Health and Safety Policy

Health & Safety Policy Statement

It is the policy of this academy to conduct its Senior Operations in such a manner as to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all its employees, contractors, clients, students, general public and others while working and studying on its premises and outside those premises on associated activities. Working to the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and UK Statutory Instruments, as well as any future national health and safety legislation.

This policy supplements and operates in conjunction with the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) Health and Safety Policy.

This will be achieved by:

• Creating and encouraging a positive and pro-active Health and Safety culture across the organisation.
• Identifying all foreseeable risks that may cause injury or harm to staff, pupils and visitors and identifying all control measures that are reasonably practicable are in place to avoid injury or harm. Ensuring that these risks and control measures are captured in risk assessments that are conducted and reviewed on a regular basis in accordance with CLF Risk Assessment process.
• Ensuring so far as is reasonably practicable, that all CLF premises provide a healthy and safe working environment, and that there are safe systems of work in place to provide this.
• Ensuring that as CLF introduce a hybrid working offer, for applicable staff on a more permanent basis. That robust mechanisms are in place and monitored for safe working practices to followed and implemented remotely.
• Ensuring so far as is reasonably practicable that all CLF premises are continuing to follow the base line measures to reduce transmission of infectious diseases. These being:

1. Adequate levels of ventilation, windows regularly opened and Co2 monitoring in place.
2. ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach
3. Clean hands thoroughly more often than usual with sanitiser and or hand washing with soap and water
4. Encourage unwell students and staff not to attend the academy
5. Encourage staff and students to take part in annual Flu and Covid vaccinations campaigns

• Ensuring any outbreak of infectious diseases (including Covid 19) is managed by following the advice published in Infectious disease and childcare settings, plus additional advice provided by UKHAS.
• To ensure that the safety standards prescribed are adhered to both on CLF premises and for offsite activities.
• Providing safe access and egress to the premises at all times.
• Ensuring staff receive appropriate and applicable up to date training, information, instruction and supervision, this will be made accessible for all staff including individuals with language or disability needs.
• Ensuring arrangements are in place to provide the safe use of, handling of, storage of and transportation of all articles and substances.
• Ensuring suitable and sufficient work equipment is available and maintained, and that the appropriate personal protective equipment is provided for use of such equipment as required.
• Providing access to adequate welfare facilities which include, but not limited to, toilets, adequately warm environment, staff room, and drinking water.
• Ensuring that when staff operate on behalf of CLF an assessment of the significant risks specific to the activities or tasks will be made. All reasonably practicable measures will be put in place to manage those risks and ensure the activities, or tasks can be conducted in a safe manner.
• Ensuring that all Secondary academies’ access, reference and follow the specialist advice and guidance provided by CLEAPSS. CLEAPSS guidance and documentation is recognised by the Health and Safety Executive and the Department for Education as providing current best practice advice, including model risk assessments to the Academy and college setting for specialist curriculum areas Science, DT and Art.
• Ensure there are robust management procedures embedded for the use and storage of radio- active materials used in science. CLF are registered with the Health and Safety Executive for Secondary academies to hold small amounts of radioactive materials used in science. To hold these and be compliant with the Ionising radiation regs 2017, to ensure each academy has a trained RPO-Radiation protection officer (Trained every 5 years) and that CLF appoint an Independent RPA-Radiation protection Adviser (contracted via Tony Butterworth University of Bristol Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA2000 Certificate No. 00001838).
• Ensuring good and clear communications and consultation with/to all parties, including safety representatives of the recognised teacher unions, on all information related to health and safety and the management requirements of this, to comply with Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977.
• Monitoring compliance and good practice of health and safety, and where issues arise, ensure appropriate consultation and action is taken.
• Ensuring that all third-party contracts and services awarded across the CLF, be that centrally or by individual establishments, have a consistency of approach and thorough vetting of the contracts to achieve legal compliance. To then ensure that all contracts let are monitored for compliance.
• Regularly updating the Risk Register to ensure it is a working document that continually highlights and mitigates as far as is reasonably practicable any identified risks.
• Recognising the benefits of automated external defibrillators (AEDs); the CLF will install equipment in all facilities where they are confident that capacity and skills currently available are sufficient to secure those benefits. The CLF is committed to working towards achieving this in all locations.

Whilst day to day management of health and safety can be delegated to the academies, the ultimate and overall responsibility for ensuring a safe and healthy environment lies with the CLF Board.

All Academy Councils, Principals and Academy staff must familiarise themselves with the contents of this statement, the organisational structure, and arrangements. The health and safety manual available on CLiF should be referred to as a source of safety information and guidance.

Employees have a legal duty to act in a safe manner and not to endanger themselves or others by their actions. All health and safety procedures must be communicated to staff as required. Staff are encouraged to be proactive in developing and maintaining a healthy and safe working environment and to report health and safety concerns to their line manager or through the appropriate reporting procedures.

It is the belief of this academy that a positive health and safety culture is of significant benefit to the good performance and safety of the whole academy. We aim to encourage, support and develop a positive and proactive approach for students, through risk education and awareness. The organisational structure named below will ensure that sufficient resources (including financial) are available so that the policy and its arrangements can be implemented effectively.

This policy and our health and safety standards will be under continual review in the interests of continuous improvement. Formal amendment to this policy will be conducted annually or as necessary to reflect changes in the academies strategy, UK or EU law. Any changes will be brought to the attention of all staff.

Equalities Impact Assessment

An equalities Impact Assessment has been carried out. The assessment concluded that there was no adverse impact identified for any groups of people with protected characteristics. The full equalities Impact assessment can be obtained from Jo Crickson.

Organisation Structure

Our academy recognises the need to identify organisational methods for implementing and managing the health and safety of all persons who work within this academy, any off-site activities, each associated or subsidiary company, and anyone who visits these premises.

CLF understands the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places ultimate and overall responsibility for health and safety with the CLF Board of Directors. The following is an outline of duties and responsibilities that have been assigned to CLF Board of Directors, Audit Committee, Executive Team, People & Wellbeing Executive Group, Corporate Services Team, Academy Councils, Academy Councillors’, Principals, Senior Operations Manager, Premises Manager and academy staff.

Roles and Responsibilities

CLF Board of Directors

The Board of Directors, as a corporate body, has the responsibility to set the strategic direction and objectives of all health and safety matters across the CLF. The board is responsible for ensuring that high standards of corporate governance are maintained. It exercises its powers and functions by addressing such matters as policy and strategic development, adopting an annual plan and budget, monitoring the CLF safety management systems, managing the corporate risk register and making strategic decisions about the direction of the CLF. The overall aim is to ensure a positive health and safety culture is established and maintained throughout.

The Board must ensure that all reasonable steps have been taken to reduce the possibility of accident or injury to staff, students and visitors. CLF Sub-committees, the Executive Team, Principals and Senior leadership teams, Academy Councils and any relevant Project Steering Group will keep the Board informed of all developments relating to health and safety matters and will include such matters in a health and safety report.

The CLF Board of Directors responsibilities are:

• To ensure that each Board Member accepts their individual role in providing health and safety leadership for the CLF.
•  To ensure the Board formally and publicly accepts its collective role and responsibility in providing health and safety leadership for the CLF.
• To ensure the Board’s decisions reflect its health and safety intentions as articulated in the CLF health and safety Policy statement.
• Ensuring an overall CLF health and safety strategic development plan, including key targets, is implemented and undertaken with engagement from all members of the Executive Team.
• To receive regular and thorough updates in relation to the strategic development plan and associated actions.
• To warrant that all external and third-party contracts that are awarded across the CLF have a consistency of approach, the required levels of competence and ensure legal compliance. Any successful contracts awarded by the CLF must have been appropriately vetted for health and safety, financial and equality standards and other measures deemed appropriate.
• To ensure every academy has an Academy Council established in accordance with the CLF Articles of Association. To ensure the Academy Council is chaired by a member nominated by the Board and includes a designated Health & Safety Councillor.
• To ensure that each academy has an operational Health and Safety committee.
• To provide and ensure an informed, proportionate and prioritised risk management system for the CLF is implemented and monitored, in order to assess the risks to pupils, staff and others affected by school activities in order to identify and introduce the health and safety measures necessary to manage the risks, this will include any reasonable adjustments to be considered to allow staff and pupils to work safely.
• To ensure annual health and safety targets and initiatives are recorded and published across the CLF.
• To ensure effective accident and near miss reporting and investigation procedures are in place across the CLF.
• To ensure monitoring of compliance contracts throughout the CLF is undertaken and suitable reports are provided to the Executive Groups e.g., mechanical and electrical statutory inspections, fire risk assessments, asbestos surveys, water hygiene monitoring. This includes those academies under the BSF scheme.
• To ensure there is an effective business continuity plan in place for each CLF premises.
• To ensure there is an emergency plan along with emergency procedures in place for the safe evacuation of all CLF premises.
• To confirm that there have been no instances of material irregularity, impropriety, lack of integrity or negligence of health and safety statutory instruments across the CLF and associated or subsidiary companies.
• To review the CLF health & safety annual report.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee must:

• Review the CLF risk management practices and procedures and ensure appropriate action plans are in place.
• Ensure progress of internal and external audits.

