Health and Safety Policy
The Design and Technology Department regards Health and Safety as a very
important aspect of teaching in the workshop. Risk Assessments are
regularly undertaken to ensure that staff and pupils have a safe working
environment.
This Department takes as its standard the Safety Booklet produced by the
Education Authority - regarding the use of equipment and machines. Each member of staff has a copy and should refer to
it at all times and know its constraints and apply it in full.
Regular checks are made by staff and the Technology Technician - with
regards to equipment such as:
1. Goggles being left with each
machine and checked before use.
2. The use of machine guards and
protective equipment / clothing.
3. Defective equipment being
reported immediately to the Head of Department (Reports may be from
staff / technician or pupils).
4. It is a requirement that the
teacher checks the condition of the workshop at the end of each
lesson so that the room is in good condition for the next member of
staff and his/her pupils. All staff and pupils follow the procedure
for ending lessons, which includes the way machines should be left
in a tidy and safe condition. |
All staff are aware of the location of Health and Safety booklets and
information such as COSHH, risk assessments information, CLEAPSS, and in
particular the Local Education Authority Safety Booklet. Staff have
attended, or are in the process of attending, Health and Safety courses
which lead to DATA core accreditation.
Health and Safety features as a regular component of Departmental
meetings. Staff are required to read the LEA Health and Safety Document
and ensure that procedures for the use of all machines are
followed.
All accidents
must be recorded in the school accident book.
Risk Assessments
All lessons / schemes have a Risk Assessment that has been carried out by
a competent and suitably qualified technology teacher. The Department
follows the WATT Risk Assessment System,
which ensures that risk is minimised in all elements of teaching and
learning in the workshop - without reducing the effectiveness of lesson
delivery. The procedure for drawing up Risk Assessments is outlined below.
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THE WATT
HEALTH AND SAFETY QUALITY SYSTEM
FOR ACTIVITIES IN THE WORKSHOP / CLASSROOM |
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STAGE |
GENERAL ASSESSMENT |
DATE |
1. |
Draw up a scheme of work |
At a departmental meeting discuss health and
safety issues relating to the scheme. Make alterations if necessary.
Ask a senior manager to be present at this meeting. If they refused,
refer to this in the minutes. |
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2. |
As a department, write each individual lesson
plan. |
Each member of the department selects a lesson
plan and evaluates it for health and safety issues. |
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3. |
Review both the scheme and the lesson plans.
(Keep notes) |
Look for any possible hazards |
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Who is likely to be harmed? |
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Are existing safety procedures and precautions
within the workshop adequate. |
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How can safety procedures and precautions be
improved to reduce risk? |
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Record all notes relating to factors identified
by staff and modifications to existing procedures. |
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4. |
Discuss the elimination of risk (s). (Keep notes) |
Can the risk be eliminated or reduced within
acceptable limits? |
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How can this be achieved? |
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What modifications to procedures will lead to
safer working practices? |
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What protective clothing is required? |
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5. |
A suitably qualified person must carry out a risk
assessment of each lesson and if necessary each activity. |
Use a form similar to the ones provided by WATT
(sheets two and three). You must use your schools risk assessment
system / procedures at all times unless the Governing Body of your
school have approved the WATT version. |
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Regularly review all risk assessments especially
if the working environment changes in any way. |
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Ask your Head Teacher for time to carry out risk
assessments. If time is denied or is inadequate ensure that you have
informed your professional association or union. Record this in
departmental minutes. |
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The Department uses WATT
Risk Assessment Sheets and the WATT Grading
system |