Health And Safety At Work - Assignment Example

Health And Safety At Work Activity 1: Task 1a. Derived from the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Dept. of Education, 2010), the following is an example of three guidelines related to school health and safety. 1. “Pupils are protected by the duties imposed because they are affected by an employer’s undertaking or are using school premises. The legislation requires employers to assess and manage risk and is usually enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in respect of schools” (Dept. of Education, 2010, p. 333). 2. “Responsibility for the health and safety of pupils lies with the governing body of the school, either as the employer of school staff or because it controls school premises (or both). Where the governing body does not employ school staff, the local authority has responsibilities as the employer” (Dept. of Education, 2010, p. 334). 3. “Employees in any kind of school must: take reasonable care for the health and safety of pupils while at work; cooperate with their employer and the governing body so far as is necessary to enable compliance with the above duties; carry out activities in accordance with training and instructions; inform the employer of any serious risk”(Dept. of Education, 2010, p. 337). Task 1b. The following are examples of three specific school policies at the Elliot Park School. 1. Medication in School Policy: "All medicines must be clearly labeled with pupil's name, contents, and dosage" (Teaching Assistant's Handbook, p. 94). 2. The Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits: Support staff must "help to maintain the health and safety of everyone on the visit" (p. 95). 3. The School Health Service: “Hearing screening is done between the ages of 5 and 6 years by an audiometric technician” (p. 96). Task 2. The Deputy Head Teacher has numerous responsibilities for the health and safety of Elliot Park School pupils. This person is responsible for maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all staff and pupils. The Deputy Headteacher will establish and maintain the procedures in order to create a safe learning environment; they will also assess situations to ensure the well-being of staff and pupils. This person is also responsible for communicating, instructing and supervising staff and pupils, so that they may "avoid hazards and contribute positively to their own health and safety;" this may include staff training (p. 89). The head teacher (as well as the School Governors) is responsible for the implementation of the school's health and safety policy. This person is responsible for revising and amending the policy as needed, preparing emergency evacuation procedures, ensuring that safety inspections are conducted and to make arrangements for the removal, repair, and replacement of "furniture, fitting or equipment identified as being unsafe by the Health and Safety inspection team" (p. 90).Task 3. Safety Checklist: Have you... 1. checked the playing equipment for safety using safety regulations? 2. provided toys and equipment that are age appropriate? 3. made sure that none of the learning and play areas interfere with the others? 4. used impact-absorbing materials where appropriate? 5. Made security arrangements for the arrival and departure of pupils? Task 4. New TA Safety Leaflet Classroom Safety Tips: 1. The learning environment must have age appropriate equipment and materials. 2. When performing potentially hazards activities such as hammering, sawing and science experiments, British Standard BS2092 safety goggles must be warned. 3. Check the cultural, religious, and dietary prohibitions of all pupils to avoid allergic reactions to foods and materials in the classroom. 4. Be sure to instruct pupils in classroom safety; including reporting accidents to teachers, keeping foods and materials out of their mouths and not touching electrical outlets. 5. Be sure to maintain the bathroom and toilet area for proper sanitation. Playground Safety Tips: 1. The playground a setting should be a safe, hazard-free environment that provides activities that encourage curiosity and exploration. 2. Adult supervision must be present during playground play. 3. Children with disabilities require safe access. 4. Be sure that old and worn equipment is removed or replaced and that the equipment is age appropriate. 5. Be sure that rubber or other impact-absorbing materials are being used for the playground surface. Activity 2. Task 5a. The following list is the necessary evacuation procedure to use when a fire alarm goes off. 1. Pupils must stand at attention next to their desks as soon as a fire alarm is heard. 2. The teacher will announce the exit route to be used and children will leave the classroom in single file. 3. Hearing impaired children must be alerted about the alarm. 4. All classes “move at a steady pace to the place of assembly” (p.98). 5. The teacher at the rear should have the attendance register and will close the classroom door as well as other unused doors on the escape route. 6. Children should not run, or laugh, talk or make other noises during the evacuation. 7. “special arrangements should be made to deal with pupils with physical disabilities” and those with a nervous disposition (p. 98). 8. Both the headteacher and deputy headteacher will go to the pre-determined location for assembly and wait for reports from all sections. 1. Assembly point for Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 is the Year 1 and 2 playgrounds. 2. Assembly point for Key Stage 2 is the Year 5 and 6 playgrounds. 9. Anyone not in the classroom at the time of the alarm must go directly to the assembly point and join their class. 10. No one must re-enter the building, with the exception of a search for a missing person. 11. The fire brigade must be called as soon as a fire is suspected (senior member staff responsibility). 