People & Wellbeing Executive Group

The People and Wellbeing Group are responsible for Health and Safety and they must:

• Receive a progress report on individual academy findings, issues and progress to date from CLF Head of Health and Safety
• Implement spot checks on a specific target area for consistency of approach and compliance.
• Ensure there are effective and adequate formal internal and external communications on health and safety across the CLF.
• Ensure the CLF health and safety strategic development plan is implemented.
• Ensure there are systems in place to gather data, record and publish annual health and safety targets and initiatives across the CLF.
• Ensure suitable and sufficient monitoring, reviews and recommendations of all health and safety management systems across the CLF is warranted and implemented.
• Ensure contingency emergency arrangements and business continuity plans are in place to enable CLF strategic and education Senior Operations to continue in line with statutory requirements.

Executive Team

The Executive Team must support the implementation of health and safety across the CLF by:

• Implementing and reviewing policies.
• Considering the impact of health and safety in all strategic and operational decision making.
• Implementing ways in reducing the likelihood of people being harmed by CLF activities.
• Appraising findings and appropriate actions from health and safety audits, compliance audits, inspection audits, Reporting of Injuries Disease and Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR) reports.
• Ensuring systems are in place and adhered to in order to minimise the likelihood of enforcement action, penalties and prosecutions.
• Working alongside Principals to manage and monitor an informed, proportionate and prioritised risk management system for the CLF, ensuring that all risk assessments are completed and reviewed in accordance with CLF Risk Assessment processes.
• Ensuring there is an emergency plan with procedures for the safe evacuation of a CLF premises.
• Be the point of contact for feedback and progression for the academies and academy health and safety Committees should any issues arise.
• Provide two-way feedback in monitoring and review of operational health and safety issues, and feedback from and to the academy health and safety committee.
• Monitoring the structure, attendance, schedule and agenda of the academy health and safety committee.

The Director of Facilities and Estates

The Health, safety and Estates teams, working with the Director of Facilities and Estates must:

• Manage the Risk Management process across the CLF.
• Update and recommend for approval the CLF Health and Safety Policy and produce an academy level Policy for adoption by academies.
• Produce an annual health and safety strategic development plan.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to CLF staff regarding health and safety issues.
• H&S officers to undertake regular Health and Safety audits and other monitoring/support visits in each academy.
• The H&S officers to support the production of audit action plans in collaboration with Senior Operations Manager.
• To work with the Senior Operations Manager to action the points raised within the audits, and record rectifications to close/ manage the issue identified.
• Review the status of health and safety across the CLF ensuring appropriate action is taken where areas of weakness or concern are identified.
• Undertake and feed into the Due Diligence process for new business opportunities.
• Lead the development and delivery of effective and robust health and safety processes and services across the CLF including Risk Assessment processes.
• Support action as required following any health and safety incident.
• Implement an effective accident reporting and investigation procedure across the CLF.
• Ensure all relevant internal and external stakeholders are involved/participate in key health and safety activities and processes to ensure the development of robust and appropriate systems.
• Maintain the central health and safety records and use them to inform the audit programme.
• Arrange statutory training in health and safety matters.
• Create and publish health and safety related communications through news items to support the knowledge and skills of staff with health and safety responsibilities across the organisation.
• Engage specialist advisors when required and work with them on specialist activities such as asbestos, fire risk assessments etc.
• Oversee the process for contractor selection via Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ);
• Oversee the mechanical and electrical statutory compliance contract, Catering and Cleaning contracts;
• Gather data, record, monitor and provide reports on the effectiveness of the health and safety systems to the People and Wellbeing Executive Group and CLF Board.

Academy Council

The Academy Council will support and drive a positive health and safety culture by ensuring all health and safety considerations are embedded within their routine business. The Academy Council will appoint a Health and Safety Councillor and ensure a Health and Safety Committee is established within the academy. The Principal or Senior Operations Manager will chair the committee and influence and ensure there is key representation from senior academy staff and staff groups. The purpose and objectives of the committee are to be clearly defined and the committee must meet a minimum of three times per year. They are to receive an annual report on Health and Safety from the Committee. They will ensure via their own meetings and those of the H&S committee that:

• In co-operation with the CLF Board and Principal, the Health and Safety Policy reflects the status of the academy, and that the policy is regularly reviewed, revised and new arrangements are implemented, as and when necessary.
• Risk Assessments are undertaken for any activity that has significant associated risks and that a written record of these assessments is kept and reviewed annually or as change occurs, in accordance with CLF Risk Assessment processes.
• Where practically possible sufficient resources are allocated and authorised within the academy budget to meet statutory procedures and standards for health and safety.
• When awarding contracts, health and safety is encompassed in specifications and contract detail.
• In accordance with best practice, health and safety inspections of the academy site are carried out and recorded.
• Testing, maintenance, servicing and auditing is carried out in accordance with best practice and in line with current legislation. This includes, but is not limited to; asbestos management, fire risk assessments, water hygiene management, radioactive sources. Mechanical and Electrical testing and maintenance.
• There are effective arrangements in place for business continuity.
• There is an emergency plan with procedures for the safe evacuation of the academy in place.
• The academy meets and adhere to the UK Statutory Instruments, as well as any future National Health and Safety Legislation. Offer advice as required.
• The academy is following the procedures for off site visits and is using the Evolve system for the management and approval of offsite activities. Also, that the Academy have a trained Educational Visit Co-ordinator managing the Evolve system and submitting all trips.

Principal

The principal is responsible and accountable for the implementation and compliance of this Health and Safety Policy within the academy.

The principal has responsibility for:

• Working together with the Senior Leadership Team and Academy Council to advise on any safety guidance or procedures that need to be introduced, to ensure the Health and Safety Policy and procedures are implemented and complied with.
• Ensuring a positive health and safety culture is encouraged and developed within the academy.
• Ensuring effective health and safety management arrangements are in place for carrying out statutory requirements, regular inspections, surveys, risk assessments, implementing actions and submitting inspection reports to the Academy Council and other agencies where necessary including those relating to asbestos, Fire, Water hygiene, audits etc.
• Ensuring there are effective arrangements in place for business continuity along with an emergency plan and procedures for the safe evacuation of the Academy. The emergency plan and/or relevant emergency procedures are effectively communicated to all staff, contractors, volunteers, visitors, other members of the public and where applicable, emergency services and the Local Authority.
• Ensure the policy and other appropriate health and safety information is communicated to all staff including contractors.
• Ensuring the impact of health and safety is considered in all strategic and operational decision making.
• Ensuring health and safety investigations are carried out a by competent person/s;
• Ensuring all staff have had an induction, have undertaken statutory online training, are provided with adequate information, instruction and training applicable to their roles and are competent to carry out their roles;
• Working with the Senior Operations Manager to ensure a Health and Safety Committee is established with key representation from senior academy staff and staff groups. The chair will be the Principal or the Senior Operations Manager. The H&S Committee Terms of Reference are adopted, and key objectives of the committee are identified. The Committee must meet a minimum of three times per year. An annual report is to be presented to the Academy Council.
• Ensuring consultation arrangements are in place for staff and their trade union representatives (where appointed) and recognising the rights of trade unions in the workplace.
• Ensuring appropriate systems are in place to make certain the premises, plant and equipment are maintained in a serviceable and compliant condition.
• Reporting to the Health and Safety Manager any hazards which cannot be rectified within the establishment’s budget.
• Ensuring an up-to-date Trips and Visits Policy is in place which provides clear guidance for staff. Ensure EVOLVE, the online system for the planning, approval and management of educational visits, extra-curricular activities are used without exception and all Cat C trips have been approved in good time by the CLF Health and Safety Manager. To ensure risk assessments for the activity are undertaken, and suitable and sufficient action plans and procedures are implemented. Ensure information and arrangements to parents/carers of pupils is communicated effectively. Reference: National Guidance for the Management of Outdoor Learning, Off-Site Visits.

