Health and Safety Policies and Procedures in Learning Environment

This assignment explores health and safety practices within learning environments, covering key aspects such as relevant legislation, factors for planning safe indoor and outdoor spaces, and procedures for monitoring and maintaining health and safety. It delves into identifying potential risks and hazards, emphasizing the importance of a balanced approach to risk management, and addressing the dilemma between children's rights and safety requirements. The assignment also examines policies and procedures for handling accidents, incidents, emergencies, and illnesses, including proper recording and reporting protocols. The document provides insights into the responsibilities of various stakeholders, including governing bodies, teachers, and visitors, in ensuring a safe and healthy learning environment. The assignment focuses on the health and safety at work act 1974

Assignment

Table of Contents
Q1.1 Identify legislation in relation to health and safety in a learning environment..................3
Q1.2 Describe the factors to take into account when planning healthy and safe indoor and
outdoor environments..................................................................................................................4
Q1.3 Explain how health and safety is monitored and maintained in the learning environment 6
Q2.1 Identify potential risk and hazards in a learning environment............................................7
Q3.1 Explain why it is important to take a balanced approach to risk management...................9
Q3.2 Explain the dilemma between the rights and choices of children and young people and
health and safety requirements....................................................................................................9
Q3.3 Give examples of ways to support children and young people to assess and manage risk
in a learning environment............................................................................................................9
Q4.1 Explain the policies and procedures of the learning environment in response to accidents,
incidents, emergencies and illness...............................................................................................9
Q4.2 Explain the correct procedures for recording and reporting accidents, incidents, injuries,
signs of illness and other emergencies.........................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

Q1.1 Identify legislation in relation to health and safety in a learning environment
The main objective of health and safety policy within the learning environment is to provide
help to various individuals like children and young people to have good services. It is very
important for the schools and colleges to provide safe environment at the buildings. The main
motive is to provide children and adults good environment in which they can work together with
confidence and learn new things. This is responsibility of senior management team as well as the
governing bodies to ensure that students are protected from any harm and risk. For promoting
this, it is essential to take responsibility in order to be vigilant and aware of various risk involved
in the school and colleges. School management has to encourage school and adults to keep
themselves and other people safe and share any concern if there having any problem. It is also
important to be aware about the needs for keeping a balance between safety and security for
maintaining comfortable and welcoming learning environment. Health and safety policies have
an objective to address and provide guidance for balancing the comfort of people and identifying
the responsibilities of individual as well as group. The aim of health and safety regulations are
listed below -
 The main objective is to provide a secure, safe as well as healthy working environment
for children and staff.
 Motivate and encourage every individual to take responsibility in order to be vigilant and
aware about possible risk and feeling confident within the environment.
Other objectives include being vigilant around the school premises for intruders and finding a
balance between challenge as well as confrontational behaviour. It is seen that the learning
environment management has to ensure that there is sufficient information and instruction which
enables people and other groups to avoid hazards and contribute to the safety and health at work.
There is need of maintaining the electrical equipment at a certain standard which will ensure or
save environment while handling, storing as well as transporting items. There is need of
administering appropriate plans and procedures regarding fire regulations and having proper
procedure for placing report regarding faulty equipment. There is need of maintaining regular
check of the safety and security of building. There is need of providing awareness regarding the
pressure on teaching staff and maintaining the possible effects that are related to stress.

Responsibilities of individual class teachers
According to the health and safety at work act 1974, the governors and employees have to
take initiative regarding their roles and responsibilities for managing the health and safety policy
at learning environment. Some of the rules and regulations are mentioned below –
 It is important to analyse the safety measures and arrangements which have to be
adopted within working areas for ensuring that they are applied successfully
 It is essential to observe standards of dress consistent with safety and hygiene
 It is essential to keep good standards of cleanliness and hygiene
 Knowing and applying the procedures in respect of emergencies is also a regulation
followed within the learning environment
 Cooperating with other employees as well as safety representatives in order to promote
health and safety measures
Responsibilities of the governing body
 Ensuring that high profile of health and safety associated with financial planning and
personal decisions is adopted
 Different policies associated with health and safety e are managed properly and updated
regularly
 There is a member of governing body who has to monitor the role in relation with the
health and safety that includes managing the building maintenance properly
Responsibilities of visitors
There are regular visitors and other users in college or school premises which is required for
observing the safety rules properly. The head teacher has to ensure that visitors have appropriate
knowledge regarding the health and safety matters that can affect them during the visit.
Q1.2 Describe the factors to take into account when planning healthy and safe indoor and
outdoor environments
It is very important to take into account health and safety requirements for different people
before planning or starting any activity. It is ensured by the management that environment is free
of hazards and students can play and learn safely. There are different factors which are taken into
consideration while managing as well as preparing for the setting of healthy and safe indoor and