12. A roll call or count must be made (my register if possible) at the assembly point. 13. “Each responsible person should report immediately to the head teacher or deputy head teacher 'all present' or otherwise” (p. 99). 14. A search must be conducted by staff if any pupils are missing. 15. Immediately inform the Officer in Charge of the Fire Brigade as to whether or not everyone has been safely evacuated. Task 5b. If a child under my care is injured on the playground, I would first remain calm and then contact the “First Aider”; who, at Elliot Park School, is Mrs. T. Vale. Since I am not the designated first aider, I must not apply first aid, but I can provide comfort with my presence and voice until the first aider arrives (Teaching Assistant's Handbook, p. 112). I will then “establish and maintained the privacy and safety of the area” (p. 112). I must provide clear and accurate information about the incident to the first aider. I would then fill out an accident form which is found in the school office. Task 6. Based on the Bradford Health Protection Team, the most common illnesses found in typical schools are: Chickenpox Cold Sores Hand, foot and mouth disease Impetigo Measles Rubella Scabies Parvovirus Common cold Diptheria Influenza Whooping cough Conjunctivitis Mononucleosis Head lice Tonsillitis Task 7. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that is defined by the inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Asthma causes wheezing, tightening of the chest, shortness of breath and coughing (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, 2008). Elliot Park School Pupil Health Record Name: Rebecca Reuben D.O.B.: 04/13/2005 Class: Victoria Walker YR2 Medical Condition: Asthma Symptoms: Wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and restricted airway during attacks. Actions to be taken: Provide quick-relief rescue inhaler. Emergency Contact Numbers: Name: Sally Reuben Tel: 1234567890 Relationship to pupil: Mother Name: Jasmine Jones Tel: 9876543210 Relationship to pupil: Aunt Name: John Reuben Tel: 2345167890 Relationship to pupil: Father Name and address of doctor: Doctor: Dr. Jason Winchester Tel: 2347892413 Address: 123 Hathaway Lane Activity 3 Task 8 The main regulation relating to the safeguarding of children from abuse is the Work Together to Safeguard Children (1999) created by the DfEE and the Department of Health. The regulation requires all schools to follow the Area Child Protection Committee established procedures to protect children from abuse. This also requires schools to have their own procedures "in place for responding to situations in which they believe that a child has been abused or is at risk of abuse" (p. 112). This school procedure should also detail how to handle situations where a staff member is accused or suspected of abuse. Five relevant policies include: 1. “If any member of staff is concerned about a child s/he must inform the head teacher” (p. 115). 2. “Information regarding these concerns must be reported by the member of staff on the same day. This record must give a clear, precise and factual account of the observation” (p. 115). 3. "The headteacher will decide whether the concerns should be referred to Social Services. If it is decided to make a referral to Social Services this will be done without prior discussion with the parents" (p. 115). 4. “If a referral is made to Social Services, the head teacher will ensure that a report of the concerns is sent to the social worker dealing with the case within 48hours” (p. 115). 5. “Particular attention will be paid to the attendance and development of any child identified as 'at risk' or who has been placed on the Child Protection Register” (p. 115). 8. All staff members have a responsibility to safeguard children from abuse. From your studies, describe what these are. Task 9. School staff members should "be alert to signs of abuse and know to whom they should report any concerns or suspicions;" this includes signs of neglect and verbal abuse (p. 113). Furthermore, there should be a designated staff member, with relevant training, who is responsible for coordinating a liaison between the school and other agencies should abuse be suspected. Task 10. As a Teaching Assistant who knows of or suspects abuse, I would inform the head teacher the same day I received this information. I would then create a record that is precise and factual. Once I do this the head teacher would be responsible for deciding whether or not to report the information to Social Services. Task 11. The four key points to remember about confidentiality as it relates to abuse are: 1. It is the responsibility of teaching staff and non-teaching staff “to share relevant information about the protection of children with other professionals;” including Social Services and the Police (p. 113). 2. Even in the case where a child confides in staff about abuse and asks that the information not is shared, the staff must share the information with the proper authorities. 3. In the above case, the child should be made aware that the information will be shared but only to the people who need to know about it. Explain to them that they are not in trouble and that they did the right thing by sharing the information. 4. Keep in mind that “staff who receive information about children and their families in the course of their work should share that information only within appropriate professional contexts” (p. 114). References Department of Education. (2010). A guide to the law for school governors: Pupil health and safety. http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/governance/guidetothelaw/b0065507 /gotta/health-safety-welfare/legislation-health-and-safety National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (2008). What is Asthma? Website. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_WhatIs.html Read More