The principal may undertake or delegate certain tasks to appropriate senior staff or managers within the academy. It is to be clearly understood by everyone concerned that the delegation of certain duties will not relieve the principal from the overall day-to-day responsibilities for health and safety within the academy.

Senior Operations Manager (SOM)

The SOM has responsibility for:

• Working with the Health safety officer to ensure the academy meets and adheres to the UK Statutory Instruments, as well as any future National Health and Safety Legislation as advised by CLF Health and Safety Manager.
• Developing and implementing, with the support of the Health and Safety Officer relevant action plans based on risk assessments, outcomes of meetings, audits, inspections and emergency arrangements.
• Ensuring all staff have had an induction, have undertaken statutory online training, and any other Health and Safety training applicable to an individual’s role. The ops manager should refer to the training matrix as a guide. That staff are provided with adequate information, instruction and training and are competent to carry out their roles.
• Working with the H&S Officer to implement effective arrangements for business continuity along with an emergency plan and procedures for the safe evacuation of the academy.
• Investigating and reporting all serious incidents and liaising with appropriate persons as necessary. Understanding the legal time frame for reporting RIDDOR Accidents to the Health and Safety Manager.
• Working with the Principal to ensure a Health and Safety Committee is established with key representation from senior academy staff and staff groups. The H&S Committee Terms of Reference are adopted, and objectives of the committee are identified. The Committee must meet a minimum of three times per year. The Senior Operations manager or Principal to chair all Health and Safety committee meetings. An annual report is to be presented to the Academy Council.
• In conjunction with the Finance Manager, to monitor purchasing to ensure compliance with the CLF Financial Regulations and CLF Health and Safety Policy.
• To receive conformation from the site Manager to ensure there is a systematic and methodical system for the inspection and servicing of workplace equipment within the academy, of both specialist and non-specialist areas.
• To oversee adherence of the effective management and monitoring all statutory requirements, compliance contracts, asbestos management, fire risk assessments, water hygiene management, management of radioactive sources and all other maintenance service agreements carried out at the academy. This should be undertaken with guidance from the Estates Team.

This will work differently within a BSF school but will require a degree of oversight and management to ensure the BSF contractor is compliant.

• Work with the site manager to ensure that the academy Asbestos Building Logbook which contain the asbestos register and the Asbestos Policy & Management Plan are maintained and available as required. Ensuring the correct staff attend annual asbestos awareness training.
• Ensuring that ahead of a refurbishment or building project you communicate and work with the Estates- Projects. Building projects must comply with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015(CDM). Ensuring that all structural / construction / refurbishment works undertaken by the Academy are notified by the Site Manager in good time.
• Ensuring appropriate local procedures are in place for the management of contractors on site and that the contractor’s logbook is implemented and followed.
• Ensuring appropriate action to identify and manage any hazards arising out of contractors work or activities undertaken. Provide any appropriate health and safety information to contractors’ e.g., asbestos register and logbook, underground services, floor loading, safe working loads, academy activities.
• Ensuring all staff are made aware of the contents of the Health and Safety Policy and their responsibilities within it.

The Premises Manager

The Premises Manager at each academy should work in conjunction with the Senior Operations Manager for all matters relating to health, safety and welfare within the scope of their duties.

The Premises Manager’s responsibilities are to:

• Rectify defects and hazards that they identify or have been brought to their attention. Communicate with the Senior Operations managers on any significant areas.
• Ensure local practices are followed and be responsible for contractors when they enter the academy to undertake contractual work, maintenance, servicing. This should include all health and safety matters, a mini-induction to site, proportionate to the size and scale of the works, and where required to issue any required permit to work;
• Ensure the implementation of the contractor’s logbook is in place and followed.
• Notify the Projects and Contracts Manager of any planned Hot Works so the CLF Insurers can be notified.
• Review written risk assessments and method statements (RAMS) for all intended works before the work commences.
• Familiarise themselves with all relevant information, surveys, inspections, statutory and compliance findings, and where relevant ensure the operation’s manager is updated for actions to be considered, authorised and implemented.
• Ensure the day-to-day management of asbestos containing materials in accordance with CLF procedures and guidance is adhered to.
• Ensure that ahead of a refurbishment or building project commencing the academy seek advice/guidance from the Estates Team – Projects. Building projects must comply with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015(CDM). Good communications with the Senior Operations manager must be maintained.
• Ensure that all site staff, including cleaning and catering staff, are equally aware of the Academy Health and Safety Policy and that they are aware of any arrangements of the policy that affects their work activities e.g., storage arrangements, materials, equipment, and hazardous substances.
• Implement a systematic and methodical system of servicing, inspecting, maintaining and checking workplace equipment within the Academy, for non-specialist areas e.g., Gym equipment, Playground equipment, DT equipment, bleacher seating etc.
• Ensure asbestos information is provided to all relevant contractors to enable them to plan and undertake their works without risk of exposure to asbestos fibres. To ensure that the building logbook, containing the asbestos register is referenced and understood, updated and permit to work issued. To obtain a signature from contractors evidencing site of the asbestos register/survey
• Attend CLF annual asbestos and site team training.
• Ensure competency of all contractors appointed by the academy to undertake work or activities on the site. All contractors must have completed the PQQ process ahead of works commencing. They must support the CLF’s commitment to safeguarding children and have appropriate DBS certificated staff, or where the DBS status of contractors is not known ensure that they are supervised by authorised member of academy staff whilst on site.
• Undertake and co-ordinate the emergency procedures relevant to them and their team, as detailed in the emergency plan.
• Undertake required checks of safety systems, e.g., Fire alarm, fire doors, firefighting equipment, smoke detectors, water temperatures, flushing of little used outlets etc. as legally required and defined within the CLF PPM& Statutory compliance Guide.
• Undertake inspections and rectifications of site security, secure fencing. To ensure the intruder alarm is operational and tested.
• Ensure that all academy vehicles are maintained and inspected by VOSA, and that section 19 permits are in place and the procedure monitored.

Vice Principal/Head of Year/Line Managers

This group are responsible for the health and safety of all staff, workplaces and activities under their control. To achieve this, their duties include the following:

• Develop strong, positive health and safety attitudes among those staff reporting directly to them.
• Ensure a positive health, safety and welfare awareness culture is developed and actively encouraged with all students.
• Apply the Academies Health and Safety Policy to their own department or area of work. Be directly responsible to the Senior Operations Manager for the application of the health and safety procedures and arrangements to all staff and students.
• Ensure regular health and safety risk assessments are undertaken in High-Risk departments and for those activities for which they are responsible and that control measures are implemented and shared with all staff.
• Maintain, or have access to an up-to-date library of relevant published health and safety guidance from sources including CLEAPSS, AfPE etc and ensure all staff are aware of and make use of such guidance.
• Ensure that appropriate safe working procedures are brought to the attention of all staff under their control.
• Resolve any health, safety and welfare problems members of staff refer to them. Inform Principal/Senior Operations Manager of any problems if they cannot achieve a satisfactory solution within the resources available to them.
• Carry out regular, or termly inspections of their areas of responsibility to ensure that equipment, furniture and activities are safe and record these inspections as required. Arrange for the repair, replacement or removal of any item of furniture or equipment that has been identified as unsafe.
• Checking the adequacy of fire precautions and procedures in liaison with the Senior Operations Manager. Ensure a copy of the Fire Action Notices and assembly point(s) are prominently displayed in all rooms and areas for which they are responsible.
• Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the provision of sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision to enable other employees and pupils to avoid hazards and contribute positively to their own health and safety.
• Establish acceptable housekeeping and safe storage standards in all areas of their responsibility.
• Develop a training plan that includes specific job instructions and induction for new or transferred employees. Ensuring that the training needs of their staff are monitored, and training opportunities made available. Making known to the Senior Operations Manager any identified training needs.
• Ensure all accidents (including near misses) occurring within their department are promptly and correctly reported and investigated.
• Implement emergency procedures that are relevant to their department or activities, within the academy.
• Be familiar with the academy Asbestos Building Logbook and Asbestos Register and do not undertake any works which may disturb asbestos containing materials. Report any concerns to the Site Manager/Senior Operations Manager immediately.

