Schools are experiencing exceptional circumstances and challenges during the current Covid-19 outbreak. The Government has placed restrictions on contact with other people and we have all had to adapt our usual working patterns to suit. Schools are providing an essential service for the children of key workers and vulnerable children.
The Government has provided guidance for schools which are remaining open for these children and schools should refer to this guidance to ensure staff and pupils are kept as safe as possible during the restriction period. Public Health England – GOV.UK.
Health and Safety regulations have not been relaxed during the restriction period and the HSE expect statutory inspection, maintenance and testing to be completed as usual. The Corporate Landlord is working hard to ensure these statutory requirements are met. The areas that schools have responsibility for should also be maintained. These will be:
• Weekly testing of fire alarms.
• Weekly flushing of little used water outlets (two minutes).
• Weekly and monthly visual inspections of passenger lifts (including in car communication systems).
• Monthly testing of emergency lighting.
The Corporate Health and Safety Team have provided guidance notes for schools to enable them to maintain suitable Health and Safety provision. Where schools have made local arrangements for statutory servicing of gas installations, fixed electrical testing, passenger lift annual thorough examination (LOLER) etc, contractors should be contacted to ensure they are able to attend the school and complete the required servicing.
Teaching and support staff must follow current Public Health England guidance in order to maintain good hygiene and to provide a safe environment which will help limit the spread of the corona virus.
• There is a dedicated helpline number for educational settings – please call 0800 046 8687 for any specific question not covered in this note.
• First Aid – Schools should complete a first aid assessment in line with DfE guidance.
Guidance for First Aid Provision. To assist you with your First Aid Risk Assessment you will find a flow chart for assessing requirements on appendix A.
Owing to the low population of students the requirements for first aid provision may be lower than during normal school occupation. As a minimum one trained first aider (paediatric dependant on age group) must be on site while children are present. Access to suitable first aid kits and welfare facilities should be maintained.
• Medicines must be stored and administered in line with children’s current care plans.
• Staffing levels should be in line with DfE guidelines appropriate to the number of children in the school.
• The schools general work activities Risk Assessment must be reviewed to ensure all controls already in place remain appropriate. It may be necessary to amend the controls to reflect the change in student and staff numbers.
• The school’s emergency evacuation plan must be reassessed to reflect the change in student and staff numbers. Use of the school may have to be limited to certain areas to ensure all children can be evacuated quickly and safely, ensuring there is adequate numbers of staff to effectively manage an evacuation.
• Maintenance of fire protection systems must be continued; this will include weekly testing of alarms.
• All other Health and Safety daily, weekly, monthly testing and maintenance of equipment and water must be maintained.
• Due to limited usage of the school it will be necessary to ensure that all little used water outlets are run for two minutes weekly. This will inhibit the proliferation of legionella and other bacteria in the water system.
• All Health and Safety arrangements should be reviewed regularly (weekly) and reassessed upon new government guidance.
Schools can contact Haringey Health and Safety Department by email using health.safetyadvice@haringey.gov.uk. This email address is monitored, and all emails will be responded to as soon as possible.
Appendix A
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