Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
This is the Health and Safety Policy Statement of
CENTRAL BIRMINGHAM COLLEGE EDUCATION AND TRAINING (cbc)
Our statement of general policy is:
· to provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from our work activities;
· to consult with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety;
· to provide and maintain plant, machinery and equipment, which are safe, has been manufactured to a British, European or International standard, is regularly inspected, tested and maintained as appropriate; and that offers protection from danger by being suitably guarded (where appropriate). This would include such items as heating and hot water plant, kitchen equipment and appliances e.g. meat-slicer, powered cleaning equipment and portable electrical appliances;
· to ensure safe handling, use, storage and transport of articles and substances;
· to provide adequate information, instruction and training to enable staff and students to carry out their work activities in a healthy and safe manner, and to enable then to contribute positively to their own health and safety and that of others;
· to ensure all employees are competent to do their tasks;
· to prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health;
· to make arrangements within the college for the recording of all accidents/incidents and to make arrangements for the investigation of these accidents where required.
· To make arrangements for the reporting of serious accidents to the LSC and to the HSE where required.
· to make positive arrangements for fire evacuation, first-aid and other emergency situations;
· to provide and maintain safe and healthy college buildings with safe access and egress, paying particular attention to the structure of the buildings, the electrical installation, draining, glazing, maintenance of floors / corridors / playgrounds / steps / doorways / fire escape routes and security arrangements which would minimise the risk of acts of violence;
· to provide and maintain a safe and healthy working environment with effective management of illumination, temperature, ventilation, dust, smoke, fumes, noise, cleanliness and food hygiene and adequate protection against occupational disease and infestation;
· to provide and maintain adequate welfare arrangements such as eating, washing and toilet facilities and accommodation for clothing and personal belongings;
· to include aspects of personal safety within the curriculum which includes safety at home, on the road, around water areas and railway lines, fire, smoking and drug abuse and healthy eating;
· to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of visitors to the college and any other persons who may be affected by the acts or omissions of members of staff or students whilst taking part in college activities; and
· to review and revise this policy as necessary at regular intervals.
Signed: ……Mrs D Paul …………………. Date: …28.08.09……………..
(Chairman)
Review Date: 28.08.10……….
Organisation of Health and Safety
THE EMPLOYER (Management Committee)
Principal Head
Responsibility for Health and Safety
Site manager
Director of Studies/ Dept Heads
Premises Contractors Cleaners
Teachers Technicians
To ensure health and safety standards are maintained / improved, the following people have responsibility in the following areas.
The Management Committee/ Board of Trustees
· overall and ultimate responsibility for health and safety in the organisation is the responsibility of the Management Committee.
· day-to-day responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into practice is delegated to the Principal with responsibility for health and safety.
Management Committee:-
· shall ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare of staff.
· shall ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health and safety of students in the organisation and on off-site visits;
· shall ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health and safety of visitors to the organisation, and volunteers involved in any organisational activity;
· shall guide and monitor the Principal to ensure that he/she keeps health and safety as a high priority in the day-to-day management of the organisation;
· shall appoint one of the Committee to be the Committee member for Health and Safety;
· shall draw up and issue it’s own policies and guidance on curricular and
non-curricular topics where necessary, paying particular attention to health and safety aspects;
· shall discuss and resolve so far as is reasonably practicable, health and safety issues at meetings of the Management Committee; and
· shall carry out an annual appraisal of the safety performance of the organisation and include this in its annual report.
Principal Head
The Principal is responsible for the day-to-day management of the college and shall so far as is reasonably practicable:-
· ensure that the college’s Health and Safety Policy is implemented and adhered to at all times;
· ensure that all members of staff know, understand and accept their health and safety duties and responsibilities;
· ensure that adequate resources are allocated to facilitate healthy and safe working and teaching practices;
· ensure that the Management Committee is advised of health and safety implications when undertaking the management of the organisations budget;
· ensure that all employees, students and visitors receive adequate information, instruction, training and supervision, both within
and on organisation trips as appropriate;
· ensure that all machinery, appliances and equipment purchased by or used within the organisation, conforms to a British, European or International Standard, is used in the manner that it was designed for and is periodically examined, tested and maintained as appropriate;
· ensure the use of safe working practices and where necessary draw up and communicate written codes of practice for safe working and teaching;
· ensure that only approved chemicals and substances are used at the organisation and ensure that the appropriate safety information and risk assessment is available to the user;
· ensure that suitable and appropriate protective clothing is provided for staff and pupils who require it, and ensure that it is worn when necessary;
· ensure that adequate first aid treatment is available by the provision of a first-aider or appointed person and ensure that first aid boxes are kept adequately stocked;
· ensure that accidents are recorded and where necessary, investigated and reported to the LSC or HSE as soon as possible and also reported to the Management Committee. In the event of a major injury, the Chairman of the Management Committee shall be informed;
· ensure that a record is kept of any contagious disease that is contracted, also all acts of violence and that they are reported to the Management Committee as appropriate;
· ensure that fire procedures are planned and are rehearsed at least once per term;
· ensure that fire equipment, fixtures and exits are checked periodically and maintained to ensure that they are in working order;
· ensure that adequate welfare facilities are provided and maintained for staff and students;
· ensure that periodic safety inspections of the college are carried out;
· ensure that there is consultation with the staff Safety Representative on matters of health, safety and welfare;
· ensure that contractors working in the college, report to him/her before work commences in order to ascertain work details and agree safety procedures;
· ensure that in his/her absence, health and safety duties are delegated as appropriate;
· ensure that there is an annual appraisal of the organisation’s health and safety performance;
· ensure that risk assessments are undertaken and reviewed as appropriate; and
· review and up-date policy as appropriate.
Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff
All Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff shall, where appropriate and so far as is
reasonably practicable:-
· ensure that the organisation’s policies are implemented at all times;
· be responsible for the health and safety of the students they supervise;
· ensure that equipment used at college is safe and presents no risk to health and ensure that any defects are reported immediately to the Principal so that the equipment can either be repaired or disposed of;
· in the event of a fire, ensure that all students know the fire procedure and are evacuated safely;
· in the case of an injury, arrange for suitable first aid treatment, investigate the accident that caused the injury and record the details in the accident book;
· ensure that all classroom-based activities are carried out in a safe and healthy manner;
· ensure that any violent behaviour is stopped;
· ensure that students are adequately supervised whilst on midday dinner;
· ensure that, whilst students are playing for a sports team, provision has been made for dealing with injuries and other emergencies;
· ensure that whilst transporting students by car, safety seatbelts are worn and the organisation’s guidelines are followed;
· ensure that when undertaking organisational trips and holidays, sufficient research, planning, precautions and supervision are undertaken as laid down in the organisation’s guidelines and Code of Practice. Where specialist instructors are engaged to lead pupils, the role of supervision must be discussed and agreed with the instructor;
· ensure that they do not bring into college any potentially dangerous article or hazardous substance without the expressed permission of the Principal
· take appropriate action to make safe any dangerous condition caused by wet or icy weather;
· ensure that any agreed security provisions are carried out;
· co-operate with the Principal on all aspects of health, safety and welfare; and
· co-operate with the Principal in undertaking risk assessments for all activities with significant risks, to identify hazards and control measures and to communicate this information to all people who need to know.
Students
All students must:-
· co-operate with college staff on health and safety matters;
· not interfere with anything provided to safeguard their own health and safety;
· take reasonable care of their own health and safety; and
· report all health and safety concerns to a member of staff.
· In addition, union appointed safety representatives are entitled to investigate any
accident / incident occurring, any potential hazard reported and to carry out safety inspections at a rate of one inspection per quarter.
Arrangements
1.0 Health and safety risks arising from our work activity
2.0 Consultation with employees
3.0 Safe plant and equipment
4.0 Safe handling and use of substances
5.0 Information, instruction and supervision
6.0 Competency for tasks and training
7.0 Accident, first aid and work related ill health
8.0 Monitoring
9.0 Emergency procedures – fire and evacuation
10.0 Visitors to school premises
11.0 Premises
12.0 Educational visits / extra curricular activities
13.0 Movement of vehicles
14.0 Security
15.0 Medical matters, occupational health services and stress
16.0 External groups/activities
17.0 Safety in the community
18.0 Violence, behaviour, bullying and harassment
19.0 Health and Safety in the curriculum
20.0 Office safety and VDU usage
1.0 Health and Safety Risks Arising From our Work Activity
1.1 Risk Assessments
· Risk assessments will be undertaken by
· The findings of the risk assessments will be reported to
· Action required to remove / control risks will be approved by
· will be responsible for ensuring the action required is
implemented.
· will check that the implemented actions have removed / reduced the risks.
· Assessments will be reviewed every year or when the work activity changes, whichever is soonest.
2.0 Consultation with employees
· Employee representative(s) are:-
· Consultation with employee is provided by:-
3.0 Safe Plant and Equipment
· will be responsible for identifying all equipment / plant needing maintenance.
· will be responsible for ensuring effective maintenance procedures are drawn up.
· will be responsible for ensuring that all identified maintenance is carried out.
· Any problems found with plant / equipment should be reported to:-
· will check that new plant and equipment meets health and safety standards before it is purchased.
