In addition to extensive teaching guidelines, a robust school health and safety policy is essential for ensuring students and teachers alike find themselves in an optimal learning environment.
In our brief guide to school health and safety, we outline key legislation, the responsibilities of different parties in the school, and a quick school health and safety checklist.
Who is Responsible for Health and Safety in Schools?
Traditionally, the school health and safety responsibilities are divided between the governing body of the establishment, along with its head teacher and other staff.
In the case of independent or private schools, the owners or board of directors are in charge of enforcing the school’s health and safety policy. Meanwhile, in public schools this responsibility lies with the local authority.
Things like staff health and safety training, as well as ongoing risk assessments, fall under the duties of the head teacher. Teachers and other school staff are primarily in charge of ensuring they follow the school health and safety checklist and report any issues in a timely manner.
Health and Safety Legislation in Schools
The importance of health and safety in schools is further highlighted by the fact that there is a whole list of health and safety legislation educational facilities must follow.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 both relate to the duty of care employers have towards their staff, and the legal requirements for organisations to conduct risk assessments and take necessary safety precautions to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all employees.
In a similar fashion, The Children Act 1989 places the duty of care for students in the hands of the school, making educational establishments responsible for protecting pupils from physical (and psychological) harm.
There are also several pieces of legislation directly relating to specific health and safety hazards which might be present in schools, such as The First Aid Regulations 1981, The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Each of these outline health and safety requirements for non-domestic premises, such as schools.
Risk Assessment: A School Health and Safety Checklist
The first step towards ensuring health and safety in school is to undertake an exhaustive risk assessment, identifying any and all potential hazards to students, staff, and visitors.
Start by inspecting different areas of the school premises, including classrooms and corridors, as well as more specialised areas such as workshops, kitchens, labs, gyms, and playgrounds. Keep a particular eye on any sections that present a greater risk for students – or teachers – with disabilities.
Once you have a comprehensive list of hazards, it’s time to implement measures for minimising risk. This includes in-depth safety training for employees, as well as clear school health and safety signage. Here are some prominent themes you should make sure to cover:
Fire safety – While this is a key consideration in all settings, it’s particularly important in schools as a large number of students will need to be quickly evacuated in an event of emergency. Clearly visible fire safety signs marking fire escape routes, exits, and assembly points are crucial for compliance.
Fire evacuation training and consistent fire drills will help ensure everyone understands the protocols and is familiar with the routes they must follow. It’s also worth training staff in using fire equipment, and marking the positions of things like alarms and fire extinguishers with fire equipment labels.
Asbestos awareness – If your school is an older building, you should employ expert surveyors to conduct an inspection and identify whether there are any areas which might contain asbestos.
Usually, this is not a danger unless it is disturbed. However, you can never be too safe. So, make sure to have insulation, pipe lagging, roofing materials, and other common asbestos locations checked by a trained professional.
Do not try and look for or remove asbestos yourself!
Since asbestos can cause great damage to everyone’s health, any such areas should be clearly marked with asbestos warning signs to avoid accidental disturbance and consequent exposure to the harmful material. It should then be removed by a professional at the earliest opportunity.
First aid – As part of their duty of care, schools must have the necessary procedures and equipment in place to provide first aid in the event of an accident. The governing body must ensure there are enough staff members with first aid training too.
The emergency aid stations themselves should be clearly signposted with first aid signs, and stocked with the supplies necessary for treating allergies and common injuries.
School Health and Safety Policy Compliance with Label Source
Understanding the importance of health and safety in schools is crucial to creating a truly secure environment for pupils and staff alike. Governing bodies, head teachers, and other employees share the responsibility for the effective enforcement of a school’s health and safety policy.
The best way for them to achieve this is through regular risk assessments (conducted regularly in line with both legislation and school environment changes), supported by team health and safety training, as well as a range of signs aiding with first aid, asbestos awareness, and fire risks.
Our team of experts can help with your signage school health and safety checklist – simply get in touch, and we’ll support you with your query.
