Let’s face it, Health & Safety compliance is essential in all areas of life but, following our sustained period of reduced opening in schools and preparing for phased returns, it is critical for schools to get it right.
Some areas that you will need to consider in your reoccupation risk assessment may include:
Infection Control Measures
Social distancing in your school
Premises Checks for a Phased Re-Opening (gas, fire risk assessments etc.)
Legionella – (where a school's water systems have been left unused and unflushed)
Amending and updating risk assessments and policies - to reflect current and evolving circumstances
Use of PPE in schools
Additional screens in school offices
Adapting working methods
Some schools may have this under control and well progressed but, for many, now is probably the time for external professional support.
Our school H&S specialist supports over 1,500 schools. Their support includes:
Annual Health & Safety Audit (benchmarked against the HSE best practice)
Policy & Procedures (Constantly reviewed H&S policy and subsidiary policies, including First Aid & medicines, Managing contractors and site safety rules, Educational visits, Fire Management etc.)
Risk Assessments (carried out and documented on your behalf a number of assessments in key areas resulting in an action plan for your school or trust
Fire risk assessment (reviewed annually with a dedicated Fire Safety Action Plan)
Curriculum Risks (where appropriate meeting with Heads of Department of the higher-risk, practical subject to assess how safety is managed in their department and provide advice as necessary)
Access to Competent Person (You are allocated a lead consultant who will be a specialist school safety advisor for you to contact directly for advice on any health and safety matter)
Accident Investigation Support (Should an accident, near-miss or serious incident occur in your school, you will receive assistance to carry out an investigation to determine the cause of the event and identify any failure in the health and safety management system)
Online Resources (Document Library of risk assessment templates and examples, checklists, guidance documents etc. written specifically for Schools)
Accredited eLearning for ALL employees (As part of the annual package, all employees of the school will have free, unlimited access to a health and safety eLearning library containing over 25 accredited courses ranging from safety induction to fire warden training. Schools will be advised as to which courses are appropriate to which employees)
Those Schools & Trusts currently managing all areas of Health and Safety in house should consider the risks of not outsourcing to an established, school specific H&S service.
We have arranged with our H&S provider to offer new customers, that we introduce to them, a rebate of 10% of the first year’s fees.
Please get in touch if you would like to find out more and receive a no obligation quotation.