HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDANCE

Field work

The key to successful fieldwork is good organisation both in the preparatory period before the visit and on the visit day itself. This is best achieved through a partnership between the field centre as the provider of the service, and the school/college as the consumer. In this way we hope to deliver the best possible service, tailored to meet each customers requirements through an ethos of shared responsibility and participation.

These guidelines are designed to meet the requirements of:

• Health and Safety Executive
• LBWF Health and Safety Frame work
• LBWF Requirements for Educational Visits 2006
• Field Studies Centres: Code of Practice - Quality, Safety and Sustainability
• Suntrap’s generic and specific risk assessments
• Country Code
• Fieldwork Code

Contents

Schools’ responsibilities

Suntrap’s responsibilities

Student’s responsibilities

Programme of a day

Roads

General points in Field Teaching

Camping

Emergency Procedures

Fire

Missing Student/s

Grounds Maintenance

Contractors on Premises

Review

Schools’ responsibilities

Parental Consent

It is the visiting schools responsibility to obtain consent from the parents/guardians of each student taking part in the visit. Parents/guardians should have been made aware of the type of activity to be undertaken. Centre staff will assume that consent for attendance and participation in all activities planned has been received by the school for each student prior to the visit.

Information about the students

The school should supply information about pupils medical conditions, special needs or behavioural problems which may affect the safety of the individual or the group before the visit. This will enable Suntrap staff to plan activities to get the best quality of learning for all.

It is the group leaders responsibility to carry a register of the students in their group.

Group leader

An employee of the school, deemed competent (by the EVC/Head) to lead the group, must accompany each visiting class. Ideally this would be a teacher who knows the students and will be teaching the follow up lessons.

Other adult assistants, e.g. laboratory technicians, classroom assistants, parents, student teachers, etc are always welcome but cannot take the place of the group leader.

Supervision

The group leader is responsible for the control and discipline of their students.

Students should be adequately briefed prior to the visit to ensure they know the reason for the visit, the equipment they require and what is expected of them in terms of behaviour and work. This is the visit leaders responsibility.

General supervision of each class is shared between the field teacher and the group leader. The field teacher will take the lead with regard to the organisation and teaching of the fieldwork and will insist upon reasonable standards of behaviour and control.

During lunch break it is the duty of visiting staff to accompany and supervise their students, Suntrap staff may choose to stay with the group during lunch.

All visiting staff must abide by the health and safety codes of practice of the Centre.

Suntrap’s responsibilities

Safety outside

Suntrap staff may curtail fieldwork activities if in their opinion behaviour of a student/students puts at risk the safety of the group.

Activities may have to be changed from those agreed because of weather or forest conditions.

Student welfare

Suntrap staff should ensure that if necessary students have been offered extra clothing/wellies (if available) before going outside.

Suntrap staff should ask the group leader to supply any information about pupils medical conditions, special needs or behavioural problems which may affect the safety of the individual or the group at the start of the activity.

Student’s responsibilities

Students should be made aware that they are held responsible for equipment loaned to them at the Centre and that the school will be invoiced for the replacement or repair of any equipment which is broken, lost or damaged either wilfully or through carelessness.

Students should have appropriate dress for the type of visit and the time of year. Particular requirements should be included in the pre-visit instructions but generally includes wellington boots, waterproofs and warm clothing in winter

All visiting students must abide by the health and safety codes of practice of the Centre.

Programme of a Day

Suntrap staff should;

On arrival - approximately 9.30 a.m.

• ensure the safety of students when alighting from bus especially when other buses are arriving or leaving,

• check number of students - ensure group leader knows or agrees with the number -record number on class record sheet,

• make themselves aware, as far as possible, of the following in relation to the particular class:-

-any relevant medical conditions affecting students or staff which could effect the planned activities e.g. diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, physical disabilities

-any student behavioural / special needs problems that require treatment in a particular way

-that footwear and clothing are relevant to the ground and weather conditions and the planned activities of the class.

Whilst in the Centre or its vicinity

• Students should move around in a quiet and orderly manner.

• Use of stairways and toilets by groups of children should be under supervision where necessary.

• Students should not touch electrical apparatus, (eg. projectors, aquaria, etc.). Suntrap staff should check for trailing leads.

