Ballapousta National School

Introductory Statement
This statement was reviewed following the issue of new guidelines under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005. The Principal drew up a provisional draft. The staff, Board of Management and a number of parents were involved in reviewing and adapting this draft prior to its being ratified by the Board at its meeting on …………..

Rationale
It is a legal requirement under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005, for every employer, in conjunction with employees, to prepare a Health and Safety Statement. The Board of Management of Ballapousta NS is committed to safety and health. This statement specifies the manner, the organisation and the resources necessary for maintaining and reviewing safety and health standards in our school.

The Board of Management in drafting this statement has outlined their health and safety programme and will make it available to all employees, outside services providers and Inspectors of the Health and Safety Authority. The Board of Management is also taking into consideration its 'duty of care' role in the school and this is an integral part of our Health and Safety Statement.

Relationship to the characteristic Spirit of the School
The Board of Management of Ballapousta National School is committed to the creation of a safe and healthy working environment for all members of the school community, children, teachers, parents and visitors to our school.

Aims
In drafting this policy the Board of Management hopes to achieve the following with this statement:
" to create a safe and healthy school environment by identifying, preventing and tackling hazards and their accompanying risks;
" to ensure understanding of the school's duty of care towards pupils, teachers, staff and visitors to the school.
" to protect the school community from workplace accidents and ill health (physical health, mental health and emotional health) at school;
" to outline procedures and practices in place to ensure safe systems of work;
" to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation (so far as is reasonably practicable) to include the following areas
o Provision of a safe workplace for all employees - teachers, SNAs, secretary,
caretaker, etc.
o To ensure competent employees, who will carry out safe work practices
o Safe access and egress routes
o Safe handling and use of hazardous substances and equipment
o Safe equipment including maintenance and use of appropriate guards
o Provision of appropriate personal protective equipment.

Responsibilities of employer - Board of Management

It is the responsibility of the Board of Management to
¢ Provide and maintain a workplace that is safe and do likewise for all machinery and equipment etc.
¢ Manage work activities to ensure the safety, health and welfare of employees
¢ Ensure that risks are assessed and hazards are eliminated or minimized as far as is reasonably practicable
¢ Prepare a safety statement and regularly update it, particularly when there have been significant changes or when the risk assessment is no longer valid
¢ Provide and maintain decent welfare facilities for employees
¢ Prepare and update procedures to deal with an emergency situation and communicate these procedures to employees
¢ Appoint a competent person to oversee the functions of the Board in relation to Health & Safety
¢ Provide training and information to workers in a format and language that is appropriate, including training on the commencement of employment
¢ Report serious accidents to the Health and Safety Authority
¢ Consult annually with employees and provide them with information in relation to safety, health and welfare
¢ Require employers from whom services are contracted to have an up to date safety statement (e.g. painters, contract cleaners, bus companies…)

Responsibilities of employees:
Health and safety is everyone's business. As a worker we have legal duties designed to protect us and those we work with.

Responsibilities of employees include:

¢ Not to be under the influence of an intoxicant to the extent that you endanger your own or another person's safety.
¢ To submit to tests for intoxicants as and when regulations specifying testing procedures are adopted
¢ To co-operate with an employer or other people to ensure that the Health and Safety law is implemented
¢ Not to engage in improper conduct that will endanger you or anyone else
¢ To attend Health and Safety training and correctly use any equipment at work
¢ To use protective clothes and use all equipment provided
¢ To report without reasonable delay any dangerous practices or situations that you are aware of to an appropriate person
¢ Not to interfere with or misuse any safety equipment at your workplace
¢ If you are suffering from a disease or illness that adds to risks, to tell your employer.

Entitlements of safety representative (Section 25 Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 2):

The safety representative has the right to:

¢ Represent the employees at the place of work in consultation with the employer on matters in relation to health and safety
¢ Inspect the place of work on a schedule agreed (annually) with the employer or immediately in the event of an accident, dangerous occurrence or imminent danger or risk to the safety, health and welfare of any person
¢ Receive appropriate training
¢ Investigate accidents and dangerous occurrences
¢ Investigate complaints made by employees
¢ Accompany an inspector [HSA] carrying out an inspection at the workplace
¢ Make representations to the employer on matters relating to safety, health and welfare
¢ Make representations to and receive information from, an inspector
¢ Consult and liaise with other safety representatives in the same undertaking.


Carry Out a Risk Assessment

Each year, the Board of Management should carry out a risk assessment, identifying hazards, assessing the risks and specifying the actions required to eliminate or minimize them. Hazards may include physical, health, biological, chemical and human hazards.

