HEALTH AND SAFETY IN SCHOOLS

The University of Trinidad and Tobago

April 2011

Presented by Esmond Andrews

AGENDA

• OSH Act

• UTT Health, Safety and Environmental Policy Statement

• Hazard identification and controls in a school environment

• Examples of Personal Protective Equipment

• Disaster Preparedness

• Evacuation Planning

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• Reporting of accidents and illnesses

• Vector control

• Waste management

• Roles and responsibilities of instructors and students

• UTT’s HSE program

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A SAFETY PROGRAM – OSH ACT OF T&T

• Covers all persons at work in industrial establishments including educational

establishments.

• Recognizes employers (contractors incl.), occupiers, students

• Imposes duties on employers, occupiers, employees, owners, suppliers,

designers, importers, the self-employed.

• Introduces penalties for committing safety and health offences

• To ensure, so far as is reasonable practicable, the H, S and W of all employees, students.

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employees, students.

• Safe plant and systems of work

• Safe place of work, safe access, egress.

• Fully equipped first aid boxes including trained first aiders, welfare facilities

• Notice of Accidents

• Not under the influence of any intoxicant

• Report to employer breaches of the Act, regulations.

• Use correctly PPE / protective devices

UTT HEALTH,SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

• Committed to achieving excellence in providing healthy andsafe working and learning environments, while supportingenvironmentally sound practices in the conduct of its activities

• Committed to compliance with all applicable health, safety andenvironmental legislation.

• Ensures safe places of work and safe systems of work at all itsoperating locations.

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operating locations.

• Provides training and information for accident free executionof our business.

• Utilizes the commitment of management; faculty; employees;students and visitors

HAZARDS IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Despite UTT’s commitment to a safe place of work and study HAZARDS do exist, so students and employees must be able to recognise these hazards and take corrective action.

What is a hazard?

A hazard is a condition or activity that, if left uncontrolled, can result in an injury or Illness.

Common hazards in a school environment:

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Common hazards in a school environment:

• Vehicle movements

• Energy

• Noise/Light/Temperature/Vibration/Pressure

• Atmospheric gases/dusts

• Chemicals

• Electricity

COMMON HAZARDS IN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

• Uneven surfaces

• Slippery floors

• Blocking passage ways or exits

• Inadequate egress from building

• Personal protective equipment unavailable

• Inadequate workspace

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• Defective tools or equipment

• Loss of services

• Incomplete or inadequate procedure

• Biological hazards, e.g. bacteria, parasites

• Consuming contaminated foods and water

• Physical attacks from bandits

SOME CONTROL ACTIONS FOR HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS WITHIN STUDENT CONTROL

• Observe signs

• Use PPE required

• Observe personal hygiene rules

• Report illnesses

• Purchase food from known sources

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• Do not block exits, aisles

• Wear appropriate footwear

• No horseplay

• Observe security advisories

SOME EXAMPLES OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PPE

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DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Means detailed planning for prompt and efficient response in case of a

disaster

• Types of disasters to be prepared for are fire, storms, hurricanes,

earthquakes, floods, infestation, explosions

Guidelines for action:

• Hurricanes: fill up with water, food, medical supplies, batteries. Secure

homes and keep tuned in to your radio for further instructions

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homes and keep tuned in to your radio for further instructions

• Earthquakes: secure yourself under tables/desks or door frames. Stay

away from windows, mirrors and items that can fall over. Once the

earthquake has passed evacuate the building. Assess the damage to the

building before re entering. Follow the UTT’s evacuation plan when

evacuating the building

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS CONT’D

Fire and explosion:

Sound the alarm and evacuate the building. Assemble

at the Muster Point and report anyone missing to the

person in charge of the assembly

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Pest Infestation or Attack:

Sound the alarm and evacuate the building. Assemble

at the Muster Point and report anyone missing to the

person in charge of the assembly

EVACUATION PLAN/ MAP

Once the alarm is sounded, please follow the steps stated below:

