BATTLEDOWN CENTRE FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES A Specialist Early Years Centre Lone Worker Policy This policy covers all aspects of school s work including Special School, Extended Services (inc Daycare) and Child Development Centre June 2012 1.
Introduction The Governing Body is committed to ensuring staff, volunteers and contractors enjoy a safe working environment. It is recognised that there are occasions when teaching, support, administrative, grounds, cleaning staff may be required, or choose, to work alone or in isolated situations. This however may introduce risks for a normally non-hazardous work activity. In working alone staff may find themselves in a vulnerable position. For example, it may be more difficult for them to summon help if their health and safety is at risk. The governing body acknowledges their statutory responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 for those who work alone. The law requires employees to take reasonable care of themselves, and other people affected by their work. In addition, they must co-operate with the governing body in the discharge of their legal duties Categories of lone workers Those who work in an otherwise unoccupied building Those who work in an isolated part of a building i.e. Harp Hill clinic or resource base Those responding to an alarm call out after normal school hours Lone workers within the community i.e. off-site visits Definition of Lone Working Where staff are engaged in work (either outdoors or indoors) where there are no other people who could reasonably be expected to come to their immediate aid in the event of an incident or emergency. Risk Assessment It is the responsibility of each individual to carry out a Lone Working Risk Assessment in relation to their lone working. Where a risk assessment indicates that it is not possible for the work to be completed safely by a lone worker, arrangements for providing help or backup will be put in place. The school will ensure, as far as is reasonably practical, that staff working alone are medically fit and suitable to work on their own. These assessments will not only cover routine work but also any foreseeable emergencies that may impose 2.
additional physical and mental pressure on the employee. Where there are doubts the school will seek the advice of the Occupational Health. Hazards that lone workers face include: violence and aggression from service users, resulting in injury or distress; risks from other members of the public e.g. when working in the community; inadequate provision of rest, hygiene and welfare facilities; manual handling of loads and heavy objects; use of hazardous chemicals or medication and the lack of first aid assistance; fire in a building that is not detected due to the limited occupancy; accidents arising out of the work environment and the lack of first aid assistance; driving alone and the risk of breakdown in remote locations; working outdoors in severe weather and the risks of slips; working in the hours of darkness and the increased likelihood of trips: difficult or complete loss of communications e.g. poor mobile phone coverage; working at height or in confined spaces (not permitted during lone working); Controls and guidance Staff should seek the permission of the Headteacher/Business Manager to work alone in the building outside of normal school hours. The experience and training of all staff and the activities to be undertaken will be taken into consideration before allowing lone working. Lone workers must be considered capable of responding correctly in an emergency situation by the Headteacher/Business Manager. Whenever possible it is recommended that staff work with a partner. The following controls should be carried out:- Staff should exercise appropriate levels of personal safety awareness. Staff attending alarm activations will only attend either with police support or in pairs. An outside check of the premises must be carried out, to ascertain if entry has been gained or possible fire hazards are evident, before entering the school. If there is sign of an entry police support must be gained before entering the school. Likewise in the event/evidence of fire, the fire brigade should be called. Staff must not enter the building on these occasions. 3.
Staff should activate the door security system when lone working and ensure that areas of the school not in use are kept secure. Staff must not place themselves in danger by challenging/tackling intruders, vandals or fire but should call the police/fire brigade for assistance. Staff should not work alone if they have medical conditions that might cause incapacity or unconsciousness. They should advise SMT of any circumstances that may affect their ability to work safely (e.g. relevant medical issues) All lone working staff should establish their own checking in and out system with either family, friends or work colleagues. It is advised that lone workers provide their relative or friend with a key holder s telephone contact number to call if the lone worker fails to return home at the expected time. In addition should there be a change to the expected time the lone worker should notify their respective contacts. Staff will receive information to help ensure they understand the risks associated with lone working and to minimise these risks. All lone workers, in an otherwise unoccupied building, should follow the school s Fire and Emergency Procedures. Staff have a responsibility for making themselves familiar with and following the school s safety procedures and location of safety equipment. Contractors should have access to their own first aid kit suitable for treating minor injuries. If staff use mobile phones they must ensure that their network has good reception within school. Although phones can give extra reassurance, they do not provide complete protection and staff should still be alert for their own personal safety at all times. In the situation where two or more people are working in isolated areas of an otherwise unoccupied building, personnel should keep each other informed about their location. Lone workers should not undertake activities that involve working at height, or any task that has been identified as medium or high risk. All school personnel are reminded about the importance of maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Communicate concerns and report accidents, incidents or near-misses. Ensure you use any equipment or procedures put in place for your safety. Report any failures in systems or equipment provided for your safety. Familiarise yourself with procedures for lone working and supporting risk assessments. Staff must not arrange meetings with parents or members of the public when lone working. All meetings must be arranged during school occupancy 4.