• Free `play' activities should not occur in garden area of Centre.

• Careful control should be exercised when working in the grounds of the Centre, especially when around the ponds and when vehicles are entering or leaving the premises.

Leaving the Centre

• An indication of an intended route and programme should be available at the Centre before leaving.

• Ensure use of pedestrian gate, not the cattle grid.

• Supervise the crossing of the road.

Roads

• Avoid, as far as possible, the use of roads; when necessary ensure an orderly single file at the appropriate side of the road.

• Roads should be crossed only under supervision and usually in a "Suntrap Line" a line parallel to the road. Students cross when signalled to do so by the teacher, (a predetermined teacher if more than one is present). Wherever possible children should stand back from the actual edge of the road.

Use of public footpaths and countryside

• Supervise use of stiles, gates, etc.

• Ensure proper control when reaching a road.

• Control the "spread" of the class or groups when crossing a golf course or field containing animals.

• Farm animals placed in fields containing public footpaths should not be dangerous to the public; but as far as possible keep between any animals and the children and do not allow feeding.

Working near water

• Supervision near water - on towpaths, near locks and weirs, should be particularly close. A compact group should ensure tighter control of behaviour. When walking along towpath keep students away from the edge of the bank. A `life line' must be carried, available from the equipment room.

General points in Field Teaching

• The field teacher must carry first aid equipment and a radio and know how to respond to emergencies.

• Carrying sticks, throwing stones or other objects, etc. and climbing trees (unless for a specific purpose and under supervision) should not be permitted.

• Advise students to take extra care when climbing over fallen trees when wet and thus slippery.

• Except in an emergency or when especially arranged and controlled, students should always be working within a controllable range or within sight. Students should be made aware of such limits.

• A student should at no time be entirely alone in the `field'.

• Be certain students know the procedure if they "think" they are lost. Stay together, stand still and shout teachers name. Do not try to find way back to Suntrap.

• When teaching in public situations supervision should allow for the extra inherent hazards.

• Extra care and necessary precaution should be taken when pupils are carrying or using equipment in the "field", e.g. augers and ranging poles.

• Students and teachers should observe the codes of practice as found in the `Country Code', Field Studies Centres : Code of Practice - Quality, Safety and Sustainability.

• The expertise of the field centre teacher in judging what is an acceptable activity must over-ride that of the group leader, as must the decisions of a field centre teacher in an emergency.

• Students should show considerate behaviour to other users of the environment e.g. horse riders, dog owners, bird- watchers, etc.

• No litter or uneaten food to be left in the environment.

• The Suntrap teacher will take appropriate precautions according to the prevailing environmental conditions on the day of a visit and advise staff and students accordingly. If deemed necessary the Suntrap teacher will relocate or alter planned activities to ensure the safety of students.

At end of day - approximately 3.00 p.m.

• Check number of students - ensure class teacher knows or agrees with the number. Ask class teacher to receive students on coach.

• Ensure safety of students as they embark on coach.

• For classes which have had half day tuition it is the class teachers responsibility to check the students are on the coach.

In exceptional circumstances e.g. extreme weather conditions, Head of Centre may cancel a visit and offer alternative date/s for the visit.

The Centre has an excellent record with regard to safety, but all activities are constantly under review and field sites are monitored to assess their safety. Visiting staff are positively encouraged to bring to the notice of Centre staff potential hazards or strategies for increasing the safety of activities undertaken.

CAMPING

Suntrap teachers and group leaders should run a tidy and well-controlled campsite to ensure the health and safety of all adults and pupils.

Visiting staff and pupils should be made aware of safety and procedures at the beginning of their stay.

Particular care must be taken over the following:

Hygiene: note the following points:

• Wash hands before preparing any food

• Perishable foods should be stored in cool boxes with fresh ice packs only during preparation and meal times. They should be quickly returned to the refrigerator.

• Milk should be kept in a cool box, but for as short a time as possible.

• Only take required amount of frozen foods from the freezer. Never put back once defrosted.

• Keep meat and cheese apart - use different knives and cutting boards and wash after use.

• Do not leave food in tins, once opened put in plastic containers. Do not serve food from tins.

• Keep washing-up brushes and green scourers in Milton solution and change daily. Keep a dish cloth in Milton - wipe all food surfaces before and after use. Clean surfaces with hot soapy water and rinse afterwards.