• Take your personal belongings and walk orderly but briskly to the exit

nearest to you

• Exit the building and proceed to the campus Muster Point. Familiarise

yourself with the Muster Point location

• Stay together in your class group and advise whether or not all from your

class is accounted for

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class is accounted for

• Await for the “All Clear” before re entering the building

• Do not use the elevator

• Assist the Differently Abled student

• Note evacuation maps are posted throughout each campus showing the

evacuation routes at several locations throughout the buildings

REPORTING OF ACCIDENTS OR ILLNESSES

• Report all injuries or illnesses to the campus nurse or instructor.

• The campus nurse will provide immediate medical assistance

including coordinating transport arrangement to the hospital.

• In the absence of the campus nurse report to the First Aider.

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Check the list of first aiders including phone contact, located at

the Sick Bay entrance

• You will be required to fill out an accident incident report form to

be submitted to the HSE Representative or Campus Manager.

VECTOR CONTROL

• A vector is an agent capable of transmitting a disease causing

organism e.g. mosquito, rat, mites, flies, cockroaches

• Diseases include Dengue, Malaria, Leptospirosis

• Common vehicles for transmission include contaminated water

and food, bite from infected mosquito, excreta or urine from

infected animal

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infected animal

• Control actions include Vector control, pest control programs,

community education and participation, elimination of breeding

ground, elimination of food sources, proper sanitation practices

by all, proper hygiene practices

WASTE MANAGEMENT

• A large volume of solid and liquid wastes is generated by schools

• Indiscriminate dumping of solid waste and failure of the collection

system can lead to potential health problems caused by rats and

other vectors of disease

• All solid waste generated except hazardous waste is transported

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• All solid waste generated except hazardous waste is transported

to a landfill.

• Hazardous waste, e.g. used chemicals etc, is treated before

disposal to special landfill

• UTT has adopted a paper recycling program to reduce its solid

waste

WASTE MANAGEMENT

• Support the recycling program by reducing your paper

consumption and disposing of used paper in the recycling bins

• UTT is also taking steps to recycle ink toner cartridges as a

means of reducing its hazardous waste generated

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• All UTT liquid waste goes through a domestic waste water

treatment process before discharging to the environment

• UTT liquid discharges to the environment are in accordance with

the EMA Water Pollution Rules

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENTS DURING EMERGENCIES

Instructors must comply with the following H&S Rules:

• Take control of their students during emergencies

• Report all incidents or accidents to the HSE Unit

• Comply with the applicable HSE rules, procedures or

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• Comply with the applicable HSE rules, procedures or

work instructions

• Be aware of the safety requirements of their location

• Contact the HSE Unit for advice or action on HSE

concerns

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENTS DURING EMERGENCIES

Students must comply with the following H&S Rules:

• Using and wearing personal protective equipment according to

instructions given;

• Reporting all occupational health issues, accidents or incidents to

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the Campus Nurse, First Aider or Instructor

• Complying with the evacuation procedures;

• Not interfering with or misusing any fire protection equipment;

• Complying with all HSE instructions and rules to ensure personal

safety and safety of others.

WHAT IS UTT DOING TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS

• Safety health and Environment Program developed and promoted to address hazards and control risks

• HSE Representatives and senior nurses placed in south, west, east and central campuses to educate and promote the safety program

• Each campus has a sick bay with an assigned nurse and trained first aiders to assist the nurses

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aiders to assist the nurses

• Safety and Health training and education done by the HSE Unit

• Safety and Health procedures documented and available on UTT’s intranet

• Campuses have HSE committees which include student representatives . Committees discuss HSE topics affecting campus and recommend corrective actions to solve issues.

THE ENDTHE ENDTHE ENDTHE END

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HAVE A SAFE DAYHAVE A SAFE DAYHAVE A SAFE DAYHAVE A SAFE DAY