CONTENTS
- General Statement
- Fire
- Specific Hazards
- First Aid
- Accident or Injury
- Insurance
1. General Statement
It is the responsibility of members of staff, (teaching and non-teaching), to ensure that the Principal is informed of any hazards present in the college. In practice, this means ‘if you see something which you consider to be a hazard’ report it. Do NOT assume that someone else will. These reports should be confirmed in writing.
There is no single Act of Parliament covering safety in colleges, but several Acts including the Health and Safety at Work Act (HAS), the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Act (COSHH), the Children’s Act and others; and also various DfES regulations and Home Office regulations apply.
Safety is an on-going concern. Additions to this document can be made at any time in the future, for example if new machinery is acquired.
Code of Practice
A clean and orderly environment is essential for students and staff of the College. House Staff have a particular responsibility for ensuring that student accommodation is neat and tidy in order that cleaning staff may undertake their duties. It is not the duty of the cleaning staff to tidy up the personal belongings of students or staff.
Periodic checks of the contents and layout of rooms should be made by teachers and house staff. Defective equipment, fittings and furniture should be reported immediately to the Bursar.
- make sure that all doors are unlocked daily, and that all doors including fire doors are easy to open and free from obstruction
- ensure that free-standing furniture is not placed in such a position that it can be pushed over
- avoid storing heavy equipment, materials etc on top of tall cupboards and high shelves
- ensure that all floor areas are kept clear of obstructions other than furniture so that cleaning staff are able to work safely and efficiently
- make sure that all furniture is in a good state of repair. Take out of use, and report as necessary, any defective item of furniture or equipment
- keep all sinks and wash basins free from obstruction so that they can be kept clean and hygienic
- as far as practicable, keep working surfaces clear so that cleaners can wipe down as necessary
- report any insecure wall-mounted units
- make sure that light sockets are not left without a bulb, to avoid the possibility of electric shock
- do not leave electric power cables, leads etc trailing across the floor
- switch off and un-plug electrical equipment after use
- edged or pointed tools (such as scissors, knives, compasses) should be regularly checked for damage and stored safely
- aerosol containers should be kept in a safe, cool place to which they should be returned after use. They should never be left in direct sunlight
- hazardous, toxic or flammable materials (bleaches, polishes, paint etc) should also be stored securely.
2. When you hear the Fire Alarm
If the fire alarm sounds all students and all staff will proceed at once to the assembly area on the front lawn.
- Close windows and doors as you go, but do not waste time doing so – getting out is more important.
- Normal exits should be used unless an exit is blocked, in which case Fire Exits may be used.
- Do not go back into the building.
Outside normal hours, the front doors may be locked. Emergency keys are located near the doors.
Roll Call
The adults in charge will call out names of students or give the names of anyone missing. (This is quite adequate for a ‘Fire Practice’ but in the event of a real fire, the persons calling the roll should then go through the lists again and satisfy themselves that every student is indeed present.) The student list should be checked with the signing-out book.
Adult employees should also be checked. To aid this process, checklists are kept in the House Office.
The senior person present should decide if the Berkshire Fire Brigade and Rescue Service is required to attend. On college telephones dial 9 – wait for a tone, dial 999.
Afterwards
No-one may re-enter the building until given permission by the Principal, or Director of Studies and Boarding in the event of a fire practice, or by the Senior Brigade Officer (in the event of a fire).
Other Notes
You should not be left on your own in a building.
3. Other Specific Hazards
In the list below, contact names are given beside some of the areas of hazards identified. These names should not be regarded as implying any legal responsibility.
a. Machinery
Unauthorised persons should not use power machinery. Students should not use power machinery, except as part of a proper lesson. Do not use power machinery if you are unsure of it. Do not use power machinery if you are alone in the work area.
All machinery MUST AT ALL TIMES be used with the appropriate safety guards. If you use machinery which rotates (drills, food mixers etc) loose clothing such as ties should be secured; long hair should be tied back; protective clothing should be worn if appropriate. The last point is particularly important. If you have been issued with protective clothing and are not wearing it, your entitlement to injury benefit may be reduced.
b. Kitchens
General points as in (a) above. Otherwise as directed by the Catering Manager. The kitchen office should not be locked while work is in progress as the telephone may be needed in case of an accident.
c. Workshops (maintenance) and Grounds Storage Shed
General points as in (a) above. Students should not enter these workshops/sheds.
Contact: Handyman or Bursar.
d. Boiler Rooms
General points as in (a) above. Students should not enter the Boiler Houses.
