Glenmore National School

This document sets out the policy of Glenmore N.S. 2008 and specifies the arrangements made and the resources provided to achieve that policy.

Our objective is to provide a safe and healthy environment for all employees and to meet our duties to pupils and members of the public who may be affected by our operations.

The success of this policy will depend on your co-operation. It is therefore important that you read this document carefully and understand your role in the overall arrangements for health and safety in our premises.

An emergency is a situation which arises with little or no warning and causes or threatens death, injury, serious property damage or serious disruption to people and services. Examples include fire, explosion, collapsing buildings, notification or incendiary and bomb scares. The school has procedures in place for dealing with emergencies. Staff will be made aware of these procedures and regular practice drills will be undertaken. These activities are the responsibility of Paul Butler, School Principal) and Jacqueline Munnelly Assistant Teacher.

Emergency Phone Numbers

Fire Brigade 999
Ambulance 999
Garda (Emergency) 999
Local Garda Station: Tel: +353 96 21422.

Emergency Evacuation Procedures
In the case of fire, or other emergency requiring evacuation of the workplace:

1 The person discovering the fire should raise the alarm by informing the principal/Assistant Teacher/secretary/. They contact the emergency services.
2 All persons must leave the building without delay to collect personal belongings.
3 All persons should go immediately to assembly areas located at the perimeter fencing. (at wall outside)
4 All teachers will take a roll to identify any persons missing from the assembly area.
5 No one should re enter the workplace until the emergency services give the "all clear".

Emergency drills
The principal is responsible for ensuring that all staff and visitors are aware of the location of all the exits and emergency evacuation procedures.
A fire drill will be carried out at least once a term.

Location of Fire Extinguishers
Fire Extinguishers are located in the following locations:

1 Hallway between 2 classroom. Serviced Sept 08
2. Computer room (portacabin at rear of school)

Firex, Ballina is responsible for ensuring that this equipment is maintained in line with the required servicing intervals.

Signs and Notices
The school will ensure that all necessary signs and notices are displayed. These will identify the locations of all exits and fire fighting equipment, as well as any danger zones or hazardous materials.

Ms Munnelly provides and will maintain adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, suitability marked and easily accessible, in order that first-aid can be provided. The first-aid equipment is located in the staffroom. (In drawers).

The First Aid box Contents

The first aid box will contain the following (where there are up to 50 people on the premises, and the quantities will be increased pro-rata where there are more than 50 people). At least:

40 adhesive plasters
4 sterile eye pads (with bandage attached)
6 individually triangular bandages
6 safety pins
8 medium individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressing (approx 10cm X 8cm)
4 large individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings (approx 13cm X 9cm)
4 extra large individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings (approx 28cm X 17.5cm)
10 individually wrapped wipes
1 paramedic shears
2 pairs of latex gloves
2 sterile eye wash.


First Aid Treatment Area(s)
The area assigned for the provision of First Aid treatment in our school is the staffroom/Mr Butler's room. As this is a small school it is not practicable for there to be a dedicated First Aid area or a room. We will make our best endeavour to equip this location with as many as possible of the following:

Sink with running hot and cold water
Drinking water
Soap
Paper towels
Smooth topped working surface
A suitable store for first aid materials (Drawer)
First aid equipment
Suitable refuse containers lined with a disposable plastic bag
A chair
A first aid treatment record book
A bowl


Ms Munnelly will provide information to staff, parents, Board of Management and/or safety representatives regarding the first aid facilities and arrangements in place.

The person responsible for ensuring that the first aid equipment and facilities are provided and maintained is Ms Munnelly.

The school will comply with the requirements for reporting accidents and dangerous occurrences to the:

Health and Safety Authority
10 Hogan Place
Dublin 2
Tel (01) 6147000

The person responsible for reporting accidents and dangerous occurrences is Miss Carty (Principal)

Any accident in the school which results in a staff member or pupil being injured and unable to perform his/her normal duties for more than 3 consecutive days will be reported to the Health & Safety authority. Accidents will be reported by filling out the online Accident Reporting from the Health & Safety Authority website (www.hsa.ie). Accidents will be reported promptly - fatal or potentially fatal accidents will be reported immediately, by telephone in the first instance, while non-fatal accidents will be reported as soon as practicable, in most cases within two weeks of the occurrence of the accident.
Dangerous occurrences will also be reported to the Health & Safety Authority using Form IR3 which can be downloaded from the publications and Forms Section of the Health and Safety Authority website (www.hsa.ie)


We will provide a healthy working environment and will ensure that the following issues are always addressed. Mr Butler is responsible for these matters.

Ventilation will be adequate. Where air conditioning is used this will be regularly cleaned and checked.

Where VDUs (Workstations) are being used for more than 1 hour a day we will provide suitable chairs, sufficient space (a minimum of 4.65 sq metres per person) and regular eye tests. In our case children and staff do not use computers over this period.

