50 years caring for children

You are here: Home / Nursery Policies / Health and Safety Policy

Health and Safety Policy

The purpose of this policy is to summarise what we do to ensure we protect the health and safety of all children, employees and parents.

Staff are expected to be familiar with the Health and Safety Policy and Health and Safety Handbook prepared by Worknest (together, the H&S Manual) which includes sections on Manual Handling, Working at Height, Risk Assessment, Monitoring, Legislation and Guidance.

Bristol Childcare have a General Risk Assessment Report that is prepared in conjunction with Worknest.  Worknest provides an external Health and Safety adviser who conducts annual audits and updates the General Risk Assessment Report.

  1. We recognise that we have a legal duty of care to protect the health and safety of our employees and others who may be affected by our activities.
  2. In order to meet our responsibilities, there is a clear management organisational structure.

FIRE

  1. Fire drills are carried out once a month and recorded on the Fire Drill Record (Appendix 1), including the time taken. We aim for evacuation in 2 minutes but acknowledge that the priority is simply to evacuate as quickly as possible. Each drill is evaluated with comments written on the form, including any suggestions for revision. The Nursery Manager must inform the Fire Safety Officer of any suggested improvement and the Fire Evacuation Procedure (see below) should be updated accordingly.
  2. A Fire Evacuation Plan (example at Appendix 2) is prepared by the Fire Safety Officer for each Nursery and is displayed by each fire exit. This is highlighted to all new staff, agency and students.
  3. The Fire Evacuation Procedure (example at Appendix 3) is prepared by the Nursery Manager and displayed in reception. It is highlighted to all new staff, agency and students and updated as required, following evaluation of fire drills and reviewed annually by the manager.
  4. All staff sign in and wear a name badge when on the premises. Badges are placed in a basket when the person leaves, including at lunchtime. This helps indicate which members of staff are in the building in the event of a fire.
  5. Visitors (including parents in meetings or at settling in sessions), agency staff and students will wear a badge when they sign in. Each nursery will have 3 agency badges, 2 visitor badges and 1 student badge. The nursery manager and room leaders will be aware of additional adults who are in the building and the nursery manager will check how many badges are in the basket to cross-check if there are any visitors, agency staff or students in that day and then check they have evacuated. If unsure, the nursery manager will telephone Head Office where staff can log in to Vizito and check who is signed in.
  6. Each Nursery has a Fire Extinguisher Report Sheet (folder 6.1) which is completed by the Fire Safety Officer. This states where each fire extinguisher is located in nursery and when they were last serviced, which happens annually. Fire extinguishers are checked weekly by the manager (noted on the Manager’s Weekly Equipment Checklist, folder 6.10) to ensure they are in working condition.
  7. Smoke detectors and sounders are checked every six months by an external contractor.
  8. The fire alarm is checked weekly by managers and noted on the Manager’s Weekly Equipment Checklist. Fire control points are checked weekly, in rotation. The number of the point checked that week is noted on the Manager’s Weekly Equipment Checklist.
  9. Emergency lighting is checked once a month by the Nursery Manager and noted on the Manager’s Weekly Equipment Checklist. It is checked every six months by an external contractor.
  10. Fire exits are checked daily in each room by staff in accordance with the Daily Room Risk Assessment and Equipment Check (folder 6.10).
  11. All fire testing, equipment and drill records are filed in the Fire Safety Folder.