· No unauthorised electrical equipment is to be used on college premises.
· Where appropriate, residual current devices should be used with all electrical equipment.
3.2 Protective Equipment and Clothing
Relevant heads of department.
· will ensure that the correct protective equipment is made available
Relevant heads of department
· will ensure that the equipment is worn where required
Relevant heads of department
· Will ensure that PPE is in safe working order
4.0 Safe Handling and Use of Substances
· will be responsible for identifying all substances that require COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) assessments.
Heads of Department – biology and premises
· will be responsible for obtaining product health and safety data sheets and for undertaking COSHH assessments.
· will be responsible for ensuring that all actions identified in the assessments are implemented.
· Use of chemicals for teaching as set out in the national curriculum, will be done so in accordance with guidance and hazard cards produced by CLEAPSS Schools Science Service.
· will be responsible for ensuring that all relevant employees are informed about the COSHH assessments.
· will check that new substances can be used safely before they are purchased.
· Assessments will be reviewed every 2 years, or when the work activity changes or the constituents of the product change, whichever is the sooner.
5.0 Information, Instruction and Supervision
The Health and Safety Law poster is displayed at
Health and safety advice is available from
The principal/ heads of dept with responsibility for health and safety. The safety adviser (estates office) And HSE info line 0121 604 7869
· Supervision of young workers / trainees will be arranged / undertaken / monitored by
· is responsible for ensuring that our employees working at locations under the control of other employers. are given relevant health and safety information.
6.0 Competency for Tasks and Training
Induction training will be provided for all employees by
Job specific training will be provided by
Specific jobs requiring special training are:-
Training records are kept by
· Training records are located at
· Training will be identified, arranged and monitored by
7.0 Accident, First Aid and Work Related Ill Health
The first aiders and/or appointed persons* are
· The first aid box(s) is/are kept at
· All accidents and cases of work-related ill health are to be recorded in the accident book which is located at
· All serious accidents/incidents to students will also be reported to the HSE/ LSC using the Learner Incident Management system. All serious accidents to staff and students will also be reported to the HSE by
· as required by the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.
· All serious accidents/incidents will be investigated in accordance with guidance set out within the College Health and Safety Policy, in order to prevent a recurrence of the accident/incident.
8.0 Monitoring
· To check our working conditions, and ensure our safe working practices and policies are being followed we will:-
· carry out inspections at a frequency of:-
· conduct a full workplace inspection at a frequency of:-
Ensure relevant Departmental Managers submit health and safety reports at a frequency of: -
· is responsible for investigating accidents.
· is responsible for investigating work-related causes of sickness absences.
· is responsible for acting on investigation findings to prevent a recurrence.
9.0 Emergency Procedures – Fire and Evacuation
· is responsible for ensuring the fire risk assessment is undertaken and implemented.
· have been appointed as fire wardens / search officers.
· Escape routes and exits are checked by
· at a frequency of
· Fire extinguishers are maintained and checked by
· at a frequency of once per year.
· Alarms are tested by
· at a frequency of
· Emergency evacuation / fire drills will be carried out at a frequency of
· Records will be kept at
10.0 Visitors to the Organisation's Premises
· Any person visiting the premises is requested to make an appointment prior to the visit.
Identifiable visitors and other persons who may be affected include:-
· invited guests and visitors to the organisation
· volunteers and students who may assist with teaching;
· parents and customers to events such as jumble sales / Christmas Fayres etc;
· users of organisational property e.g.out of organisational hours such as an aerobics class or a football club;
· bus drivers or other persons encountered on an external trip or holiday;
· contractors at the school (other than their own work activity, which they themselves are responsible for);
· peripatetic teachers, grounds maintenance staff, advisers, refuse collection operatives etc;
· deliverers of goods, meter readers etc;
· trespassers unless injured by their own unsafe activities.
· On entering the premises, visitors must go to the reception / main office and sign-in the visitor’s book unless alternative arrangements have previously been arranged. e.g. contractors may wear ID badges.
· All visitors will be issued with a visitor’s badge, which is to be worn for the duration of the visit.
· On departure, visitors must sign-out the visitors book.
11.0 Premises Management
11.1 Contractors and Safety
· Contractors are selected on the following basis:-
Y N
Cost
Production of company safety policy
Proof of Competence (e.g. production of
qualification certificates)
References
Any other criteria
· All contractors are required to attend a pre-start meeting with the Head Teacher and any other relevant personnel e.g. Health and Safety Officer, in order for health and safety rules / information etc. to be communicated.
· All contractors are required to sign in and wear a visitor’s badge.
· Contractors must not leave their equipment unattended.
