HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY Aim: To ensure that Maricourt Catholic High School provides an environment which, in so far as is reasonably possible, is without hazard to the health and safety of, pupils, employees, visitors and general public. Governors: Responsibilities The governors delegate responsibility for monitoring and reviewing the policy to the Finance and Health & Safety Committee. 1. To define the duties of all staff and ensure that all employees are aware of the School s Health and Safety Policy and its provisions and so maintain a safe and healthy workplace for staff and pupils. 2. To be advised by the Headteacher/Site Manager on all health and safety matters, including the condition of the premises and any requirements or advice given by the local education authority and act accordingly on any such advice. 3. To ensure that all reports and licences required by statute or regulation are made or are in place. 4. To ensure that the conditions of the school buildings and grounds are maintained to prescribed minimum levels in order to provide an appropriate and satisfactory setting and environment for the education of pupils, as well as ensuring health and safety requirements are met. 5. To audit risk assessments. Headteacher: Executive responsibility for Health and Safety at school rests with the Headteacher. 1. To ensure that the Health and Safety policy is implemented. 2. To advise the governing body of the resources requested to meet the provisions of the policy in particular and health and safety in general. 3. To report to Governors all matters relating to Health and Safety at the school necessary for them to carry out their responsibilities. 4. Ensure appropriate consultation arrangements are in place for staff and their Trade Union representatives. Achieved by Health and Safety Committee. 5. To ensure that all staff are aware of, and comply with, a) this policy b)local Authority safety and health regulations. 6. To ensure that all staff are adequately trained to meet their responsibilities under this policy and local health and safety arrangements. 7. To ensure that effective arrangements are in force to facilitate ready evacuation of the building in case of fire or other emergency.
8. To ensure that adequate training in First Aid for Staff is provided and to provide adequate funding for First Aid equipment. To ensure that high risk areas e.g. Labs, Gym, Technology rooms have access to a qualified First Aider. 9. To make clear to staff their responsibilities regarding various aspects of Health and Safety including that of reporting any damaged or unsafe furniture and fittings. 10. To liaise with the Site Manager in the organisation of termly oversee Fire Drills. SITE MANAGER (Health & Safety Officer) 1. Liaise with the Headteacher to co-ordinate the whole school programme of Health and Safety. 2. Carry out inspections of the school at least once per term and inform the Headteacher of any problems/deficiencies and ensure that appropriate action has been taken. 3. To ensure that adequate arrangements are made for the selection, maintenance and control of all equipment, substances, fixtures and buildings to avoid as far as it is practicable, any risk to the health, safety and welfare of all employees, pupils and visitors. 4. To give special consideration to risks generated by presence of contractors in the school building whilst the building is occupied. 5. To arrange for contractors and visitors to be informed of any hazards on site of which they may be unaware and the emergency procedures. 6. To set up a system for reporting, recording and investigating accidents and take reasonable steps to prevent recurrences. 7. To ensure that all major incidents and injuries are reported to the Personnel Section of LA. 8. To ensure that all electrical equipment is appropriately tested. 9. To ensure that all necessary records are maintained on Health and Safety matters. 10. To ensure the safe movement in and around school of pupils and staff. 11. To liaise with administration staff and ensure that risk assessments sheets are given to Form Tutors on a regular basis. 12. To liaise with the Headteacher and ensure that the Health and Safety Policy is updated as necessary and that general Health and Safety regulations are observed. 13. To liaise with the Headteacher in the organisation of the termly Fire Practice. 14. To liaise with relevant Heads of Departments, Technicians and the Finance Officer and ensure all audio-visual, computer, gymnastic, first-aid and any other equipment is maintained in a satisfactory working order and conforms to statute requirements. 15. To ensure that all First Aiders have their qualifications updated as necessary. 16. To ensure a suitable accident reporting system is in place, and that First Aider s know how to use it. 17. To monitor the use of accident reporting system. 18. To ensure that any accidents occurring are investigated.
19. To co-ordinate the training of other staff in matters of First Aid. 20. To keep staff informed of the names of all qualified First Aiders. 21. To be responsible for ensuring that all materials in First Aid Boxes are kept up to date. 22. To keep staff informed of the position of First Aid Kits. Head of Lower School 1. To liaise with the Site Manager and staff in Lower School regarding the standards of repair of furniture and fittings and ensure that any defects are reported and repaired. 2. To ensure that all staff are made aware of health problems of new intake pupils. Pupil Progress Leaders and Assistants: 1. To supervise the checking of classrooms, and toilet facilities of the year group and report any defects to the Headteacher, Site Manager or Caretaker as appropriate. 2. To ensure that each form room, within the year group, has the appropriate fire notice and school plan, with fire exits, displayed clearly. Fire Wardens 3. To make other staff aware of any ailments of pupils within their year group when appropriate. Head of Department (and other staff, teaching and non-teaching holding posts of responsibility) 1. To establish and maintain safe working procedures including arrangements for ensuring, as far as reasonably practicable, safety and absences of risk to health in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances (e.g. chemicals, boiling water, guillotines). 2. To carry out a regular safety inspection of the activities for which they are responsible and where necessary, submit a report to the school Health and Safety Officer with a copy to the Headteacher. 3. To ensure as far as is reasonably practicable the provision of sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision to enable other employees and pupils to avoid hazards and contribute positively to their own safety and health at work. 4. To seek advice and guidance of the relevant Adviser or Officer of the LA, where appropriate. 5. To deal with Health and Safety problems referred to them by a member of staff and refer to the Health and Safety Officer or the Headteacher if they cannot resolve these problems. Class Teachers The safety of pupils, laboratories and workshops is the responsibility of the class teachers. (Their responsibility cannot be delegated to a student teacher).
