Colin writes:
"The
official Gloucestershire statistics show that only 36 teachers were
physically assaulted last year and that there were no cases of verbal
abuse at all.
The LEA do not believe this and nor do we.
The problem is one of under-reporting. It is our responsibility as teachers
to ensure that every case of verbal or physical abuse is reported to
the LEA. It should be done on the new 'Incident Form' which was
introduced earlier this year. The old 'Accident Book' forms - they were
A4 self-duplicating sheets on a pad - should have been thrown out. The
new forms are easy to fill in and designed to cope with incidents of
this sort. Please check that your school has changed to the new forms
and encourage colleagues to report all cases of verbal and physical
abuse. Only then will we be able to assess the magnitude of the problem.
Your Union is working for you."
Link
to national NUT site 
Below
is listed Colin's selection of Health and Safety issues and appropriate
guidance documents
HEALTH
AND SAFETY - guidance
NB: Some
of the following guidance is contained in portable document files (pdf)
which can be viewed and printed with Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't
already have Acrobat, download it free from here:
ASBESTOS AND DRAWING PINS
This briefing provides up-to-date NUT guidance on asbestos, including facts about asbestos, the law on asbestos management and removal, and advice to NUT safety reps on dealing with asbestos problems.
Guidance Word doc here
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BULLYING
AND HARASSMENT AT WORK: ACAS GUIDANCE
Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect at work. Bullying
and harassment should not be tolerated in the workplace. ACAS has produced
an on-line guidance document which:
• gives employees basic information about bullying and harassment
(e.g., what constitutes bullying and how it may be characterised);
• summarises the responsibilities of employers;
• outlines the options to be considered; and
• points out sources of information and advice.
The guide may be accessed at www.acas.org.uk from the 'publications' section.
See also NUT
pdf titled 'Dignity at work' and http://www.thefieldfoundation.org/
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COMPUTERS:
WHITEBOARD DANGERS
The Union's computer safety guidance document has been revised to take
account of recent developments. It has been expanded to include new
information on Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), interactive whiteboards
and ergonomic and safety issues affecting teachers and pupils within
ICT suites, classrooms and at home. The checklist accompanying the guidance
has also been revised to take account of these new additions. The updated
guidance and checklist have been posted on the health and safety section
of the NUT's website at www.teachers.org.uk
Advisers should note that the Union is concerned in particular about
the possible eyesight dangers resulting from the incorrect use of whiteboard
projectors. Advisers should also note that 'The Teacher' is going to
highlight this subject in a forthcoming edition early in 2004.
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ERGONOMICS
AT WORK : HSE GUIDANCE
The HSE has produced a leaflet, 'Understanding Ergonomics at Work',
which explains what ergonomics is and how it can improve health and
safety in your workplace. It gives some examples of ergonomics problems
and how to solve them. It is aimed at anyone who has a duty to maintain
and improve health and safety or who wants to gain an insight into ergonomics.
Single copies are available, free of charge, from:
HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA
tel: 01787 881165
website: www.hsebooks.co.uk
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HAZARDOUS
SUBSTANCES AT WORK: LRD GUIDANCE
The Labour Research Department has produced a booklet which looks at
some of the main hazardous substances encountered at work, explains
their effects and summarises the relevant health and safety legislation.
It details in particular the revised Control of Substances Hazardous
to Health Regulations (COSHH) and the new Approved Code of Practice
on asthma. It also covers the new asbestos regulations and looks at
other important legislation on packaging, dangerous substances, major
hazards and lead.
Single copies of the 56-page booklet are £4.25 from:
LRD, 78 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8HF
tel 020 7928 3649
Cheques should be made payable to the Labour Research Department.
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HEAT
STRESS
The HSE has produced an information sheet, 'Heat stress in the
workplace. What you need to know as an employer', which explains
the risks of overheating when working in hot conditions and gives practical
guidance on how to avoid it. It gives advice on what the typical symptoms
are, what to look at in a risk assessment and how to reduce the risks.
Single copies are available, free of charge, from:
HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA
tel: 01787 881165
website: www.hsebooks.co.uk
Free leaflets can also be downloaded from HSE's website: www.hse.gov.uk
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HIV/AIDS
PREVENTION: EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL GUIDANCE
Education International, the international teachers' body, has recently
produced a leaflet on HIV/AIDS prevention entitled 'Teachers Against
AIDS'. The leaflet suggests courses of action to contribute
to AIDS prevention efforts.