As part of the general approach to safety, other policies and practices which have a bearing on safety, health and welfare will need to be put in place and communicated to employees, pupils, parents and others using the premises. Some examples are given below. These need to be monitored and updated regularly e.g. an annual fire safety audit or school environment audit (See appendices).

Health and safety should be considered when any policy/plan is being drawn up e.g. PE, Visual Arts, School Excursions, etc. Our duty of care must also be considered in all areas and aspects of school life.

Procedures to deal with emergencies
" Emergency contact procedures
o The secretary updates contact details annually. These are kept in the office and each teacher receives a copy for his/her class. The teachers and the secretary have access to these details.
o In case of emergency parents/guardians or emergency contact person nominated by parents/guardians are contacted by telephone.
" Fire-drill and school evacuation procedures
o Fire-drills are held once each term.
o All teachers and pupils are aware of the designated assembly point/s following evacuation of the building. These assembly points are clearly marked.
o The school revises these procedures annually.
" Serious Accident Procedure & Accident Report Form (See Appendix 38 p.285 CPSMA Management Board Members' Handbook):
A report must be made to the HSA in respect of the following types of incident:
o An accident causing loss of life to any employed or self-employed person if sustained in the course of their employment on the premises;
o An accident sustained in the course of their employment which prevents any employed or self-employed person from performing the normal duties of their employment for more than 3 calendar days not including the date of the accident;
o All accidents sustained by students will be recorded in an Incident Report book. Where such accidents require medical attention an Accident Report form will be completed.
" Emergency closures
o Where the school needs to close for particular emergencies parents will be notified by letter from the school if time and circumstances allow. Failing this they will be contacted by telephone, the text a parent service or an announcement may be made on the local radio station [LMFM] if suitable.

Health issues
" Enrolment Form
o Parents are requested to identify any allergies/illnesses pertaining to their child on the enrolment form
" Administration of Medication
o Medication is not administered as per policy on same which is included in the substance use policy and circulated to all parents on the enrolment of their child. In specified exceptional circumstances application must be made to the Board of Management.
o Psychological Assessments: the Principal and teaching staff are the first point of contact for all outside bodies in relation to any form of documentation in regards to any pupil's behavioural, psychological or emotional progress. Only written requests from the attending physician/psychologist accompanied by a consent form, from the child's parents, will be considered. It is the professional duty of the class teacher to make any reports in conjunction with the SET and Principal to NEPS or HSE.

" Sickness or Injury
o Children who become sick or are seriously injured during the school day are sent home. Parents must provide several contact phone numbers on the enrolment form and update these details through the years of the child's enrolment in the school.
o The school will deal with minor accidents/illnesses and basic first-aid will be administered by a member of staff. All members of staff will receive training in first aid every two years, provided by the BOM.
" Illnesses and contagious infections rubella, chicken pox etc;
Where pupils have infectious diseases parents are required to keep them at home.

" Head-lice
o When parents inform the school about an outbreak of head-lice a letter/notice is sent home requesting parents to check their children over a particular weekend and treat as necessary. All families are requested to check their children's hair on the 'Bug Busting Night'. Repeated failure to do so could be viewed as neglect under the Children First, child protection guidelines and may lead to a report of neglect to the HSE.

" School hygiene
o Soap and towels are available in all toilet areas. Anti-bacterial wipes are available in each classroom.
" General cleanliness of school environment
o A caretaker and cleaner are employed to maintain the school premises both inside and out.
" Healthy eating: refer to school's Healthy Eating policy.

" Water
o Drinking water is available on tap in the school for staff and pupils.


Safety and welfare issues

Pupils
" Assembly and Dismissal of Pupils
o Children are not encouraged to be on the premises prior to 9.10 a.m. At that stage they assemble in the yard and are brought into their classroom where they will be supervised by the teacher.
o All children leave the premises at 3.00 p.m. If their transport or escort is late arriving they remain at the school door.
" Pupils leaving the school premises during the school day e.g. dentist or doctor appointment
o The parent/guardian must collect the pupil from the classroom having informed the school in writing prior to the appointment time or in the case of senior pupils they may be excused if they have a note. Children will only be released into the care of a recognised family member or designated adult.

" Supervision of Pupils:
o In the event of a teacher being absent the principal or another teacher is appointed to supervise until a substitute can be employed. If no substitute is available then the class may be divided and sent to other classes and supervised by the class teacher with work provided.
o The supervision roster for playground duty is the responsibility of the Deputy Principal and is on display in the staffroom each month. This roster is kept as part of the school records.


