Risk Assessments and Health and Safety
One area that really needs to be enforced in schools is risk assessments. Not just by the caretaker, but by every member of staff. Everyone working in a school has a responsibility to those they work with and teacher to ensure they work in a safe and healthy environment.
TeachersTV has recently made a film about the importance of completing risk assessments and Health and Safety. The film highlights some of the main points that you need to address.
Proper Storage
Schools are busy places. Equipment left out can be a cause of accidents. As part of the risk assessment, you should identify areas where there is a need for correct storage. This can be cupboards for equipment or lockers for pupils. Busy corridors and fire exits are places that equipment should never be stored.
Manual Handling
Many staff will attempt to place items for storage above head height or try to work on noticeboards or display boards above head height. These areas of risk should be identified within the risk assessment. Staff should be given clear instructions and told not to use chairs, tables or even pupils to gain that extra height. Step ladders should be provided. Within the instructions, staff should be aware that when using step ladders, another member of staff should be present to steady the steps and you should not carry items up the steps yourself, but have them passed to you when you are at the correct height.
Employers have a duty to provide you the correct equipment.
Lifting and Carrying
All staff should be aware of the techniques for lifting and carrying. Within the risk assessment, items like Briefcases, books, Over Head Projectors (OHPs) and laptops should be highlighted. It's often these small but bulky items that get overlooked.
Always bend at the knees keeping your back straight. When you finish the lift, straighten your knees, always keeping your back straight.
Keeping corridors safe
All school should have strict rules of conduct in corridors. Pupils should be aware of the dangers of pushing, shoving or running in corridors. Pupils should be aware of the reporting process if they find spillages or loose tiles in corridors. Corridors should be kept clear at all times, this includes pupils. Do not let pupils hang around in corridors (eg breaktimes). Do not place chairs or tables in corridors. Corridors are also the main fire exit within schools. If a panic was to happen during a fire, a chair or table could cause a serious problems.
These are just some of the issues the 15 minute film covers.
To watch the film provided by TeachersTV now, CLICK HERE to be taken to the Caretakers' Website hosting the film. You will need a broadband connection to stream this (35mb) media and Windows Media Player.
Written by thecaretaker of The Caretakers' Website