More than 40 million people worldwide are infected with HIV and in several
African countries one in every three adults is HIV positive. This has
had a serious impact on the teaching profession. AIDS has already claimed
the lives of thousands of teachers and in some countries the infection
rate has reached 40% among teaching staff. AIDS is weakening the education
sector in these countries.
Copies of 'Teachers Against AIDS' can be downloaded from
EI's website at
www.ei-ie.org/aids.htm
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LEGIONELLA
- EMPLOYERS' DUTY OF CARE
Following the recent outbreak of legionnaire's disease in Barrow-in-Furness,
in which at least 6 people died, health and safety advisers may wish
to discuss with LEAs the duty to consider the risks from legionella
and check that they are taking suitable precautions. All employers have
a duty under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
(COSHH) 1999 to assess and manage the risks arising from legionella
in their water structures, including hot and cold water systems.
The HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/index.htm provides information on including what legionella is, where it comes
from, how people get legionnaires disease, what the symptoms are and
how it can be controlled. Further information is available from the
website of the Public Health Laboratory Service at www.phls.org.uk
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MOBILE
PHONE BASE STATIONS : GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE
A 'Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phones Network Development' has been produced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The Code
includes advice on consulting schools about new mobile phone base stations
on or near their premises. More information can be found at: www.teachernet.gov.uk
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PREGNANCY:
NEW AND EXPECTANT MOTHERS WHO WORK: HSE GUIDANCE
The HSE recently published a leaflet which helps answer some of the
questions pregnant women may have about working while pregnant and returning
to work after maternity leave. In particular it sets out what action
pregnant women and their employers should take to protect their health
and safety and that of the child. It covers, amongst others, the issues
of risk assessment, time off for ante-natal appointments and breastfeeding
on return to work.
Single free copies are available from HSE Books on 01787-881165.
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RIGHTS
OF WAY IN SCHOOLS
The Government has implemented the first stage of a new provision on
Rights of Way, which will enable highway authorities to close or divert
a right of way that crosses school premises, if doing so would protect
pupils or staff from 'violence or the threat of violence, harassment,
alarm or distress arising from unlawful activity, or any risk to their
health and safety from such an activity'. Schools also have the right
to apply to close or divert rights of way in those circumstances. Details
can be found at www.teachernet.gov.uk/rightsofway
The Pupil Health and Safety Unit at the DfES has asked for current examples
of schools that suffer badly from rights of way and which would benefit
from being able to close the right of way. Any examples of schools which
suffer from violent or anti-social behaviour by people who use the right
of way would be most useful. Details may be sent to Andrew Morris at the NUT Health and Safety Unit at Hamilton House, who will
forward them to the DfES.
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REHABILITATION
- LRD GUIDE
Employers and unions are increasingly looking at ways to help ill and
injured workers back to work. This Labour Research Department booklet
looks at the latest research on what makes for effective rehabilitation
and advises union reps on developing successful rehabilitation programmes
in the workplace.
Single copies for LRD affiliates cost £3.15 and are available from:
LRD, 78 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8HF
tel 020 7928 3649
Cheques should be made payable to the Labour Research Department.
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RISK
ASSESSMENT: HSE VIDEO 'CHECK IT OUT'
The HSE has produced a new young people's risk assessment video and
teachers' work pack. It is aimed at young people about to go on work
experience. It features drama, poses questions and includes vox pops
from school pupils.
One pack is available free to each school from HSE Books on 01787
313995 (quote ISBN 0717623513) but further copies are priced.
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SARS:
HSE/DfES ADVICE TO EDUCATION EMPLOYEES
The HSE has produced an information note for education employers on
this new disease and its consequences for educational establishments
available at www.hse.gov.uk/sars.
The DfES Teachernet website also contains advice at www.teachernet.gov.uk This refers to Department of Health advice for educational establishments
with students returning from SARS affected areas, including information
about action in the event of contacts with symptomatic cases of SARS,
and general guidance from the Health Protection Agency (formerly the
Public Health Laboratory Service).
Locally, advice on individual issues should be sought from the local
NHS trust's Consultant in Communicable Disease Control. The general
DoH advice is that individuals are only at risk if they are in close
contact with infected individuals or their body fluids. Under normal
teaching circumstances this type of exposure is unlikely. Some employees
e.g. school nurses may be at higher risk if during the course of their
normal work they have close contact with infectious people. In such
cases employers should already have carried out a COSHH risk assessment
to take account of potential exposure to biological agents.
