TLP - Health and Safety in the Children's Services Department
How safe is your workplace?
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) places great importance on worker involvement and consultation, which has proved to be key factor to improving health and safety in the workplace. The HSE have a section on their website on worker involvement.
Every school, college, unit and children centre should have an elected Health and Safety representative. The representative may be a member of either the teaching, care or support staff and should be a member of a trade union if possible. However, Hampshire recognises and supports both union and non-union health and safety reps. Management is obliged in law to consult with all staff and this is easier to do through an elected staff representative. All the teacher unions provide advice and training on Health and Safety.
Information, support and advice on health and safety issues can be found on the Children's Services website.
It is important to report accidents, physical, psychological and verbal abuse and cyber bullying. Report forms for all these incidents can be found on the website above and should be used in any event.
The HSE – Health and Safety Executive website provides a wealth of information and advice.
Asbestos – the hidden killer!
Asbestos is a hidden killer that can cause four serious diseases. These diseases will not affect you immediately; they often take a long time to develop, but once diagnosed, it is often too late to do anything. Useful info can be found on the HSE asbestos pages.
Many older school buildings have asbestos within their structure. The basic guidance is that left alone this asbestos will not harm the occupants. However, if building or refurbishment work is to take place, the asbestos register must be checked and strategies put in place to deal with any asbestos that might be disturbed. A survey can be arranged with Hampshire Scientific Services.