An introduction to safety in school science

Legal frameworks for governing safety in school science Legal frameworks for governing safety in school science Safety awareness & Risk Assessment by teachers and pupils Safety awareness & Risk Assessment by teachers and pupils Information sources for safe science teaching Information sources for safe science teaching Strategies for organising and managing for safety Strategies for organising and managing for safety Aims: to raise awareness of -

To identify and record hazards and risk in science lessons To identify and record hazards and risk in science lessons To teach safely and teach safety To teach safely and teach safety To rehearse an investigation to discover and anticipate safety issues To rehearse an investigation to discover and anticipate safety issues Objectives

1988/891990/911996/97 Number of accidents % in sports activities % in gymnasium % in playground, etc % in corridors, stairs, cloakrooms % in classrooms % during extra-mural activities % in toilets, etc % in science laboratories % in technology (workshops & HE) % other Accidents to pupils in schools Reported to the HSE Field Operations Division Inspectorates as ‘fatal’ or ‘major’ accidents (from HSE Statistics)

Type of accident% Chemicals in the eye22.8 Chemicals elsewhere on body20.6 Cuts20.3 Burns from flames/hot objects14.5 Dropping/falling/slipping/knocking/lifting,7.3 Chemicals in mouth4.1 Inhalation3.7 Animal bites2.8 Explosions1.5 Fainting1.5 Electric shock0.6 Percentage of accidents reported from school laboratories (source: CLEAPSE School Science Service)

The Law and the Science teacher Health & Safety at Work Act Health & Safety at Work Act Imposes a duty on employers to ensure the safety of employees (not pupils) and on employees to have regard for their own safety and that of others.Imposes a duty on employers to ensure the safety of employees (not pupils) and on employees to have regard for their own safety and that of others. Employees are obliged to cooperate with employers on safety issues.Employees are obliged to cooperate with employers on safety issues. Civil Law Civil Law

In school… Employer's policy statements required by HSWA. Employer's policy statements required by HSWA. LEAs may delegate responsibility to the school. LEAs may delegate responsibility to the school. science department policies: follow up in SE science department policies: follow up in SE ASE Insurance and information ASE Insurance and information

RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHERS AND TECHNICIANS Designing practical to avoid or minimise hazards Designing practical to avoid or minimise hazards Seeking safest ways of achieving objectives Seeking safest ways of achieving objectives Emphasising individual responsibilities to implement safety policies Emphasising individual responsibilities to implement safety policies Awareness of safety equipment and how to use it Awareness of safety equipment and how to use it Taking responsibility for others’ safety – warning of hazards & risks Taking responsibility for others’ safety – warning of hazards & risks Setting a good example Setting a good example Checking general risk assessments Checking general risk assessments Keeping laboratories secure Keeping laboratories secure Take relevant precautions when preparing lessons Take relevant precautions when preparing lessons Checking that technicians know how to carry out procedures safely Checking that technicians know how to carry out procedures safely Explaining safety rules to pupils and reinforcing these routinely Explaining safety rules to pupils and reinforcing these routinely

PUPILS Rules for pupils: Rules for pupils: not too manynot too many easy to understandeasy to understand expressed in a positive wayexpressed in a positive way Know your pupils Know your pupils Class size ………. may figure in the risk assessment for an activity Class size ………. may figure in the risk assessment for an activity Supervision of pupils Supervision of pupils

Never leave pupils unsupervised in the lab! Rules for staff?

Qualified science teachers & those in training Teaching practical science – only by qualified science teachers Teaching practical science – only by qualified science teachers Support for new teachers & those in training – you should be under supervision of a QTS science teacher. You need support and induction either as a trainee or an NQT Support for new teachers & those in training – you should be under supervision of a QTS science teacher. You need support and induction either as a trainee or an NQT (Refer to CLEAPSS handouts and review the checklists in “H&S Induction & Training of Science Teachers”) (Refer to CLEAPSS handouts and review the checklists in “H&S Induction & Training of Science Teachers”)

5 Steps to Risk Assessment 1. Identify the hazards 2. Decide who might be harmed and how 3 Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions 4 Record your findings and implement them 5 Review your assessment and update if necessary

Risk Assessment Planning Planning Anticipation Anticipation Risk = hazard X probability of something going wrong

What would you do? 1. Chemicals in the eye? 2. Material on fire? 3. Student on fire? 4. Acid/Base spills? 5. Release of bodily fluids e.g. blood? 6. Mercury spills?

Legal frameworks for governing safety in school science Legal frameworks for governing safety in school science Safety awareness & Risk Assessment by teachers and pupils Safety awareness & Risk Assessment by teachers and pupils Information sources for safe science teaching Information sources for safe science teaching Strategies for organising and managing for safety Strategies for organising and managing for safety Aims: to raise awareness of -