outdoor activities. The different factors associated with these type of categories are mentioned
below –
 The individual needs, age and abilities of people - It is seen that this is important for
considering health and safety requirements of the individual by analysing the age as well
as abilities of individual child especially for educational needs and children with EAL.
The staff to pupil ratio must be adequate to the number and the individual requirements
of the children.
 Specific risk to individuals - this is concluded that there must be consideration of specific
risk to the individual. It is explained by the example that if there are members of staff
working in the school or college who are pregnant or if there are children with sensory
impairment or any other physical impairment it must be provided proper help if they are
in need. In these cases, this cooler college environment must be suitable for meeting the
needs and demands which are required for proper assistance Whenever required.
 Organisation - there are different materials and equipments that must be stored in places
if there is any case of the fire exit. there must be proper label on draws, cupboards as well
as boxes at the learning environment. This helps in clarifying where different equipments
are stored and people can easily use them at time of emergency. Dust bins must be
properly cleaned everyday and the cleaning staff must ensure that they are not over filled.
There are water tubs which must be labelled which will provide information about
drinking and non-drinking water. There must be a proper storage about cleaning and
other hazardous chemicals and it is also needed that they must be put in locks. The first
aid boxes should be e refilled on regular basis.
 Furniture - the furniture must be of appropriate size according to age of children as it will
help them to sit comfortably and learn different courses. Children in the learning
environment should we using good furniture which is arranged properly and in this way
they will have access to good space while learning.
 Light, noise and temperature - students must be provided proper light so that there is no
discomfort file learning things. There must be avoidance of Harsh lighting for long
period. Management must ensure that there is less noise while managing the workplace.
Room temperature of classrooms must be monitored that it should not be too cold or too

hot. Young children as well as small children must be provided fresh air through
windows and doors.
 Desired outcome for children - it is concluded that place of activities and tasks must be
planned according to the desired outcome. Outdoor environment must be analysed
properly and also the management must take care of the weather conditions in which
outdoor activities are performed.
 Duty of care - there must be proper monitoring of usage of equipment. Children must be
provided proper instruction of how they should use different equipments at school or
college premises. The mastery proper storage of the equipment safely and there should be
proper maintenance regarding the conditions of risk. there must be adequate space
according to the number of adults and children. It is to be taken care that size of premises
and outdoor space is planned according to the number of people.
 Accessible materials and equipments - there must be proper excess of all materials and
equipments by the children. It is taken care that equipments which are used by children
such as drawers and cupboards must be accessible to children and they are made
according to height of age group of children.
 Secure boundaries - this is taken care that children are not allowed to go outside school
and people from outside cannot enter school without permission of senior executives.
Any visitor must where 50 or he should be accompanied by staff member. There are
proper offences and security doors in the school and colleges.
 Cleanliness and tidiness - the learning environment management must ensure that carpets
are cleaned properly. Different flooring must be cleaned properly with suitable
disinfectants. There must be cleanliness within all areas. If there are any cases of broken
glasses for any hazardous matter then it should be reported and clean as soon as possible.
Q1.3 Explain how health and safety is monitored and maintained in the learning environment
It is very important to monitor and review the that how health and safety is managed in
the learning environment. An important factor of health and safety is monitoring and reviewing
which helps in in assessing existing control with risk which is used for developing and effective
plan of action. The health and safety management system within learning environment. The
management of school and college has different health and safety policies and procedures. It is

ensured that all the health and safety policies and procedure are followed effectively which are
helpful in managing visitors and staff properly. It is important to ensure risk assessment witches
managed and recorded on regular basis. The management has to adopt effective measures to
prevent children for other people from any risk. There must be right measures for providing
protection against different risk like cleaning products, chemistry lab acids, etc. The school
keeper has to maintain list of chemicals and substances which are harmful and hazardous to
health which is helpful for staff in carrying out assessment which fall under the COSSH
regulations. It is ensured that there are proper labels on the acids and their stored in cupboards
out of reach of children. Students are provided proper guidelines to use hazardous acids like
sulphuric acid while performing experiments in chemistry lab. Other hazard includes spillage of
food or any other type of fluid like glue, paint. It is ensured that such things must not be ignored
and these are cleaned properly. There are other risk factors which are maintained for managing
health and safety at the learning environment. These include providing proper instructions for
using the equipments in adequate manner and managing the resources properly. It is ensured that
there are no overloaded cables as well as sockets are having proper cover. It is very important to
maintain the cleanliness within classrooms and picking up harmful objects like pen tips, plates,
sharpner, etc. Students must be provided guidance upon using the good practice for health and
safety e for managing personal hygiene. Basically, there are three steps for managing health and
safety at learning environment. This includes spotting the hazard, assessing the risk and making
the changes properly. It is very important for the management to ensure that there are proper
evaluation about the hazardous materials and equipments in the morning environment.
Q2.1 Identify potential risk and hazards in a learning environment
There are significant health and safety issues within classroom and management like pupil
behaviour, size of class, limitation of trees, maturity, equipments, etc. These are known as
potential sources of harm which have to be managed properly so that there is no harm to the
students. There is high level of risk in the learning environment such as sports hall, science labs,
design laboratory and technology rooms. There is requirement of proper risk areas which have to
be addressed properly so that there is management of hazardous substances and children are
safe. Some of the ways are mentioned below –

