Health and safety for schools

Although an accident-free workplace does not necessarily mean that all risks are being controlled adequately, it is accepted that as part of the sensible risk management framework that the authority will take reasonably practicable measures to prevent accidents and work-related ill-health to employees, service users, members of the public and contractors.

The reporting and investigation procedure is in place so that accidents or work-related ill-health problems can be recorded and those in managerial and supervisory positions can determine the likely cause of the accident and consider action which may be required to prevent recurrence.

Certain types of injury and disease caused by work activities or the work environment and certain dangerous occurrences with the potential to cause injury must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This is done centrally, by Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Service, when necessary.

In general terms, types of accidents that must be reported to the HSE include:

• those which result in death
• fractures of main limbs
• those injuries which result in a member of staff being unfit to return to work for more than 7 days (not including the day of the accident)
• those injuries which result in a member of the public being taken directly to hospital from the scene of an accident

This list is not exhaustive. For further guidance on what is reportable to the Health and Safety Executive, a guidance document called EDIS1 has been produced to give schools clear information on the types of accidents required to be reported.

For Local Authority Community Schools and Voluntary Controlled schools, all incidents, as defined in the accidents, assaults and near miss guidance must be reported and investigated internally, via the Alcumus health and safety management system within 24 hours of being informed.

Safety Management System for the reporting of incidents

The Incident, Accident and Near Miss (IAN) management system is an online reporting tool used to record any incidents affecting employees or members of the public by activities undertaken by the school.

As an employee, if you have suffered an accident, assault or been subject to a near miss incident, you must inform your Head Teacher or School Business Manager as a matter of urgency. It is their responsibility to make the formal report as required by the Council's Health and Safety Policy.

To log an incident

Logging an incident video guide (coming soon)

Incidents can be logged via onto the main system.

Users are able to register for an account online by following clicking on ‘register now’. Once you have registered for an account it will remember your details for the next time you wish to login to the system. Users who have already registered for a Granicus / Dash account will be able to login under their existing account. Users have restricted access to log, view and edit records for their schools only.

To edit or amend reported incidents

As a line manager, you can access the main system to edit or amend reported incidents. You can also respond to and update actions you receive from the health and safety team or system administrators.
Line managers should also use the main system to run reports and undertaken trend analysis for the service areas as a proactive measure for accident prevention.

Guides and resources

1. Creating an Incident video guide (Coming Soon)
2. Completing an Investigation video guide (Coming Soon)

Additional support can be provided by contacting the Schools' Health and Safety Services team.