HASMONEAN HIGH SCHOOL Currently being Updated HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY GENERAL PRINCIPLES In the Statement of Intent the Governing Body makes a positive commitment to high standards of health, safety and welfare. Although the Executive Headteacher has the prime responsibility for implementing the policy, all employees have an important part to play in its successful implementation. Every manager and supervisor is responsible for implementing the policy in their area of activity. Every employee must comply with the policy and co-operate with colleagues to achieve high standards of health and safety. Responsibilities of staff are outlined in this document but the detailed arrangements for carrying out the policy are included in separate Codes of Practice. This policy is required under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Employees are reminded that they have duties under the Act and breaches of those duties could lead to prosecution of the Governing Body or individual employees. Failure to comply with safety requirements could also lead to disciplinary action, this is covered in the Employee Handbook. 1. Statement of Intent The Hasmonean High School Mission Statement sets out high standards and expectations. This extends to our management of health and safety in the school to ensure the safety of both staff and students. The school recognises that its students and employees are its most important asset and is committed to ensure high standards of health, safety and welfare. High standards are not achieved by chance, they are only achieved by the effective management of health, safety and welfare at all levels in the school. An understanding of hazards and risks and competence in managing health, safety and welfare is an essential and integral part of professional management. The Governing Body will do all that is reasonably practicable to ensure that high standards of health, safety and welfare are achieved and maintained for all its employees. It will ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of students and other non-employees who may be affected by the work of the school are not endangered. Whilst recognising that the prime responsibility for the management of health and safety rests with the Governing Body as employer, high standards of health and safety can only be achieved with the full cooperation of staff. Every manager and supervisor is responsible for the implementation of the policy in
their area of activity. Every employee is responsible for complying with the policy and co-operating with colleagues to achieve high standards of health and safety. 2. Objectives To implement the policy the Governing Body s objectives are: To ensure that all activities are carried out safely, without risk to health, so far as is reasonably practicable. To ensure that suitable and sufficient assessments of the risks to health and safety of employees, students and others are carried out To ensure that there are Codes of Practice covering work activities. To ensure that all staff are aware of and actively support the responsibilities of the Governing Body and accept their own personal responsibilities. To ensure that all staff have the level of training and competence to undertake their work. To ensure that all new employees are aware of the Governing Body s health and safety policy and the appropriate health and safety procedures. To ensure that all visitors, contractors and suppliers of goods and services comply with relevant health and safety requirements. To ensure that consultative procedures facilitate the involvement and commitment of employees and their appointed representatives. To promote awareness of health and safety issues. To provide specialist professional advice to the senior management team and managers on health, safety and welfare matters. To monitor the implementation of the health and safety policy. To keep this policy under review and revise it as required. 3. Organisation and Responsibilities 3.1 The Governing Body The Governing Body will oversee health, safety and welfare matters and will ensure the necessary resources are provided. A member of the Governing Body will be designated with responsibility for Health and Safety. The Governing Body will implement the policy by requiring an annual report based on a monitoring checklist, and reports of inspections as detailed in Section 7.5 of this document. Health and safety is a standing item on all meetings of the Finance and Premises Committee. 3.2 Executive Headteacher The Executive Headteacher is responsible and accountable to the Governing Body for the implementation of the health and safety policy. The Executive Headteacher will be responsible, in particular for, setting up and monitoring systems to ensure that:
a) This health and safety policy statement is brought to the attention of all staff; b) Codes of Practice are available for work activities carried out in the school; c) that a copy of each Code of Practice is kept in the Main Office; that other copies are distributed to relevant staff and a record of distribution is maintained; d) Other health and safety information is communicated to relevant staff; e) Adequate first aid procedures exist, including the provision of sufficient first aiders and appointed persons, and that all staff are aware of the arrangements; this should include times when staff are present outside the normal hours of the establishment; f) Accidents are reported using the established procedures; g) Safety representatives can carry out their functions including inspections and accident investigations; and, where appropriate, that consultation takes place with safety representatives. h) Safety representative inspection report forms are dealt with in the appropriate manner; i) Training needs are identified, to ensure staff are competent, and appropriate arrangements are made for training; j) Fire drills are carried out and a fire register is maintained; k) New employees receive appropriate health and safety information including details of the safety policy, codes of practice, fire drill procedures and other safety procedures; l) The overall procedures for safety are monitored (see section 7.5); m) Assessments are undertaken of all risks to health and safety as required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations and other legislation and that the significant findings are recorded in a central file in the Main Office n) Arrangements are in place for liaison with contractors to ensure appropriate co-operation and coordination between the school and contractors as required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations; all reasonable steps are taken to inform contractors of risks to their employees arising out of or in connection with the operation of the school; and contractors are aware of any special risks to students which might arise from their work; o) Health and safety matters which cannot be resolved appropriately are raised with the Governing Body. 3.3 Head of Finance & Premises The Head of Finance & Premise reports to the Executive Headteacher on all matters of health and safety and presents the reports to the Finance and Premises Committee and also manages the Director of Premises. 3.4 Director of Premises The Director of Premises is responsible for co-ordinating arrangements for health and safety. Specific duties include: a) establishing arrangements for dealing with health and safety matters such as: dissemination of health and safety information to staff; first aid; accident reporting; ensuring accidents are investigated; ensuring health and safety matters raised by staff are dealt with; maintaining a central file of Codes of Practice;
