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

2. Safety Signs and Signals
Sue Braithwaite

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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

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

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

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

16. Work at Height
Sue Braithwaite

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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    

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

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

30. Pressure Vessels and Gas Cylinders
Walsall Council SMS

31. 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

32. 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)

33. 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

34. 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: )
Written scheme of examination
What is to be examined, how and when

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

36. 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

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

38. Walsall Schools’ Safety Guide

39. 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

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

41. 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)

42. 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)

43. Health & safety monitoring checklist

44. Thank you for attending