Teaching Staff, Supply Staff and Cover Supervisors (See also 2.11 Other employees’ duties)

This group are responsible for the health and safety of themselves, other staff and pupils, and activities under their control. In order to achieve this, their duties include the following:

• Ensuring that a positive health, safety and welfare awareness culture is developed, actively encouraged and reinforced with all students.
• Implementing the health, safety and welfare procedures for students at a level appropriate for their requirements. Ensuring that these procedures are explained so they can be easily understood.
• Carry out safety briefings and refer to specific risk assessments especially before any hazardous or high-risk activities and lessons. Seek information on any special safety measures that must be adopted in their own areas of responsibility and ensure that they are adhered to.
• Ensuring that all students and supply teachers are aware of the general health and safety requirements of the academy and the detailed requirements or arrangements for activities relevant to them.
• Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the provision of sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision to enable other employees and pupils to avoid hazards and contribute positively to their own health and safety.
• Exercise effective supervision of students and maintain an awareness of emergency procedures in respect of fire, Lockdown, first aid, accident or incident reporting.
• Setting an example by personally following safe working practices.
• Ensuring that where necessary, the appropriate personal protective equipment is available, in good condition and used. Ensure any other identified safety measures in the risk assessment are implemented.
• Ensuring that all electrical equipment is visually checked before use, and not left on and un- attended.
• Reporting to their Line Manager any defects in equipment or identified inadequacies in procedures.
• Where any defect renders the equipment potentially hazardous, it should be isolated and clearly labelled ‘awaiting repair’, until repaired or replaced.
• Integrating all relevant aspects of health and safety into the teaching process and if necessary, giving special lessons e.g., the use of equipment in technology lessons.
• Highlighting any training needs deemed necessary to fulfil their role to their line manager or head of department.
• Establish good housekeeping and safe storage standards in all areas of their responsibility.
• Ensure they are familiar with the emergency procedures and arrangements within their work area e.g. First aid accidents, fire, lockdown etc.

Other Employee Duties

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974 all employees have general health and safety responsibilities. Staff must be aware that they are obliged to take care of their own health and safety whilst at work along with that of others who may be affected by their actions.

All employees have responsibility to:

• Take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others in undertaking their work.
• Comply with the CLF and Academy’s Health and Safety Policy and procedures at all times.
• Report all accidents incidents and near miss incidents in line with the academies reporting procedure.
• Report all defects in relation to the condition of premises or equipment and any health and safety concerns immediately to their line manager. Using the defect reporting system.
• Report immediately to their line manager any shortcomings in the academy’s arrangements for health and safety.
• Co-operate with the academy’s management on all matters relating to health and safety.
• Not to intentionally interfere with or misuse any equipment or fittings provided in the interests of health safety and welfare.
• Inform the academy’s Senior Leadership Team if something happens that might affect their ability to work e.g., suffering an injury, taking prescribed medications that could affect them, penalty points on a driving license, pregnancy.
• Ensure that they only use equipment or machinery that they are competent / have been trained to use.
• Make use of all necessary control measures and personal protective equipment provided for safety or health reasons.
• Ensure they are familiar with the emergency procedures and arrangements, within their work area e.g. First aid accidents, fire, lockdown etc.

Pastoral

Pastoral have a responsibility to:

• Complete accident reports in respect of all incidents affecting staff, students and other persons on site.
• Immediately inform the Senior Operations Manager of all serious accidents or incidents.
• Notify the Senior Operations Manager of all RIDDOR reportable incidents immediately of the incident occurring.

First Aiders

Staff, who are competently trained will be appointed as first aiders and will receive refresher training as required.

• First Aiders will be required to ensure that they have a fully stocked in-date First Aid kit at their normal place of work to enable them to respond effectively to any notified incident.
• They will ensure appropriate forms are completed e.g., accident forms (on line system);
• If an ambulance is called the Senior Operations Manager will be notified as this is to be reported to CLF Health & Safety Team as a possible RIDDOR incident.
• Staff must familiarise themselves with and follow the CLF First Aid Policy.

Trade Union Representatives

Trade union representative will be encouraged by the academy to:

• Fulfil their duties.
• Attend any appropriate training.
• Consult regularly with the Health and Safety representatives on Health and Safety matters.
• Inspect the establishment in accordance with the agreed trade union procedures.

Education Visit Co-ordinator (EVC)

• Be a champion for all aspects of visits and outdoor learning.
• Challenge colleagues across all curriculum areas to use visits and outdoor learning effectively in order to provide a wide range of outcomes for children and young people and contribute towards school/establishment effectiveness.
• Support/oversee planning via the Evolve Management System, so that well considered and prepared arrangements can lead to well-managed, engaging, relevant, enjoyable and memorable visits/outdoor learning.
• Ensure that planning complies with the CLF’s requirements and that the arrangements are ready for approval within agreed timescales.
• Support your principal in approval decisions so that all those with responsibility have the competency to fulfil their roles.
• Ensure that each activity is evaluated against its aims for learning and development, that good practice is shared, and any issues are followed up and comply with statutory and employer’s requirements.
• Keep your Senior Leadership Team and Councillors informed about the visits/outdoor learning taking place and its contribution to school/establishment effectiveness.

Students

• All students must adhere to the procedures and policies at the academy e.g., Pupil Behaviour Policy, E-Safety Policy.

Health and Safety Policy Arrangements

Health and Safety Policy Arrangements for The Sky Academy

 Detailed below are the arrangements for ensuring that the aims and objectives of the academy’s Health and Safety Policy are implemented, to secure a safe and healthy working environment.

 The academy needs to ensure the guidance fits the academies policies and procedures if it is to be appropriately used.

Law Poster

The Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations requires the academy to display an approved law poster in a prominent position, or to provide each of their employees with an equivalent leaflet. The poster or leaflet outlines health and safety law and explains what both employers and employees must do to keep the workplace safe. Contact details are also provided if employees want advice or have concerns about their safety at work. The law poster is displayed in the corridor outside Reception.

Accident Reporting, Recording, and Investigation

• All major and RIDDOR accidents must be reported to the Specialist Provision Development Manager who will inform SLT.
• All accidents should be recorded using the online accident reporting system. This is available from the CLF home navigator page and by clicking the accident reporting tile.
• Student / staff and visitor accidents are recorded either by staff dealing with the accident or a first Every employee has a duty to ensure all accidents are recorded.
• Any accidents which are reportable under the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) will be actioned by Emma Wykes (Specialist Provision Development Manager) who will alert their H&S officer.
• Fatal injuries / major injuries / dangerous occurrences must be reported immediately to Jo Crickson (Head of Health and Safety), or your H&S officer and an accident form completed. Parents / carers or other persons should be notified of the student’s accident.
• Details of all accidents and statistics are brought to the attention of the academy’s health and safety committee, where they are discussed, and trends can be identified. If required, measures to prevent reoccurrence will be implemented.
• ‘Near misses’ need to be recorded and these will be reported to the Specialist Provision Development Manager via the online system. A near miss being anything that had the potential to cause injury but didn’t on this occasion. Any near misses that occur that are serious and dangerous or had the potential to cause serious harm must be reported through to Jo Crickson (Head of Health and Safety) or your H&S officer.
• If necessary, an accident / incident investigation will be carried out by the Principal and / or Specialist Provision Development Manager. This is to find the cause of the accident / incident and reduce the risk of it happening again. In some cases, this will be followed up by a member of the Health and Safety team.

Asbestos

• The asbestos survey can be found in the Asbestos Register (there is one in Reception and one in the Admin Office). There is also a copy stored on Sharepoint.
• Key staff: Bex Jones (Principal), Emma Wykes (Specialist Provision Development Manager), Clayton Flinders (School Caretaker), and Becky Hawkins (Premises Administrator) have attended Asbestos Awareness Training and have / will undertake regular refresher training.
• All contractors arriving to work on site will have a brief induction delivered by the Premises team before work commences. They are also required to sign and confirm they have seen the Asbestos Register in relation to the area they will be working in or the activities they will be undertaking.
• All required permit to works will be issued by the Specialist Provision Development Manager.
• An Asbestos Management Plan is located with the logbook in Reception and the Admin Office.
• The contractors signing-in logbook can be found in Reception.
• Staff responsible for monitoring and inspecting asbestos containing materials are Clayton Flinders (School Caretaker) and Becky Hawkins (Premises Administrator).
• All staff must report any damage to identified areas immediately to either Clayton Flinders (School Caretaker) or Becky Hawkins (Premises Administrator).
• If asbestos is damaged, the area will be sealed off immediately and locked to prevent unauthorised access. Follow the emergency procedures as outlined in the Asbestos Policy.
• Location maps of asbestos containing materials can be found in the Asbestos Register.
• Before any intrusive works to the fabric of the building are undertaken, a Refurbishment / Demolition (R & D) asbestos survey is required. Our CLF asbestos specialist, Karen Wiliams, should be consulted before any works commence. The survey will be fully intrusive and involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas including those that may be difficult to reach.

