Head teacher health & safety briefing Safety signs & signals SMS Work at height SMS Pressure vessels & gas cylinders SMS 5th October 2006

Safety Signs and Signals Sue Braithwaite

Safety Signs and Signals Person fell 3.5m from an access door in a roof void whilst maintaining a fire alarm system. No fencing or signs to indicate the hazard. Total cost £360,000.

Standards Safety signs and signals shall be used where a low risk remains following the implementation of control measures. Outdoor signboards shall be checked every month for damage by impact, vandalism, extreme weather, contact with chemicals, and to make sure they are securely fastened. Install signboards at a suitable height and in people’s line of sight in well-lit, easily accessible and visible locations.

Standards Employees must receive suitable and sufficient instruction and training in the meaning of signs they come into contact with during their work and the measures to be taken in connection with safety signs. These can be either visual or audible. Only signs conforming to the Safety Signs and Signals Regulations will be used when it is necessary to convey relevant message or information. If there is a power failure, a guaranteed power supply or back-up may be necessary for safety signs and signals that run on electricity

Planning and achieving the SMS Head teachers must: Conduct an assessment to identify location and type of signs or signals required. Erect signs as soon as possible when a need has been identified by the risk assessment. Location and condition of safety signs should be included in general workplace inspections.

Training Employees must receive suitable and sufficient instruction and training in the meaning of signs they come into contact with during their work and the measures to be taken in connection with safety signs.

Prohibition/Danger Sign Indicates Dangerous behaviour Stop Shut-down Emergency cut-out devices Located Access point to building Design & Technology equipment

Warning Sign Indicates Be careful Take precautions Examine carefully Located On fabric of the building eg. high voltage, asbestos, radiation Temporarily erected eg. Slippery floor sign

Mandatory Sign Indicates Specific behaviour or action eg. Wear PPE, close the door Located Entry to zones where PPE is required In places where information is easily accessible to all

Safe Condition Sign Indicates Doors Exits Escape Routes Facilities and equipment Located In prominent areas where they will be required for information

Other locations/activities to consider Play Areas When construction activities are taking place on school premises Outdoor traffic routes eg. Speed limit sign and directional arrows

Escape Route System Signs should be of: Similar style Design Size Format

Illumination Signs must be clearly visible May need illumination Indirectly Internally Photo luminescent

Pictograms Do not rely on language No need for ability to read Internationally recognised Self-explanatory

Work at Height Sue Braithwaite

Work at height cases School caretaker cleaning gutters fell 2.5m through fragile roof light causing fractured vertebra. Total Costs £38,000 Maintenance personnel fell 2.7m into basement from a hole in the floor created during school refurbishment. Total cost £152,000

Definition A place is ‘at height’ if a person could be injured falling from it, even if it is below ground. Work at height means: Work at any place above, at or below ground level Obtaining access to or egress from that place

Teachers at height Reaching to place pupils work on the walls in the classroom Placing or removing stationery etc stored at high level in store rooms Putting up and taking down Christmas decorations

Maintenance staff at height Replacing light bulbs or mounting/adjusting stage lighting Window replacement, painting, decorating and cleaning or other areas of building maintenance Erecting and dismantling stage displays and backgrounds

School examples Examples from HSE – one months data on work at height in schools A teacher fell off a chair while putting material in a cupboard A teacher stood on a stool to close a window and fell A teacher stood on a bookcase to put up a display and fell

Standards Avoid working at height where it is possible. Where it is not possible suitable and sufficient measures should be taken to prevent people falling where this could cause personal injury Ensure any work at height is planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner

Standards  Every employer shall ensure that work is not carried out at height where it is reasonably practicable to carry out the work safely other than at height. Where there is a risk of persons being struck by falling objects, the area will be clearly indicated and unauthorised persons kept out    

Ladders Ladders should only be used as a workplace for light work with a low risk and for a short time When deciding what equipment to use, think about what the job includes, how long it will last and where it needs to be done. It is tempting to use a ladder, but you should always consider a working platform first eg. A properly erected mobile scaffold tower or a mobile elevated work platform. Jobs such as removing or installing guttering, installing replacement windows, painting or demolition work should usually be carried out from scaffolds or mobile elevated work platforms

Ladders Identified by a number or other system Stored securely when not in use ‘User’ log Visual inspection at least every 3 months and record made Safety shoes and tie off ropes Work material not carried up the ladder – both hands free for climbing

Risk Assessment for Work at height Assess the risks from work at height Evacuation or rescuing staff at height Environment or conditions Likelihood of tools, objects (or people) falling Task to be carried out Specific staff involved Equipment to use A suitable method statement from contractors

Considerations All work at height is properly planned and organised All work at height takes account of weather conditions that could endanger health and safety Those involved in are trained and competent The place where work at height is done is safe Equipment for work at height is appropriately inspected The risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled, and The risks from falling objects are properly controlled work at height

Priorities and action plans Assess the risks to help you decide how to work safely Follow the work at height hierarchy – avoid, prevent, mitigate and give collective measures priority Plan the work properly

Training Safety induction (intranet) Safe use of ladders Equipment specific training Supervising health and safety (CIEH) Managing safely in schools (IOSH)

Pressure Vessels and Gas Cylinders Walsall Council SMS

Standards Vessels with ‘relevant fluids’ Steam (at any pressure) Gas under pressure >0.5bar (about 7psi) Liquid under pressure (which becomes gaseous on release) Safe operating limits must be established Provide operating instructions Maintain records Scheme of examination (written by competent person) may be needed Examinations carried out as per the scheme

Systems likely to need schemes Pressure cookers Autoclaves Steam boilers Portable steam cleaners Fixed LPG storage system for heating Compressed air receivers (if >250 bar litres)

First steps Assess your pressure vessel to see if it is: a) Larger than 250 bar litres (the pressure times the volume) and using a relevant fluid – or steam at any pressure; or b) smaller than 250 bar litres and not containing steam. Small vessels need safe operating limits and to be maintained Large vessels (+ steam containing) need: Safe operating limits and to be maintained Written scheme of examination Examinations carried out in accord with the scheme Adequate operating instructions and records kept

A few definitions Safe operating limits Competent person The upper limits of pressure and temperature for which the equipment was designed Competent person Trained and accredited to BS EN 45004:1995. You can get details of suitable organisations from risk and insurance team (tel: 652974) Written scheme of examination What is to be examined, how and when

Gas Cylinders - Standards Stored in a safe (locked) place in the open air, protected from external heat sources, including the sun. Clearly marked.

Gas Cylinders – First steps Obtain cylinders from a reputable supplier Store, move and use them in accordance with safe practice Adequate training for staff regarding cylinder safety

Further information Training CLEAPSS Safety of Pressure Systems (L122) Safe Use of Gas Cylinders (IND(G)308) IOSH Managing Safely in Schools Training

Walsall Schools’ Safety Guide

Walsall Schools’ Safety Guide Interpretation of safety management standards Topic based standard Synopsis Model local arrangement Internal guidance DfES guidance Recommended training What your next steps should be

Walsall Schools’ Safety Guide Guide A Suggested list of risk assessments for: Staff Students Activities Subjects premises

Walsall Schools’ Safety Guide Model risk assessment checklists for schools Teacher / teaching assistant job risk assessment Administrator job risk assessment Student activities School premises (internal areas) School premises (external areas)

Walsall Schools’ Safety Guide Guide B: Working conditions for schools Guide C: Ionising radiation – H&S guidance Guide D: D&T (under development) Guide E: science (under development) Guide F: Sport & PE (under development)

Health & safety monitoring checklist

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