Our Lady Help of Christians Parish School

Our Lady Help of Christians Parish School

outlining

Workplace check procedures

Policy Number: WPIP0.1

Status: Active

Date Issued: 14st May 2012

Evaluation and Review: 2016

Policy Contact Officer: Principal / Assistant Principal

Related Documentation:

In accordance with the Vision and Mission Statements of Our Lady Help of Christians School South Lismore, the Management acknowledges the Responsibility for the duty of care for the health and safety of its employees, students and community in accordance with the relevant O.H. & S. Act of 2000 & O.H. & S. Regulations 2001.

All employees are required to take care for the health and safety of themselves and others and to co-operate with the management to enable the employer to comply with the necessary requirements.

This will be achieved through a process which:

·  provides ongoing education, consultation, training and supervision

·  identifies and rectifies risks and hazards

·  promotes ownership through a collaborative approach

This policy will be reviewed regularly so that it remains current.

Parish Priest: ______

Principal: ______

May 14, 2012

Workplace Inspections will take place once per term at OLHC School.

Inspection day is a whole school process involving all staff members, facilitated by the Principal or Assistant Principal.

The WP Inspection checklist needs to be completed. All areas need to be answered Yes(Y) or No (N) and comments made as required regarding any unsafe area, equipment or situation. Urgent matters need to be reported to the Principal immediately.

LEARNING CENTRE/ROOM: ______

CHEMICALS
(cleaners, paints etc.) / TERM
1 / TERM 2 / TERM 3 / TERM 4 / COMMENTS
Are stored safely out of reach of children.
Are actually needed.
Are correctly labelled. / If unlabelled,
Confiscate
Are out of date. / If out of date,
Confiscate
Material Safety Data (MSD)
Document is accessible for emergency. / Available from office
Other
(Please specify)
TERM
1 / TERM
2 / TERM 3 / TERM
4 / COMMENTS
All furniture is in a safe functional order.
All furniture is needed.
Other (please specify)
TERM
1 / TERM
2 / TERM
3 / TERM
4 / COMMENTS
All equipment is stored safely.
Cords & connections are placed clear of children’s floor area.
Equipment is being used safely.
Faulty power points?
Double adaptors in use? / These should not be in use.
Electrical equipment classified as being in a hostile operating environment has been tagged?
Electrical Risk Assessment completed?
Other (please specify.
TERM
1 / TERM
2 / TERM
3 / TERM
4 / COMMENTS
Heavy equipment is placed low enough for staff members to access safely & positioned so that it can’t fall on anyone.
OHP’s are stored on trolleys / Limited number in use
Access to items is unobstructed
Location is appropriate.
Floor is not used for storage.
All doorways are unobstructed.
TERM
1 / TERM
2 / TERM
3 / TERM
4 / COMMENTS
Any turned up corners of
carpet?
Any loose threads?
Door mats – dangerous?
Other (please specify)
TERM
1 / TERM
2 / TERM
3 / TERM
4 / COMMENTS
Windows are operable to allow adequate ventilation
Other (please specify)
TERM
1 / TERM
2 / TERM
3 / TERM
4 / COMMENTS
Any empty light sockets?
Any fluoro’s not working?
Light and fan switches are accessible?
Other
TERM 1 / TERM 2 / TERM 3 / TERM
4 / COMMENTS
Signage (fire drill & lock down) – present & clear.
Clear exit access
Doors functioning properly.
Other (please specify)
TERM
1 / TERM
2 / TERM
3 / TERM
4 / COMMENTS
Classroom teacher has a copy of the school’s fire extinguisher inventory and a map of fire extinguishers is on display.
Is/are fire extinguishers visible/accessible e.g. low enough, uncluttered.
Are you familiar with the use of the fire extinguisher?
Other (please specify)

To be completed by the AP or person delegatred by the AP.

TERM
1 / TERM
2 / TERM
3 / TERM
4 / COMMENTS
Are there any holes that need attention?
Is all equipment safe and working correctly?
Is all seating safe?
Are there any trip hazards?
Other (please specify)

Under the Occupational health and Safety Act 1983 (the “Act”), employers in NSW have an obligation to ensure the health, safety and welfare of persons at work and to protect them from risks to health and safety arising out of work activities. Employers also have a responsibility to promote an environment which is adapted to employee’s psychological and physiological needs. The employer’s capacity to implement the requirements of the Act is taken into account by the responsible authority.