      Please refer to the Asbestos Policy for further advice and guidance

Contractors and Visitors

• All visitors and contractors must report to the main office. They will sign in and be given an identity / visitors’ badge, firstly determining what DBS status they have, and a health and safety information leaflet. Sign in could be via the inventory system.
• On leaving the site, they will be required to sign out. If contractors have undertaken any work, this should be discussed with the Premises team / Specialist Provision Development Manager, and further actions outlined.
• If contractors are selected by the academy to carry out works, they must ensure that they are selected from CLF approved contractors list. If the chosen contractors are not on the list, the academy will ensure that contractors go through the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire Process (PQQ), to be evaluated and added to the list, before works commence on site.
• The list is regularly updated and can be found in the CLF Estates team area on SharePoint.
• In the unlikely event of any works being undertaken (usually urgent works) by a company who has not gone through the PQQ process, the academy should seek the advice of the Estates team or Health and Safety department who will ensure the contractor is competent by way of questioning.
• Essential safety matters must be agreed in writing by way of risk assessments and method statements, and extra care taken in assessing competence and defining the work. Before the contract is placed, they may need to undertake pre-contract investigations / discussions based on the work, such as asbestos surveys, ground surveys, etc.

In addition, when contractors arrive on site to commence work, the academy will ensure the following:

• That all relevant staff will be informed of the works being carried out and the areas that are likely to be affected, as well as the duration and timing of the works.
• Contractors will sign the (CAW) Contractor Authorisation to Work form. A copy will be provided to the contractor.
• Any changes to the work activities will be discussed with the principal, premises staff and / or Specialist Provision Development Manager. Any changes affecting timing, or health and safety, will be looked at and action taken, where necessary.
• Any contractors, sub-contractors, or self-employed persons must be provided with, and be familiar with, any local safety rules, as well as the schools Health and Safety policy.

A contractor’s performance is monitored during their works and, if staff or contractors believe there to be a detrimental effect to health and safety, appropriate corrective action or improvement to procedures is taken. The emphasis must be to stop any unsafe activity until the academy are satisfied with the health and safety practices or procedures.

Hot Works

• Specifically hazardous works e.g., ‘hot work’ is governed and monitored via a ‘Hot Work Permit’ between the academy and contractor. The estates team need to be notified and the appropriate hot works forms completed and sent to the Estates administrator, so our insurers are notified and can provide the additional insurance arrangements.

COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)

• An inventory of all hazardous substances used on site is compiled and reviewed regularly.
• All regularly used products will have material safety data sheets (MSDS) to accompany each
• The arrangements for the delivery of hazardous substances to the academy are managed by Clayton Flinders (School Caretaker) E.g., Science department / Premises team.
• Deliveries of hazardous substances are immediately notified to the Caretaker who stores them in the appropriate COSHH cabinet.
• Any new products that are brought into the academy that have a hazard warning symbol, and there is a ‘significant’ risk of harm from the product in its use, miss-use, quantities, or storage, will require a risk assessment to be undertaken. Findings from risk assessments must be shared with relevant staff e.g., PPE required / safe storage. A COSHH risk assessment template is available within the Health and Safety manual on CLiF.
• If applicable, cleaning contractors are expected to have their own COSHH procedures and arrangements that will dovetail into the academy’s arrangements.
• An inventory is kept on the academy’s database of all hazardous substances on site by department and operations manager.
• Any decanted substances should clearly display the product name, information, dilution rates and safety information.
• If applicable, the Science, D & T, and Art departments will have their own departmental procedures and arrangements for the storage, use, handling, and production of hazardous substances. Reference should be made to Science, D&T or Art Health and Safety policies.

Defect Reporting Procedures

• All staff have a responsibility for their own and others health and safety, and are therefore responsible for ensuring that any defective, damaged, poorly maintained, or untested equipment is brought to the attention of Clayton Flinders (School Caretaker) or Becky Hawkins (Premises Administrator), so that remedial action can be taken.
• The system used for defect reporting is currently by email to Clayton Flinders (School Caretaker) or Becky Hawkins (Premises Administrator) – we do not yet have access to PARAGO. A link is available via the CLF navigator page.
• Any faulty equipment must be taken out of use and, if appropriate, isolated, and labelled ‘Do not use’, and reported via the systems outlined above.

Display Screen Equipment (DSE)

• The academy has a duty to undertake risk assessments of the Display Screen Equipment workstations of staff who habitually use a computer or laptop. A definition of a ‘user’ is defined under the DSE regulations. There are many criteria, however, a member of staff who uses display screen equipment, for continuous periods of time and regularly (daily), would be determined as a user e.g., Admin staff, Operations Manager.
• For ‘users’, a DSE assessment (self-assessment) should be carried out and discussed with their line manager, and further actions discussed and recorded.
• DSE assessments will be reviewed every two years; or where equipment changes, or office layouts change; or when there are staff changes.
• Those staff identified as DSE ‘users’ shall be entitled to an eyesight test for DSE use, every 2 years, by a qualified optician. If corrective lenses are advised by the optician, please speak with your Specialist Provision Development Manager for further advice.
• For further information, and a copy of the user risk assessment with managers sign off form, please refer to the CLF DSE user guidance available on CLiF.

E-Safety

E-Safety is recognised as an essential aspect of strategic leadership in the academy. The Principal, will ensure safe practices are embedded into the culture of the academy. The Principal ensures that the E-Safety policy is implemented and compliance with the policy is monitored.

Electrical Equipment (Fixed and Portable)

• Any electrical faults should be reported immediately to the Specialist Provision Development Manager, Premises team, or through the Parago online reporting system (not yet in use). Any faulty fittings (e.g., cracked sockets, etc.,) should be isolated and labelled for repair.
• Portable appliance testing is carried out by qualified electricians or competent staff.
• Portable appliance testing is carried out annually.
• Staff have been informed that they should not bring electrical items in from home unless they are new, or a recent portable appliance test (PAT) has been undertaken.
• The PAT register is kept in the Premises Admin files on TSA Sharepoint. During the testing, all defects are either repaired or removed, labelled defective and stored in a secure area.
• The fixed electrical installations are inspected every five years.
• Electrical socket outlets must not be overloaded. Staff must have a basic understanding of electrical safety to ensure they do not overload electrical circuits.
• Where it is necessary to use an extension lead, this must be only as a temporary measure. Extension leads should be fully unwound.
• Hirers of the school’s facilities / rooms, contractors, and visitors must ensure that any electrical equipment they bring into the academy must have an appropriate portable electrical test and be safe to use. Random checks of electrical equipment may be required to ensure compliance with this arrangement.

Expectant or new mothers

Should any of the academy’s staff become a new or expectant mother, the academy will take steps to ensure their continued health and safety at work. A new and expectant mothers risk assessment will be completed and recorded with ‘one to one’ discussion. This will be continually monitored throughout the pregnancy and after return from maternity leave.

Fire and Emergency Procedures

• The academy has separate Fire Guidance.
• The responsible person is Bex Jones (Principal).
• The assembly point(s) are the front car park (Admin team and visitors), the MUGA (Upper School students), the school field (Lower School students), car park by kitchen (Kitchen team), outside The Base (Base students).
• The roles and responsibilities of fire wardens are provided in a separate document and have been provided to relevant staff.
• A list of Fire Wardens can be found displayed across the school site and is stored, electronically, on TSA Sharepoint.
• Fire warden training has been provided by SSCPD and Rod Cockram (Outreach).
• All staff must complete the statutory Fire Awareness training on Nimble every 3 years.
• Each week the alarm will be tested by Rod Cockram (Outreach) to ensure that it is effective. Manual break glass points from different zones should be used to trigger the alarm to ensure that all break glass, or other points, are in working order. Details should be recorded in the fire logbook.
• Planned fire drills must be carried out at least three times a year to enable everyone to become familiar with the evacuation procedure. The first evacuation should be carried out in September to capture new staff / students at the academy. Details should be recorded in the fire logbook. The fire extinguishers (serviced by 1^st Attendance) and emergency lighting (serviced by BAM FM) are formally inspected annually by a PQQ approved contractor. Weekly and monthly checks are undertaken by Rod Cockram (Outreach) and details are recorded in the fire logbook.
• The fire logbook is kept in Pastoral Office with the Fire Manager. Full and detailed records are kept of evacuations; call point testing, alarm system servicing, firefighting equipment checks, etc.
• The Specialist Provision Development Manager / Deputy Head is required to review the success of fire drills and must feedback any observations or required changes / improvements.
• Any person who has difficulty in evacuating the building, should have a PEEP (personal emergency evacuation plan) undertaken.
• Emergency exit routes have clear pictorial signage.
• Emergency exit routes should be free from obstructions.
• Fire exit doors should be routinely checked to ensure integrity in the event of a fire, and push bars and mechanisms work to allow for easy egress of site.
• Final exit doors must be unlocked whilst there are people in the building.
• The use of display materials or student’s work along emergency exit routes should be controlled / minimised.
• Decorations, display materials or student’s work must not be placed near temporary heaters, suspended light fittings, or obscure fire signage, exits or call points.
• All visitors spending any length of time in the academy should be made aware of emergency evacuation arrangements in the event of a fire.
• The location of mains isolators and explosive substances such as gas supply pipes, butane gas cylinders, or highly flammable substances should be known and recorded on the Fire Risk Assessment and the Critical Incident Plan.
• Should the emergency fire services attend the academy in the event of a fire, the Responsible person must be informed of all relevant information.
• The fire authority should be made aware if any persons are not accounted for, location of asbestos containing materials, chemical storerooms, and gas and electricity supply.

