General Statement

Our policy is to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work for all our employees and to provide as much information, training and supervision as they need for this purpose. We also accept responsibility for the Health and Safety of all children in our care.

Room Leader Responsibilities

The Room Leaders in charge of each childcare room are responsible for:

• Implementation of this policy in their own deployed room and bringing it to the attention of all employees
• Compliance with safety precautions that apply to their deployed room, including the regulating of contractors
• Ensuring that all new employees are properly inducted, including awareness of all precautions, procedures and emergency procedures applicable to the job
• Ensuring that no person is permitted to work with any kind of machinery or hazardous task unless they have been given authority and are fully instructed
• Ensuring that all staff are aware of the location of all fire-fighting equipment and alarm call points, and are conversant with their effective use — extinguishers are only to be used by trained individuals
• Ensuring that any responsibilities delegated to other staff members are clearly identified
• Ensuring that access to the premises by customers or members of the public is strictly limited to safe areas
• Ensuring that suitable arrangements are in place to safeguard the premises against intruders

Legal Requirements Including:

• Inspection of all fire-fighting equipment
• Safe use of electrical switches and circuits
• Maintenance of all appropriate registers
• Necessary safety training for staff
• Provision of first-aid equipment
• Arrangements for cleaning

Employee Responsibilities

• Employees are responsible for their own acts or omissions and the effect these may have on the safety of themselves or any other person
• Every employee must use safety equipment or clothing in a proper manner and for the purpose intended
• Any employee who intentionally or recklessly misuses anything supplied in the interests of health and safety will be subject to disciplinary procedures
• Every employee must work in accordance with any health and safety instruction or training that has been given
• No employee may undertake any task for which they have not been authorised and for which they are not adequately trained
• Every employee is required to bring to the attention of a responsible person any perceived shortcoming in our safety arrangements
• All employees are under a duty to familiarise themselves with this policy

Employees must report any skin, nose, throat or bowel trouble to the nursery manager or Health and Safety Coordinator.

First Aid

It is our policy that wherever possible all staff are first aid trained. Several first aid boxes are always available, stocked in accordance with current guidelines, and situated in various places throughout the nursery for easy access in an emergency. Travel first aid kits are taken on school runs and outings.

Accidents & Incidents

If a child has an accident at nursery, an accident form must be completed and signed by the staff member who witnessed the accident and the staff member who administered first aid (this may be the same person). Parents/carers are given a full explanation and asked to sign the accident form on collecting their child.

Serious Accidents

In the case of a serious accident at nursery, our Major Accident procedure will be followed. In addition to the normal accident form details, staff will also record:

• The number of staff and children present at the time of the accident
• The deployment of staff within the area where the accident occurred
• The accident will be reported to RIDDOR (www.hse.gov.uk/riddor) and Ofsted
• A copy of the RIDDOR report and reference number will be kept in the child's file and in our RIDDOR file

Medication

Medication will only be administered to children if parents/carers have completed and signed a medication consent form prior to the medication being given. Please see our Medication Policy for full details.

Child Illness

If a child becomes ill we will take every possible step to contact parents/carers. If this is not possible, we will contact emergency or contingency numbers.

All information on relevant illnesses and exclusion periods will be provided to parents/carers. Independent advice is also available from their GP or NHS Direct.

Pregnant Staff

Risk assessments and new expectant mothers checklists are completed with pregnant staff upon written confirmation of their pregnancy. These are completed jointly by the pregnant staff member and the childcare manager.

Statement of Intent

• To provide adequate control of the Health and Safety risks arising from our work activities
• To consult with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety
• To provide and maintain safe equipment
• To ensure safe handling and use of substances (COSHH)
• To provide information, instruction and supervision for employees
• To ensure all employees are competent to do their tasks and to provide relevant training
• To prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health
• To maintain safe and healthy working conditions
• To review and revise this policy annually or sooner if required

Health & Safety Officer Responsibilities

• Updating any policies and procedures as Health and Safety laws change
• Cascading all relevant information to all staff
• Carrying out spot checks around the premises and on Health and Safety paperwork
• Identifying substances that require a COSHH assessment
• Completing and updating risk assessments