garethEds Posted November 17, 2014 Posted November 17, 2014 Hi Guys Sorry to bother you all. ESTYN have asked that we provide risk assessments for our departments – of course I now have to put one together. Seems a bit silly to me that an Admin task like this falls to teachers – but so be it. I have a H&S policy – but would anyone know of any Risk Assessment stuff that is ready made that I can adapt? Saves thinking and re-inventing the wheel? Thank you Gareth
Ephelyon Posted November 17, 2014 Posted November 17, 2014 I'd suggest it's the teacher who knows in detail the tasks they'll be having the children perform, as well as the environment they'll be carried out in, so they would at least need to have input into the process. A general office assistant might not understand all the risk factors for a given subject area. Either way, there seems to be this and this. 1
witch Posted November 17, 2014 Posted November 17, 2014 What sort of risk assessment? There's this: ICT Risk Assessment - Examples - 123ICT 123ICT 1
garethEds Posted November 17, 2014 Author Posted November 17, 2014 Yes I agree @Ephelyon - but it's an Admin task - (that's the point I'm making). I don't mind doing it - as you rightly point out it is me in my classroom. Gareth
garethEds Posted November 17, 2014 Author Posted November 17, 2014 What sort of risk assessment? There's this: ICT Risk Assessment - Examples - 123ICT 123ICT Thanks @witch @Ephelyon - Great places to start. Thank you both. Gareth
Ephelyon Posted November 17, 2014 Posted November 17, 2014 No job without 'em sadly! I do hate my own as well, like stock inventories (probably also because I'm disorganised)... xD 1
PotNoodleTech Posted November 17, 2014 Posted November 17, 2014 Normal class teachers are not required to undertake risk assessments, however teachers who are heads of department or subject, are. 1
Andrew_C Posted November 17, 2014 Posted November 17, 2014 but it's an Admin task No, it isn't (or rather it SHOULDN'T be). It is down to the person DOING the job to risk assess it. In many cases, a workers employer has to do further over-arching assessment, but YOU have to decide if what YOU are doing is safe. 1
Trapper Posted November 17, 2014 Posted November 17, 2014 OT - I put this on our 'Elf and Safety message board. No one wants to remove it! 2
pcstru Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 Normal class teachers are not required to undertake risk assessments, however teachers who are heads of department or subject, are. What is your source for that? We had some H&S audits done by Safety Mark and it's very clear from them that teachers need to incorporate risk assessments into their lesson plans (they should be informing students of the risks and the possible consequences). It is not an 'admin' task - H&S is the responsibility of everyone in any organisation. CLEAPPS may be a useful resource, although it's primary focus is around Science and ADT.
Gibbo Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 We have to do one annually. I also have to make sure there are COSHH data sheets available for any cleaners or solvents we use. Luckily if you buy branded stuff or from the YPO you can get them easily. And if there are no COSHH sheets the stuff has to be in a box marked "use at your own risk".
GrumbleDook Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 What is your source for that? Frequently it will be in the terms of contracts for holding a TLR. HoDs have managerial responsibility for their staff and so need to ensure a safe working environment for them and the children in their classes. This can be delegated down to other appropriately trained staff or outsourced / contracted (consider Risk Assessment in Science Labs), but the buck will frequently stop at the HoD before flying up to the Head. The science example is a good one because practical lessons will usually have an associated lesson plan what has already been signed off by the HoD (or designated member of staff), and the same goes for PE, etc. However, some jobs have an additional responsibility for continuing to ensure that the Risk Assessment is complied with (e.g. science, PE, drama, DT, etc). NUT and NASUWT have guides on this, as have ASCL.
pcstru Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 @GrumbleDook - My query was of the claim that normal teachers DON'T have to do RA's. I'm not aware of anything that bars them from doing RA's and in some cases it is essential that they do the RA since they know what they plan for the lesson.
PotNoodleTech Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 @GrumbleDook - My query was of the claim that normal teachers DON'T have to do RA's. I'm not aware of anything that bars them from doing RA's and in some cases it is essential that they do the RA since they know what they plan for the lesson. Oops. I missed an important word - "formal". They're not required to complete formal risk assessments as per union directives (NUT I was quoting). They are however required to assess risk as you have pointed out, whether that be a visual check, or reporting a possible risk to a manager. There is a difference between noticing a loose roof tile, and reporting it, and noticing a loose roof tile and completing the formal risk assessment yourself. It is a bit of a murky area I agree, if your in charge of a classroom I would suggest you are responsible for the risk in that classroom? But if the unions decide its not on the teacher to do list then I guess it isn't their job after all. Most schools seem to fall in with the union regs do they not? So in Gareth's case, responsibility for completing the formal risk assessment falls to the head of the ICT department and/or the IT Manager, both of which are him! Doh! Double wammy! 2
Andrew_C Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 But if the unions decide its not on the teacher to do list then I guess it isn't their job after all. Most schools seem to fall in with the union regs do they not? I'd love to see that one defended against the HSE. 1
pcstru Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 @AButters - thanks for the clarification. I certainly wasn't aware that unions had regulations on Teachers conducting Risk Assessments - so you may have saved me from a hail of bullets from that direction! Specifically in response to : "It is a bit of a murky area I agree, if your in charge of a classroom I would suggest you are responsible for the risk in that classroom? But if the unions decide its not on the teacher to do list then I guess it isn't their job after all. Most schools seem to fall in with the union regs do they not?" Most schools try to comply with the wishes of the unions but what if those wishes are incompatible with responsibilities laid down by law? Legally, Health and Safety is everyone's responsibility and if a School is doing everything properly (policy, training, procedure, assurance etc) but a Teacher has not prepared a RA (whether they prepared it themselves or had a template supplied and checked it off themselves), then the teacher will carry the can because any accident will be down to their negligence. I don't think union directives would be a defence. Usually, schools (and other organisations) are not doing everything properly so the responsibility gets kicked up towards the Head, who ultimately is responsible for making sure the school is exercising it's duty of care appropriately.
GrumbleDook Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 The law as applied is not just under H&S but many other areas too. http://www.teachers.org.uk/files/the-law-and-you--8857-.pdf has a good breakdown.
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