34. Health and Safety Risk Management
Last updated: Wed, Sep 21st, 2016 9:10:03 am
34.1 The attention of Boards is drawn to Health and Safety legislation and appropriate procedures need to be put in place to ensure that any obligations arising are fulfilled. The Board of Management must be in compliance with the Guidelines on Managing Safety and Health in Post-Primary schools. These guidelines were the outcome of a joint project undertaken by the Department of Education and Skills, the Health and Safety Authority, the State Claims Agency and the School Development Planning Initiative. The Guidelines can be accessed at the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) www.hsa.ie.
34.2 The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the national body in Ireland with responsibility for securing health and safety at work. It is a state-sponsored body, established under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and it reports to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation. The Authority’s responsibilities cover every type of workplace and every kind of work in the public and private sectors.
34.3 The Guidelines are a management tool intended to offer guidance and practical advice to assist schools in planning, organising and managing a healthy school environment for staff, pupils and visitors. They will also help schools to benchmark current policies and practices against current legislative requirements. They do not place any additional responsibility on schools that does not already exist in legislation.
Part 1 of the Guidelines is a step-by step approach to putting in place a safety and health management system for post-primary schools.
Part 2 contains all the tools and templates needed to put these systems in place. Central to the toolkit is a series of risk assessment templates which will greatly assist in carrying out the task of reducing risk in a school.
34.4 If the Board requires clarification or additional information about the implementation of these guidelines/regulations, it should contact the Health and Safety Authority at the Metropolitan Building, James Joyce Street, Dublin 1. (Tel Lo call 1890 289389) Schools may also contact the risk Management Unit at the State Claims Agency (SCA) at 01-6640900.
Boards are reminded that under the legislation, schools are obliged to notify the Health & Safety Authority of any accident etc. in accordance with the legislation.