Health and Safety Policy

D02: HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

“The safety of the people shall be the highest law.” Marcus Tullius Cicero

1. STATEMENT OF INTENT:

Edison International Academy Management believes that ensuring the health and safety of staff, pupils and visitors is essential to maintain a healthy, safe and secure learning environment.

We are committed to:

  1. Providing a safe and healthy working and learning environment
  2. Preventing accidents and work related ill health
  3. Assessing and controlling risks from curriculum and non-curriculum work activities
  4. Complying with statutory requirements as a minimum standard
  5. Ensuring safe working methods and providing safe equipment
  6. Providing effective information, instruction and training
  7. Monitoring and reviewing systems to make sure they are effective
  8. Developing and maintaining a positive health and safety culture through communication and consultation with employees, students, parents and their representatives on health and safety matters
  9. Setting targets and objectives to develop a culture of continuous improvement
  10. Ensuring adequate welfare facilities exist at the school
  11. Ensuring adequate resources are made available for health and safety issues, so far as is reasonably practicable

A Health and Safety Management System has been created to ensure the above commitments can be met. School Principal, Managing Director, all staff and pupils/students will play their part in its implementation.

2. RESPONSIBILITIES:

a. The Managing Director and the School Principal:

  1. Ensure a clear written policy statement is created which promotes the correct attitude towards safety and demonstrates their commitment to ‘lead by examples’ in all health and safety matters.
  2. take overall responsibility for the implementation and monitoring of Health and Safety
  3. allocate sufficient resources to meet health and safety priorities
  4. ensure attendance on appropriate health and safety training courses
  5. regularly check the legal health and safety requirements and implement all updates
  6. ensure good communication by including health and safety issues in staff briefings and meetings
  7. organise and implementing regular inspections 
  8. oversee the completion of the arrangements and ‘risk assessment’ for all on and off site activities
  9. ensure that health and safety is a criteria for performance management and appraisal scheme
  10. carry out the policy for the management of critical incidents
  11. ensure all employees and contractors are fully briefed on health and safety issues at the school and they have sufficient experience, knowledge and training to perform the tasks required of them
  12. complete all relevant risk assessment
  13. carry out termly fire drills, check fire extinguishers, appropriately record findings and act accordingly
  14. ensure that all employees are aware that lone-working with regards to health and safety issues and incidents is highly discouraged
  15. Consult with the staff through the Safety Committee which must be representative including a representation from the administration, the teaching staff, the Assistants, the Nurse and the cleaners.

b. The School Principal and Deputy Principal:

  1. includes health and safety session in the induction of all new employees
  2. Identify, provide health and safety training to all employees
  3. monitors documentation, risk assessment, practices and procedures
  4. supports employees with personal safety issues including stress
  5. ensures off-site visits are approved and appropriately adequate measures are implemented to ensure the Health and Safety while acting for the School.

c. School Administration Manager and School Secretary:

  1. a health and safety file is kept in the school office, containing all relevant information (i.e. certificates and licences from Civil Defence, Hamad Medical Corporation, police clearances, HSE Policy, Emergency contact, Evacuation plan, list of students,  etc.)
  2. all office risk assessment is completed and reviewed
  3. hazard reporting and maintenance documentation is actioned 
  4. maintain accurate records of all equipment and resources
  5. organise the planned programmed maintenance of equipment relating to health and safety at the school
  6. arrange for an annual electrical testing programme
  7. arrange for every 6 months the inspection of playing equipment 
  8. arrange for every 6 months the inspection of the Fire alarm web system

d. School Security Guards:

  1. ensure all visitors and outside contractors are registered
  2. ensure that no child leaves the school before the regular pick up time (EYFS: noon, KS1 – KS3: 1pm) without prior approval and with an issued and signed ‘Early Departure Slip’.

e. All Staff:

