Health and Safety Policy

The School is deeply committed to health and safety by:

1. Compliance with Law and Regulations: Adhering to health and safety law and regulations.
2. Leadership and Governance: Recognising the importance of effective governance, leadership, and staff contributions in maintaining a safe environment.
3. Senior Management Responsibility: Assigning primary responsibility for safety and risk minimisation to senior managers, who must lead by example.
4. Personal Responsibility: Ensuring that all members and visitors take personal responsibility for their own safety and contribute to the safety of others, with managerial structures supporting risk assessment.
5. Risk Management Framework: Implementing this Health and Safety Policy as a framework for effective risk management and compliance.

The School's approach to health and safety is as follows:

Health, Safety, and Wellbeing:

• The School is dedicated to ensuring the health, safety, and wellbeing of all members.
• We will conduct our activities to safeguard everyone affected by our operations.
• Compliance with all Health and Safety legislation is mandatory.

Provision for a Safe Environment:

• We will ensure a safe and healthy working environment.
• Staff will receive adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision to maintain their own safety and that of others.
• Safe equipment, systems, and procedures will be provided.
• Safe handling, storage, and transport of materials will be ensured.

Management Procedures and Risk Assessment:

• Management procedures will monitor and audit safety compliance.
• Risk assessment and control measures will be implemented for all operations.
• Only competent contractors and suppliers will be engaged.

Review of Policy:

• This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as needed in response to significant changes.

The School addresses key health and safety concerns as follows:

• Fire Hazards: Manage risks from electrical equipment, overheating, and improper storage of flammable materials.
• Cybersecurity Threats: Protect against malware, ransomware, and phishing to safeguard data and sensitive information.
• Electrical Hazards: Ensure proper wiring and maintenance to prevent shocks or fires from damaged cords.
• Physical Injuries: Prevent accidents in classrooms and workshops, including slips, trips, and falls.
• Ergonomic Hazards: Address repetitive stress injuries from prolonged computer use and ensure proper workstation setup.
• Chemical Hazards: Handle cleaning agents and chemicals safely, ensuring proper storage and usage.
• Psychological Hazards: Support mental health by addressing stress, anxiety, and academic pressures.
• Infectious Diseases: Prevent the spread of diseases through hygiene and cleanliness in shared spaces.
• Food Safety Hazards: Ensure that any offered food and drink are safe and uncontaminated.
• Indoor Air Quality: Maintain good ventilation and address issues like mold to prevent respiratory problems.
• Security Risks: Secure classrooms and labs to prevent unauthorised access, theft, and violence.
• Infrastructure Hazards: Maintain facilities to prevent hazards like loose tiles and poor lighting.
• Emergency Preparedness: Develop and implement plans for medical emergencies, natural disasters, and security breaches.
• Work-related Stress: Address and mitigate work-related stress among faculty and staff.
• Environmental Risks: Comply with environmental regulations and manage waste to protect the environment.

All members of the School have a responsibility for health and safety:

Board of Governors

The Board of Governors of the School has overall responsibility for:

• the health and safety of all members of the School whilst at work
• ensuring the conduct of School activities such that they do not expose others to unacceptable risks.
• approval of the School Health and Safety Policy
• delegating operational oversight for health and safety to the Quality, Compliance, and Audit Committee.
• receiving safety reports from the Quality, Compliance, and Audit Committee and reviewing them together with other key safety performance indicators.

President

The President of the School is responsible for ensuring health and safety policies are in place and followed. This includes:

1. Making sure health, safety, and well-being are considered in School planning.
2. Appointing the Director of Operations to oversee health and safety
3. Allocating budget and resources for support and advice.
4. Developing and maintaining health and safety arrangements, and ensuring risk assessments are completed.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is responsible to:

• Ensure appropriate resource allocation for safety management within respective areas of responsibility in the preparation of budget plans.
• Receive reports on health and safety from their respective President or Directors.
• Ensure effective development and support for School safety management arrangements
• Include health, safety and wellbeing as an agenda item in EC meetings.
• Ensure appropriate consideration of health, safety and wellbeing matters School planning.