times or when there is more than one member of staff on site for the duration of the meeting. Staff are given information and training to enable them to make instant evaluation of the risks involved in lifting or handling heavy or awkward loads. Where a risk assessment identifies that a lifting and handling task cannot be carried out safely by a lone worker the lone worker should request assistance. Lone workers are particularly at risk if a fire occurs this is because they are less likely to be aware of a fire until they themselves see or smell it. Lone workers should always be aware of the appropriate access routes out of the building from their place of work. These routes should be kept clear at all times. Some workers may be required to work with and handle hazardous chemicals. The school has carried out risk assessments under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), before any workers use hazardous substances. It is essential that lone workers know what substances or agents they are using, the hazards, what precautions are needed, and what to do in an emergency such as accidental spillage. They should be trained in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and there should be clear procedures for reporting any defects in PPE and for exchanging it immediately. Staff working in isolated areas during closure periods or after school hours should notify the key holder of their location and exit. i.e to the caretaker. Before leaving the school the key holder should check that all staff who have signed in have exited the building. Staff are required to consider weather conditions before coming into and while at work. Injured persons should not be transported alone and a second member of staff should attend in all instances. Staff handling money offsite should follow the GCC guidelines and banking of money should not be carried out alone. Lone workers and the supporting systems will require monitoring to ensure that they remain safe. This might include: Line managers periodically visiting staff whilst lone working. Regular contact between the offsite lone worker and the school office. Ensuring that systems employed (e.g. desk diaries or in/out boards) are used by the offsite lone worker e.g. checking that appointments are always notified. 5.
Checks to ensure that a lone worker has returned to their base, home or other location on completion of a task e.g. phoning reception or texting a manager. It is the responsibility of all school personnel and contractors to adhere to the lone working procedures and to report any difficulties, failure of equipment or general concerns on health and safety to the Business Manager or Health and Safety Officer (HSO). If members of staff fail to follow procedures designed to protect their safety, this could result in a disciplinary matter as they will have contributed to their injury and any compensation claims for damages or unfair dismissal may be reduced accordingly. The School respects the right of the employee, under the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993, to refuse to carry out work where there is a serious and imminent risk of danger. They also can advise others to do the same without being dismissed as a result. Staff should be proactive in bringing to the attention of Business Manager or Health and Safety Officer (HSO) any aspect of work related risks. The HSO and Health and Safety Governor will regularly monitor the implementation of these procedures. Following any incident an investigation will be carried out and its findings used to inform change to procedures and working practices. Where it has been identified that a member of staff has been exposed to any significant risks the school will take steps to ensure that the risks are either removed or adequately controlled. Control measures may include instruction, training, supervision, protective equipment etc. Training Lone workers should be conversant of safe working practices. This will apply to employees and other workers where applicable, such as agency staff and contractors. Lone workers must complete a risk assessment; Ensure risk assessment outcomes are communicated to the relevant staff and new staff at induction; 6.
Ensure suitably robust control measures are in place these may need communicating through written procedures or within health and safety policies; Undertake any other briefings that may be necessary to raise staff awareness of risks and controls; Ensure that arrangements are in place to monitor lone workers where necessary; Consider training and equipment needs; Monitor the effectiveness of control measures; Seek professional health and safety advice where necessary in developing control measures; Notify SMT where control measures cannot be identified to adequately control risk with a view to seeking resolution. This policy will be reviewed annually by the Safeguarding Committee as part of a rolling programme. 7.