  1. to carry out risk assessment and keep documentation as appropriate, especially in Art, ICT, Science, PE and off-site activities
  2. ensure all hazardous equipment and materials are appropriately marked, assessed, maintained, stored in a safe place which is not accessible by pupils, and used by a competent person
  3. ensure that pupils are aware of health and safety issues and that these are being continually reinforced
  4. cooperate with health and safety requirements
  5. report any defects to the School Principal and/or the School Administrative Officer
  6. complete and action risk assessment for all potentially hazardous on and off site activities
  7. use, but not misuse equipment provided for the health, safety and welfare of all
  8. do not undertake unsafe acts
  9. inform the School Principal of any incidents immediately and document the same on the school’s Incident Report Form
  10. be familiar with the emergency action plan for fire, first aid, security and off-site issues
  11. raise health, safety and environmental issues with pupils

f. Visitors and Contractors:

  1. report to the guard and sign the ‘visitors’ book’
  2. report to the School Office on arrival
  3. follow evacuation procedure in the event of an emergency

g. Pupils:

  1. behave in a way that does not put anyone’s health and safety at risk
  2. observe standards of dress consisten with good healty (i.e. no jewellery)
  3. follow safety rules including the instructions of staff given in an emergency
  4. use, but not misuse equipment provided for their health, safety and welfare

3. PREMISES SAFETY:

Hazard and Maintenance Book: 

This is available at the Reception desk and must be used to record and document any fault, hazard or potential hazard that may be identified by any member of staff, teaching and non-teaching. Staff entering an item in the book may wish to inform the School Principal and/or the School Administrative Officer as well. It is the responsibility of the School Principal to respond to the fault and/or hazard as soon as possible. 

The School Principal is to regularly review any outstanding building maintenance works, to set priorities and have the necessary works carried out.

School Grounds:

Picking up litter is a shared responsibility and involves all staff as well as pupils. Metal cans and glass bottles must be confiscated from pupils immediately, and should they be found on school grounds must be removed.

Car Park:

All staff and visitors must adhere to the ‘gate opening timings’ displayed at the school gates. 

Cars are not allowed on school grounds outside the hours published (exceptions for wheelchair visitors, for example, are at the discretion of the Principal)

Play Equipment:

The playground must be supervised at all times during school opening hours. A minimum of three adults should be on duty at all times during the morning playtime and all breaks on each playground.

One staff member, on a rotational basis, is to carry out supervision from 1pm to 2pm.

Playground equipment needs to be checked daily, and any concerns are to be forwarded to the Principal and/or the School Office immediately.

4. CONTRACTORS:

The School Principal is to receive suitable and sufficient prior notification of any programmed maintenance works from contractors. Contractors are to sign in and report to the Principal/Reception as soon as they arrive on site.

5. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES (SEE ALSO EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE POLICY)

First Aiders:

A list (names and photograph) of currently trained First Aiders is to be displayed on the notice-board in the Administration Office.

First Aid Equipment:

It is the responsibility of the school nurse to keep the first aid equipment well stocked, but it is the responsibility of ‘’all’’ who use the first aid boxes to report any shortages or inadequacies to the school office. First aid equipment is located in the nurse’s room in the school office. 

Reporting of injuries, diseases and/or dangerous occurrences:

a. Accident Reporting: ALL accidents, including minor ones, to pupils, staff and visitors MUST be reported on the Accident/Incident Report Form. Regarding accidents to pupils that result in the pupil being sent to a doctor or the hospital, accidents involving the alert of emergency services and fire, please refer to the Emergency Procedure Policy.

b. Informing Parents: in case of any accidents involving pupils, minor and/or major ones, parents must be informed as soon as possible by phone or face to face

Administering of Medication:

If a child requires prescribed medicines whilst attending school at Edison International Academy, the parent must complete a written form of consent. Once completed, these forms should be kept in the student file and with the nurse.

All medication should be stored safely either in the fridge in the kitchen or in the medicine box in the Edison International Academy clinic.

It is the responsibility of the admin staff and class teachers to ensure children have access to inhalers/medicines on any off-site visits.

Epilepsy and Diabetes:

All children who suffer from either epilepsy or suffer from a diabetic condition are to be identified at the beginning of each academic year. It is the responsibility of the School Nurse(s) to put together a file of known cases and to display a photograph with the name of the child and the name of the condition on a display board visible to all staff. 

