Health and Safety Audit

13
th
October 10
Howe Dell Primary School (579)
The Runway
Hatfield
AL1 9AH
Health & Safety (Education) Team
Hertfordshire County Council
a!e 1 of 1"
Hertford!hire "ounty "ouncil
www#hert!direct#or$
Health and Safety Audit
Howe Dell Primary School
%ntroduction
An audit of the Health and Safety #ana!ement system of the school $as carried
out $ith #r %ean (Site #ana!er) and #r &o$ers' (Health and Safety Officer for
Hertfordshire County Council)' on the 13
th
October "010( The )ur)ose of this *isit
$as to hi!hli!ht areas of !ood )ractice and identify if there $ere any areas $here
im)ro*ements could be made to current health and safety mana!ement systems(
The audit consisted of an ins)ection of the school+s documentation re!ardin!
health and safety' includin! the school+s )olicies and )rocedures and also a $al,
around the school site to identify any si!nificant ha-ards or non.com)liance $ith
le!islation' rules or unsafe )ractice(
This re)ort hi!hli!hts those areas obser*ed at the time of the *isit and may not be
e/hausti*e or co*er all )otential ha-ards and ris,s that may arise $ithin the school(
Summary of Audit
The H&S Education team has recently introduced an auditin! frame$or, $ith
$hich to benchmar, schools and )ro*ide an o*erall ratin! for com)liance( The
schools benchmar, score $as0
#r %ean and the headteacher' #rs #assey' $ere able to demonstrate a ran!e of
effecti*e health and safety mana!ement systems and $ere a$are of the school+s
res)onsibilities to ensure a safe and healthy en*ironment( #ost obser*ations
identified in the action )lan $ere for lo$ ris, and1or identified as best )ractice
recommendations(
A summary of the main findin!s and an action )lan are outlined belo$ in order to
assist the school in continuin! to build on its e/istin! !ood )ractice and im)ro*e
documentation systems $hich $ill be the schools e*idence that they had suitable
and sufficient health and safety mana!ement systems if challen!ed(
Detail! of "om&liance
The follo$in! stren!ths $ere identified durin! the audit(
Policy
The school had a local health and safety )olicy $hich had been re*ie$ed in
the last 1" months( (2110) See comments in action plan(
A number of local arran!ements $ere identified(
Staff $ith s)ecific res)onsibilities $ere hi!hli!hted
a!e " of 1"
'(erall "om&liance) *9+
"om&liance Ratin$) 'ut!tandin$
R i!, A!!e!!ment!
The school had a mana!ement system in )lace for the )lannin! and ris,
assessment of school *isits and 3ourneys $hich com)lied $ith the HCC Off
Site 4isit #anual(
A number of !eneric ris, assessments a*ailable on the health and safety
)a!e of the !rid had been used and )ersonalised(
There $ere other additional ris, assessments for one off e*ents' )hysical
areas and teachin! acti*ities(
Staff $ere in*ol*ed in the ris, assessment )rocess $here a))ro)riate(
Stre!!
The school had )re*iously been in*ol*ed in the 5ellbein! )ro!ramme $hich
had )ro*ided the school $ith baseline information re!ardin! stressors in the
school(
The headteacher stated that there $ere !ood communication systems and
that staff $ere encoura!ed to raise any concerns re!ardin! stress so that
an action )lan could be de*elo)ed and im)lemented(
Staff $ere informed that they $ould be able to access counsellin! ser*ices if
re6uired(
7t $as also stated that the !o*ernin! body acti*ely monitored stressors on
the headteacher(
"ommunication - "on!ultation
Staff $ere a$are that they could access HCC H&S information from the
health and safety )a!e of the !rid(
H&S information $as communicated throu!h re!ular $ee,ly leadershi)
team and teachin! staff meetin!s $hich all staff could attend( 7n addition'
there $ere also re!ular ,ey sta!e and team meetin!s(
Staff $ere issued the staff handboo, $hich $ould include health and safety
information(
There $ere a *ariety of communication systems' includin! a daily $hite
board and emails(
Trainin$
There $as a documented induction trainin! )rocedure for ne$ staff $hich
included identifyin! rele*ant H&S issues( This $ould normally be carried out
at half term( 7mmediately rele*ant information $ould be )ro*ided $hen staff
started(
There $as a system for con*eyin! H&S information for tem)orary staff(