Lone Working Risk Assessment Date of assessment: Review date: Activity Potential Hazards Existing Control Measures Working in office/premises alone Fire - Burns, smoke inhalation, trapped in building. Fire detection system; Fire alarm call points; Fire action safety notices/information; Fire extinguishers; Fire doors kept shut; Training for staff; Fire signage; Fire exits; Planned inspections; Hazard reporting and correction; Adequacy of cleaning/waste disposal; Electrical safety inc Degree of Risk Additional Action Degree of Risk With Existing Control Measures Required/Comment With Additional Control Measures L'hood Severity Total L'hood Severity Total
PAT Testing; No smoking Controlled access to building through key code entry Avoidance of tailgating; Challenging unknown visitors where safe or reporting/requesting assistance Access to phone to call for help; Co-operation of building users; Lock self in office; Keep valuables locked up; Fire precautions; Post incident support; Maintain vehicle appropriately; Pre-use checks; Belong to a breakdown organisation; Avoid late night Working in office/premises alone Intruder - Attack, verbal abuse, theft of property, arson Look at assistance for receptionist in challenging situations investigate panic button. Driving Vehicle breakdown, RTA, intruder in vehicle when unattended, fire, use of mobile phone, alcohol, fatigue
driving; Take breaks to avoid fatigue; Park vehicle for easy departure; Carry HighVis clothing, torch etc for emergency; Advise team or partner where you are going; Phone in if plan changes; Be accompanied if necessary; Do not leave valuables in car (e.g. laptop); Lock vehicle when driving alone particularly in built up areas; Avoid risky areas dark car parks etc; Do not give lifts to strangers; Plan your route; Ensure adequate fuel in vehicle;
Take precautions in adverse weather; Sit with other passengers; Avoid dark locations; Have correct fare available to minimise cash handling; Get met at destination if possible; Sit near driver or other staff; Alert staff if threatened by others; Use alarm if necessary; Use help points; Post incident support; Avoid areas where one perceives there to be a problem; Pre-planned meetings with known contacts; Avoid lone working/walk with colleague; Change course if Travel by public transport Unwanted attention from other passenger, crime. Movement through public areas e.g. to/from car parks Attack, verbal abuse, theft of property
approached; Back down from confrontation; Call for help; Appropriate behaviour and appearance; Keep valuables secure and out of sight or disguised; Surrender valuables if personal safety is at risk; Be aware of suspicious individuals; Remain close to other groups of people; Avoid dark streets; Use staff bus or public transport if available; Be aware of surroundings; Act on intuition; Post incident support Lone working policy/procedure; Alert team members if able; Illness No access to medication, unable to call for help, left in office until other
staff return Access to phone; Avoid lone working; Take medication as directed or as needed; Illness No access to medication, Left at off-site location unattended. As above, plus: Mobile phone for field working/site visits away from base; Lone working policy/procedure; Local arrangements for site visits inc. notification of appointments in accessible desk or electronic diary; nominated manager or personnel to check system usage. Contact with special needs groups Assault; verbal abuse. Planned visit in liaison with site controller; Local briefing; Conflict awareness training (if risk becomes real); Accompanied by local
staff. Conflict awareness training (if risk becomes real); Avoid conflict use none threatening body language (don t stand too close or too far away, avoid overbearing ); Be polite & avoid aggressive language, sarcasm or inappropriate tone of voice ; Withdraw politely from situations which become inflamed; Try to maintain exit route; Staff briefings and sharing information; Awareness of risks; First aiders on site; accident investigation procedure; Post incident support; Working with public or service users Verbal abuse; Unprovoked Violence. Individual service user risk assessments and review following violent occurrences/events; Information sharing arrangements / flagging systems; Panic alarms to be investigated Mobile phones. Admin team to review procedures for difficult situations/conflict Out of Hours Monitoring arrangements/lettings Staff to ensure appointments are detailed (name, time, location, contact phone number etc)
Working at height Falls from height accident injury Avoid lone working at height. Manual handling Back injury; slip, trip or fall Minimise manual handling occurrence; Carry reduced weight (<10Kg); Wear appropriate footwear; Assess floor conditions (slippery? etc); Obtain assistance. Manual handling training /policy in place; Undertake specific Moving & Handling RA; Use lifting aids. Accident No access to first aid or other assistance, left in office until other staff return. Planned inspections of workplace; Avoid high risk activities (e.g. working at height); Defect reporting and rectification process Provision of first aid
equipment Provision of first aider Avoid working out of hours Electrical safety Post incident support Mobile phone for offsite visits; Lone working policy/procedure; Local arrangements for site visits inc. notification of appointments in accessible diary; nominated manager or personnel to check system usage; portable first aid kit; Avoid contact with animals; Seek local advice before entering premises with animals; Appropriate behaviour near animals avoid Accident No access to first aid or other assistance, left at off-site location unattended. Consider back up arrangements where mobile phone coverage is poor if working for prolonged periods in areas of no coverage (rather than merely passing through). Select network provider with appropriate coverage for area. Attack by dog or other animal Bites, contracting illness, shock
alarming animals e.g. sudden movements; Assessor s details Name: Job title: Signature and date: Manager s acceptance Manager s name: Job title: Signature and date: Likelihood (L'hood) Severity 1. Very unlikely (5 years or more) 1. Very minor injury (minor cuts/grazes. Very limited property damage/loss 2. Unlikely (1-5 years) 2. More serious injury <3 days off work/incapacity (sprains, more serious cuts, bruising. Injury needing medical attention. Slight property damage/loss. 3. Likely (6-12 months) 3. RIDDOR reportable (to HSE) injury/sickness (except fatality). More than 3 days off school. Significant property damage/loss. 4. Very likely (1-6 months) 4. RIDDOR reportable (to HSE) injury/sickness affecting more than one person (excluding fatality). Major property damage/loss. 5. Certain (more than 1 per month) 5. Single or multiple staff fatality. Catastrophic property damage/loss. Risk Ranking 1-5 Low Risk 6-15 Medium Risk 16-25 High Risk 1 2 3 4 5 Severity 1 1 2 3 4 5 2 2 4 6 8 10 3 3 6 9 12 15 4 4 8 12 16 20 5 5 10 15 20 25 Likelihood