· Activities carried out by a contractor must not present a hazard to others in the vicinity of the work.
· is responsible for monitoring contractor’s activities whilst on site.
· Under no circumstances will contractors be allowed to use equipment belonging to the organisation.
11.2 Management of Asbestos, water purity, gas safety, electricity safety etc
The premises manager
· Is responsible for ensuring that all above are controlled as far as is reasonably practicable and that statutory inspection are carried out by competent parties.
12.0 Educational Visits / Extra Curricular Activities (in schools)
·
The Principal with responsibility for health and safety
· is responsible for ensuring that the Education Trips and Visits Code of Practice are followed.
· The Educational Visits Co-ordinator for the organisation is
All educational visits must be authorised by the Principal with responsibility for health and safety in advance.
The Principal with responsibility for health and safety or Departmental Manager will ensure that all appropriate information relating to the trip e.g. arrival/departure times, clothing requirements, contact numbers etc. is communicated, where appropriate, to the parents of the students and that parental consent is obtained.
· Adult supervision will be at least per students.
· Advice relating to educational visits can be obtained from:-
The Principal/ Director of Studies/ Heads of Department with responsibility for health and safety
· Refer to the Trips and Visits Code of Practice for detailed procedures and guidelines.
· Parental consent is to be sought and given in writing, where parental helpers are used. Parental and other non-employed helpers should undergo a police check if they are likely to be supervising students in the absence of a member of staff.
The Principal/ Director of Studies/ Heads of Department with responsibility for health and safety is responsible for ensuring that all vehicles used for the purpose of transporting students to and from specified destinations, are properly taxed, insured and have valid M.O.T. certificates.
13.0 Vehicles
13.1 Movement of Vehicles
· Staff and visitors should park their vehicles in the designated car park.
14.0 Security
Refer also to arrangements for ‘Visitors’.
· Security is maintained by:-
Y N
Perimeter fencing
Duty Officers stationed within
individual buildings
External Doors being locked
during open hours
CCTV
Signposting
Security lighting
Other security measures (please give details)
15.0 Occupational Health Services and Stress
· Occupational health services are provided by
Medi-screen via HR
If a Manager feels it is necessary to refer a member of staff to the Occupational Health Unit, he/she should contact the Human Resource manager with responsibility for health and safety in the first instance.
· In cases of stress, if the individual concerned does not feel he/she can approach his/her line manager, he/she may contact the organisations counsellor via Mr Anderson Loa – Director of studies or staff representatives.
All calls and subsequent consultations will be treated in strictest confidence.
16.0 External Groups / Activities
· External groups currently using the organisations premises are
· Particulars of the colleges health and safety policy and other health and safety information (escape routes / fire exits, alarm call points etc) will be communicated to external group representatives by
· All extra curricula groups using the organisations premises must abide by the organisations health and safety rules.
· Groups that use the organisations premises to hold functions will be asked to produce evidence of having carried out the necessary risk assessments and of implementing appropriate control measures to reduce any risks identified.
All events organised, as a joint venture between the organisation and any other external group, should be notified to the Principal with responsibility for health and safety to enable the necessary health and safety guidance to be issued.
17.0 Safety in the Community
· Safety in the community is addressed by
(e.g. police talks, fire-service seminars, topics in assembly etc)
18.0 Violence, Behaviour, Bullying and Harassment
· Efforts will be made to train all staff in how to handle violent and aggressive situations.
· If faced with a violent aggressor, avoid direct eye contact, do not raise your voice, do not take an aggressive stance, do not do or say anything to antagonise the situation.
· If staff are taking students out of the building to a point where a telephone would not be easily accessible e.g. onto playing fields, then a mobile phone should be taken to ensure assistance could be summoned quickly in an emergency.
· If staff are entering an area where there have been previous incidences of violence and/or aggressive behaviour from third parties, the possibility of providing additional staff i.e. ‘doubling-up, should be considered.
· The organisation will address bad behaviour, bullying and harassment by
· The organisation will address good behaviour by
· The organisation will address bullying and harassment involving staff by
19.0 Health and Safety in the Curriculum
· The curriculum will be delivered in a safe and healthy manner and every effort will be taken to identify risks associated with a curriculum subject/activity e.g. field trips, sports/P.E. activities, science etc., and the appropriate control measures will be implemented.
· Efforts will be taken to educate students about health and safety issues as and when the opportunity arises throughout the course of normal teaching. For example, the opportunity to educate students about safety through necessary underpinning knowledge in vocational
20 Workstation safety and VDU usage
The Heads of Department with responsibility for health and safety
· Will ensure that, where appropriate, work station risk assessment are carried out and
· Information is given to ‘users’ on good practice