fire and emergency procedures; b) co-ordinating all aspects of health and safety policy and practice; c) ensuring that implementation of the policy is monitored (see Section 7.5); d) ensuring that premises defects and other health and safety matters are dealt with or, if that is not possible, for ensuring they are raised with the Governing Body (in consultation with the Head of Business and Resources); e) overseeing arrangements for letting; f) liaising with contractors ( ground maintenance, pest control and building work) to ensure appropriate co-operation and co-ordination between the school and the contractor as required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations; to ensure all reasonable steps are taken to inform the contractor of the risks to their employees health and safety arising out of or in connection with the operation of the school; and to ensure contractors take into account risks to children which might arise out of their work; g) monitoring contractors compliance with appropriate health and safety standards; h) maintaining the fire register; i) ensuring health and safety matters which cannot be resolved are raised with the Executive Headteacher; The Director of Premises also has the same responsibilities as Directors of Learning (see below) with regard to Educational Support Staff. 3.5 Directors of Learning Directors of Learning are responsible for implementing the Health and Safety policy within their faculty. In particular they are responsible for: a) ensuring that activities under their control are carried out, so far as is reasonably practicable, safely and without risk to health; b) monitoring the implementation of the Health and Safety policy in their area of responsibility; carrying out inspections of the workplace and equipment. In addition to regular informal inspections Directors of Learning in conjunction with the Director of premises and Head of Business and Resources will carry out a formal, recorded inspection of their areas once a year. They will also ensure Subject Leaders carry out a formal inspection of their area once each term c) ensuring, through performance reviews, that Subject Leaders are meeting their responsibilities d) ensuring that individual employees are aware of their responsibilities for health and safety; e) ensuring that employees under their control are competent and are adequately trained, informed, instructed and supervised; f) ensuring that Codes of Practice appropriate to their area are brought to the attention of all staff in the area; g) ensuring that Codes of Practice are complied with and appropriate safety signs or notices are displayed; h) ensuring that relevant health and safety information is communicated to all staff; i) ensuring first aid procedures are complied with; j) ensuring that all accidents in the area are reported, an accident report form is completed, and that all accidents are investigated;
k) ensuring that suitable arrangements are made for consultation with safety representatives and that reasonable arrangements are made to enable them to carry out their functions; l) ensuring that all staff are aware of fire and other emergency procedures; m) ensuring that new employees receive all appropriate health and safety information/ training including faculty safety procedures; n) ensuring that assessments are undertaken of all risks to health and safety as required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations and other legislation and that the significant findings are recorded. o) ensuring that health and safety matters which cannot be resolved are raised with the Executive Headteacher. 3.6 Heads of Departments (i.e. Directors of Learning, Subject Leaders and Heads of Educational Support Staff i.e. Director of Personnel, Finance Manager, Network Manager, Director of Management Information) Heads of Departments are responsible for implementing the safety policy within their department. In particular they are responsible for: a) ensuring that activities under their control are carried out, so far as is reasonably practicable, safely and without risk to health; b) monitoring the implementation of the Health and Safety policy in their area of responsibility; carrying out inspections of the workplace and equipment. In addition to regular informal inspections Heads of Departments will carry out a formal, recorded inspection of their Department once each term. c) ensuring that individual employees are aware of their responsibilities for health and safety; d) ensuring that employees under their control are adequately trained, informed, instructed and supervised; e) ensuring that Codes of Practice appropriate to their Department are brought to the attention of all staff in the Department; f) ensuring that Codes of Practice are complied with and appropriate safety signs or notices are displayed; g) ensuring that relevant health and safety information is communicated to all staff; h) ensuring first aid procedures are complied with; i) ensuring that all accidents occurring in the Department are reported, an accident report form is completed, and the accident report form is forwarded to the Director of Learning Area for investigation; j) ensuring that suitable arrangements are made for consultation with safety representatives and that reasonable arrangements are made to enable them to carry out their functions; k) ensuring that staff are aware of fire and other emergency procedures; l) ensuring that new employees receive all appropriate health and safety information/ training including department safety procedures; m) ensuring assessments are undertaken of all risks to health and safety as required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations and other legislation and that the significant findings are recorded; n) Ensuring that health and safety is an agenda item on all Departmental meetings;
