Risk Management & Hazard Identification

Procedure

This procedure should be read in conjunction with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015: A Practical Guide for Boards of Trustees and Officers which clearly outlines Health and Safety responsibilities.

Purpose

Risk management is the cornerstone of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. It allows the School Board to perform its primary duty of care, as far as is reasonably practicable, to its workers and others. The purpose of this procedure is to explain how we manage risks effectively in the school environment and in work carried out by the school.

Scope

This procedure applies to all workers and others in the workplace, including the school leadership team, employees, students, contractors, temporary workers, volunteers and visitors. The School Board will consult, cooperate and coordinate with other duty holders where health and safety duties overlap. This procedure can also be applied where an adequate risk procedure does not exist at other workplaces that the school uses.

The board will keep a risk register and record information from the risk management process. For each identified hazard, the following information will be recorded:

• the harm the hazard could cause

• the likelihood the harm would occur

• the level of risk

• the effectiveness of current controls

• what further controls are needed

• how the controls will be implemented – by whom and by when

• review date

How do we manage health and safety risks effectively?

Health and safety is everyone’s responsibility and together we will keep our workplace safe and secure. To do this, we will manage health and safety risks effectively. The four steps below describe how we do this.

1. Identify hazards — find situations and things that could cause injury, illness or death.

2. Assess risks — understand the nature of the risk, likely consequences and likelihood.

3. Control risks — implement the most effective, reasonably practicable controls.

4. Review — ensure controls are working as planned.

Roles and Responsibilities

Everyone has a part to play in managing risk effectively.

• Officers (Board members, Principal and delegated leaders) must: ensure workers understand risk processes; ensure workers receive appropriate H&S training and induction; hold and maintain the risk register; inform others of known risks and controls; assess reported risks; consult with workers on controls; and review controls regularly. 

• Workers (employees, contractors, volunteers) must: take reasonable care for their own health and safety; not create risks for others; take steps to eliminate hazards when identified; report risks to the relevant school leader; seek support from the H&S representative if required; comply with this procedure and any reasonable H&S instructions; and stop work if they reasonably believe the work poses a serious risk. 

• The School Board will support and monitor the school’s risk controls, assist in developing standards and procedures, and act on health and safety matters that require governance input. 

• Others (students, parents, visitors) must take reasonable care and comply with any reasonable instruction given while on site.

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

Guidelines

• To make known to all staff the identified hazards within the school buildings and environment

• To prioritise the hazards for correction

• To eliminate high priority hazards within the school environment

Hazard Register

The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 specifies that everyone has a duty to eliminate risks to health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable; and if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risks to health and safety, to minimise those risks so far as is reasonably practicable

To view our Hazard Register, please click the button below.

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

Hazards can be reported by anyone at any time. Reported items will be triaged by the Principal/administrator and either resolved, logged in the Caretaker’s book, or added to the Hazard Register for follow-up.

Unsafe Areas

For the safety of students the following areas are deemed to be unsafe and out of bounds

• The front of the school property on the corner of North Road and Durham Street

• The playing field behind the mounds (unless accompanied by an adult)

• In front of the old admin building on Durham Street

• The front driveway leading to Durham Street

• The boiler room

• The cleaning cupboard

 The playground and field is out of bounds at any time the caretaker is mowing the lawns or using his ride on mower.  Students are not to approach the mower in the stationary position or when it is moving. 

The bus is not to be approached at any time when it is moving and all students must stay at the top of the stairs until a teacher directs them to the bus.  Students are not to walk behind the bus but must go onto the field to move to their own vehicles

If there is an incident the guidelines for the First Aid procedures must be followed.

Access and Exits

All exits in the school must be clearly marked and kept clear at all times.  Doors must be capable of being readily opened without the use of keys, to allow quick and easy egress.

Review

This procedure will be reviewed every three years or sooner if legislation, site conditions, or operational changes require it.