Health & Safety Policy

 

GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

Our policy is to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work for all our employees, students, visitors and other legitimate users of the premises and to provide such information, training and supervision as they need for this purpose. We also accept our responsibility for the health and safety of other people who may be affected by our activities.

The allocation of duties for safety matters and the particular arrangements which we will make to implement the policy are set out in this document.

The policy will be kept up to date, particularly as the operation changes in nature and size. To ensure this, the policy and the way in which it has operated will be reviewed every year.

Signed

Chairman of Governors

Signed

 

Principal

Dated ......................................................................

 

 

INTRODUCTION

The Health and Safety of all employees and all other people who use the College or Boarding House premises is of prime importance to the College and Boarding House. The Governing Body recognise that achieving and maintaining high standards of safety requires that the management, staff, students, visitors and contractors working on either premises are aware of and accept their respective responsibilities.

The College will, through the organisational arrangements set out in this policy, take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the health and safety at work of its employees, students, visitors and contractors working on the premises and will in particular provide:

· a safe working/teaching/living environment

· safe systems of work

· safe plant and equipment

· adequate information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure health and safety at work

· safe storage of all inherently dangerous materials and substances

· adequate first aid facilities

· effective procedures for the evacuation of the building in the event of an emergency

The College will encourage joint consultative arrangements to check the effectiveness of health and safety measures within the College.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other legislation requires employees, students and visitors to the College premises to co-operate with the College management to comply with any statutory requirements and not to misuse or interfere with anything provided by the College in the interests of health and safety.

The College's Health and Safety Policy should be read in conjunction with Leicestershire County Council's Health and Safety Policy and Leicestershire LEA's Health and Safety Policy. The County Council's Policy forms Parts I and II and the LEA's Policy Part IIIA of the overall Health and Safety Policy operating in the College, with the College's policy forming Part IIIB. In considering these various policies, it should be recognised that as County/Controlled College, the LEA is the employer of the College staff.

Signed ..................................................................... Date: ........................................

Chairman of Governors

GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT

INTRODUCTION

A copy of the policy will be included in each departmental handbook and Field House handbook. Staff will be expected to read the policy itself and any sections of the appendices relevant to their work.

The induction process for new staff - including supply and casual staff - will include a section on Health & Safety. This should be undertaken by the Departmental Head (Head of Boarding for Field House).

Specific arrangements have been included in appendices to this policy. They will be updated by the person identified as responsible in the light of Government/LEA/internal changes in regulation and in the light of experience. They will be included in the annual review.

They form an integral part of the College's Health & Safety policy.

CONTEXT OF THE POLICY

This policy has been written in the context of Leicestershire County Council's and LEA's Health and Safety Policies and is designed to ensure compliance with all existing and future legislation relevant to the College and boarding house.

For the purposes of this policy, the premises are as defined in Appendix 1

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Governors accept and recognise their responsibilities in relation to Health and Safety as defined in the LEA's policy. They are:-

· To formulate and implement a Health and Safety Policy, including policies for First Aid and Fire Safety;

· To support and implement the County Council's and LEA's Health and Safety Policies;

· To recognise the right of employees, students and other users to be provided with a safe working environment;

· To promote a positive attitude towards health and safety within the College and Boarding House;

· To ensure sufficient resources are provided for the effective implementation of the various health and safety policies and               compliance with relevant legislation and codes of practice;

· To monitor and review the operation of the Health and Safety Policies in the College and Boarding House;

· To comply with directives issued by the County Council and LEA on health and safety matters in Colleges.

Staff with supervisory responsibilities or who have responsibility for a specific area of

The College or boarding house premises are required to:

provide health and safety information to staff

arrange the training of staff in health and safety matters

ensure compliance with the College's or House’ Health and Safety Policy

action the recommendations of College or House’ health and safety reports

establish procedures for an annual review of their designated areas

record and act on incidents, including "near misses", reported to them

undertake sufficient and satisfactory risk assessments

All employees have a duty to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure their own health and safety and that the health and safety of all students and other visitors to the College or boarding house, in their care are not put at risk due to their acts or omissions.

All staff must:

· check areas are safe before commencing an activity

· check that equipment is safe to use

· ensure that safe systems of work are used

· ensure that, where appropriate, personal protective equipment is used

· report any accidents, incidents, or "near misses" to their co-ordinator / manager / House matron

· encourage students and visitors to the College and boarding house to comply with the Health and Safety Policy

· ensure, when working outside their specialism, that all student activities are within the teacher's or member of staff’s knowledge of safe practice.