Director of Operations

The Director of Operations has the following safety management functions within the School:

• Annual planning and develop and maintain health and safety arrangements
• Implement and keep under review a health and safety plan
• Develop arrangements for relevant committees to be in operation.
• Ensure that arrangements are in place for the completion of risk assessments
• Delegate to appropriate staff-specific duties relating to the implementation and monitoring of the health and safety policies and arrangements
• Ensure appropriate safety training needs and competencies are identified and training is provided with appropriate records. In particular ensure that those staff with delegated safety responsibilities receive adequate training and support to discharge their duties
• Implement a suitable and sufficient inspection programme, reporting outcomes and completion of actions to the Quality, Compliance, and Audit Committee.
• Ensure adequate resource allocation in budget planning for safety management.
• Ensure periodic reporting to the Quality, Compliance, and Audit Committee on safety performance, including accidents and incidents.
• Ensure compliance with accident reporting and investigation procedures.
• Ensure an appropriate Safety Management Software is fully implemented across the School
• Seek advice where necessary from specialist services to fulfil these functions
• Ensure no illegal substances and drugs, flammable materials, gas canisters, pyrotechnics, toxic chemicals or any other hazardous materials or substances or devices that could cause safety or security concerns is brought to the School

All Staff and Students

Staff and students must ensure that they:

• Read safety notices posted on the School website and AGS and be aware of the safety rules applicable to the buildings they access.
• Familiarise themselves with the escape routes and know what to do in the event of a fire.
• Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions
• Co-operate with the School on matters relating to health and safety
• Follow safety procedures
• Do not interfere with or misuse any item provided for health, safety or welfare purposes
• Report any hazard or concern on health and safety
• Provide information to enable the School to implement personal emergency evacuation plans and fulfil its obligations in relation to fire safety if they have any permanent or temporary mobility disabilities that could impede their ability to leave a building or use the stairs unassisted
• Comply with safety rules and procedures and cooperate with the School in all duties imposed by the Health and Safety at Work Act or other statutory provisions.
• Avoid any reckless behaviour
• Take positive steps to identify hazards
• Avoid putting themselves or others at risk, whether through action or inaction

Failing to follow safety rules may result in disciplinary action or criminal prosecution.

Consultation Arrangements:

• Formal consultations on health and safety occur through periodic meetings chaired by the Director of Operations, who reports to the Executive Committee.
• The President may request additional management members, such as the Director of Education and Director of Technology, to attend. Members of the Student Experience Committee and, if active, up to two members from the Students’ Union will also attend.

Meeting Topics Include:

• Fire safety and emergency procedures
• First aid and accident reporting
• Risk assessments
• Safety training and competence
• Safe use of work equipment (including electrical and contractor equipment)
• Student work placements
• Health and Safety management

The Director of Operations is responsible for implementing actions from these meetings and incorporating them into annual planning and reporting. They must develop local safety arrangements based on the School's main Health and Safety Policy and any specific guidance notes. For new hazards or risks, the Director of Operations will create additional local safety procedures.

Annual Planning:

During each planning cycle, the Director of Operations prepares an annual plan on:

• Health and Safety Policies and Plan - Develop, maintain, and ensure health and safety policies; implement and review the health and safety plan.
• Committee Management - Establish and manage relevant health and safety committees.
• Risk Assessment - Ensure completion and compliance with risk assessments.
• Staff Training - Identify training needs, provide training, and maintain records.
• Inspection Programme - Implement inspections and report outcomes to the Quality, Compliance, and Audit Committee.
• Budget and Resources - Allocate and manage resources for safety within budget planning.
• Reporting and Compliance - Report safety performance, handle accidents, and ensure software implementation.
• Specialist Advice - Seek necessary advice from specialist services and ensure no hazardous materials are brought to the School.

Monitoring and Review:

• Safety procedures and compliance are monitored daily by all staff, particularly the Director of Operations, who will conduct suitable internal inspections based on the School's size, risk level, and hazards. The Director of Operations oversees all health and safety requirements identified. 
• Departments must perform at least one annual inspection, following a framework set by the Director of Operations. Additional monitoring is carried out during accident investigations, complaints, and feedback.
• The Director of Operations provides training for staff conducting safety inspections and audits.

Reporting:

• The Director of Operations reports formally to the Executive Committee and Quality, Compliance, and Audit Committee, who prepare reports for the Board of Governors.