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HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR SUPPLY TEACHERS Wayne Bates National Negotiating Official

Learn about relevant Health and Safety legislation for supply teachers, including basic entitlements and detailed advice in some areas.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR SUPPLY TEACHERS Wayne Bates National Negotiating Official

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  1. HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR SUPPLY TEACHERSWayne BatesNational Negotiating Official September 2019

  2. AIMS OF THE SESSION • To give an overview of relevant Health and Safety legislation, and how it applies to supply teachers. • To give an understanding of basic entitlements. • To give more detailed advice in some areas. September 2019

  3. LEGISLATION • Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. • The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. September 2019

  4. KEY POINT • Although supply teachers are not generally employed by the placement school (referred to as the ‘end user’ in legislation), the school must ensure the safety of its temporary workers, as it does that of its own employees. September 2019

  5. HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ACT 1974 • Places a duty on all employers. • Schools are required by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASAWA) to ensure, as far as is reasonably practical, the health and safety of all employees and non-employees in their workplace. This includes assessing risks to health and safety and taking steps to reduce or eliminate these risks. Non-employees includes supply teachers and pupils. • Under the HASAWA, a supply teacher being employed by an agency does not remove the school’s duties under the Act. Indeed, agency supply staff must be treated exactly as permanently employed teachers with regards to health and safety. • There is no qualifying period. September 2019

  6. SHARED RESPONSIBILITY • The agency also has responsibilities. • The employment agency must take reasonable steps to identify any known risks concerning health and safety and satisfy itself that the end user has taken steps to prevent or control the known risks. September 2019

  7. AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES • There are reasonable steps which must be done before the work starts and must include obtaining the following information from the end user: • what the worker will be required to do and any health and safety risks, including what steps the end user has taken to prevent or control such risks; • what experience, training and qualifications are necessary for the job. • This includes providing adequate and sufficient information to enable temporary workers to work safely. The agency should also ensure temporary workers know how to raise any health and safety concerns in the workplace. September 2019

  8. NASUWT CONCERNS • The NASUWT has had concerns that some agencies may not be fulfilling their duties under the relevant regulations, and this has been discussed at the National Executive Health and Safety Committee. • The General Secretary wrote to supply agencies earlier this year to request details of the process they have in place to disseminate relevant information to supply teachers. • Although responses to date have been low, it has prompted some of the industry bodies enter discussions with the NASUWT over improving the provision of information. September 2019

  9. YOUR DUTIES • You have a duty to take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of other people who may be affected by your actions at work.  • You must co-operate with your agency and the end user where you are working, including participating in any necessary health and safety training and instruction, which must be provided free of charge. • You must be told about any risks connected to the work, the control measures and the qualifications and skills needed to carry out the work safely. • You should be told how to raise any concerns you have about your health and safety. September 2019

  10. THE WORKPLACE (HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE) REGULATIONS 1992 • This sets minimum standards that apply to all workers, including: • Adequate toilet and washing facilities are provided. • An adequate supply of drinking water is provided. • There are suitable arrangements for meal breaks. • There are suitable rest facilities for pregnant and nursing mothers. • The workplace has a suitable temperature. • The workplace is suitably clean. • There is suitable seating. September 2019

  11. BASIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ENTITLEMENTS • From a Health and Safety perspective, on arrival at a new school, you should be informed of: • Toilet locations. • Access to drinking water. • Arrangements for break and meal times, including staff room location. • Fire and evacuation procedures. • Any specific Health and Safety issues with your placement. • Any relevant risk assessments, including pupil RAs, behaviour plans etc. • How to call for assistance, including first aid. • Accident reporting systems. • How to report Health and Safety concerns. September 2019

  12. ACCIDENTS • All accidents (however minor) should be recorded in the school’s accident book. • It is the School’s responsibility to report serious accidents (reportable under RIDDOR) to the Health and Safety Executive, not your agency’s. • (RIDDOR is the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) September 2019

  13. FIRE – SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER • Do you know: • What the fire alarm signal is? • What is your evacuation route? • Where the assembly point is? • The procedures for emergency registration etc.? • If there are any specific bomb/intruder procedures? • Is there a lock-down procedure? What does this involve? • Do doors require keys/codes/swipe cards to open? Are you able to open doors? September 2019

  14. VIOLENT PUPILS • If any pupils are known to be potentially violent, then the school should have a risk assessment in place. • Any risk assessments or behaviour plans etc. on pupils you will be teaching must be shared with you. • You should also be informed of how to call for assistance. • If any specific training is required and/or specified in the risk assessment this should be provided. • The school/agency could potentially be committing an offence under the HASAWA if you are placed in a situation you have not received suitable training for and could have been reasonably predicted and you are subsequently injured. September 2019

  15. ASBESTOS • Any school constructed before 2000 could contain asbestos. • Every employer must ensure that any employee employed by that employer is given adequate information instruction and training where that employee is liable to be exposed to asbestos. September 2019

  16. ASBETOS • You should be told: • Whether there is any accessible asbestos in the areas where you will be working. • The location of the asbestos. • Any emergency procedures regarding asbestos. • The School’s asbestos register and management plan should be freely available – ask to see these if you have any concerns about your working environment. • Your agency should also provide asbestos awareness training if you are on placement at schools with accessible asbestos. September 2019

  17. CONCERNS • If you have health and safety concerns regarding a placement, you should raise these as early as possible with either the head teacher/principal or your agency. • If you do not receive an adequate response, contact the NASUWT for further advice. September 2019

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