The Act also places obligations and responsibilities on employees and visitors to the workplace.

The employer must:

·  Maintain the premises in a condition that is safe and without risks to health

·  Provide or maintain means of access to and exits from the premises that are safe.

·  Ensure that students are not exposed to risks to their health or safety while they are at school.

The Act requires that employees, that is, all teachers and other staff, must:

·  Take reasonable care of the health and safety of students who may be affected by the teacher’s actions or omissions at work;

·  Co-operate with any requirements imposed in the interests of health and safety by the employer or any other person under the Act, so far as it is necessary to enable the requirements to be complied with.

Under the Act, students and other “visitors” may not:

·  Intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health , safety and welfare in accordance with the Act or associated legislation;

·  Wilfully hinder or obstruct, attempt to hinder or obstruct or refuse any reasonable

Request to assist in, the giving or receiving of first aid in respect of the illness or the injury of a person at work or do any act or thing to avoid or prevent a serious risk to the health or safety to a person at work.

These obligations and requirements are specific to the Occupational Health and Safety legislation. They identify more specifically the responsibilities of teachers and school authorities to:

·  take all reasonable care to provide suitable and safe premises

·  provide an adequate system to ensure that no child is exposed to any unnecessary risk of injury.

·  Provide an adequate system that includes a specific documented policy, procedures and monitoring processes.

·  Take all reasonable care to see that the system is carried out.

·  RESPONSIBLE PRACTICES

·  Safety instruction should form an integral part of the learning process to assist school authorities and teachers to eliminate accidents by encouraging students to avoid unnecessary risks and to cope sensibly and confidently with those risks that cannot be avoided.

·  Appropriate first-aid equipment must be provided. Where required, emergency washing facilities should be located close to work areas. Safe practices and routines in regard to handling dangerous substances must be established.

·  Personal safety precautions should include the provision of appropriate clothing and footwear and the provision of safety equipment where appropriate.

·  Lay-out, bench height, safety signs, lighting and ventilation should be appropriate.

·  Students should only work alone with explicit permission of the supervising teacher. Criteria for granting permission include the age and maturity of the student, the skills of the student and the inherent danger of the task.

·  All floors should be clean and slip resistant. Floors in workrooms should be resistant to the action of any chemicals and maintained in a non-slip condition. All floors should be maintained free of hazards which might cause students to trip.

·  Provision should be made to provide adequate protection against heat, cold, vibration or noise and against toxic substances present in the environment.

·  Practices for safe handling and storage of equipment should be put in place. Persons required to handle harmful substances should be given prior instructions and precautions observed. Students should be instructed in the correct method of lifting weights. Heavy equipment should never be handled by students. Adequate storage facilities must be provided as well as appropriately designed equipment and space for potentially harmful processes.

·  A program of regular inspection and maintenance should be instituted and carried out on all plant, machines and equipment in addition to daily routine surveillance normally expected of the teacher.

CHECKLIST

Teachers should:

·  Plan activities

·  Beware of the consequences of their actions or failure to act.

·  Instruct students on safety for all activities

·  Warn students of risks associated with certain activities and ways to overcome or reduce such risks.

·  Take responsibility for students’ safety

·  Identify hazards and risks to which students may be exposed

·  Report all hazardous situations in writing

·  Maintain safe classroom behaviour

·  Remain in the classroom while students are working

·  Keep accurate records of unusual occurrences

·  Observe and be aware of all relevant health and safety laws and regulations

REFERENCES:

·  The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1983 – Work Cover Authority, NSW

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY: RESOURCE FOLDER CONTENTS (vol.2)

A Brief Introduction to Work Cover – Work Cover Authority NSW, June 1994

How to Get Occupational Health and Safety Information – Work Cover Authority NSW, March 1995

Six Steps to Occupational Health and Safety – Duty of Care in OHS Work Cover Authority NSW, February, 1994

The Occupati9onal Health and Safety Act 1983 – Summary of the Main Provisions Work Cover Authority NSW

Work Place Inspection Policy 14th May 2012 Our Lady Help of Christians Parish School.

To be reviewed 2016.