 Movement around the classroom - it is concluded from HSE accident statistics that trips
and falls are very common reasons for occupational injury. It is concluded that they are
the main cause for non fatal accidents. These accidents can be minor but they have
serious consequences. It is very important to manage the injuries properly and it cost a lot
to management for fixing these issues. Falls can cause serious injury to students and if the
children falls from height then it may have fatal consequences. It is very important for the
teaching staff to manage the classroom furniture like desk or swivel chair so that there are
no harm two people in the learning environment.
 Furniture, fixtures and fittings - there is lot of financial pressure on schools and colleges
but it must be ensured that fixtures and fitting are properly maintained. It is concluded
that it is essential to minimise danger within classroom. The management of learning
environment should regularly check the furniture and equipments properly so that there is
elimination of risk.
 Manual handling - there is need of risk assessment for carrying out the operations
properly. working people and staff within the learning environment must be provided a
safe manual handling technique so that they can understand the risk management. There
is need of appropriate manual handling that provides effective help while managing
heavy objects.
 Computers and other display screen equipments - when students are using tablets, laptop
or PC's, it is very important for the management to take special care about their health
problems like vision difficulty, mental stress and musculoskeletal disorder. As teachers
and staff have increased use of technology within classroom, there is an increase of 29%
in the musculoskeletal disorders. This is alarming stage for the management to safeguard
against display screen equipments.
 Electrical equipment - it is concluded that the students must be provided proper electrical
facilities so that there is no problem while learning. It is advised to the management that
they are managing the electrical equipments properly and there is continuous check,
inspection and testing of the electrical equipments so that there is no harm to students.
There is high demand of good electrical safety at learning environment.
 Asbestos - these are a significant danger within schools and colleges. According to a
statistics, there are more than 200 teachers who have died in past 10 years from the

asbestos. It is shocking for the management to take care of this problem and schools
should manage asbestosis risk to prevent student from any harm.
 Fire - it is essential for the school management to take proactive approach towards fire
safety. As per the regulatory reform fire safety order 2005, it is said that schools must
analyse the risk in the premises by identifying potential fire hazards. It is advised for the
management to manage the risks properly and handle safety and security of students.
 Ventilation and heating – if the classrooms are too hot or too cold then it can harm the
ability of children to learn. It is very important to keep the classroom environment safe
and providing proper ventilation as a less moderate temperature in students have no
problem while learning.
Q3.1 Explain why it is important to take a balanced approach to risk management
Children of different ages have an appetite for experience and their need to explore and
understand different aspects. They want to know about what are the different and new aspects of
life. While doing this, they have to extend the abilities and build up sense for making themselves
competitive and capable. The learning phase of children includes managing daily routine which
is familiar and it is more challenging to engage children within their learning process. Adults do
not evaluate the ability of children in managing risk. when children are provided degree of
freedom for playing and learning, there are chances of making mistakes. This can lead to
accidents and it is very challenging for the management. The chance of minor accidents and
injuries is very common. The need of balanced approach is required in order to manage risk in
play and learning environment as it is a complex task. The risk management within factories is
different from the risk management at learning environment. The main focus of the risk
management is to minimise harm. Children must be provided practical knowledge and activities
while there learning process. Management of school can provide bridges in the play area and
there must be proper management for taking care of children. These structures create rich
learning opportunities. There are also helpful in developing balance and physical literacy. This
provide an opportunity to test courage and determination of children. There is also opportunity in
order to experience and learn what are the peer interactions and how they can be managed and
handled. Adults restrict students due to the misplaced anxieties. Government things that adults
must accept the way a for tackling children by promoting a balanced and thoughtful approach.

