear and clothing.
Organisation
Roles and Responsibilities
Governors
The Governors ensure that the Health and Safety Policy is in place and acted upon, ensuring the health, safety and welfare of the schools employees and those not in their employment i.e. pupils, parents visitors and contractors.
Headteacher
The Headteacher retains overall responsibility but some duties may be delegated to suitable staff.
The Headteacher will:
- take day to day responsibility,
- ensure compliance with health and safety law,
- update governors on matters affecting health and safety,
- together with staff assess and control risks in any activity,
- make all staff aware of relevant risk assessments,
- provide equipment that is properly maintained,
- ensure hazardous substances are properly used stored and disposed of,
- maintain suitable first aid and accident reporting systems,
- evaluate the need for training,
- liaise with contractors undertaking work on school site,
- ensure fire prevention arrangements are adequate and suitable testing systems are in place,
- review and amend policy.
N.B. The Deputy Head may be delegated to carry out any of the above duties.