" Incident / accident book
o The supervising/witnessing teacher will write the report in the event of a serious incident or accident. This record will be kept in the filing cabinet in the staff room.

" Code of Behaviour and Anti Bullying Policy: Refer to school's policy for dealing with behaviour which causes a risk to others

" Allegations or Suspicions of Child Abuse:
o The school's Child Protection Policy, in line with Child Protection Guidelines, must be followed in the case of an allegation or suspicion of child abuse. All allegations are to be reported to the Designated Liaison Person [DLP].

" School tours / outings: Refer to school's policy on school tours
" Mobile phones: Refer to school's policy on mobile phones.


Staff
" Garda clearance
o The school will pass on to the Garda Vetting Unit all details of employees and a garda check on all persons employed is a requirement of employment.

" Assaults on Teachers/School Employees: See Appendix 23 p.210 CPSMA Management Board Members' Handbook
o Respect for others is the principle at the heart of our school's ethos. With this in mind the school aims to maintain a culture where abuse of any nature is not tolerated.
o If an incident did occur the Board of Management would convene an emergency meeting.
" Staff work in a comfortable and safe environment.
" Staff are instructed in the use of fire extinguishers.
" Appropriate safety gear is available where necessary for all members of staff.


Equipment and materials
" All lawnmowers, drills, ladders and any other equipment associated with school maintenance are stored in a safe area which is not accessible to children. The storage area is locked during the school day. The caretaker only has access.
" Solvents, chemicals, cleaning agents etc. are stored in the cleaning room under lock and key. Teachers, school cleaner and caretaker have access.
" All electrical equipment, computers, televisions and other technologies are stored safely. The television is transported around the school on a trolley. All plugs, leads etc. are checked annually.


Success Criteria
The effectiveness of this policy will be evident in the day to day running of the school. It is hoped that all serious misadventures will be avoided through the implementation of this policy.

Roles and Responsibilities
" The Board of Management is responsible for the overall safety of the school. As part of this role they must maintain the building and ensure that repairs are carried out as when identified.
" The Safety Officer, Jim Harmon, liaises with the Safety Representative prior to board meetings and assists in the compilation of a risk assessment annually.
" There is a staff representative elected as Safety Representative each year.
" Each member of staff has responsibilities as outlined at the beginning of the policy. All staff should use their own initiative in relation to safety issues.

Implementation
These procedures will apply from June 2008.

Timetable for Review
The Safety Statement will be review annually.

Ratification and Communication
The Board of Management officially ratified the policy. The Health and Safety Statement will be on display in the school and is available to parents on request.



Reference Section
" Guidelines on Preparing your Safety Statement, HSA
" www.safework.ie
" A short guide to The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (www.hsa.ie)
" Report of the Advisory Committee on Health & Safety Statement for Schools. HSA. This report contains a format for a Safety Statement.
" INTO Guidelines for compiling a Safety Statement
" INTO Safety Representatives Checklist for School Inspections (Under H &S Background information on www.sdps.ie)
" CPSMA Management Board Members' Handbook. Appendix 36, 37, 38
" A Supplementary Handbook for Primary Schools under Protestant Management. Second Edition. p.22 - 27 Compiling a Safety Statement
" A Guide to Insurance, Safety and Security in the School. (2002). Church & General p. 24-32
" Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 (www.hsa.ie)
" "The Report of the Advisory Committee on Health and Safety in Schools." Health and Safety Authority, 10 Hogan Place, Dublin 2. Tel.: 01 - 6147000
" A Short Guide to Health and Safety Law. HSA
" Round Hall's Primary Education Management Manual CD - ROM
" Glendenning D. (1999) Education and the Law. Ch. 9 The Teacher's Duty of Care: Negligence
" Mahon O. (2002) The Principal's Legal Handbook.IVEA.Ch.3 Safety, Health & Welfare in School
" Guidelines on Countering Bullying Behaviour in Primary and Post Primary Schools (DES1993)
" Working Together. Procedures and Policies for Positive Staff Relations. INTO 2000
" Code of Practice on the Prevention of Workplace Bullying. HSA 2002
" Guidelines for developing a School Substance Use Policy. DES Oct. 2002
" Child Protection. Guidelines and Procedures. DES 2001
" Children First. National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children. Department of Health and Children 1999
" Guidelines on First Aid (Index chart) from the regional Health Promotion Units
" "Infection in School". A manual for school personnel, available from regional Health promotion units on www.healthpromotion.ie
" Responding to Critical Incidents - Advice and Information Pack for Schools from The National Educational Psychological Service, Frederick Court, 24-27 North Frederick Street, Dublin 1