Health and Safety
Spring
2015
1
Corporate Health & Safety
HEALTH AND SAFETY TEAM
Colin de Jongh –Health & Safety Manager E-Mail; Colin.dejongh@torbay.gov.uk,
Asa Moss – Senior Health & Safety Officer E-Mail; Asa.Moss@torbay.gov.uk
Helpline: 01803 207170 or 07887 772489
Fire compartmentation – How good is yours?
Recent inspection visits to some of our schools has highlighted one of those issues that are
often ‘out-of-sight, out-of mind’.
Capital projects are always taking place at our schools, be they small projects or large. From
extending the IT infrastructure to renewing electrical systems to extending the buildings,
contractors try to limit the bulk of the ‘messy’ utilities work and alterations to store rooms,
utility rooms and above ceilings.
Unfortunately, one of the by-products of this work is the failure of the contractor to ensure
that holes, gaps and other breaching of the building’s dividing structures are repaired so as
not to affect the fire safety integrity of the building.
Gaps and holes left behind from work involving wiring, cables, pipes, building alterations and
extensions etc., are a boon for smoke, heat and flames to find their way through in the event
of a fire. Should that happen, the fire can soon spread rapidly through the roof space with
alarming speed.
Remember – whenever contractors are finishing work at your school, amongst other items
you may be checking, don’t forget to check that all breaches of walls and ceilings (including
Further Health & Safety information for Torbay Schools is available by visiting:
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/index/education/schools/schoolshealthandsafety.htm
2
those places above suspended ceilings) have been repaired and made good so that the
building’s fire safety integrity is maintained.
On-line Accident Reporting system - IMPORTANT NOTICE
An addition to the on-line Accident Reporting system is the option to choose to record a
Near Miss when logging a new incident. Previously there was only the choice of Personal
Injury and Property Damage.
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) definition of a Near Miss is:- "an unplanned event
which does not cause injury or damage, but could have done so." e.g. items falling near to
persons, incidents involving vehicles and electrical short-circuits.
Reporting Near Miss incidents is a very important way of identifying problem areas. It helps
highlight some of the less obvious hazards in a workplace or identify areas where a problem
is developing.
Some models suggest that for every accident there are approximately ninety near-misses.
A successful culture of Near Miss reporting means the hazard could be dealt with before
someone is injured.
First aid training - New nursery recruits
The Dept. for Education have announced proposals that new nursery and pre-school staff will
be required to undertake paediatric first aid for the first time.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-aid-training-to-be-made-compulsory-for-newnursery-recruits
Children travelling in mini-buses
Several recent enquiries about transporting young children, particularly in mini-buses, prompt
this item and a reminder to schools of the law on this subject.
The government guidance (Department of Transport) says ‘Minibus drivers and companies
don’t have to provide child car seats. You must provide your own if you want to make sure a
child has one.’
Further Health & Safety information for Torbay Schools is available by visiting:
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/index/education/schools/schoolshealthandsafety.htm
3
It also says about Minibuses: ‘All children must travel in rear seats (i.e. any seats behind the
driver) if a child car seat or an adult seat belt isn’t fitted.’
More detail can be found at https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules
However, Torbay Council policy (via Outdoor Education policy - Devon & Torbay Outdoor
Education, Visits and Off-Site Activities policy March 2014) does not allow children under 11
to travel in the front passenger seat of a minibus. It would be expected that LA schools
would follow this policy. For Academies, it would be the school’s decision whether or not to
adopt that rule.
Transporting injured pupils
We receive Accident/Incident reports showing that when a pupil has injured themselves and
requires transporting home or to hospital, a member of staff has helped by taking the pupil
to that location. This is in the absence of a parent/other adult responsible for the pupil not
being available or instead of calling for an ambulance.
It is recognised – and accepted - there may be circumstances when the school/college
believes this action is appropriate. Three important factors should be part of the
consideration:
- It is recommended that all casualties when transported for medical treatment should be
accompanied by the driver and an escort. This is in case of the casualty going into shock or
passing out etc. They should be in the rear seat with the escort so as not to affect the
driver should anything happen.
- The presence of an escort adds merit to safeguarding measures.
- The member of staff should have the appropriate car insurance cover for using their own
vehicle for business purposes.
Emergency Contact Numbers (Outdoor Education)
The Devon and Torbay Councils’ Outdoor Education, Visits and Off-Site Activities Health and
Safety Policy shows a landline 24 hour Emergency contact number in Section 3.9 Emergency
procedures.