• Supervise and check children when washing and drying up.

• Make sure plates are scraped before washing and rinsed after.

• Keep livestock away from food preparation and at meal times.

• Only fill squash containers directly from tap, do not use water that has been standing.

Safety: note the following points:

• Groups collecting firewood must wear gloves and not climb on/over the wood pile.

• Pupils must not leave the field without permission and MUST NOT go alone.

• Ensure pupils know which are the teachers tents where help is available at night.

• Leave a lamp burning at night in an appropriate position so children can reach the `loo' tent.

• Pupils should not run to or from the field.

• Pupils must not be bare foot except within tents.

• Pupils may not lift heavy equipment at any time. When moving light equipment ensure that an adequate number of children is allocated to lift and move each item.

• Pupils must not carry the gaz lamps; milk bottles must be carried in crates

• A red water extinguisher and fire blanket must always be on site.

• The only action appropriate when an LPG cylinder is involved is to turn off the supply of LPG if it is safe to do so and evacuate all children from the field.

N.B. As soon as campers arrive, ensure that the class teacher has:

a contact number for Head Teacher or other designated person in case of emergency out of school hours.

a register of all pupils; names, addresses and emergency contact phone numbers.

Emergency Procedures

Illness or Accident

If anyone should become ill or suffer injury as a result of an accident:-

• first-aid should be rendered, but only as far as knowledge and skill permit

• the first-aid room is clearly signed on the first floor of the Centre and houses a substantial First Aid Kit and stretcher. Field staff carry a first-aid kit on all field excursions

• if necessary and practicable the casualty may be escorted back to the Centre and their condition monitored. If the situation is too serious for this action a member of staff should summon the emergency services using the 999 service and alert the Centre.

• students should, if possible be accompanied to hospital by an adult

• as soon as possible after the incident a report should be written in the Accident Book in First Aid room. Name, age, and sex of the casualty must be noted with place and time of accident and a description of the incident.

• If thought serious this information should be telephoned to the school as soon as possible so that parents may be informed.

• Ensure that the destination hospital of the ambulance is recorded and relayed to the school

• Employer Incident/Accident/Disease Report Form PS 8074 (available on ForestNet) should be completed if the incident results in either a fatality or a major injury as listed below;

1.Fracture other than to fingers or toes;

2.Amputation;

3.Dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine;

4.Loss of sight (temporary or permanent)

5.Chemical or hot metal burn to the eye or any penetrating injury to the eye;

6.Injury resulting from electric shock or electrical burn leading to unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours;

7.Unconsciousness caused by asphyxia or exposure to harmful substances or biological agents;

8.Acute illness requiring medical treatment, or loss of consciousness arising from absorption of any substance by inhalation, injection or through the skin;

9.Acute illness requiring medical treatment where there is reason to believe that this resulted from exposure to a biological agent or its toxins or infected materials.

10.An over three day injury, where an employee does not suffer a major injury but is either away from work or unable to do their normal work for more than three days, excluding the day of the accident but including any rest days or days off.

11.An injury to a member of the public which meant that they had to be taken from the scene of the accident to a hospital for treatment.

• No statement about any accident or incident should be made by individual members of staff to the media. Press and media representatives should be referred to the Head of Centre, the Head Teacher of the visiting school or the Officer responsible as appropriate.

IN CASE OF ACCIDENT/INCIDENT IN THE FOREST

Each situation requires judgements to be made according to the particulars which apply to the given incident.

Always carry a charged CB radio.

If you have one, carry a mobile telephone.

General guide-lines for Suntrap teachers

STAGE 1 Assess the situation to ensure the safety of self and the rest of the group.

STAGE 2 If necessary and safe to do so, take immediate and calm action to remove students from danger. Then reassess situation and render appropriate first aid and reassurance. Determine further course of action.

STAGE 3 Take appropriate measures in the interests of the rest of the group.

STAGE 4 Contact and utilise appropriately the assistance of other nearby teachers or adults and inform the Field Centre as soon as possible so that further action may be co-ordinated.

If in complete isolation from other teachers or adults and the injured person cannot be left i.e. if unconscious, consider the following alternative actions and make a judgement according to the circumstance:

1.Dial 999 and summon the emergency service.

