General

The importance of Health and Safety can not be under estimated. Primary Health and Safety is divided into two distinct elements:

1. Food Safety and Hygiene

2. Construction Safety

It is the very strong recommendation of Hertfordshire LEA that each Primary school has teachers who hold accreditation with having successfully undertaken the different elements of Health and Safety training. Different teachers can hold the different elements.

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Food Safety

Food safety can be a complex issue and high regard should be given to the elimination of potential problems. Training can be undertaken in two different ways:

1. Attending a one day training session culminating in a short test.

2. Using the Distance Learning CD Rom produced by British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) ‘Teaching Food Safety’. This CD is available from BNF, DATA or the D&T Team at Wheathampstead.

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Construction Safety

Other areas of Health and Safety generally fit under the umbrella of construction. There are a number of areas to consider the main ones being:- Electrical Hazards, Fire Hazards, Sharp Equipment and the variety of Materials. Details of all these are included in the half day course and in the Health and Safety booklet.

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Courses

Courses for the one day accredited Food Hygiene element are held approximately every term by Jenny Elms at Wheathampstead.

The courses for the other elements of Health and Safety are only half day courses and these take place at Wheathampstead or at other venues around the county on a termly basis. These courses are tutored by Rowland Penfold and are free of charge at the point of delivery. Current dates are:

• 4 June 2003 9.00am – 12.00noon

• 4 June 2003 1.15pm – 4.15pm

• 19 June 2003 9.00am – 12.00noon

• 19 June 2003 1.15pm – 4.15pm

Further details and application forms for both types of courses can be found in the SIAS CPD brochure also available from here...

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Health and Safety Booklet

The basic guidance for Hertfordshire schools is contained in the document ‘Design and Technology Safety Guidelines for Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2’ written in 2002. A copy of this document was sent to all Hertfordshire Nursery and Primary schools in September 2002 and extra copies can be purchased from Action Point at Wheathampstead.

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Risk Assessments

Guidance on making Risk Assessments is given in the Health and Safety booklet. Coordinators should make sure that they have written Risk Assessments for the main items of concern and that these Risk Assessments are recently dated.

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