All staff is to be informed of children who are epileptic or diabetic, and are to be aware of the procedure and actions that need to be taken.

If a child with no history of epilepsy has a seizure, parents should be contacted immediately and medical advice sought. The school must regularly follow up with parents of concerned children and inform them of any incidents that take place during the school day. In the event of fatal or serious injury, nothing at the site of the accident must be moved, except for helping the injured, until a thorough examination has been carried out.

Parents/guardians or next of kin must be contacted as soon as possible.

Head Lice:

If a child is found to have live head lice, the parent is contacted and requested to obtain suitable medication or refer to a qualified health practitioner

6. FIRE SAFETY

For a detailed outline regarding the appropriate procedures and action in the case of fire, please refer to the Emergency Procedure Policy.

Fire exits, recommended routes and fire assembly points are to be clearly sign posted. 

7. EQUIPMENT SAFETY

Any hazardous or potentially hazardous equipment shall not be used by pupils without due supervision from a qualified adult. 

8. PERSONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

  1. Members of staff are reminded that they must not stand on tables or chairs when putting up or taking down displays for instance. It is recommended that teachers work together when working on displays.
  2. Personal property should be locked away or kept in the school administration office. Money and valuables should not be left unattended. Responsibility for personal items rests with the individual member of staff.
  3. Cash on school premises should be kept out of sight and sent to the school office or the Principal as soon as possible. In the school office, it is the responsibility of the Administration Manager to lock away cash. Under no circumstances should money be counted in a public place.

9. CHILDREN’S SAFETY

Under no circumstances must children be left unsupervised in the classroom. In an emergency, it is the responsibility of the class teacher to get their lesson covered, and that the school office and/or the Principal/Principal is informed of the emergency immediately. The school cannot accept responsibility for pupils before 6.30am and after 2pm.

10. AIDS AWARENESS

  1. Protective gloves should be worn in case of an accident. 
  2. Blood and other bodily fluids in contact with the skin should be washed off immediately
  3. Cuts should be covered with a waterproof plaster 
  4. be careful with sharp object that could carry blood and/or bodily fluids if they should puncture the skin

11. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Staff responsible for such will implement a risk assessment and monitor the effectiveness for hazardous activities undertaken on or off site.

12. EDUCATIONAL VISITS

Edison International Academy will ensure all necessary preparation is undertaken for educational visits on or off site, and necessary risk assessment will be carried out prior to such an educational visit. 

Other guidelines are:

      1. Sufficient and appropriate staff is to accompany the educational visit, based on the age of the children and the type of activity undertaken. 1 adult for every 6 pupils in school years 1 to 3, (under 5s reception classes should have a higher ratio), 1 adult for every 10-15 pupils in school years 4 to 6, 1 adult for every 15-20 pupils in school year 7 onwards.
      2. Written parental consent has to be obtained from parents for each educational visit planned. The child will not be allowed to participate without written permission from the parent or guardian.
      3. A first aid box is to be taken on all trips off the school premises
      4. Staff is to carry at least (2) two mobile phones. 
      5. Any visit off site must be approved by the School Principal.
      6. Each adult on the visit should have a copy of the list and a copy should be left with the driver at the front of the coach.
      7. All coaches hired by the Edison Academy will have seat belts fitted and the supervising staff should ensure that they are used.
      8. Adults must base themselves in different parts of the vehicle to maintain full supervision and control.
      9. Children should not sit in the front seats of the coach or in the Centre back seat.
      10. Children should not be seated by an emergency exit.
      11. Children are not allowed to eat or drink on coaches and should sit still not to distract the driver or drivers of other vehicles.

13. CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT

Edison International Academy has in place an Emergency Procedure Policy. Parents are to be regularly reminded to keep the school updated of contact numbers and addresses. Further, an emergency contact is to be kept on each pupil’s file.

14. PERFORMANCE MONITORING

Edison International Academy expects full cooperation from all members of staff, teaching and non-teaching at all times. 

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