Health and Safety Policy At Millfields Children's Centre we take the health and safety of our children, staff, parents and visitors very seriously. We have an annual health and safety inspection by The Learning Trust and we also have an annual external risk assessment conducted. 1. Fire Safety Millfields Children's Centre takes fire safety very seriously and has the following in place: Half termly fire drills which are recorded in a log book The centre is fitted to a fire alarm system which is tested weekly Fire evacuation notices giving direction on exiting the building in a fire are placed around the centre, please see Appendix All staff are given an induction into fire safety before they begin work this includes; o How to use a fire extinguisher o A fire evacuation tour of the centre o Watching a video of how to put out a fire All fire extinguishers are tested annually All electronic equipment is tested annually The main circuit board is tested every 5 years There is a fire blanket in the kitchen area A clear and labelled evacuation route Evacuation cots in the Snowflake Room to ensure that the youngest children can be supported in exiting the building in the event of a fire We include teaching the children about fire safety in our curriculum
2. Risk Assessments Monthly risk assessments are carried out on the first working day of the month in all areas of the centre. Daily risk assessments are carried out in the daycare rooms each morning by the Daycare Co-ordinator. It is the responsibility of the Early Years Officers (room leaders) to complete monthly risk assessments in their daycare rooms. The Daycare Co-ordinator will complete risk assessments for the other day care areas and the Head of Centre will complete risk assessments for the extended services spaces. All people completing risk assessments receive induction from the Premises Manager. Risk assessments for the day care spaces are to be held in the centre reception in a folder marked Day Care Risk Assessments for easy access. Extended services risk assessments will be kept in the upstairs office. Any works which need to be carried out should be written in the School Keepers Book. It is the School Keepers responsibility to check this book daily and ensure that all works are completed promptly. 3. First Aid At Millfields Children's Centre there is always a member of staff with a 12 hour Paediatric First Aid qualification on site. Only members of staff who have a first aid qualification should practise first aid. First aid boxes are kept in all of the playrooms. There are also several first aid travel kits available for trips. A first aid qualified member of staff and a first aid kit must accompany every trip. A list of all first aiders can be found in each of the playrooms and in the reception office. 4. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) All accidents within the centre must be recorded. Children s accidents should be recorded on an accident form as described in our Health Policy. Staff accidents should be recorded in the accident book kept in centre reception. A review of all accidents will be carried out in accordance with our Health Policy. In line with Riddor, Millfields Children's Centre understands its responsibility to report workrelated deaths, major injuries or over-three-day injuries, work related diseases, and dangerous occurrences (near miss accidents). These incidents, injuries, work related deaths or diseases should be reported to the Incident Contact Centre (ICC) on 0845 300 99 23.
Please see our Heath Policy for guidance on procedures to be taken when an accident occurs. 5. Health Protection Agency Millfields Children's Centre will at all times follow the guidance form the Health Protection Agency regarding the exclusion of children with notifable diseases and hygiene practices. Millfields Children's Centre will work in conjunction with the Heath Protection Agency should an outbreak of a notifiable diseases occur. For details of the procedure surrounding the care of children with an illness please see our Health Policy. 6. Good Hygiene Practice The Health Protection Agency States that basic good hygiene must include the following: Thorough washing and drying of hands after using the toilet, before handling any food, after handling animals and after dealing with any blood or bodily fluid secretions. Staff should use universal precautions (treating all blood and body fluids as being potentially infectious) when dealing with any blood or body fluid spills, sharps or splash injures and performing first aid. Covering any cuts or open lesions on exposed areas of the body with a waterproof plaster prior to the start of the centre day. Encouraging children to use a tissue when they cough or sneeze. The tissue should he disposed of appropriately in a waste bin and hands washed as soon as is practical after nose blowing. Ensuring that there is adequate ventilation of nursery playrooms. Ensuring that basic hygiene is included in the relevant part of the curriculum. Ensuring that children who are unwell are sent home with the recommendation that they go to their GP if appropriate. Staff should be aware of the need to report and take appropriate precaution if they suspect or are confirmed as having an infectious disease. It may be necessary to liaise with their Occupational Health Department or GP for advice. All staff who are involved in the preparation or serving of food should have completed a basic certified food hygiene course. Millfields Children's Centre endeavors to uphold these basic principals as minimum standards of hygiene. It is staffs responsibility to follow the above guidance. 7. Contact details for our local Health Protection Unit North East & Central London Health Protection Unit, 1 st Floor, Vantage House, 78 79 Leadenhall Street EC3A 3DH Tel: 0207 220 4500 Fax: 0207 220 4577
8. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) Storage and use of Cleaning Chemicals/Equipment. Cleaning equipment and cleaning materials will be stored in a locked cupboard when not in use. The cleaning of the rooms will take place when the children have left the centre. If cleaning is need during the day the children will be moved to another area whilst a member of staff undertakes the cleaning task. Staff should apply common sense to ensure that all cleaning equipment and materials are used in a safe way. If they experience any problems with the materials or equipment they should stop immediately and inform a senior member of staff. Antibacterial spray used within the playrooms will always be kept out of the children s reach. Staff are to ensure that there is enough ventilation in the room when using the antibacterial spray. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Staff will be provided with disposable gloves and aprons which they must use when dealing with bodily fluids. Please see our Health Policy for guidance on handling bodily fluids. It is staffs responsibility to inform the Day Care Manager before they run out of PPE. Medication All medications, except controlled substances, will be stored either a labelled medicine box at room temperature or in the fridge as required. Any controlled substances will be kept in a locked container in the office. Medicine is to be kept out of children s reach at all times. Please see our Health Policy for further direction on the storage and administration of medicine. Disposal of Bodily Fluids All nappies/bodily waste is disposed of into yellow hazardous waste bags. These are collected at the end of the day tied and placed in the hazardous waste bin. The contents of this bin are collected weekly via a special collection service. 9. Manual Handling At induction all staff are given a copy of the Health and Safety Executive booklet Getting to grips with manual handling which gives advice and guidance surrounding manual handling in the workplace. It is staffs own responsibility to follow this guidance and alert a senior member of staff to any problems or incidents regarding manual handling. As a guide staff should not lift anything above shoulder height or that weighs over 19 kg. Staff should avoid lifting where possible by encouraging children to use the steps on the nappy changing table or sitting with children in their lap rather than standing up. 10. Room Temperature
Room temperature will be kept in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage 2008 at a temperature which ensures the comfort of the children and staff, including non mobile children. It is the Nursery Officer s responsibility to monitor the room temperature throughout the day and reporting to a senior member of staff when the temperature is not at a comfortable level. As guidance the School Premises Regulations 1996 recommends the following minimum temperatures: Areas Areas where there is a lower than normal level of physical activity because of sickness or physical disability including sick rooms and isolation rooms but not other sleeping accommodation Areas where there is the normal level of physical activity associated with teaching, private study or examinations Areas where there is a higher than normal level of physical activity (for example arising out of physical education) and washrooms, sleeping accommodation and circulation spaces. Temperature 21 C 18 C 15 C 11. Staff Induction All staff, students and volunteers will be given a full health and safety induction before they begin work at the centre. This will include: Fire safety Manual Handling The use and storage of cleaning equipment and materials Good Hygiene practices How to record accident First aid Updated: April 2010