Staff trainin! needs $ould be identified as )art of the erformance
#ana!ement %e*elo)ment )rocess' or as a result of e/ternal reminders
re!ardin! the need for s)ecific com)etencies(
%n!&ection! - .onitorin$
There $ere ins)ections of the schools H&S mana!ement systems $hich
focused hea*ily on the fire safety systems $hich $as carried out each term
by members of the !o*ernin! body and the site mana!er( (3118110)
Accident - %ncident Re&ortin$
#inor accidents $ere recorded and monitored in a local accident boo,(
a!e 3 of 1"
The school $as a$are of the need to re)ort accidents to the H&S (Ed)
Team(
/0) 3 /70 1 /*0 " /90 " /10 2
Serious accidents $ere re)orted to the !o*ernin! body(
The site mana!er $as a$are of $hen to re)ort staff accidents to the HSE(
1ire
A fire ris, assessment usin! the current tem)late had been com)leted(
("019110)
:e!ular fire drills $ere carried out each term and the e*acuation re*ie$ed(
(";12110)
The brea, !lass )oints $ere tested on a $ee,ly rotational basis( (;110110)
The fire e/tin!uishers $ere chec,ed annually by Chubb formerly <iddie(
("110)
The fire alarm )anel $as ser*iced annually by Clymac( ("018110)
The emer!ency li!hts $ere self testin! and $ould identify if there $ere any
faults(
The smo,e detectors $ere "2= tested e*ery three months by Clymac(
("218110)
The s)rin,ler system $hich co*ered all areas $as ins)ected( (;110110)
1ir!t Aid
7t $as stated that there $ere three staff identified as ha*in! a current >irst
Aid at 5or, 6ualification ("1hrs)(
7t $as stated that staff $or,in! $ith children under the a!e of 2 years $ere
)aediatric first aid trained( (1?hrs)(
>urther Emer!ency >irst Aid trainin! $as )lanned for teacher (8111110) TAs+
("3&"2111110) and #SAs+ (1?&18111110)( (?hrs)
#rs % 5ilder $as identified as the )erson res)onsible for chec,in! the
contents of first aid bo/es each term( #rs &ennett $as res)onsible for
chec,in! first aid in the early years areas(
Admini!tration of .edicine!
There $as a mana!ement system in )lace for the acce)tance and stora!e
of medicines $hich com)lied $ith the !uidance identified in #ana!in!
#edicine in School and Early @ear Settin!s(
u)ils medical needs and aller!ies $ere clearly identified $here medicines
$ere stored and in the school ,itchen(
Staff had recei*ed trainin! in administerin! a))ro)riate medicines' includin!
e)i.)ens by the school nurse in the )re*ious 1" months((1110)
2or,&lace - Pu&il Safety
There $as e*idence of !ood house,ee)in! in all areas seen around the
school $hich $ould minimise the ris,s from a number of H&S issues(
Toilets had li6uid soa)' )a)er to$els' hot and cold $ater(
#aintenance of the schools !as boilers $as carried out by >ordham Heatin!
on an annual basis( ("11;1"010)(
Aas e6ui)ment in the school ,itchen $as ser*iced annually by Oa,ray(
(?110110)
E e6ui)ment $as chec,ed annually by Bohn Harrison( (8110)
a!e 9 of 1"
%rin,in! $ater $as a*ailable in classrooms and from drin,in! fountains(
CE#CO had underta,en a $ater sur*ey ("818108) to ensure that any ris,s
from le!ionella had been identified' t$o members of staff had recei*ed
trainin! and re!ular tem)erature chec,s $ere carried out in addition to
monitorin! throu!h the schools &#S system(
>in!er !uards $ere on the hin!e sides of doors $ere there $ere youn!er
children(
2or, 34ui&ment
The lift $as re!ularly ser*iced by <one( (";19110)
<iln $as ser*iced annually( ("1?110)
Althou!h there $as a fault $ith the $ind turbine at the time of the audit it
$as re!ularly ser*iced by Aa-elle 5ind Turbines( (313110)
2or,in$ at H ei$ht
There $as a ladder re!ister for the three ste) ladders and ladder used on site
$hich $as used to record the *isual ins)ections $ere bein! carried out each term(
"'SHH
Althou!h incom)lete' there $as an in*entory of substances for a number of
substances used $ithin the school(
There $ere safety data sheets a*ailable for some of the substances(
#ost' althou!h not all' substances seen $ere lo$ ris, and $ould not re6uire
a COSHH ris, assessment(
All substances $ere stored a))ro)riately and out of reach of children(
3lectrical Safety
The school $ere a$are of the need to underta,e 2 year fi/ed $irin! testin!