GENERAL

  1. In accordance with Department of Health advice of 2016, electrical socket inserts are not used.
  2. Any electrical items including those donated, must first go to Head Office for PAT testing and be recorded on the Asset Register.
  3. Smoking (including vaping) is not permitted anywhere on Bristol Childcare premises including in or around the buildings or in any gardens or car parks.
  4. We regularly monitor health and safety performance and revise policies and procedures where necessary.
  5. We provide resources to control health and safety risks such as PPE for nappy changing.
  6. We supply COSHH data sheets and risk assessments for all products used in Nursery. These are clearly displayed in the laundries / utility rooms and it is the responsibility of staff members to ensure they read them and understand the hazards of each product they use. Products used in nursery must be authorised by the Health and Safety officer. All hazardous substances are kept in a safe manner away from children.
  7. We encourage staff to identify and report hazards. Risk assessments must then be updated as appropriate.
  8. Manual Handling and Fire Safety training is done by all staff at their induction and renewed every 3 years. All staff undertake First Aid training which is renewed every 3 years in accordance with the EYFS.
  9. Room temperatures are checked daily in every room and recorded.
  10. There are to be no hot drinks in open mugs or cups in childcare areas. Staff can have hot drinks in their work areas if they have risk assessed this. They must provide their own closable cup which they must test to ensure it is robust so that hot liquid does not spill on a child should it be knocked over. Any cups with hot drinks must be kept out of child reach. Staff must understand the dangers of hot water for children and understand that having a hot drink in the room is the responsibility of the individual member of staff.
  11. Staff working at height should follow the rules and procedures set out in the H&S Manual.
  12. We only employ contractors who are able to demonstrate due regard to health and safety matters. We maintain an approved contractors list. Each contractor is asked to complete the Approval of New Contractors Questionnaire and a Contractor Statement is used when work is done in nursery.
  13. Childcare staff do not lone work; there are always at least 2 staff on nursery premises during opening hours. If a member of staff is on their own in a room with children there will always be someone else within calling distance if help is needed. All three nurseries are open plan to facilitate this, and ongoing safeguarding.
  14. We carry out and regularly review risk assessments in accordance with the H&S Manual. All staff are shown this Manual as part of their induction, and a copy is available for reference in the nursery.
  15. Staff are encouraged to constantly evaluate and review their workspace and be aware of all risks and how they are managed. Our policy for risks is to: manage; minimise; and eliminate where possible. Risk assessments are carried out as follows:
RISK ASSESSMENT BY WHO WHEN DOCUMENT USED
Level 1 – overall risk assessments
GENERAL OUTDOOR one per nursery Managing Director Reviewed annually or as required Risk Assessment, folder 4.2
GENERAL INDOOR one per nursery Managing Director Reviewed annually or as required Risk Assessment, folder 4.2
Level 2 – room/issue/person specific risk assessments; these link in to what is in the Level 1 RAs
ROOMS

including kitchen

 All staff in each room Updated every 6 months or as required Risk Assessment (Appendix 3), folder 4.2
GARDENS

If specific risk assessing is required over and above Level 1 RA

 All staff in each room Updated every 6 months or as required Risk Assessment (Appendix 3), folder 4.2
NEW ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES All staff as required, a senior member of staff is involved As required Risk Assessment, folder 4.2
OUTINGS The senior member of staff co-ordinating the outing As required.  For regular outings the RA is only updated if the situation changes. See Outings Policy Risk Assessment (Appendix 3), folder 4.2
NEW AND EXPECTANT MOTHERS Nursery Manager As soon BCC informed of pregnancy or if a new mother returns to work within 6 months of having a baby. For pregnant women this needs to be reviewed every two months or more as required. New and Expectant Mothers Risk Assessment, (folder 4.2)
LONE WORKING MD/Nursery Manager As required – when person starts in a lone working role or shifts change. Lone Worker Risk Assessment, folder 4.2; saved to individual’s folder
YOUNG PERSONS Nursery Manager When person under 18 starts work or placement. YP Risk Assessment Staff or Student/Work Experience (Appendix 9), folder 4.2, in accordance with the H&S Manual.
BUILDING WORK

 

 

 Nursery Manager Before work starts with Contractor Statement signed by manager when work completed. Risk Assessment – Appendix 3 and Contractor Statement (folder 6.12)
TENANTS Managing Director Annually or as required. Tenant’s Risk Assessment, folder 9.1
RADICALISATION Managing Director Annually or as required. Radicalisation Risk Assessment, folder 9.6
E-SAFETY Managing Director Annually or as required. E-Safety Risk Assessment, folder 4.2
LEGIONELLA Finance and Services Manager Annually or as required. Legionella Risk Assessment, folder 6.10
Level 3 – checklists – to ensure anything identified as having risk is checked each day/week
DAILY – each room Staff in each room First thing each morning Daily Room Risk Assessment and Equipment Checklist, folder 6.10.1
DAILY – cot room Babyroom staff First thing each morning and weekly elements at end of Friday Cot Room Risk Assessment and Checklist, folder 6.10.1
DAILY – reception Manager First thing each morning Daily Reception Checklist, folder 6.10.1
WEEKLY – whole nursery Nursery Manager in discussion with all staff Each Monday Manager’s Weekly Equipment Checklist, folder 6.10.1

 

 

 

List of Appendices

Appendix 1 – Fire Drill Record

Appendix 2 – Example of Fire Evacuation Plan

Appendix 3 – Example of Fire Evacuation Procedure