School Risk Management Notice Board

General Risk Issues -

• The information can be found on the risk management downloadable documents page.

• The policy now excludes walk in thefts, that means that if classroom or office doors and windows are not locked when not in use any items taken or damaged will not be covered.  The policy also excludes theft of laptops; from the school unless they are either locked away in a store room or secured to a desk by means of a laptop security cable (or similar)  when not in use, staff homes unless the house is secured and the laptop is out of view, and does not cover the theft of items from staff cars whilst in transit even if they are locked in the boot.  A summary of the cover provided can be viewed via the risk management downloadable documents page.

• There are several risk implications here; firstly the Health & Safety implications of the potential harm of these children whilst unsupervised in school (trips, slips, access to hazardous substances etc), secondly there are Human Resource implications (i.e. potential discrimination when one school allows such a practice and another does not) and finally there are insurance implications in that these children would not be covered under the council liability insurance as they are not engaged in a legitimate 'school organised' activity.

• It depends what they are of course but in the first instance contact either the CLEAPSS Helpline on 01895 251496 or Environmental Health on 0114 273 4415 for advice urgently on the safest way of disposal.

• Yes the regulations aim to reduce waste from electronic and electrical equipment, this includes computers, Televisions, Printers, Photocopiers etc.  You must obtain and keep proof that the waste has been given to a waste management company and disposed of appropriately.  If the equipment was bought after 13th August 2005 you should contact your supplier as they may take the equipment back.  With the purchase of any new equipment you should check your supplier's policy for compliance with the WEEE Directive.  If you want advice on the safe removal of equipment contact Livetech on 0114 2039129.

• Since the introduction of the (Fire Safety) Regulatory Reform Order in October 2006 certain requirements have been placed on employers regarding training. The responsible person in school must ensure employees are provided with adequate fire safety training, which is repeated periodically.  In order to assist schools in delivering awareness training Children's & Young People's Directorate will be launching a school specific fire safety awareness training DVD, during the Autumn 2008 term.

• Normal gym mats (those used for floor work) are not designed to protect a child in the event of a fall from height and should only be placed where planned and foreseen landing is envisaged.  It can be argued that in some cases the random placing of mats can in themselves be a safety hazard.  There is further information in the BAALPE Safe Practice in Physical Education & Schools Sport Guide (Page 94-95).

• Risk Guidance Note RGN11A offers practical advice on site security, it can be downloaded from the Risk Guidance Note section of this website.

• Schools should take all reasonable steps to prevent smoking in confined spaces, public areas or on vehicles. The majority of schools already have anti smoking policies for students and staff these should detail how the policy will be enforced and what the consequences for those found to be breaching the policy are.  Local Authority Enforcement Officers would expect schools to be able to evidence actions taken for instance verbal warnings, written warnings, temporary suspension given and so on, schools should also be able to demonstrate that they are educating students and staff on the dangers of smoking and offering support to those wishing to stop smoking.  The Mitigation of Risk Officer can put you in contact with NHS colleagues who can assist in implementing smoker cessation training for your school.

• Traffic and parking around school sites during the 'school run' is a big problem for many schools, you could write to parents and set up a voluntary exclusion zone around the school gates.  You could  put up safety banners (available from the Council) or seek advice from the Road Safety Team on 2736162.

• If this situation takes place then the additional risks associated with the lack of 'expertise' should be included in the lesson specific risk assessment, however the activity of allowing such staff to take lessons of this nature unsupervised should be discouraged, as it may call in to question the school's duty of care provision.

• In terms of good practice and ensuring the safety of those in your care, yes.  Implementing a routinely documented and robust inspection system and repairing defects as soon as they are identified makes good sense.  The older the structures the more frequent the inspections should be, for newer equipment once per term would appear to be sufficient, older or more frequently used posts should be inspected more often.  Site staff should document inspections and any actions taken to rectify defects.

Building Risk Issues -

• Guidance on Hot Working and a Hot Work Permit for use by schools can be found on the risk management downloadable documents page .

• The standards require fire retardant paint to be used for fire escape routes and stairways, assembly areas like halls, gyms etc and high risk areas like science, home economics class rooms, etc.

• KIER do not CRB check their staff as a matter of routine, therefore they should be treated in the same way as any other individual on site who may come in to contact with students, that is either shadowed by a member of school staff who is CRB checked, only allowed to work in discrete areas away from students or advised to work outside of school operating hours, these considerations should form part of your risk assessment and decision processes when arranging maintenance works in school.

• The Health & Safety (HSE) Website offers some practical advice for schools on this issue. The advice is contained in the falls section of the site.

Transport Risk Issues -

• A Risk Guidance Note (RGN13) located in the Risk Management Guidance Notes section of this website offers some practical advice on this subject.