Details of specific responsibilities are contained in appendix 2

VISITORS and USERS (including contractors)

All visitors will be reminded of their responsibility to take reasonable care for their own health and safety, for the health and safety of others and to comply with the instructions of the Governing Body or their delegated representative.

Visitors and Contractors

All visitors and contractors will be required to sign in at Reception on arrival and sign out on departure. All visitors and contractors will be issued with named visitor passes carrying basic Health & Safety guidelines (See appendix 3)

For Field House, visitors and contractors will be required to report to the senior member of staff on duty on their arrival and at departure.

Staff will be expected to advise their visitors of any particular Health & Safety requirements relevant to their visit, including general procedures and precautions they should take and the action to be taken in case of an emergency.

Organisers of groups participating in activities off the premises will be given details of emergency procedures and contacts and will be reminded of the Health & Safety Regulations relevant to the area of College or activity involved.

Meetings of outside groups should compile a register of people attending their meeting. This should be held by the organiser.

Contractors will be briefed by a member of the premises team (Senior member of staff at Field House) about specific health and safety issues, procedures or precautions relevant to their visit.

SUPERVISION of STUDENTS

All employees, students and other users have the responsibility to co-operate with senior staff to achieve a healthy and safe environment for work and study and to take reasonable care of themselves and others. (See Appendix 4, the student expectations booklet, Staff Handbook and Field House handbook).

Whenever an employee, student or boarder notices a health or safety problem, which they are not able to rectify, they must immediately inform an appropriate person (students would normally be expected to tell their tutor, class-teacher, or boarding staff who must then inform the relevant person). They may also tell a safety representative.

i. The formal times of the College day are published annually in the staff handbook. Outside these times, supervision cannot be guaranteed except in organised activities. Students on the premises outside these times are expected to behave safely and not to enter prohibited areas, including unsupervised upstairs areas. Boarding House times are published in the Field House handbook and supervision will be carried out by a member of staff organised by the Head of Boarding.

ii. Supervision arrangements for break and lunchtimes are detailed in the staff handbook and a duty rota published to all staff at the start of the academic year.

iii. Medicines: LEA Health and Safety Code of Practice 5 applies a copy of which is held by the Vice Principal (Admin & Resources) and Support Manager. No medicine is administered to anyone below the age of 18 unless written consent has been given and clear instructions to do so have been obtained from the parent/guardian or adult family member.

Medicines are administered for boarding students as described in the Field House handbook.

iv. The following areas will have local Health & Safety regulations and practices. These will be added as appendices 10, 11 and 12.

Design and Technology, Science, PE including Swimming Pool and Field House

v. Offsite Activities

LEA Health and Safety Code of Practice 11 - Guidance for the conduct of educational visits and adventurous activities - applies to all activities carried out by the college or boarding house. Further advice is contained in the staff handbook.

The appropriate College proforma must be completed and sent to the appropriate Vice Principal for approval before any offsite activity is undertaken. This form will include a risk assessment section. Details are contained in the staff handbook.

LEA Health and Safety Code of Practice 4 - Work experience - applies to all work experience placements. Further advice is available from the Work Placement Co-Ordinator.

FIRST AID

All occurrences requiring First Aid should be reported to the main Reception (or Senior member of staff in the case of Field House) immediately.

All incidents will be recorded in the Day Book.

Detailed arrangements for the provision of First Aid are included in Appendix

5. All accidents and injuries are reported to the LEA (See Appendix 5). The LEA then informs the Health & Safety Executive of "serious" accidents (as defined under RIDDOR Regulations).

"Near-misses" should be reported to the relevant Departmental Head.

FIRE AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Procedures for responding to emergencies will be reviewed at least annually. Students, new staff and boarders will be instructed in evacuation procedures as part of their induction.

At least three practice evacuations will be held each College year during the normal school day time. Additionally arrangements will be made to ensure that community users have experience of the evacuation procedures.

Additionally, arrangements will be made to ensure boarders and boarding staff are aware of Field House evacuation procedures.

Fire fighting equipment and notices will be supplied and maintained in accordance with current regulations.

Arrangements for emergency evacuation for users are contained in Appendix

6. Section 7

ARRANGEMENTS FOR REPORTING AND INVESTIGATING INCIDENTS

The Governing Body delegates to the Principal the responsibility to report all accidents and serious occurrences to the LEA (and HSE via the LEA where appropriate) on the forms prescribed by both organisations (see Section 5 and Appendix 5). In addition the reporting arrangements for incidents not necessarily leading to accidents are detailed in Section 5. The Principal is responsible for instigating an investigation and, where appropriate, authorising remedial work or action.