$hich $ould be due in "01"(
AT testin! had been carried out by lo$ri!ht Hinton and all items seen
had been tested in the )re*ious 1" months( (?110)
DS3
%SE Dsers had been identified and %SE ris, assessments had been
underta,en(
%SE Dser staff $ere a$are of the need for eye tests e*ery t$o years(
"ontractor!
The school !enerally em)loyed a))ro*ed contractors and $as a$are of the
need to carry out a number of chec,s before em)loyin! non.a))ro*ed
contractors to ensure com)etence' correct insurance and 6uality of $or,(
Security
There $as an intruder alarm $as co*erin! school buildin!s and this $as
maintained(
E/ternal li!htin! $as ade6uate(
Si!nin! in system for *isitors and access control system in )lace(
"ritical %ncident! and 5"P
The critical incident and business continuity )lans $ere current(
a!e 2 of 1"
&ac, u) dis,s and co)ies of )u)il lists' financial data and the schools
in*entory $ere ,e)t off site(
1ood Safety
<itchen and eatin! areas $ere clearly defined and clean(
Caterin! staff had com)leted a))ro)riate food hy!iene trainin!(
Herts Caterin! $ere the caterin! )ro*ider and there $as a Ha-ard and
Critical Control oint (HAC) system in )lace $here food' frid!e and
free-er tem)eratures $ere bein! recorded(
a!e ? of 1"
Action Plan) Howe Dell Primary School (579)
Dnless indicated by an E all the recommendations belo$ relate to re6uirements under the le!islation 1 HCC )olicies
E indicates that this recommendation is based on !ood )ractice rather than any le!al re6uirement but $ould enable the school to demonstrate it
had done all that $as reasonably )racticable in meetin! its statutory duties(
Location Recommendation - Action Re4uired
H F Hi!h :is, . . #edium :is, L F Go$ :is,
Time!cale
for
remedial
action
Action
6y)
Action
com&leted
.ana$ement
comment!
olicy Althou!h there $as a health and safety )olicy it $as felt
that there $as a need for additional details to be
included(
o E/am)les of additional arran!ements sections $ould
ha*e includedH 5or,in! at Hei!ht' %is)lay Screen
E6ui)ment' Gettin!s' Stress' Ge!ionella(
o E/am)les $ere additional information $ould be
useful $ould includeH >irst Aid section details of
)aediatric first aidH >ire and Emer!ency' details of
ser*icin! of alarm )anel' heat and smo,e detectors'
s)rin,ler system etc(
E 5hen the schools health and safety )olicy is ne/t
re*ie$ed it $ould be recommended to use the model
health and safety )olicy as a tem)late( (L)
:is, Assessment
Offsite *isits
Althou!h there $ere a number of ris, assessments
seen' belo$ are some e/am)les of issues commonly
considered si!nificant $ithin the schools en*ironment
$hich may be useful(H
E Careta,in! duties( (.)
*Work_at_height_risk_assessments.doc (M)
E lay!round (L) identify local ris,s and number of #SA+s
re6uired to control the ris,s(
E 5or, e6ui)ment (L)
E >ood re)aration (rimary) (L)
E E*ol*e ( online notification system) has re)laced )a)er
based notifications since Se)t "00I and forms O41 F
O43 $hilst its use is not mandatory other than for
notifiable *isits ( e(!( o*erseas' self led ad*enturous
acti*ities) its use is recommended to reduce )a)er'
a!e ; of 1"
Location Recommendation - Action Re4uired
H F Hi!h :is, . . #edium :is, L F Go$ :is,
Time!cale
for
remedial
action
Action
6y)
Action
com&leted
.ana$ement
comment!
)ro*ide a clear audit trail and as a archi*e of information
ma,e Jre)eat+ *isits easier (L)
For further information regarding the system contact
Mark Falkingham 01992 556491
Communication E 7t $ould be )rudent to include H&S as a standard
a!enda item in all staff meetin!s( This $ould )ro*ide a
consistent and unambi!uous $ay of demonstratin! that
staff ha*e a fre6uent o))ortunity to raise any H&S
concerns( (L)
Trainin! 7t is necessary to ha*e a record to e*idence that local
health and safety arran!ements identified in the H&S
)olicy' had been e/)lained to all ne$ staff durin! the
induction trainin! )rocess( (L)
E To assist $ith identifyin! any trainin! com)etency !a)s
and rene$al trainin! )eriods a trainin! matri/ has been
sent $ith this re)ort( (L)
There $ould be a need to consider the follo$in! trainin!
needs0.