Contact: Handyman or Bursar.
e. Storage Tanks
Students should not play on or near these tanks. Spillages should be mopped up. Litter should not be allowed to accumulate under or near these tanks.
f. Calor Gas Storage Tanks
Students should not play on or near these tanks. Litter should not be allowed to accumulate under or near these tanks.
Contact: Handyman or Bursar.
g. Laboratories
General points as in (a) above. Students should not be in laboratories unsupervised. The laboratories should be locked when unattended. The following are recommended:
‘Safety in Practical Studies’ HMSO, ISBN 0112704735
‘Safety in Science Laboratories’, HMSO, ISBN 0112704735
Contact: Head of Science and Laboratory Technician.
h. Laboratories (Biohazards)
Biohazards will normally be dealt with by the Biology teaching staff.
Contact: Head of Science.
i. Laboratories (Chemicals)
Chemical hazards will normally be dealt with by the Chemistry teaching staff.
Contact: Head of Science.
j. Laboratories (Electrical)
High voltage equipment will normally be used only by the Physics teaching staff.
Contact: Head of Science
k. Laboratories (Lasers)
Laser lights will only normally be used by Physics teaching staff and should not be used by students. DES Memorandum 7/77 applies.
Contact: Head of Science
l. STL (Sewage Treatment Plant)
Students are forbidden to open the hatches on the sewage plant.
Contact: Handyman or Bursar.
m. Litter
Litter must not be allowed to accumulate in such a way as could lead to a fire hazard. Empty tins should not be discarded thoughtlessly, especially on the lawns and fields, where they will be mown and become dangerous.
n. Broken Glass
Broken windows should be reported immediately. Students should NOT be asked to pick up broken glass. If necessary, a temporary barrier could be erected using chairs etc.
Contact: Handyman or Bursar.
o. Electrical Installation Work
A good guide here is that electrical work should be undertaken by persons who are employed to do it. This normally means external electrical contractors. Faulty equipment, loose, worn or frayed wiring, damaged plugs etc should be reported.
Contact: Handyman or Bursar.
p. Traffic
Students must be made aware of the dangers of traffic on the drive, and of the tractor on the field, especially when it is mowing.
q. Minibuses
The laws governing the use of minibuses are dealt with elsewhere.
r. Ladders, Building Work etc
When overhead work is being carried out, an area should be roped off to prevent danger to passers-by. Students should not climb ladders, scaffolding towers etc. They must not go on the roof.
4. First Aid
There are first-aid boxes held by each member of the House Staff. If you use items from these boxes, please inform the Nurse so that they can be re-stocked immediately.
5. Accident or Injury
In the event of an accident or medical emergency contact a member of the House Staff on duty or the Nurse. (See Care of Ill/Injured Students Policy).
IF NEITHER IS AVAILABLE then the member of staff on duty should continue to deal with problem as follows:
1. seek medical advice directly, either
( i) by ringing Mortimer surgery 9332436. Outside normal surgery hours this number is put through to whichever doctor is on duty
(ii) in extreme cases, by dialling 999 to call an ambulance. See also notes 2 – 6 below.
At this stage inform the college Principal of the incident. Out of hours there is a telephone list in the House Office.
(iii) if a student is taken to hospital by ambulance a member of staff MUST accompany them, either in the ambulance or following in their own car. Before leaving college, collect the student’s medical record from the surgery. (The emergency key is held by the House Staff.) This card gives all the relevant information which may be needed by the doctor (address and telephone number of next-of-kin, vaccination status, allergies, past medical history etc). It may be that the member of staff may be asked to sign a ‘consent to anaesthetic’ form if a general anaesthetic is necessary.
(iv) If treatment is given in casualty and the pupil is discharged, ensure that full instructions are obtained about follow-up treatment (eg further appointment, whether the student must be in sick-bay on return to college, medicines etc).
(v) The Principal or House Staff will telephone the parents when the treatment is complete and the student is either discharged or admitted to hospital, telephone the parents to let them know what has happened – give as much information as you can and be reassuring!
(vi) write a full account of the incident and all subsequent treatment and leave it on the desk in the surgery
(vii) any member of staff sustaining injury or involved in an accident at work MUST enter the details in the Accident Book kept in the college surgery desk.
6. Insurance
The College has a wide and comprehensive range of insurance. Employees wishing to know any particular details should contact the Bursar.
Reviewed August 2012
Next review August 2013