HEALTH AND SAFETY
PROCEDURES
To: Heads of all Educational Establishments
Cc’s Governors/Management Committees
Trade Union Safety Representatives
Employee Noticeboards
Education Intranet
September 2000
SCIENCE SAFETY
Health and Safety Policy
Middle and Secondary Schools
`
(Recommended Guidelines)
The following texts and organisations are recommended as providing useful guidance on good
health and safety practice in Science. This does not of course remove the need for individual
risk assessments to be carried out by members of staff in charge of any activity
The Association for Science Education (ASE)
College Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9AA Tel – 01707 267411
e-mail: ase@asehq.telme.com
or
web site: www.ase.org.uk
CLEAPSS - Schools Science Service
Brunel University, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH
Tel – 01895 251496
Fax – 01895 814372
e-mail: science@cleapss.org.uk or
web site: www.cleapss.org.uk
DfEE
Safety in Science Education, 1996
HMSO
ISBN 0 11 270915 X
ASE
Topics in Safety - 1988
ISBN0-86357-1042
Safeguards in School Laboratory Tenth Edition 1996
ISBNO-86357-0836
CLEAPPS
Laboratory Handbook
CLEAPPS
HAZCARDS - 1998
DES
The Use of Micro Organisms in Schools - 1985
Published by: Health & Safety Section, Premises Development Group
Education Department
© Oxfordshire Education Service
Issue 3
Policy Statement
The aims are to:
q Ensure that the science department complies with the county councils and the school safety
policy and takes account of national recommendations and guidelines.
q Ensure that staff use safe working procedures within the science area
q Ensure that staff are aware of potential hazards and act accordingly.
q Ensure that risks to health from chemicals/microbes/ionising/non-ionising sources used in the
science area are minimised by adopting safe working practices.
q Ensure that competent staff in charge of an activity undertakes suitable and sufficient risk
assessments.
Five Steps to Risk Assessment
Look for the hazards
↓
Decide who might be harmed and how
↓
Evaluate the risk and decide whether the existing
precautions are adequate
or whether more should be done
↓
Record the findings
↓
Review the assessment and revise it if necessary
ORGANISATION
Head of Science
Head of Department
T1
A3
T2
A1
Teacher
Head of Department
T3
T4
A2
T5
T6
Ancillary
Responsibilities
Head of Science
q
q
q
q
q
q
Formulate and monitor the departmental health and safety policy and procedures.
Advise on their specialist subject.
Inform science staff of relevant health and safety regulations.
To act upon information received from staff e.g. regarding lab services.
Ensure that Health and safety matters will be standing item at all departmental meetings.
Ensure that regular checks are carried out on equipment and that such equipment is maintained to the
prescribed standards.
q Allocate resources within his/her control to matters of health and safety.
q Ensure all staff are properly trained and competent to undertake activities.
q Ensure specific risk assessments are recorded.
Head of Departments
q Advise on specialist subject areas e.g. chemical disposal etc.; radiation protection supervisor (RPS),
q Ensure ancillary and other staff know and follow safe working procedures.
q Ensure that chemicals and equipment are stored safely and have appropriate warning labels/instructions.
Teachers
q
q
q
q
To work within the departmental safety policy and follow recognized safe working practices.
To take reasonable care of the students in their charge.
Students should be taught about the hazards, risks and the risk controls within this subject
Inform other staff and the Head of Science of known potential hazards and take appropriate remedial
action.
Ancillaries
q To follow recognized safe working practices
q Co-operate with the head of science in improving and monitoring health and safety practices within the
department.
ARRANGEMENTS
•
Staff are required to read County health and safety documents and sign that they have understood their
contents.
•
Based on a suitable and sufficient risk assessment all staff and students are to wear personal protective
equipment, including eye protection when heating substances using acids or alkalis.
•
All hazardous substances must be identified and labeled appropriately.
•
Staff must carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment by consulting HAZCARDS before using
any substance that is known to be hazardous.
•
All accidents or near misses to staff or students must be reported to the head of science and the
appropriate form completed. Such accidents/dangerous occurrences and near misses should be
investigated to prevent reoccurrence.
•
No students are to be allowed in the laboratory unless supervised.
•
Any unsafe equipment and/or chemicals must be removed from use and disposed of safely.
•
All staff should ensure that they comply with any specific regulations relating to particular activities.
•
Undertaking risk assessments should form an integral part of the educational process.
Equipment
♦
Large items of equipment such as fume cupboards must be tested annually by a competent person and
the results recorded.
♦
Electrical apparatus should be visually inspected before use, checked periodically and tested at least
annually. Records of such testing must be recorded.
♦
Any equipment/apparatus, which is purchased, should conform to the appropriate British Standards or
European Standards and be maintained to that standard.
Chemicals
q
All chemicals and other substances must be purchased from a recognized supplier.
q
All chemicals and other substances must be disposed of in accordance with the advice of the
manufacturer and comply with the relevant regulations for waste disposal.
For Further Information and Advice:
Specialist:
Schools Advice, Science
Tel - 01865 428122
General:
Health & Safety Section
Tel - 01865 428188