This type of approach consists of collaborating the thinking regarding risk and benefit within a
single process. The risk benefit assessment it is help in setting out single statement it and
considering risk as well as benefit which is helpful in making decisions properly. The
management must analyse risk-benefit approach as it is valuable when management is providing
learning opportunities in outdoor context to children and also managing the different challenges
which are regulated while managing the risk. This is essential for allowing young people as well
as children to have control over risk. Management must provide support two children and young
people while learning and achieving the challenges and objectives for developing their it is the
responsibility of adults to allow children to manage their activities properly and supervise them
so that they can achieve practical knowledge about improving their skills and making sensible
judgements by themselves. There are several activities which mass involve rest and planning
sensibly as it will help to manage the injury or accident.
Q3.2 Explain the dilemma between the rights and choices of children and young people and
health and safety requirements
There are different children and individuals within the learning environment who are
involved in learning, developing and exploring new experiences. It is important that they are
making choices on their own and they are protected from any harm. Children and young people
do not have proper skills to make proper judgements in case of safety and security. Hence, it is
responsibility of adults to make them identify danger so that they can make good decisions
regarding different risk assessments. It is essential to arrange support system that will help in
managing the risk and challenges properly. It is the role and responsibility of adults and
management to motivate and encourage children for making their own choices by exploring and
progressing. They have to support individual needs and it is and sure that activity and
environment are safe by managing the risk in proper manner. There is need of protecting and
preventing all the risk effectively.
Q3.3 Give examples of ways to support children and young people to assess and manage risk in a
learning environment
I have realised that it is very important to encourage and motivate children to take risk so
that they can develop their abilities to manage the situation on their own. There were many times

when I have to provide proper instructions to children while risk assessment and ensuring their
safety and security. I remembered and example which can explain that it is very important to
support children and young people to assess and manage risk. A great example of this is that I
was preparing to plan a small birthday party for my colleague in school. I asked some of my I
class students to come along and help me with the preparing of all the items. Few children helped
me in decorating the walls and some were involved in in managing the birthday cake
arrangement. I told children about using the scissors properly and taking care of themselves
while working. I provided proper instructions to them to work with full care and wash their
hands in order to avoid any harm. I ask them to wear lab coats so that their uniform will not get
dirty. I provided them proper instructions and guidance about using scissors and knife properly. I
myself showed children how to blow balloon and fixed to the wall by using tape and scissor.
While doing this, I used gloves so that they will learn to use gloves while using scissors. While
demonstrating, I asked all of them to pay attention and learn what I am doing. There is another
example of me while managing support to children and young people for risk management.
When there instruction for children to have free play time then they can go outside to play and
climb on trees within the playground. They are under proper supervision of adults while doing all
the outside activities. In this way I am able to increase their learning abilities and providing
them instructions about risk management.
Q4.1 Explain the policies and procedures of the learning environment in response to accidents,
incidents, emergencies and illness
There are various policies and procedures of setting of service in response to accidents,
incidents, emergencies and illness. Within dis school, it is very important to assess, record as
well as report every concept which is concerned with activities that occur in school premises. In
context of health and safety issues and challenges, it is important for the school management to
provide proper guidance in the policies and procedure to manage risk properly. When there is
any case of minor accident like ok a child bumping his forehead against a door. In this scenario,
child is not having any kind of mark or wound, but he needs assistance by placing and ice pack
on the bummed part. This will provide him relief. There is need of understanding that all
accidents are not major and there are different ways of handling the minor and major accidents.
There is first aid box available at every floor of school so that in any case of emergency, students

can use it properly and provide first aid to the wounded student as soon as possible. The school
must have first aid certificate and involve all the staff members to work properly towards safety
and security of children. There must be training provided to both teachers and students to tackle
different minor accidents that can occur at school premises. They should know that in case of
falling from climbing, student can have a broken leg and in that case he must be assisted and
provided comfort quickly by informing the head teacher. There is need of calling and ambulance
so that children will be e provided medical help. When child is having stomach ache and
vomiting or fever, school management has to call parents so that they can pick him up and
provide him medical help. If the child is having any infectious or contagious illness like
diarrhoea or pox, parents are informed quickly and notices provided to parents that they must not
send their children to school until he is fine.
Q4.2 Explain the correct procedures for recording and reporting accidents, incidents, injuries,
signs of illness and other emergencies
It is very important to record and report all the incidents and accidents that take place in the
learning environment. Schools have the guidelines to report the injuries diseases and dangerous
occurrences regulations and according to which they have to report all the accidents and
incidents in the management records. The protection of children and behavioural incidents
between children are not regarded as incidents.
Procedures for recording
Accident at home - there are forms for accident at home in which children provide information
about the occurrence of accident and health medical issue.
There is accident or incident book ok which is kept in a safe and secure place. It is accessible
to staff and volunteers and it can be reviewed for identifying any kind of hazard that can take
place in children life. The accidents are notified within the 14 days two head of school
management if children has any of these illness –
 Food poisoning
 Serious accident or injury
 Death
There are various local child protection agencies which are provided information regarding
serious accident or injury that take place with the child. If there is death of any child in the