Roles & Responsibilities of the Board of Management

Last updated: June 6th 2023.

Health and Safety Policy

The Board of Management is obliged to prepare a Health and Safety Policy and to plan for its effective implementation. An essential element of this Policy will be the preparation of a Safety Statement which will state how the Board of Management will ensure the safety and health of all people using the school and the necessary duties and obligations of all in ensuring the full and proper implementation of the Health and Safety policy.

The Safety Statement must be made available to all staff and relevant persons, showing that hazards have been identified and the risks assessed, eliminated or controlled.

A comprehensive guideline on the preparation of the Safety Statement is contained in the Guidelines on Managing Safety and Health in Post Primary Schools

Appointment of Safety Officer

The Board of Management is required to appoint a designated member of staff (usually the Principal in his/her capacity as Secretary to the Board) as the Safety Officer for the School. The Safety Officer is required to advise the Board of Management and to ensure that the school's plant, organisation and procedures conform to the requirements of legislation.

Safety Representative

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act provides for the election by employees of a Safety Representative(s) to represent them in consultation with the employer on matters of Health and Safety. The Safety Representative is authorised to conduct, in consultation with management, safety and health inspections of school plant and procedures and to require appropriate investigation of issues which may arise.

Hazard Audits

The Board of Management has an obligation to put in place a regular programme of "hazard audits" which encompass all of the School's plant, procedures and organisation. In carrying out this duty the Board may employ the services of professional companies which specialise in this work and/or provide the opportunity for staff to identify possible hazards within their own areas of work. There are very comprehensive templates for risk assessment for every subject area and work activity in the school within the Guidelines on Managing Health and Safety in Post Primary Schools and on the HSA website. Regular reports of such audits should be made to the Board which must ensure in so far as is reasonably practicable to take appropriate action to eliminate any potential hazards which may be identified. In the event that such action requires expenditure which cannot reasonably be met from within the school's normal resources then appropriate representations must be made to the Department of Education and Skills.

Regular monitoring and review

A Board of Management is obliged to ensure that its Safety Statement and associated procedures are regularly monitored and reviewed in consultation with the Safety Officer and the staff.

Any changes in the school's plant, procedures or organisation should be routinely assessed for possible Health and Safety implications.