• Any minibus owned, hired or leased on a short or long term basis is covered under the policy for official school use only, you will need to display your Section 19 Certificate in any minibus you use.

• If you hire your minibus to another school for 'official' use and their driver meets the council minibus driver criteria then yes they will be covered, providing you have spoken to the council's insurance team first.  If your query relates to an organisation that is not a school then you need to contact the Council's Insurance Team (on 0114 273 4453) to discuss if additional cover can be arranged first.

• Good practice guidance on the use of private vehicles for official use is provided in Risk Guidance Note 18 (RGN18) located in the Risk Management Guidance Notes Section of this website.

• The information and templates provided in RGN18 (see above) are suggested good practice.  Where staff are transporting children in their own car or in a school minibus I would think such information is vital in ensuring an accurate risk assessment of the activity is undertaken.

• Parents are not authorised to drive the minibus but they are covered by insurance to travel in it providing it is in connection with official school business and has been authorised by the appropriately responsible person.  Some schools may however choose to have internal policies and procedures that prevent non school staff  travelling in school vehicles.

• Ideally the driver should be supported by an escort who can ensure pupils keep their belts on during the journey.  The driver of any vehicle is liable for ensuring passengers under 14 have a seat belt on, over 14 it is the child's responsibility, such issues should be built in to your risk assessment, (the rules should however be made clear to pupils before the journey starts).  If the pupil has a history of removing his/her seat belt during a journey the school should consider if this is the most suitable mode of transport for this individual pupil.

• The Council procurement strategy does recommend that as experts in vehicle management that you should involve them in  vehicle procurement, however the insurance cover issue relates to short term hire of vehicles through external suppliers not purchase or long term lease arrangements.

• If the minibus is on a long term lease, the log book is in the name of the School & Council and the vehicle appears on the Council's Fleet List it is covered under the Council cover.  The cover does not extend to cover adhoc hire of vehicles (e.g. for a day or week from local hire companies).

Insurance Risk Issues -

• Firstly the school should undertake a risk assessment of the activity considering any health, safety and child protection issues. The artist will need to have their own Public Liability cover to a suggested £5million level, in some circumstances depending on the nature of the activity and level of risk a lower amount may be considered acceptable.

• Supervising the loading of busses is not an unusual practice, should a teacher sustain an injury whilst performing this task cover would be in place if the school was found to be liable.  Obviously with any activity a documented risk assessment should be undertaken and any identified risks minimised.

• The School Liability policy will only cover any injury caused as a result of  a defect in the building,  a ceiling tile falling on someone's head for instance. It will not cover injury caused as a result of negligence on the part of the PTA for instance an outbreak of food poisoning or someone injuring themselves on a display that the PTA have erected and so on.  If the PTA is a member of the National Confederation of PTA's they will automatically have their own insurance.

• Yes providing all reasonable security precautions are taken there is however a maximum value limit to any item taken off site.  It does not however cover the item whilst it is in transit.

• There are many insurers that provide cover, the link below is just one provider (using the attached link will give a 10% discount on the premium) - Hiscox.

• As long as the parent governor is an authorised volunteer and roles/responsibilities have been clearly set, a risk assessment has been undertaken and she is under the supervision of an experienced member of staff then the insurance policy will cover her.

• For any country in the European Union (EU) the requirements are the same as if you were undertaking the work experience activity in the UK.  The company is required to undertake a documented risk assessment and send you this along with details of the employers liability cover for the company.  You should incorporate this information within your educational visits risk assessments.  Staff, authorised volunteers and students will be covered under the council policy for non work experience related activities, (providing the normal rules for visits are followed) whilst on the trip, if an incident should occur and the school was found to be negligent. 

• You will need to contact the insurance section on 273 4453 with exact details, in certain circumstances the insurer will still cover a child no longer on roll.

• An exclusion is a foreseeable event and is within the insured's control so he/she would not get reimbursed for their outlay if they were excluded from the trip.  If the school allowed the excluded pupil (providing the exclusion was only temporary) to go on the trip certain conditions would apply to the policy, contact the insurance & risk team for more details.

• The child will not be covered for any health treatments etc connected with the existing condition but will be covered for the other elements of the policy.  Contact the Insurance & Risk Team for advice on 0114 273 4453.

• In Europe the same rules will apply as in the United Kingdom (UK) (see Risk Guidance Note RGN 16) the employer will have to undertake a risk assessment and provide cover under their Employer Liability Cover.  With regard to accidental damage caused by the student whilst undertaking the work placement this will (restrictions apply) be covered under the scheme's Personal Liability section.

• If the activity is authorised and organised by a subscribing school  for it's students and occurs outside of the school boundaries cover will be in place.

• There is a Risk Guidance Note RGN16A on this issue you can download on this website, if this does not answer all your questions please contact the Mitigation of Risk Officer for further advice.