o) Ensuring that health and safety matters which cannot be resolved are raised with the Executive Headteacher through the Director of Learning Area. 3.7 Class Teachers The safety of students in classrooms, laboratories, workshops, sports hall and sports field is the responsibility of the class teacher. A class teacher is expected to: a) know the emergency procedures in respect of fire and first aid and the special safety measures to be adopted in his/her own teaching areas and to ensure that they are applied; b) exercise effective supervision of students and ensure they know of the general emergency procedures in respect of fire and first aid and the special safety measures of the teaching area; c) give clear instructions and warnings as often as necessary (notices, posters, handouts are not enough); d) ensure that students coats, bags, cases etc are safely stowed away; e) integrate all relevant aspects of safety into the teaching process and if necessary give special lessons on safety; f) follow safe working procedures personally; g) Use protective clothing, guards, special safe working procedures etc when necessary; h) make recommendations on safety matters to the Director of Learning; i) be familiar with Codes of Practice appropriate to the work area; j) be familiar with risk assessments appropriate to the work activity (and the consequent protective and preventive measures). If there is no risk assessment for work activities where there is a risk to anyone s health and safety, the teacher must raise the matter with the appropriate Teaching & Learning Leader (NB. In many cases the risk assessment will be implicit in the Codes of Practice); 3.8 Site Manager ( Assistant Caretaker) The Site Manager is responsible for: a) supervising other site management and cleaning staff ( if employed directly by the school and not on contract), ensuring they are provided with relevant health and safety information; b) identifying defects and dealing with them in consultation with the Director of Premises, as appropriate. Where premises defects cannot be immediately dealt with the Site Manager is responsible for ensuring appropriate interim measures are taken to make the area safe;; c) testing the fire alarm; d) liasing with building and grounds maintenance contractors and monitoring their compliance with required standards. Outside normal hours the member of the site team on duty will act as the Executive Headteacher s representative. 3.9 All Employees Although prime responsibility for health and safety rests with the Governing Body all employees have responsibilities:
a) To take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of other persons affected by their acts or omissions; b) To co-operate with the Governing Body so far as is necessary to enable it to meet its responsibilities for health and safety; c) To use work equipment provided correctly in accordance with instructions and training; d) To inform the Governing Body (through line managers) of any work situations which represent a serious and immediate danger to health and safety. All employees are reminded of the need to report any accidents which occur at work. Failure to do so may lead to difficulties when claiming industrial injury benefit. Any employee who identifies a hazard concerned with the premises should report the matter to the Head of Finance, the Director of Premises or a Site Manager. Other problems about health and safety such as those related to the curriculum should first be raised with the Teaching & Learning Leader. Employees who, during the course of their duties, are required to visit premises other than their normal place of work must comply with those health and safety instructions in force at individual establishments. 3.10 Students Students have no particular responsibility in the implementation of the school s Health and Safety Policy, but are nevertheless expected to: a) Exercise personal responsibility for safety of themselves and others; b) Observe the safety rules of the school and in particular the instructions of staff given in an emergency; c) Use and not wilfully misuse, neglect or interfere with any item provided for safety. 4. Safety Representatives The Governing Body will provide for effective joint consultation on health and safety matters with safety representatives. 5. Health and Safety Advice To be sourced from independent Risk assessment organisations. 6. General Arrangements for Health and Safety 6.1 Codes of Practice See Attached 6.2 Accident Reporting The accident reporting procedure is detailed in a separate document. All accidents must be reported to the Main Office.
6.3 Specific Responsibilities and Arrangements The appendix to this policy indicates specific responsibilities and arrangements for implementing the Health and Safety Policy. 6.4 Risk Assessment Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations there is a requirement for all risks to health and safety to be assessed and for the significant findings to be recorded. For most activities the existing Codes of Practice indicate the preventive and protective measures and the assessment form will either be incorporated into the code or refer to the appropriate codes. 6.5 Health and Safety Monitoring a) Subject Leaders will formally inspect areas under their control termly. Directors of Learning Area will formally inspect areas under their control annually. These formal inspections are in addition to regular informal inspections. b) All accidents will be investigated by the Head of Finance and where necessary reports will be submitted to the Governing Body. c) The Director of Premises will ensure systems are in place for all accident and incident records to be examined at least annually to identify causes that might need to be remedied. (Recurring events might highlight a problem not indicated by a single event). d) In addition to the above, routine inspections are carried out on the following equipment: PE equipment, fire extinguishers, portable electrical appliances, fire alarms, emergency lighting, lightning conductors, electrical and gas installations, heating appliances, hot and cold water systems and kilns. Other routine inspections are detailed in specific Codes of Practice (e.g. fume cupboards). e) Periodically the Head of Business and Resources will arrange for an external audit of the Health and Safety Management system in the school by the school s external advisors. 6.6 Emergency Procedures The emergency procedures are detailed separately. A Fire Register is maintained to record fire drills, fire alarm tests and inspections. 6.7 Radiation Protection Advice The school uses radioactive sources at a level which will require the service of: (a) (b) A Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA): A Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS). This is managed under the Director of Learning Science s area. 7. Access to Policy Statement All staff will be made aware of this policy and it will be available on the School Quality Drive under Policies.