HSE Update Lisa Skinner HM Inspector of Health & Safety Health and Safety Executive HSE Update Lisa Skinner HM Inspector of Health & Safety Public Administration, Education and Volunteers Team

HSE Update Activities covered by health and safety law Making sensible and proportionate arrangements for health and safety Issues for academies Case studies CDM Stress

What does health and safety legislation cover? risks to staff, pupils and visitors created by work activities carried out by the school. includes off-site activities such as school trips also applies to the work of contractors in the school

Real health and safety risks in schools typically include: on site transport movements falls from height slips and trips stress management work related violence asbestos management Legionella construction and maintenance activities manual handling

Where can I find information?

Making sensible and proportionate arrangements for Health and Safety Goldilocks Principle Not too much Not too little Just the right balance So what is sensible and proportionate?

Sensible health and safety management the school leadership team understand the safety policy and apply it practically to the real risks in the school key staff have clearly established roles and responsibilities

Sensible Health and Safety Management school leaders consult with staff including employee / trade union safety representatives – looking for practical solutions to health and safety issues There are many benefits to be gained from successful health and safety management – both in the school and outside. See case studies

Sensible health and safety management paperwork is kept to a minimum with the significant hazards identified, their risks adequately controlled and precautions clearly documented where needed http://www.hse.gov.uk/services/education/sensible-leadership/index.htm

Employer responsible for making sure that risks, particularly the risks to staff and pupils, are managed so far as is reasonably practicable. employer’s health and safety functions are often delegated to members of staff in the school overall legal accountability remains the responsibility of the employer.

Current Issues for New Academies Competent advice Roles and responsibilities Existing paperwork/transfer of information Existing buildings New buildings The way we've always done it Speed of transfer

Case Studies Essex school fined after refurbishment disturbs asbestos Brentwood School fined after worker fell from roof Devon School caretaker died after falling from 'stage prop' ladder

How are we feeling?

CDM 2015 Simplified structure Client – greater responsibility Domestic client exemption – removed CDM co-ordinator role - removed Principal Designer role (PD) – introduced ‘Competence’ – removed in its current form Construction phase plan for all projects Threshold for appointments – more than 1 contractor Notification is a stand alone requirement – not trigger point for additional duties

HSE’s approach on sites No change to HSE’s approach to inspection, investigation and enforcement NOT FFI driven Risk based, sensible and proportionate Looking ‘beyond the site gate’ where failure to manage risk Construction phase plan

Guidance Package ‘L’ Series guidance 6 CONIAC industry guides – endorsed by HSE CDM 2015 HSE website ‘Have work done safely’ leaflet for small commercial clients Template construction phase plan Smartphone App – Construction Phase Plan for small projects

Is it really health and safety? Health and safety is sometimes used as an excuse to justify not allowing some school activities to go ahead when in fact health and safety legislation does not apply.

Sefton Schools Stress Pilot Purpose To work with priority sectors to develop: An understanding of the levels of stress in the sector/schools Assess what actions are being taken currently and try to establish their efficiency Increase the knowledge base as evidence about the use of the Management Standards approach Potential outcomes The pilot will meet the needs of the schools taking part, but: The results will help to provide sector specific guidance; Potentially sector specific tools or adapted versions of the MS approach will result which can be rolled out across the sectors

Sefton Schools Stress Pilot HSE has spoken to Governors, Heads (Secondary and Primary) and local TU side Propose to work with Sefton LEA and 20 schools of various types including a special school and an academy 23 schools have volunteered and we have scheduled a meeting with representatives of these to discuss methodology. This will be a workshop and will include TU side from teachers and other employers. A short survey will be used to gather base line data from all Sefton schools An online forum has been established and will ‘go-live’ after the workshop event