In an emergency, LA schools and Academies who buy back into the Torbay Council Health &
Safety service can also receive health and safety assistance from the Health and Safety
team’s 24 hour Helpline number 07887 772489.
Plaster of Paris (Design and Technology)
Two recent enquiries from schools have been received regarding the use of plaster of Paris
for producing full hand and arm casts.
Further Health & Safety information for Torbay Schools is available by visiting:
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/index/education/schools/schoolshealthandsafety.htm
4
CLEAPSS has produced a guidance sheet (PS74) on the safe use of plaster of Paris following
two serious pupil injuries from its inappropriate use. Some key points: When mixed with water, plaster of Paris becomes extremely hot (exothermic
reaction), expands slightly and sets hard.
 It is impregnated into bandage-type materials, known as Modroc. This makes it even
stronger (just like reinforcing rods in concrete). There is a variety of trade names and
the exact properties may vary slightly, depending on the formulation.
 It is not classified as hazardous. However, when water is mixed into large amounts of
the plaster, the temperature can reach 60 °C. It could then cause a heat burn, but
not a chemical burn.
 It is quite safe to make a plaster cast, for example, of a fossil, a shoe print or palm
print.
 Splashes of the plaster on the hand can easily be washed off.
It would not be safe to attempt to make a mould of a whole hand or encase any other part of
the body. As the plaster hardens and expands, it is impossible to remove the hand which is
flocked into place and gradually heated until it is burnt.
If you wish to make a mould of the hand (or other body part) for the purpose of making a
cast, the safest, fastest and cleanest material to use is alginate (a flexible, moulding
compound sometimes used in dentistry).

See CLEAPSS guidance sheet (PS74)

HSE – Direct
Window restrictor mechanisms
Department of Health Estates have issued a new safety alert warning of the risks of using
certain types of window restrictor mechanisms which when locked, can be opened with
commonly available flat bladed instruments, as well as the ‘key’ provided.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/windowrestrictors.htm
Concerns about blower-driven air to remove dust
The Institute of LEV Engineers (ILEVE) and others have expressed concerns about the use
of blower-driven air for removing dust, fibres, grit etc from clothing and hard surfaces.
This is because of the danger of redistributing dust into a person's breathing zone.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/woodworking/wooddust.htm?ebul=gd-woodworking&cr=3/Dec14
Further Health & Safety information for Torbay Schools is available by visiting:
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/index/education/schools/schoolshealthandsafety.htm
5
HSE Myth Busters Challenge Panel
The Health and Safety Executive has set up the Myth Busters Challenge Panel. This
independent panel scrutinizes decisions where ‘Health and Safety’ is often incorrectly used
as a convenient excuse to stop what are essentially sensible activities going ahead.
 Case 326 – Office lights must have a working bulb
http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/myth-busting/2014/case326-all-office-lights-must-havea-working-bulb.htm?ebul=hsegen&cr=5/03-nov-14
 Case 327 – School staff banned from taking drinks onto the playground
http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/myth-busting/2014/case327-primary-school-staff-not-totake-drinks-onto-playground-during-breaks.htm?ebul=hsegen&cr=4/03-nov-14
 Case 339 – School risk assessments to be re-done every year
http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/myth-busting/2014/case339-school-risk-assessments-tobe-redone-every-year.htm?ebul=hsegen&cr=6/05-jan-15
Safer Communities
A new e-safety website for Torbay’s Virtually S@fe team has been launched. Visit
www.torbayvirtuallysafe.co.uk to find information, advice and useful resources for anyone
working with children and young people, parents or any young people who need to know more
about being safe online.
Safer Internet Day took place on 10th February. For more information, visit
www.saferinternet.org.uk. You can also join in conversations on Twitter by following the
Virtually S@fe team at @BeVirtuallySafe or use the hashtag #SID2015.
Newsletters up-to-date on:http://www.torbay.gov.uk/index/education/schools/schoolshealthandsafety.htm as well as
http://insight/index/information/riskmanagement/hs/hs-schools.htm
Torbay Council Schools’ Newsletter
What do you think about this Newsletter? Do you find it easy to read/useful/interesting/boring? What would
you like to see contained in its pages?
If you have any comments about this Newsletter together with positive suggestions as to how we might improve
its contents, please let us know. An e-mail to either of the Officer addresses at the top of this edition would
help us ensure we are doing our best to make this publication useful and of relevance to staff in our Torbay
schools & Early Years settings.
Further Health & Safety information for Torbay Schools is available by visiting:
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/index/education/schools/schoolshealthandsafety.htm