1. To exercise effective supervision of the pupils and to know the emergency procedures in respect of fire, bomb scare and first aid and to carry them out. 2. To know the special safety measures to be adopted in their own teaching areas and to ensure that they are applied. 3. To give clear instructions and warnings as often as necessary. 4. To follow safe working procedures personally. 5. To enforce the use of protective clothing and safe working procedures. 6. To make recommendations to their Head of Department, e.g. on safety equipment and on additions or improvements to equipment or machinery. 7. To make regular checks of all equipment, protective clothing, furniture and their environment (heating, lighting etc.) and to report any defects to the school s Health and Safety Officer. 8. To complete risk assessment sheets when required. 9. To take a register of pupils present in each lesson Caretakers: 1. To test the fire alarm system on a weekly basis, via a different alarm point and report any failures to the Site Manager immediately. 2. To report any defects in furniture and fittings for repair. 3. To inform staff, pupils and visitors of any hazards on site of which they may be unaware. 4. To inform staff and pupils of any maintenance work which could affect them. All Staff: 1. To wear their identification badge at all times. 2. To co-operate with management in the implementation of a Health and Safety Policy. 3. To inform the relevant Link Leadership Team member of any training needs they feel they need to carry out their responsibilities. 4. To use and not wilfully misuse, neglect or interfere with things provided for their own safety and/or safety of others. 5. To co-operate with other employees in promoting improved safety measures in school. 6. To co-operate with the appointed Health and Safety Officer and representatives Pupils: 1. To exercise personal responsibility for the safety of self and others. 2. To observe standards of dress consistent with safety and/or hygiene (this includes the jewellery school rules) 3. To observe all safety rules of the school and, in particular, the instructions of teaching staff given in an emergency. 4. To use and not wilfully misuse, neglect or interfere with things provided for their safety. 5. Children may wear watches to school, any other form of jewellery is not acceptable.
Visitors to the school: All visitors/contractors must report to the appropriate office on arrival in school. Visitors admitted to the school site should fill in the visitor s book and wear their visitor identification at all times. All employees should challenge unknown visitors in the school. Car Parking In order to provide a safe environment the car park is reserved for staff cars only and visitors to school. The car park is not available for parents bringing children to school. Sixth form students may use the car park at the back of the Performing Arts Block. Cleaning Materials and Equipment All hazardous materials will be locked away during the school day to avoid accidents. Cleaning equipment should be stored safely. Fire Drill: There will be an unannounced Fire Drill at least once every term. A copy of the Fire Drill Guide should be in every classroom and this must be observed in every detail. 1. On hearing the fire alarm all pupils should leave the school buildings under the direction of the class teacher. 2. Doors and windows should be closed as classrooms and corridors are vacated. 3. All laboratory, experimental equipment and apparatus should be turned off. 4. Movement should be on the right hand side of the corridors and stairs, and silence should be strictly observed. Disorderly behaviour should be checked by any teacher who observes it, even if he/she is not responsible for that particular group. 5. Nominated Fire Wardens will check the building. 6. When the pupils are assembled the class teacher will undertake a head count of their class, and report any missing pupils to the senior Fire Warden. 7. Staff and pupils remain at the assembly point until they are directed to return to their teaching room by the Senior Fire Warden. 8. Teachers who are not taking a class at the time of the Fire Drill must help in evacuation. Should a serious accident happen to a pupil, the teacher(s) involved should dial 999 immediately so that an ambulance may be called. They must then send for a First Aider, who will manage the situation and inform the relevant Progress Leader or senior member of staff. In the case of any accident an accident form must be filled in as soon as possible, by the teacher in charge, and given to the receptionist or pastoral secretary who will forward this to the appropriate location to be stored.
Teachers administering First Aid where any bleeding has occurred should always wear protective gloves provided for this work. Road Safety Form Tutors are advised to remind their Forms periodically about the importance of road safety and good behaviour on buses and trains. The demands of good manners on public transport should also be stressed, for adults travelling during the day do not want to be annoyed by rowdy or inappropriate behaviour. ::::::::::::::::::