If you discover a fire: –

• Activate the nearest fire alarm call point. On sounding the alarm, the fire brigade will be summoned.
• All staff, pupils, and visitors must leave the building immediately. Assembly point(s) have been designated and all staff must ensure they know the location of the assembly point.
• Nominated persons (Fire Wardens) carry out any previously arranged duties, such as visually checking a particular area while on their way to the assembly point.
• Report to the person in charge at the assembly point and provide them with all relevant information about the location, nature of the fire, and if there are any persons still in the building.

Action on Hearing a Fire Alarm

• Teacher or responsible adult will supervise children leaving the building by appropriate exit.
• Proceed to assembly point relevant to your location.
• Walk quickly – do not run.
• Keep calm.
• Do not stop to collect any personal belongings.
• Registers will be taken to the assembly points by Becky Lambert (Deputy Head) / Gaby Long (SENCo) and distributed to teachers for roll call.
• If the fire brigade has been called, there must be clear access to the site by emergency services.

Please refer to the Fire Guidance and Fire Procedures for further advice

Lockdown

The academy has a lockdown alarm system to alert staff, students, visitors, and contractors of a lockdown, and practices are undertaken.

Please refer to your lockdown procedure for further guidance

First Aid

• The details of the First Aiders who hold the nationally recognised qualifications are displayed across the school site. They can also be found, electronically, on TSA Sharepoint. These named persons are qualified to administer first aid to casualties.
• Notices giving details of whereabouts of first aid facilities will be displayed at appropriate sites. Most classroom / staff-used rooms contain a monitored first aid kit.
• The First Aid storage room is located on the first floor of The Base.
• First aid boxes can be found in the following points:
• Admin Office / Bungalow
• Reception
• SLT
• Art room
• Food Tech room
• Therapy room
• Staff room
• Science
• Main Kitchen
• ELSA (The Base)
• Caretaker’s office (The Base)
• Office (The Base)
• Kitchen (The Base)
• DT room (Block D)
• Rooms 7-12 (Block D)
• 3x Outdoor Education huts
• Sports Hall
• Library
• STEM room (Block E)
• Multi Activities room (Block E)
• Cleaner’s cupboard (Block E)
• Rooms 1-6 (Block E)

• Becky Hawkins (Premises Administrator) ensures that there are sufficiently stocked first-aid boxes and they ensure that the contents of the first-aid boxes are replenished and are in date, as and when necessary. First aid boxes do not contain any medication, tablets, creams, or ointments.
• If the first aider or Principal considers it necessary, the injured person will be sent directly to hospital (normally by ambulance). Parents and / or carers will also be informed. No casualty should be allowed to travel to hospital unaccompanied, and an accompanying adult will be designated in situations where parents / guardians cannot be contacted.
• The procedure for the completion of incident / accidents records will be followed. (See Accident, Reporting, Recording and Investigations arrangements).

Please refer to the First Aid Policy for further advice and guidance

Glass and Glazing

All academies should refer to the model Glazing Risk Assessment available on CLiF and have had an initial glazing survey to determine that the standard of glazing is compliant in critical locations. Glazing is inspected weekly by the school caretaker. A safety glazing review is also carried out annually, by external contractor.

On the regular academy formal walk rounds, the condition of glazing and visual inspection should form part of this.

If there any concerns with the condition of glazing or if it is safety glazing or requires to be, a glazing survey must be arranged, via the Estates team.

Infectious Diseases

• Reference the latest UKHAS ‘Guidance on infection control in schools and other childcare setting’ and other guidance can be viewed and downloaded following the link below. A copy of this guidance is held in Reception.
• There is specific guidance on infectious diseases and the control measures required in educational settings which can be found:
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities/managing-specific-infectious-diseases-a-to-z
• We follow the CLF model risk assessment template on infection control (including Covid) and amend / adapt accordingly. For further advice, contact your local Public Health Team and your H&S officer, contacts are within the RA.
• If the academy has an increase in the number of infectious diseases cases, Emma Wykes, the Specialist Provision Development Manager, will call the local Public Health England Centre to seek further advice and, if required, complete a UKHAS Integrated Care Pathway document.
• When dealing with bodily fluids, our academy has spill kits (biohazard disposable packs) These are held in each of the cleaners’ trolleys, in each cleaning cupboard and in the Caretakers office.
• Colour coded mop heads, dustpan and brush, and PPE are all available in the cleaners’ cupboards.

Please refer to the Health & Safety manual infection control for further information and guidance.

Kiln          

• Staff are trained and competent to use the kiln and a risk assessment for the kiln is displayed in the kiln room along with operating and emergency procedures.
• The kiln is inspected annually by Ritchie Machine Services.
• Personal Protective Equipment in the form of thermal gloves are available and located in the kiln room.
• The emergency cut off for the kiln is located on the back wall behind the kiln (big red button)
• Arrangements for firing times need to be discussed with the Premises team beforehand.

Lettings

• All lettings must be approved by the Leisure and Lettings Manager and, where appropriate, the academy principal.
• Conditions for lettings are set out on the CLF Leisure and Lettings Terms and Conditions which must be completed and signed by the hirer. Lettings at HPA, WHA, BA, HWA, JCA, EPA and KOA will be booked via CLF School Hire. Terms and Conditions are all on here.
• Details of the academy’s emergency contact details are provided to the hirer.
• Emergency procedures and arrangements are in place and both parties must be aware of individual responsibility in the event of an emergency.
• Hirers risk assessments may be requested.
• Adequate insurance is required from all clubs who hire – not all groups who hire will have insurance (we have many groups who are friends playing sport for fun).
• The hirer must inform the academy of any damage, equipment failure, or faults with the fabric of the building.
• Accident / incidents and near misses must be reported using the online system.

Please refer to the Lettings Policy for further advice and guidance

Lone / Remote Working

• The academy has recorded a lone working risk assessment. Control measures are:

Staff working in school during the holidays must:

• Arrange to come in at the same time as another colleague if possible. This is particularly important if you suffer from a medical condition that could cause you to require assistance in an emergency.
• Inform the Premises team when they arrive at school and when they leave. Please always keep your phone with you.
• Sign in using the sheets provided on the window of Reception and observe any additional safety instructions displayed re: building contractors working on the premises.
• Ensure that usual key fob access arrangements are observed, and doors are not propped open etc.

 Whilst working:

• Do not challenge any trespassers in the school grounds. Alert the Police / Security Services on 999 and ensure that you are locked in.
• Observe any alarm activations.
• Do not undertake any activities that involve ‘working at height’ unless there is another person within calling distance. Use stepladders with care and DO NOT stand on tables or chairs!
• Do not lift or move heavy objects – ask the Premises team for assistance.

First Aid arrangements:

• First Aid kits in various locations throughout the school including Reception and the Staff Room. Any accidents must be recorded and reported to the Premises team and logged using the online form, found on the navigator page.
• The lone working guidance can be found on TSA Sharepoint.

Manual Handling

Staff must:

• Staff are required to assess any unsafe / hazardous manual handling operations.
• If the initial assessment highlights concerns, e.g., too heavy for a one-person lift, then relevant control measures should be adopted, e.g., two persons / use of trolley, etc.
• A manual handling risk assessment should be carried out and recorded on all those handling activities that may pose a risk of injury to academy staff, and for those that regularly undertake manual handling.
• Staff must ensure they are physically capable of safely completing a manual handling task.
• Expectant mothers must undertake manual handling activities in a safe manner and work in conjunction with their pregnant mothers’ risk assessment.
• Staff who have applicable medical conditions, or have recently received surgical operations, should discuss activities of manual handling with their line manager, if they have concerns.
• When staff are required to handle goods (stock, furniture) that may be hazardous, they must must have received suitable and sufficient training, know how to carry out safe manual handling, including good handling technique, use mechanical aids whenever possible, undertake team manual handling when required. Training is available on Nimble.