2.Contact Centre and/or other members of staff by CB radio / mobile telephone.

3.Use whistle to summon help; 6 blasts, rest and repeat. If successful ask that person to go for help, phone Suntrap etc. Make sure your location is clear.

4.If appropriate wait for colleague to come in search - maintain radio contact or use of whistle.

5.Send 4 children to obtain assistance while you remain with casualty. Write down your position and instructions of what they should do. Keep using whistle. ( This should only be necessary if radio fails and there is no response to whistle).

If the injured person could be left e.g. sprained ankle and all above options have failed consider:

1.Leave 4 chosen pupils with injured child and seek help with rest of group. If "injured group"

found by stranger say help is coming.

N.B. A stretcher is stored in the shower cubicle in the First Aid room at the Centre.

Contact with the visiting School or Police should always be made via the Field Centre.

The Designated First Aiders and Appointed Persons at Suntrap: Forest Education Centre are:

Name: Rosaleen Finn First Aid at Work, Immediate Temporary Care

Valid until 29/09/08

Name: Lorna Paterson First Aid at Work, Immediate Temporary Care

Valid until 29/09/08

Name: Laura Tuson First Aid at Work, Immediate Temporary Care

Valid until 09/02/09

Name: Paul Chamberlain First Aid at Work, Immediate Temporary Care

Valid until 30/11/07

Name: Stephen Moore First Aid at Work, Immediate Temporary Care

Valid until 30/11/06

Name: Kerry Rolison First Aid at Work, Immediate Temporary Care

Valid until 30/11/07

Name: Karen Dearman First Aid at Work, Immediate Temporary Care

Valid until 20/03/09

Certificates held in Head of Centre’s Office

First aid boxes are provided in:

• First Aid Room

• Each classroom

• Carried in the field by each field teacher

The person responsible for checking and maintaining the contents of first aid boxes is:

Paul Chamberlain, Health and Safety Representative

• Individual First aid kits carried in the field are checked by individual teachers.

• Termly check on all field first aid kits by H & S Rep.

Missing Student/s

Should not happen if group numbers are constantly checked and students are aware of procedure for such event.

Do not take out "known runners" without adequate staffing and a plan of action.

Try to ascertain where student last seen.

Retrace steps blowing whistle and calling name of the student.

If unsuccessful radio for assistance and utilise other nearby teachers or adults. Inform the Centre as soon as possible.

Further action will be co-ordinated by Head or Deputy or other designated person and assisted by the Office Manager. Make sure your exact location is clear. Continue calling for the student.

A search party will be sent to your location and the Conservators informed. If necessary Director, Lifelong Learning, Police and Head Te A search party will be sent to your location and the Conservators informed. If necessary Director, Lifelong Learning, Police and Head Teacher of School will be notified.

FIRE

Everyone who uses the building must know what to do in the case of fire. On each class's first visit, teachers and students must be informed of:-

• What to do if they see a fire.

• How to evacuate the building.

• Where to assemble in order that numbers can be checked. (Visiting teachers must know the number of children in their class that day.)

• A fire drill including the evacuation of the building must take place each term and be recorded in the Fire Alarm Log Book. All staff must be acquainted with the means of escape.

In case of Fire

On discovering a fire an alarm must be raised immediately.

FIRE ALARM `Break Glass' alarm switches are located near exit points throughout the building:-

Ground floor: near front door

near outside door of room 4

near electricity intake room

outside door of kitchen

outside door of girls' toilet

First floor: top of main staircase

top of back staircase

by fire escape door in room 1

Second floor: top of attic staircase

Green Hut: by door.

A teacher's first and over-riding duty in case of fire is to ensure the safety of the children, visiting teachers and themselves.

• On hearing the fire alarm all rooms should be evacuated immediately and assemble on the front lawn the class teacher ensures that the class leave the room in single file, quickly and in silence.

• The Suntrap teacher will ensure that students not in the classroom at the time of the emergency e.g. in the toilets, know the procedure they should follow. (Leave the building by the nearest fire exit and assemble on the front lawn.)

• The Suntrap teacher will ensure that students not in class have evacuated from the building (ie by checking the toilets).