The temperature will be comfortable, normally above 17.5ºc, and will not become excessively hot during warm weather.

Adequate lighting will be provided.

We will provide adequate facilities for boiling water and taking meals.

Smoking will not be permitted in our workplace.

We will provide at least

1 toilet for 1 to 5 people,
2 toilets for 6 to 25 people
3 toilets for 26 to 50 people
4 toilets for 51 to 75 people
5 toilets for 76 to 100 people
And keep them clean and in working order. Hot and cold water, soap and towels will be provided. As there is no plumbing to the toilets hot water is presently unavailable, This has been discussed with the local caretaker and it would require a large investment by the school. The school will consider this for future planning and availability of resources. Hot water is available in the staff room/Mr Butlers room. There are 2 full time staff in the school and one staff toilet. There are toilets for boys and girls, two of each.

The school uses storage heating and is managed with weather conditions by the Principal.

At least one wash basin for every 20 employees will be provided.
The school will be cleaned as required. Floors and traffic routes will be cleaned at least once per week. Waste materials will be removed on a daily basis.

On the following pages you will find a list of workplace hazards and risks showing appropriate:
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS DONE ON HARD COPY AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE SCHOOL
Risk assessment
People at risk
Actions and controls to eliminate or reduce the risk or provide protection from the risk
Assigned responsibility for implementing the actions and controls
Review dates.

The hazards and risks are grouped and presented in the following order:

Working at a height
Dust and fumes
Electricity
Explosions
Fire
Noise and vibration
Radiation
Poor House-keeping
Substances
Manual Handling
VDUs
Transport
Stress, bullying and violence
Machinery.

As we are a small rural school some of these are not applicable but are ticked as seen applicable at this time.






RISK ASSESSMENT ACTIONS
LOW MED HIGH
Tree roots through the tarmac Remove roots and patch surface with tarmac
Torn and curly carpet Caretaker to fix and glue carpet If problem persists replace carpet
Spillages - slips and trips Area to be sealed off and wet cone to be put in place
Running in corridor No running rule to be strictly enforced teacher always to lead class out of room
Wet floor inside main door Install heavy duty mats
Children outside office at lunch time Must have a written note to be kept of yard How effective was the written note
Children being collected early from school All children must be signed for in advance Working well
Fire windows in classrooms must be posted Get labels from Apex fire To be done
Parking cars on fire exits All staff informed in writing of prohibition of parking on exits Problems with volume of cars in car park. Lack of space
Broken bottles on yard Caretaker to check yard in advance each day Working well




Ice/snow Caretaker to come to school early and salt/clear area No snow for last few years
Hot water/drinks on corridor Written memo prohibiting carrying of drinks on corridor No problems
A.V Equipment is subject to regular maintenance checks Annual electrical checks Not done
Accidents on yard Appoint first aider Need for more first aiders
Traffic at the beginning and the end of the school day Traffic cones left out each morning and evening Works well most of the time
Unauthorised access during the school day Coded access, intercom, closed circuit cameras Working well
unauthorised access after a school day when a school is at risk Closed circuit cameras, adequate fencing, alarm and light sensors Damage to windows over the holiday periods. Security shutters installed on vulnerable classrooms
Entrance/Exit at teachers carpark - lack of lighting Install new sensor light Work ongoing completion date
Fire alarm 30 years old Replace with new system Work ongoing completion
Electrical wiring in the school 30 years old - light fittings sockets etc Replace electrical equipment Work ongoing completion 22/12/07



No emergency lighting on corridor Install new system Work ongoing completion 22/12/07
Playgrounds Ensure supervision rota in place Rota in place



Over use of extension leads Additional electrical sockets Work ongoing completion 22/12/09
Internal entrance to school on wet days Additional matting needed - mopping of floors - wet care sign
P.E. Hall Ensure suitable footwear is worn Working well
Internal stairs and corridors Pupils use handrails - children supervised on corridor Working well
Equipment, materials, coats etc Equipment, materials not to be stored below tables. Coats to be hung on coat hooks Working well
Cleaning materials / bulk liquid To be stored in secured room Working well
Spillages/food Clean spillages and remove Working well
Admission requests from pupils with a history of violence in other schools towards pupils and staff Defer/refuse admission pending safety audit and professional advice No such applications to date







Admission requests from pupils with a history of violence towards school property Defer/refuse admission pending safety audit and professional advice No such applications to date

Assaults on members of staff by pupils Refer to the Code of Discipline and powers of suspension and expulsion No such incidents to date
Assaults on pupils by other pupils Refer to the Code of Discipline and powers of suspension and expulsion
Bullying / threatening behaviour on members of staff by pupils Refer to Code of Discipline Working well
Threatening behaviour on pupils by other pupils Refer to Code of Discipline Working well