Medication

Those staff that administer medication have attended the administering medications training and those staff are:

• Fiona Barnes (SLT / AP Lead)
• Lynne Coombes (TA)
• Sharon Cox (Learning Mentor / Forest School Lead)
• Kai Francis (Pastoral Lead)
• Jo Gould (TA)
• Gaby Long (SENDCo)
• Mike McLaughlin (PE Lead)
• Adriana Potinteu (Food Lead)
• Anna Roden (PFSA)
• Tracey Stanbridge (Reading Across the Curriculum)
• Ian Walker (HLTA)
• Molly Watts (TA)
• The procedures for supporting students with medical needs can be found in the Administering Medication policy, a copy of which is kept in the medicine cabinet in reception.

Please refer to the Supporting Student’s with Medications Policy for further advice and guidance

Play Equipment

Gym Equipment:

• All staff should check the PE apparatus before use.
• Faults or defects to equipment will be reported via email to Clayton Flinders (School Caretaker) or Becky Hawkins (Premises Administrator) – PARAGO not yet in use.
• Any damaged equipment will be taken out of use.
• The PE equipment is inspected annually DTGS and a record of the inspection is kept, electronically, via TSA Premises Admin files on Sharepoint, and any remedial actions must be undertaken in the relevant time frame.
• The academy has a risk assessment for the gym activities and equipment.

Outdoor Play Equipment:

• External play equipment will only be used when supervised within academy hours.
• Academy to include their local controls for before and after academy use including the use by siblings.
• Such equipment will be checked daily (before use), and weekly by Clayton Flinders (School Caretaker) for any apparent defects and particularly for contamination by animals or foreign objects.
• The outdoor play equipment is inspected annually, and independently, by a
• PQQ approved contractor and a record of the inspection is kept, electronically, via TSA Premises Admin files on Sharepoint, and outcomes from the report are actioned within the specified time period.
• The academy has a risk assessment for the outdoor activities that include the play equipment.
• Playground equipment rules are explained to pupils and reinforced, when appropriate.

Personal Protective Equipment

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided free of charge where is it is identified as a control measure.
• The equipment needs to be fit for purpose and appropriate with other PPE.
• The Head of Department or Line Manager is responsible for periodic checking of the equipment and for ensuring the equipment is worn by the employee or pupils when required.
• Technicians to ensure that PPE e.g., aprons are cleaned regularly, and goggles are clean and in good condition.
• Staff members are responsible for ensuring that they use PPE where it is provided.
• Suitable and sufficient signage will be displayed for the use of PPE.
• Pupils will be provided with information, instruction, and supervision when there is a requirement to wear PPE as a control measure.

Risk Assessments

• Risk assessments are completed for all activities where there is a foreseeable risk of injury or harm occurring.
• Risk assessments are available for staff to view and are either held on the shared drive in EEC Live, on the student profile in SIMS, or in the specific department i.e., Outdoor Ed, Forest School.
• Blank risk assessment forms can be found on CLiF – CLF Risk Assessment – Template v3.docx.
• Each department should have a copy of the risk assessments relevant to them and these should be readily available to all staff.
• Staff are involved in the adoption, implementation, review, or amendment of risk assessments.
• All staff must make themselves aware of the risk assessments applicable to their roles and activities. They must highlight any requirements for review, amendment, or additions to risk assessments with their line manager.
• Risk assessments will be reviewed annually as a minimum or after significant change or incident.
• A specific risk assessment for expectant mothers will be undertaken.
• All academy trips or learning outside the classroom activities will have recorded risk assessments (see academy trips section).
• Every off-site visit taking place after academy hours, of a medium / high risk or for residential will be specifically assessed.
• In some instances, an individual pupil risk assessment may be required. These should be developed in conjunction with the academy SENCO and DSL.
• The procedure to undertake any training in Risk Assessments are available within the H&S manual on CLiF and within NIMBLE.
• Procedure-Management-of-Risk-Assessment V4.docx.

Safeguarding

• The Academy Council fully recognises its responsibility under the Education Act 2011 and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and to work together with other agencies to ensure adequate arrangements within our academy to identify, assess, and support those children who are suffering harm.
• The academy has a Safeguarding policy that was last reviewed on January 2024.
• The academy DSL team are:
• Bex Jones (School Head)
• Kai Francis (SLT / Pastoral Lead
• Anna Roden (PFSA)
• Fiona Barnes (SLT / Ap Lead)
• Gaby Long (SENDCo)
• Rod Cockram (Outreach)
• The Local Authority Designated Safeguarding Officer is Anthony
• The Multi-Academy Trust Designated Safeguarding Officer is Steve Bane.
• All staff have received annual routine safeguarding training and information.

Academy Trips / Off-Site Activities

The academy has an Academy Trips Procedure that was last reviewed January 2023.

The named competent person nominated an as Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC) are Rod Cockram and Andy Biggs. For further information on the role of the EVC and their functions please see Educational Visits Coordinator | (oeapng.info) and search EVC (3.4j)

• Activities will be led by Group Leaders who will take responsibility for ensuring that, where necessary, pre-site visits are made, and they will complete the necessary risk assessments before departing. Relevant training should be completed for this role and is available from www.evolveadvice.co.uk.
• The academy uses the EVOLVE on-line system for all academy trips. The person arranging the trip (Group Leader) will update EVOLVE with all arrangements for successful management of the trip. The EVC will be provided, via Evolve and verbal discussion from the group leader, with all relevant information and risk assessments for academy trips or off-site visits. They will review all stages and planning of the trip, from transport to activities, etc. Once happy, they will submit to the Principal for check and sign off.
• For Category C trips, the Principal will ‘sign off’ the trip. (Reference to the Schools Trip Procedure should be made.)
• Category C trips (adventurous, residential or overseas) are automatically sent to the Health and Safety Officers via Evolve for approval (this only pings through once the Principal has signed off the trip). The Health and Safety team require at least six weeks before the Category C trip is due to take place to process the final approval. This will mean your timelines for initial approval, planning completion of Evolve, etc. and final approval to sign off by the Principal will need to be longer.
• Students will be briefed about the off-site visit, together with expected behaviour rules. Depending on the category of trip, parent meetings will take place.
• All applicable staff will be fully briefed about the off-site visit and have received and understood ALL the risk assessments that are in place.
• Adequate staff to student ratios will be assessed.
• Individual pupil risk assessments will be undertaken where applicable. Parental consent for all trips will be requested, as applicable.
• Parents / carers will receive relevant information about the off-site visit and the requirements of the parents / carers to provide suitable and sufficient clothing, refreshments, or other facilities.
• Advice from the SENCO / DSL is sought, if applicable, for individual pupils.
• Volunteers on any off-site visits will be provided with a briefing of their roles, safeguarding issues and be provided with relevant information from the risk assessment, or a copy of the risk assessment.
• All volunteers and staff will be DBS vetted.
• CLF have a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol, recreational drugs and legal highs for staff and students whilst on academy trips.
• For all adventurous activities undertaken by an independent provider, checks will be undertaken to ensure they have an in date and applicable AALA licence and Learning Outside the Classroom Badge.

Please refer to the Academy Trips Procedure for further advice and guidance

Academy Transport / Minibus

• Where staff and authorised volunteers are required to drive as part of their job, they must ensure that they have read and adhere to the academy policy and minibus guidance document CLF Minibus Guidance v8 2021.docx.
• The academy will have a booking procedure for the use of the minibus, and a system where keys are signed in and out.
• Driving at work policy (Draft policy is currently being ratified) TBC
• Pre-use checks of the vehicle are undertaken and recorded and kept on file with Rod Cockram (Outreach). Any significant findings must be reported to Rod Cockram (Outreach).
• Permit 19s must be displayed and in date.
• If hiring a coach for the offsite trip / activity, the approved list within Evolve will be used, as operator licences have been checked. If using a company not on the approved list, the Health and Safety team must be contacted.
• Checks are carried out on an annual basis by the Premises Administrator that all drivers hold a current and valid driver’s licence, have undertaken MIDAS training, hold appropriate business insurance, and an MOT, where relevant.
• If transporting students in own vehicles, the above licence, MOT checks will take place and the driving students in own vehicles risk assessment will be implemented and adapted accordingly.

Please refer to the Minibus guidance document for further advice and guidance

Smoking

• The academy is a non-smoking site and there is a no smoking / no vaping policy.
• We have an information leaflet provided to visitors to site which clearly states that we are a non-smoking site.