E Health and Safety for Careta,ers (L)
7 COSHH ris, assessment trainin! (L)

7ns)ections Althou!h internal ins)ections $ere re!ularly carried out
they focused almost entirely on the fire safety systems(
The follo$in! t$o ins)ection chec,lists ha*e been
de*elo)ed to hel) ensure that the focus is on a ran!e of
H&S mana!ement systems(
E Ao*ernors 1 #ana!ement Annual 7ns)ection chec,list
(L)
E Termly 7ns)ection chec,list( (L)
Accident
:e)ortin!
The school should use the HCC online accident and
*iolent incident re)ortin! system $hich can be accessed
throu!h the schools Solero system( Hy)erlin,s to allo$
school staff to initially re)ort accidents on.line $ithout
a!e I of 1"
Location Recommendation - Action Re4uired
H F Hi!h :is, . . #edium :is, L F Go$ :is,
Time!cale
for
remedial
action
Action
6y)
Action
com&leted
.ana$ement
comment!
ha*in! to access Solero ha*e already been sent to #r
%ean( (L)
:7%%O: re)ortin! for )u)ils in schools is sli!htly
different than in for em)loyees( u)ils $ho !o to
hos)ital' irres)ecti*e of the le*el of in3ury' as a result of a
curriculum acti*ity is automatically re)ortable to the
HSE( Attached is a summary of the :7%%O: !uidance
for schools( (L)
E 47: forms can also be used for re)ortin! *erbal
a!!ression to$ards staff as $ell as )hysical *iolence( (L)
>ire Safety
Fire Safety Risk
ssessment
!uidance for
"ducational
#remises
Stair$ells need to be )rotected at all times( These areas
$ere used for stora!e and some of the items $ere
flammable( Combustible materials should ne*er be
stored in these areas( (H)
7t $as not ,no$n if the curtains in the main hall had been
treated to ma,e them flame retardent( This $ill need to
be chec,ed $ith the su))lier( 7f not they $ill need to be
treated' es)ecially $here they co*er fire e/it routes( (H)

5or,)lace There $ere se*eral rarely used sho$ers( Ho$e*er' there
$as a concern that althou!h the sho$er head had been
remo*ed and the hose drained the )i)e$or, leadin! to
the T#4 a))eared to ha*e become a deadle! )i)e and
$ould not be )asturised' )otentially )resentin! a
le!ionella ris,( This could easily be resol*ed by flushin!
these sho$ers throu!h once a $ee,( (L)
Ser*ice ins)ection of the !as e6ui)ment in the ,itchen
by Oa,ray identified that additional *entilation is re6uired
by the solenoid *al*e to meet current standards( (L)
5or, E6ui)ment
The ro*ision for 5or, E6ui)ment :e!ulations re6uires
that e6ui)ment )ro*ided for use at $or, isH
a!e 8 of 1"
Location Recommendation - Action Re4uired
H F Hi!h :is, . . #edium :is, L F Go$ :is,
Time!cale
for
remedial
action
Action
6y)
Action
com&leted
.ana$ement
comment!
suita$le for the intended use%
safe for use& maintained in a safe condition and& in certain
circumstances& inspected to ensure this remains the case%
used only $y people 'ho ha(e recei(ed ade)uate
information& instruction and training% and
accompanied $y suita$le safety measures& e*g* protecti(e
de(ices& markings& 'arnings
There $ere fe$ items of e6ui)ment $hich' althou!h
li,ely to be lo$ ris,' should be assessed by chec,in!
the manufacturers handboo, for H&S information
such as E re6uired' *ibration le*els' :C%
)rotection $hen usin! outside' etcH Other than the
cardboard com)actor the !eneral $or, e6ui)ment
ris, assessment identified earlier should be sufficient
if the details are chec,ed in the manufacturers
handboo,s(
o Cardboard Com)actor (.) +ompressor should $e
checked annually& ensure safety mechanisms
'orking correctly& seals& in line 'ith manufacturers
guidance& etc*
o ressure $asher (L)
o Geaf blo$er (L)
o Circular sa$ (L)
7nform insurance com)any that there is a
com)ressor used for the rubbish com)actor as they
$ill need to ins)ect annually( (.)