The routes by which classes are to proceed:-

Room 1 The metal fire escape or the back staircase and back or side (kitchen) door and assemble for a check of numbers on the front lawn.

N.B. Beware of fire escape if ice or snow covered.

Room 2 Should use the main staircase and front door. In the event of the fire involving the main stair the other staircase or the fire escape should be used. If all stairways are unusable evacuation should be through a window onto the Boiler room roof. The class should assemble on the front lawn to check numbers.

Room 3 should use the main door and assemble on the front lawn and check numbers.

Room 4 should use the external door of the room and assemble on the front lawn and check numbers.

Room 5 should assemble to check numbers on the front lawn.

Office Manager should check all toilets, in absence head teacher or H&S rep to check.

The Health & Safety Rep., or in their absence any member of staff taking charge, should:-

• check that everyone has evacuated the building.

• where possible close doors.

All staff are to make themselves familiar with the position of fire appliances and alarm switches and should be prepared to tackle minor outbreaks of fire if, by so doing, they will not be prevented from exercising their primary responsibilities and will not endanger themselves.

Solid fires (eg. paper, wood) can be tackled with a red water extinguisher.

2 in entrance hall

1 top of main stairs

1 by staff room

1 outside medical room

1 by attic door

1 in Green Hut.

Flammable liquids or gas use blue dry powder type extinguisher.

2 in shed

1 in boiler room.

1 by gas store

Electrical fires or any fire in the electrical intake room should only be tackled with the black CO² extinguisher

1 in the doorway of the electrical intake room

1 outside Secretary's office

Cooking oil fires should be smothered with the fire blanket stored by the cooker.

Stairways and Doors

Stairways and final exit doors must never be obstructed and all exit doors must be capable of being opened easily and immediately from the inside while there is anyone in the building. Stairways and exit doors must be kept in good repair. No combustible material is to be stored or allowed to accumulate in the stairway enclosures.

All doors should be closed at night and during weekends and holidays, so that, if there is an outbreak of fire, spread will be reduced and the damage by smoke contained.

Further Fire Precautions

Care should be taken that educational and display materials do not constitute a particular fire hazard

Acts of vandalism may be reduced by ensuring that windows and external and internal doors are properly secured after school hours and that rubbish and flammable material is not allowed to accumulate and become easily accessible to intruders. Special care in respect of the latter should be taken when maintenance work, painting, etc. is taking place in the Centre.

Petrol and paraffin must be in approved containers, labelled and stored in metal dustbins in the shed.

Fuses that have blown must be replaced only after establishing the cause and with fuses of the correct rating, never of a higher rating or with thick copper wire. Additions or alterations to wiring must be carried out only by a competent electrician approved by the authority.

All gaz containers must be locked in the appropriate store at the end of the animal cages adjacent to the hedge.

Grounds Maintenance

Safety guidelines:

• No machinery to be used in areas where students are working or likely to wander
• Areas where machinery is in use must be demarcated with safety cones
• Machinery only to be used by staff trained in its use
• Beginners must be supervised by a trained member of staff
• Appropriate safety equipment must be worn at all times when using the following machines

Brush-cutter, shredder and hedge-cutter

Helmet, face-guard, ear-protectors, gloves

Chain-saw

Only to be operated by staff with appropriate experience

Helmet, face-guard, ear-protectors, gloves

Boots

Hand tools with cutting edges

Protective gloves

Face-guard where appropriate

Pond maintenance

When working in the pond to manage the pond habitat at least 2 people must be present in case of an accident / fall within the pond.

When working in the pond Wellington boots or waders must be worn.

When working in very deep water a life-line should be attached to the person in the water.

Take frequent breaks away from the pond.

Fires

Fires must be contained in tight areas and attended at all times.

Protective gloves to be worn

No loose clothing

Fire to be made safe before abandonment.

CONTRACTORS ON PREMISES

Caretaker must ensure:

Vehicles entering or leaving premises do so with due regard to safety.

Workmen and contractors should report and sign in at the office.

No working equipment is left unguarded and steps are taken by workmen and contractors to ensure that potentially dangerous equipment is not in a position to be tampered with by students.

Scaffolding, ladders and step ladders are not to be left in locations or conditions which will allow students to use them.

Review

These procedures are reviewed annually.