Staff Consultation

• The Academy Council, through the Principal, will make arrangements for full and proper consultation with employees on health and safety matters.
• There is no requirement to have a union health and safety representative at the school. If a person wishes to represent staff and become the union appointed safety rep, they should have been employed by the academy for the preceding two years or have enough experience in similar employment. The Safety Representative and Safety Committees Regulations 1977, as amended, has detailed information on what the law requires employers to undertake when consulting staff on health and safety matters.

Wellbeing

• Where workplace stress arises, the Principal in consultation with the HR, will deal with the issue in a sensitive and constructive manner using reasonable means to manage stress and assist staff.
• The academy will encompass the HSE Management Standards for work related stress in demonstrating good practice through a step-by-step risk assessment approach.
• If employees are experiencing any problems in relation to stress, they are encouraged to report this to their line manager in the first instance.
• The HR Department, Occupational Health, and an Employee Assistance Programme are available to staff and should be contacted when required.
• A CLF wellbeing website including BLOG is available to all staff via the home navigation page.
• The academy Mental Health First Aider is Kai Francis.

Violence to Staff

• The Specialist Provision Development Manager, in consultation with the Principal and Councillors, are responsible for assessing the risks of violence to staff.
• Everybody has a personal responsibility to report accidents of ALL types.
• Staff must report incidents of violence and aggression to the Principal and record them on the accident reporting system available from CLF home navigation page.
• Appropriate steps will be taken by the Principal to deal with such a situation.
• The academy may refer to their legal department for any incidents of violence and aggression to staff from parents. A letter may be sent to any violent or aggressive person informing them of the academy’s position and any arrangements for sanctions or exclusions.

Water Hygiene

• A copy of the Legionella risk assessment can be found in the Legionella Monitoring folder within the Admin Office, and online via TSA Premises Admin Sharepoint files.
• Hydra Clean is employed to carry out many of the requirements of water testing under L8 guidance.
• Clayton Flinders (School Caretaker) carries out weekly flushing and temperature recording, along with other required checks.
• A copy of the Legionella Management Policy can be found CLF Legionella Management Policy Updated May 2022.pdf.

Working at Height

• Activities which require work at height should be identified and eliminated where possible.
• Where it is not possible to eliminate work at height, all reasonable steps should be taken to reduce the risk to as low as possible.
• Risk assessments prior to commencement of any working at height activity will be undertaken. It is the responsibility of the Premises team to ensure this takes place.
• Academies should have access to kick stools, small steps, hop ups or ladders.
• Only ladders which meet the current standard- BS EN131 will be used, the use of domestic ladders is not permitted.
• Clayton Flinders (School Caretaker) carries out regular inspections of the ladders and records these checks either on a ladder tag or register.
• Staff should only use the equipment they are trained to use unless it is low-level kick stools or steps and that they wear the correct clothing and footwear.
• Students are not permitted to use access equipment.
• Contractors are expected to provide their own equipment and will not be permitted to use the academy’s equipment.

Work Equipment

• All work equipment used on the premises should be fully inspected upon installation.
• All work equipment should undergo an annual recorded maintenance and service inspection by a competent person.
• Records should be kept and made available for annual maintenance and servicing regimes.
• Staff, technicians, and premises teams are responsible for carrying out pre-use visual check of the equipment within their department, which should be recorded.
• Employees must not provide their own equipment.
• Heads of Departments and Line Managers must ensure that any such equipment within the department is used appropriately, and training or refresher training should be provided if required by the user.
• Heads of Department and Line Managers are responsible for ensuring a suitable and sufficient risk assessment has been carried out prior to the use of such equipment. Examples of work equipment are site staff power tools, D & T machinery and tools, access equipment, lifting equipment, heavy plant equipment, kiln, etc.
• Personal Protective Equipment must be provided free of charge, if required, and maintained regularly.

Work Experience Pupils

A nominated person in conjunction with the appointed external organisation will provide guidance on student work experience placement. The member of staff organising the work placement in conjunction with the workplace provider will carry out the initial placement risk assessment for the young person. The appointed organisation will ensure all suitable and relevant checks are undertaken on the work experience provider. A health and safety induction to work experience students is expected to be undertaken by the placement employer.

For work experience placements at the academy, the students will be monitored / supervised by the class teacher, support staff they are assigned to, and liaise, if necessary, with the nominated person.

Workplace Inspections and Premises Risks

The Specialist Provision Development Manager and Premises team will undertake regular (minimum three times a year) safety inspections of the workplace to identify hazards and unsafe situations and take appropriate remedial action. The Specialist Provision Development Manager will ensure that hazards associated with the premises are monitored and controlled.

A named Health and Safety councillor will be involved / undertake inspections on a termly basis (three times per year) and jointly report back to the Health & Safety Committee with a written report.

Waste

• Suitable bins for the collection of waste will be provided in strategic positions throughout the academy. Bins will be adequate to prevent the overfilling of waste. Waste containers will be emptied regularly and removed by either cleaning staff or premises staff.
• There are segregated waste areas which are secure from vandalism. These can be found in the locked bin store by the main school kitchen.
• An authorised person or member of the Premises team will be supplied with any Personal Protective Equipment necessary for the safe handling of waste materials.
• Suitable arrangements will be made for the disposal of hazardous waste that is generated as a by-product or activity. Arrangements for the removal of hazardous waste including the disposal of chemicals will be made in association with the Waste Regulation Authority or a competent and licensed contractor.
• Waste is collected by the local authority.

Health and Safety Committees

The Health and Safety committee is a stand-alone committee.  The committee meets a minimum of three times per year and focuses on pulling together all the separate areas and systems for health and safety management.

• The Health and Safety committee has agreed terms of reference for its rules and responsibilities.
• The Safety Committee may include: –

Health and Safety Councillor

Principal

Operations Managers

Member of central Health and Safety Team

Caretaker

Trade Union Staff (if applicable)

Head of Science, Art, PE, or D&T (or should have technical input) or their nominated technician.

SENCO/DSL

The standard agenda items for an academy health and safety committee meetings is:-

1. Any accidents of note since the last meeting, how many accidents in total and are there any trends.
2. Are there any building works/modifications planned and what are the Health and Safety implications of this project? Has all the necessary paperwork been completed?
   • From the Pre-Qualification questionnaires to the design phase risk assessments; to risk assessments method statements for the job itself and selection of project manager.
   • Is the job notifiable under Construction Design Management Regulations 2007, if so had a CDM Coordinator been appointed etc.?
3. Asbestos update (if relevant to the site)
4. Feedback from high-risk departments
5. Risk assessment progress and review
6. Review of Risk Register relating to Health & Safety
7. Training needs
8. First Aid provision / qualifications etc.
9. Any Academy trips taking place and has this been assessed and authorised.
10. Inspection findings and required actions.
11. Findings of any compliance issues reported.

Compliance

The academy’s compliance arrangements are managed by the Premises Administrator in conjunction with the Specialist Provision Development Manager.

A compliance contract has been awarded to BAM.

There are internal compliance checks e.g., fire call points / emergency lighting / water temperature and flushing undertaken by the Premises team.

External compliance checks e.g., boiler servicing and maintenance / 3-hour power down of emergency lighting / lightning conductor tests are undertaken by the CLF compliance contractor and records maintained.

Our independent contractors for playground equipment, gym equipment checks and inspections are PQQ approved contractors.

Health and Safety Training

• Health and safety training is managed, recorded, and assessed by the Specialist Provision Development Manager.
• All staff will receive a suitable induction covering academy arrangements and, if applicable, for the department they work in e.g., Art/ DT / Science, etc.
• The academy recognises that, while many people will already be aware of risks around their academy, effective training will always help reinforce a positive health and safety culture.
• Training requirements may have been identified by risk assessments, audits, staff appraisals and increased roles and responsibilities of staff.
• Records of training are recorded on the SCR by the Operations Manager and any certificates awarded are stored on the individual’s personal files.
• Recording when staff and Councillors have completed relevant training, assists the Operations Manager to complete the training needs analysis to ensure everyone has competent knowledge to address effective safety practices and achieve a continual personal responsibility for safety, this should be reviewed annually.
• Most H&S training requires refresher training every three years. However, there are some modules that require refresher training every five years e.g., PASMA, DATA, Radioactive sources, Pressure vessels (delete as applicable)
• All staff are required to undertake mandatory training on Nimble. The frequency of training will be in line with CLF expectations. This being H&S essentials annually, Fire Awareness training every three years.
• Depending on what role is undertaken in your academy, individuals will require H&S training specific to their roles, and this is determined by using the training matrix.