Serious accidents as defined under RIDDOR will be reported to the College Health and Safety Committee.

A report on Health & Safety will be presented to each (termly) meeting of the Governing Body.

 

ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONSULTATION ON HEALTH AND SAFETY MATTERS

Consultation between senior staff, employees, students and boarders is provided by the Health & Safety Committee which meets at least four times annually. Departmental/Boarding reports are given as required. Details of membership is contained in Appendix 2.

TRAINING OF STAFF

The Health & Safety Co-ordinator is responsible for assessing training needs on the advice of Departmental Heads and other supervisors (identified in appendix 4) and for arranging the appropriate training (in consultation with the In-Service Training Co-ordinator).

Curricular Area Co-ordinators and Head of Boarding will maintain an up-to-date record of Health & Safety training as part of staff In-Service Training records. They will send a copy to the Health & Safety Co-ordinator for inclusion in personal files.

Appendix 7 identifies specific recognised training needs for key staff.

Provision of Information to Staff

All newly appointed staff - including supply and catering staff - will be informed of the College's Health & Safety Policy and procedures by Departmental Heads or Head of Boarding. Health & Safety Information Circulars, Admin. Memos and other briefing sheets received in College will be brought to the attention of staff by the Vice Principal (Admin & Resources). A copy of the Health and Safety policy and other supporting documentation will be maintained by the Support Manager, in Departmental handbooks and be available to staff. Details of circulars maintained will be included in the staff handbook.

SELF-FINANCED PROJECTS

The Governors have noted and agree to follow the guidance given in Administrative Memorandum 57.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT

The Finance, Premises & Human Resources Sub-Committee of the Governing Body will maintain and review procedures to comply with the Environmental Protection Act.

THE MANAGEMENT OF STRESS (including violence at work and working alone)

The Governing body recognises that stress creates many harmful effects for both the institution and for the individual, and acknowledges its importance for resource management and for individual welfare. Violence at work and working alone are recognised as increasing causes of stress. Appendix 8 details the college response.

 

SITE SECURITY AND PERSONAL SAFETY

The Governing Body takes its responsibility for the safety of staff, the College and Field House sites seriously. Details of the arrangements for security are contained in Appendix 9.

 

PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING

 

The Governors have made arrangements for the testing of portable electrical appliances. Details are contained in appendix 13.

 

 

SUN AWARENESS

The Governors have adopted the sun awareness guidance issued by the County Council admin memo number G34/98 which is held by the Support Manager.

 

COSHH

The Governors follow the COSHH 1999 Regulations – documents held by the Support Manager.

 

RISK ASSESSMENT

The Governors have adopted the County Council Risk Assessment guidelines outlined in LEA Code of Practice 2 – document held by the Support Manager.

 

DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS

The Governors follow the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 – details held by the Support Manager.

CRITICAL INCIDENT PLAN

The College maintains a Critical Incident Plan held by the VP Admin & Resources.

 

 

ARRANGEMENTS FOR MONITORING AND REVIEWING THE POLICY STATEMENT

The College Health and Safety Committee and the Finance, Premises & Human Resources Sub-Committee of the Governing Body will review this Policy Statement on an annual basis or more frequently should the need arise.

 

INDEX TO HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

Subject Area Page No

General Statement of Policy 1

Introduction 2

Section 1 General Introduction and Context 3

Section 2 Responsibilities (Governors, staff with supervisory 3 & 4

Responsibilities and all employees include risk assessment)

Section 3 Visitors and Users (incl. Contractors) 5

Section 4 Supervision of Students (incl medicines, local 5 & 6

arrangements, offsite activities and work experience)

Section 5 First Aid 6

Section 6 Fire and Other Emergencies 7

Section 7 Arrangements for Reporting/Investigating Incidents 7

Section 8 Arrangements for Consultation on Health & Safety 7

Matters

Section 9 Training of Staff 8

Section 10 Self Financed Projects 8

Section 11 Environmental Protection Act 8

Section 12 The Management of Stress (incl. Violence at work & 8

working alone)

Section 13 Site Security and Personal Safety 9

Section 14 Portable Appliance Testing 9

Section 15 Sun Awareness 9

Section 16 COSHH 9

Section 17 Risk Assessment 9

Section 18 Display Screen Equipment 9

Section 19 Critical Incident Plan 10

Section 20 Arrangements for Monitoring & Reviewing the Policy 10