E <iln' $or, identified in the last ser*ice to im)ro*e
the *entilation in the ,iln room( (L)
5or,in! at
Hei!ht
There $ere three ste) ladders seen in the boiler
room( One had t$o feet missin! and $as sli!htly
bent( This $as rarely used( Ho$e*er' due to faults
a!e 10 of 1"
Location Recommendation - Action Re4uired
H F Hi!h :is, . . #edium :is, L F Go$ :is,
Time!cale
for
remedial
action
Action
6y)
Action
com&leted
.ana$ement
comment!
identified it should be remo*ed from site( (.)
E 7t $as e/)lained that should staff $ish to borro$ a
ste) ladder someone should e/)lain the To) Ti)s in
Gadder and Ste) Gadder Safety $hich should be an
a))ro)riate le*el of instruction 1 com)etence( (L)
Staff should not erect or dismantle the to$er
scaffoldin! unless they ha*e recei*ed formal AS#A
trainin!( (L)
COSHH
Auidance on
com)letin! the
tem)late
COSHH ris,
assessment(
Althou!h it is antici)ated that the substances bein!
used in the school $ill be lo$ ris, there $as a need
to im)ro*e the COSHH mana!ement system( The
startin! )oint $ould be to identify the substances
bein! used in the school on an in*entory' includin!
items such as cleanin! and maintenance )roducts
()aints' adhesi*es' etc() The in*entory $ould hel)
identifyH that a safety data sheet (S%S) had been
obtainedH if there $as any si!nificant ris, from the
substanceH and assist in communicatin! any other
si!nificant information( (L)
COSHH ris, assessments may need to be carried
out for substances that ha*e a si!nificant ris,( 7f this
is the case the )erson should underta,e COSHH ris,
assessment trainin!( (L) (See recommendation
under training,
Com)uters E 5here staff use la)to) com)uters for )rolon!ed
)eriods it may be necessary to use more a))ro)riate
(er!onomically friendly) e6ui)ment by connectin! a
normal si-ed ,ey board' mouse to the la)to) and raisin!
the screen sli!htly to sto) the user stoo)in!' etc( (L)

Gone 5or,in! 1
ersonal Safety
A number of )ersonal alarms $ere seen around the
school( 7t $as stated that these $ere intended to be
used to summon assistance( There $ere t$o concerns
a!e 11 of 1"
Location Recommendation - Action Re4uired
H F Hi!h :is, . . #edium :is, L F Go$ :is,
Time!cale
for
remedial
action
Action
6y)
Action
com&leted
.ana$ement
comment!
$ith this assum)tion(
o ersonal alarms are intended to create a distraction
so that )eo)le can !et a$ay from a $ould be
attac,er(
o >ire doors may )re*ent the alarms form bein! heard
in other areas so no one $ould ,no$ assistance $as
re6uired' for e/am)le' in the library(
E There $ere metal )ortable !oal )osts on the field $hich
had counter $ei!hts sittin! on the nettin!' rather than
hoo,in! o*er the frame to sto) it fallin! o*er onto )u)ils(
As there ha*e been some *ery serious accident
recorded nationally the football !oal frame should be
secured more effecti*ely by usin! an a))ro)riate football
!oal counter $ei!ht or anchorin! the frame to the !round
so that there is no more than 20mm mo*ement( (.)
>ood Safety The attached comments were forwarded to Herts
Catering.
o -a(e changed chemical supplier to more eco friendly
products supplied $y .elphiseco* /here 'as some usage
and first aid information displayed on the 'all $ut this did
not identify that one of the dish'asher products contained
Sodium -ydro0ide& 'as corrosi(e* -yperlink to suppliers
site 'here safety data sheets can $e do'n loaded
delphiseco 1 products (L)
o /he 2ohnson .i(ersey #roducts 'ere safely stored $ut
there 'ere also non 2ohnson .i(ersey products present
such as +o(chlor 3+hlorine /a$lets, Staff 'ere una'are
of the risks from chlorine gas from these ta$lets if mi0ed
'ith an acid* (M)
o /he floor 'as reported to $e (ery slippery 'hen 'et* Floor
'as cleaned e(ery day ho'e(er& there may $e a need to
re(ie' the cleaning regime to ensure that all emulsified
fats are properly rinsed a'ay* (M)
o #re(ious day fridge and free4er temperatures 'ere not
recorded* ll other days 'ere recorded*(L)
a!e 1" of 1"