Health and Safety took the fun out of Learning; Now the fun is coming back
Schools have found that the health and safety laws regarding school trips have been too much to cope with. As a result there have been fewer school trips in recent years. Gone are the days when teachers take children out to enjoy a summer day. However the Health and Safety Executive have decided to cut down on all the red tape involving school trips and excursions to allow teachers more freedom to control their outings.
Too Many Guidelines Led to Confusion
Although the school health and safety risk assessments are not one of the services offered by health and safety consultants, it is still an interesting turnaround from the Health and Safety Executive. The risk assessment which has to be completed by the teachers was confusing and off putting. The guidance pages consisted of over 150 pages to help the teachers when filling in the form.
However it appears that schools have got the wrong end of the stick, and perhaps the extensive guidelines have been the cause of this confusion. It is little wonder that with so much paperwork the school trips began to become less common.
The HSE has reduced the guidance booklet to just 8 pages, which they hope will help to bring the fun back into schools and give children more free learning experiences which extend outside of the school grounds. Many schools previously believed that the risk assessment, and relevant permission slips from parents were needed for every single trip, although the government have said that this is not the case.
When Risk Assessments Aren’t Needed
The new guidelines inform teachers that routine local visits do not require risk assessments. This may include swimming trips to local pools, visits to the local museums or libraries or local visits within school hours. In the guide are some simple guides for teachers and the heads to let them know where they stand within the laws and regulations.
When Risk Assessments Are Needed
Risk assessments in the work place are still a vital health and safety services which is offered to businesses all over the UK. A risk assessment needs to be carried out before a new project or job is undertaken. Health and safety consultants, such as Veritas, are able to highlight problem areas and help prevent accidents from occurring.
Understanding the risk assessment regulations may be tricky which is where health and safety consultants can really help. Explaining your duties as an employer can make sure you do everything in your power to reduce the risk of accidents and death.
Fire Risk Assessment Services
Veritas Health and Safety Consultants provide in depth Fire Risk Assessment. If you fail to follow the Fire Safety Order you could face a court appearance and possibly a prison sentence on top of a fine.
The fire risk assessment will help to put together a comprehensive plan to prevent fires from occurring. They also provide a method of acting in a safe way to prevent further accidents in case there is a fire. Call 0800 1488 677 to speak to expert health and safety consultants today.
Fire Safety Building Regulations 2007 Part B
Fire Risk Assessment Presentation
Fire risk assessment – action required by the employer
Where the fire safety order regulations apply to your workplace YOU MUST carry out a FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT and make an EMERGENCY PLAN.
A FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT is a structured and a systematic examination of the workplace to identify the hazards from fire. Once identified, you must then decide if a hazard is significant, who is at risk and whether the existing fire precautions are adequate so that the risk associated with the hazard is acceptably low.
If the existing fire precautions are not adequate you must take additional action to minimise the risk either by removing or reducing the hazard or by providing adequate control measures.
If you employ five or more people you must record your FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT and keep it available for inspection by the fire authority.
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Fire risk assessment – your legal responsibility
The legal responsibility for ensuring compliance with fire safety and related legislation lies with the relevant company as the employing authority, where it is in control of a workplace or is the occupier of premises.
Specific responsibilities may fall solely on the company or jointly with others in shared premises under the following (non-exhaustive) list of statutory provisions:
• The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• The Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005
• The Construction Design and Management Regulations 2007
• Disability Discrimination Act 2005
• Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982
• Private Places of Entertainment (Licensing) Act 1967
The Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005
This reform is aimed at simplifying the fire safety process, while at the same time placing a greater onus on businesses to carry out fire risk assessments, which means the responsibility for complying with the Fire Safety Order rests with the ‘responsible person’ (main duty Holder).
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Fire risk assessment – don’t get your fingers burnt
Fire is the most destructive and costly cause of damage to buildings and other property. A fire represents probably the single most catastrophic event that any establishment is likely to experience, and in addition, carries with it risks to the safety, wellbeing and potentially, the lives of its occupants. Fire is often caused by momentary acts of carelessness or failure to take account of fairly obvious hazards.
What is fire?
Fire is a chemical reaction brought about by the combining of fuel (something to burn), oxygen and the application of sufficient heat to cause ignition. When heated, combustible materials give off flammable gases, if the temperature is high enough and a sufficient quantity of oxygen is present, ignition will occur.
