Harris Academy

Health and Safety Policy

 Foreword

This policy statement is a practical guide to all those working in Harris Academy on procedures which, if adopted, should ensure the health and safety of staff, pupils and visitors.  In order to achieve this all staff must be committed to creating and maintaining a positive Health and Safety culture within the school.  This can be done by:

• Ensuring that they themselves are fully acquainted with the content of this policy.

• Ensuring that all pupils are fully acquainted with emergency evacuation procedures and with evacuation routes from their classrooms.

• Reporting any hazard which could compromise the health and safety of pupils or members of staff.

• Reacting appropriately to any incident which could compromise the health and safety of pupils or members of staff (eg acts of vandalism, misuse of fire apparatus, illness etc).

• Adopting work practices which in no way compromise the health and safety of pupils or members of staff.

AIMS AND RATIONALE

All reasonable steps should be taken to ensure the health, safety and welfare of staff and pupils in Harris Academy, as well as that of all persons visiting the school.  Every individual working within Harris Academy and every visitor to the school has a right to expect that (s)he is not knowingly exposed to an unhealthy or dangerous situation at any time.  Parents or carers of every pupil have at the very least, an expectation that their children will arrive home safely at the end of each day.

This policy statement aims to identify areas of health and safety which have to be addressed.  Having identified such areas, procedures to meet these are outlined in some detail.  The policy will also identify roles and responsibilities for various individuals and groups to ensure that procedures are properly and effectively followed.

Any circumstances or events which might result in risk to staff, pupils and visitors in Harris Academy have been considered and the following set of procedures represents a clear guideline to all interested parties as to how risk can be minimised.
 

Harris Academy has a Health and Safety Committee.  This Committee consists of

• the Depute Head Teacher who acts as Health and Safety Co-ordinator for the school and who chairs this committee.

• the Health and Safety Representatives of teaching and non-teaching unions in the school.

• any other co-opted members the committee feels it would be appropriate to include either on a standing basis or as required by a particular circumstance.

The remit of the Health and Safety Committee is as follows:

1. To draw up an effective policy for Health and Safety within Harris Academy and present this to the Board of Studies for approval/implementation.

2. To monitor/evaluate an approved Health and Safety policy and make any recommendations it may deem appropriate to the Board of Studies to ensure the policy’s ongoing effectiveness. 

3. To consider issues relating to Health and Safety as and when these arise.

4. To advise the Board of Studies on matters relating to Health and Safety and make recommendations as to appropriate action.