Mandatory risk assessments for Primary School science experiments: Let RiskAssess help you! Phillip Crisp and Eva Crisp

Requirements Science experiments are required by the new Australian Curriculum in Primary Schools Risk assessments are required by law

Problems Primary School teachers are generally not science-trained Serious injuries may occur as a result of lack of knowledge/experience

Solution Training - all Primary teachers - specialist Primary Science teachers Simple tools - easy access to model experiments - easy access to safety data - easy system for risk assessment

Primary RiskAssess Tool to assist with risk assessments following - AU/ISO Standard on Risk Management - Work Health Safety Act (or earlier laws) web-based provides background information on risks of chemicals, equipment and living things helps storage of records, communication, learning resources, scheduling, labelling … easiest way to meet logical and legal requirements

THE LAW Work Health & Safety Act... a duty... to eliminate/minimise risks to health and safety as far as is reasonably practicable.... taking into account and weighing up all relevant matters including: (a) the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring; and (b) the degree of harm that might result from the hazard or the risk.... Part 2, Sections 17 and 18

all relevant matters includes facilities available behaviour of the class students with special needs students with allergies, etc (NOT book “risk assessment”, tick sheet, etc) likelihood degree of harm consideration requires proper risk assessment using a risk matrix e.g. Aust/ISO Standard on Risk Management

You should: identify assess control risks Before: Establish the context After: Monitor and review Always: Consult and communicate

Risk identification history of “accidents” and “near-accidents” at school at similar schools brainstorming, preferably with colleagues databases of possible risks

Risk assessment To assess the severity of a risk, you need to consider: the consequences of the event, and the chance that it will occur (likelihood) AU ISO 31000:2009 “Risk management” HB 436:2013 “Risk management guidelines”

Risk control Hierarchy of options: elimination substitution isolation engineering administration personal protective equipment

Assess risks ≥Medium risk level Low risk level Add control measures DO EXPERIMENT Inherent level of risk = risk level without any control measures besides “routine procedures” Residual level of risk = risk level with control measures in place

Advantages of risk assessments reduced frequency of injuries to students to school staff promotes a more enquiring attitude to safety reduced costs for paperwork, litigation and payouts compliance with the law compliance with the Australian Curriculum

Advantages of a formalised system proper consideration of risks and control measures standardisation storage of records for legal purposes useful for new/inexperienced staff limits spur-of-the-moment experiments

RiskAssess for Staff “RiskAssess” for Students “Student RiskAssess” Started 2008 to meet Law (>1300 schools) Started 2013 to meet Aust Curriculum (>250 schools) for Staff “Primary RiskAssess” Release 2016 to meet Aust Curriculum (>120 schools) Secondary schoolsPrimary schools

Safety requirements in the Australian Curriculum for Science Years 3-4 Safely use appropriate materials, tools or equipment... (C) Discussing safety rules for equipment and procedures (E) (Students) discuss ways to safely use equipment.. (A) Years 5-6 Use equipment and materials safely, identifying potential risks (C) Discussing possible hazards involved in conducting investigations and how these risks can be reduced (E) (Students) describe potential safety risks when planning methods (A) C = Content description E = Elaboration A = Achievement standard

Logic initial assessment of inherent risk if low, go to end of form if medium or more, record control measures (if high or extreme, third reviewer required) cross-checking by reviewer, if needed experiment scheduling to save time/allow review inexpensive ($200 + GST per campus per year)

Details access from school/home nothing to install on computer minimal data entry unlimited number of users complements Safety Data Sheets continuing input from school staff multiple backups of data & backup server support and advice

Electronic devices all supported computers laptops iPads (and other tablets) smart phones (iPhones, Android, etc)

Summary of benefits safer classrooms meets logical/legal requirements of curriculum reduced costs uses newest digital technologies helps training of students happy Primary School Teachers!