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STRESS:
NEW HSE STRESS PACK 'REAL SOLUTIONS, REAL PEOPLE'
A new HSE pack provides guidance on tackling work-related stress and
contains simple advice for managers on finding ways to tackle the causes
of stress at work. It builds upon a familiar risk assessment approach.
The pack contains a managers' guide to improving and maintaining employee
health and well-being, a guide for employees, an action plan for tackling
stress at work and a set of 'solution prompt cards'. The prompt cards
contain possible solutions, which could act as a useful prompt when
discussing problems identified in any risk assessment for work-related
stress.
The pack is available from:
HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA
tel:01787 881165
website www.hsebooks.co.uk
Price per pack £20.00, increasing to £25.00 in April 2004.
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STRESS: TACKLING STRESS AT WORK: LRD GUIDANCE
The Labour Research Department has published an updated guide to tackling
stress. It explains the current legal position, including the recent
ruling from the Court of Appeal on compensation in stress cases (see
NUT Circular 02/122) and sets out the latest advice from unions,
the TUC and the HSE. It provides advice on ways of tackling the issue
of stress in the workplace, through carrying out surveys, doing a risk
assessment and drawing up a policy.
NUT health and safety advisers can order single copies for £3.70, including
post and packing, from:
LRD, 78 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8HF
tel 020 7928 3649
Cheques should be made payable to the Labour Research Department.
See also NUT
guidance pdf here
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VDUs:
HSE GUIDANCE
The HSE has updated its guidance to employers on how to comply with
the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992. It
gives easy to follow advice on how to prevent ill health risks caused
by work with VDUs, including upper limb disorders or RSI, backache,
fatigue, stress and eye strain. It contains a useful checklist which
can be used as an aid to risk assessment and to help comply with the
schedule to the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations.
The document is available from HSE Books on 01787 881165, price
£8.50.
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VIOLENCE: RISKS TO LONE
AND MOBILE WORKERS
The HSE has published a series of 19 real life case studies as part
of its current three-year (2000-2003) programme to tackle work-related
violence, with the aim of reducing the number of incidents of violence
at work. The case studies offer employers real examples of how some
organisations have reduced the risk of violence to lone and mobile workers
in practical ways. They also highlight the importance of carrying out
a risk assessment and providing training and information for staff.
The case studies are freely available on the HSE's website at www.hse.gov.uk/violence
A free guidance leaflet 'Violence at Work, A Guide for Employers',
INDG69(rev) is available from HSE Books on 01787 313995.
Useful information can also be obtained from The Suzy Lamplugh Trust
at www.suzylamplugh.org/home/index.shtml
or write to:
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust,
14 East Sheet Avenue,
London SW14
email trust@suzylamplugh.org
tel: 020 8392 1839
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WATER
MARGINS - GROUP SAFETY: DfES/CCPR GUIDANCE
The DfES and Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR) have produced
a guidance document aimed at teachers who organise and lead outdoor
educational visits that take place near or in water. The guidance complements
the handbook for Group Leaders' section of the DfES guidance on educational
visits. It covers such activities as walks along river banks or seashores,
collecting samples from ponds and streams or paddling or walking in
gentle, shallow water. It does not include swimming and other activities
that require water safety or rescue qualifications or water-going craft.
It lists things to think about before the visit as well as issues to
consider on the day.
Copies can be ordered from DfES Publications on 0845 6022260 quoting publications code 0270/2003. Alternatively copies can
be downloaded from either www.teachernet.gov.uk/visits or www.ccpr.org.uk
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WORKING
TEMPERATURE - THE MAXIMUM
Following the sweltering summer temperatures in 2003, the TUC has called
for the legal protection of a maximum workplace temperature. Currently,
cattle and pigs cannot be transported in temperatures of more than 30
degrees Celsius. Workers should enjoy, at least, the same protection
of cattle! The TUC notes that while there is a legal minimum temperature
below which no one should have to work, there is no equivalent if it
gets too hot. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Sweatshop
conditions can push workers to boiling point. Extreme heat is as bad
for you as extreme cold. There is no logic for having a minimum working
temperature but no maximum."
Too much heat can cause fatigue, extra strain on the heart and lungs,
dizziness and fainting, or heat cramps due to loss of water and salt.
Hot, dry air can increase the risk of eye and throat infections, and
breathing problems such as asthma and rhinitis. The TUC wants a maximum
working temperature of 30 degrees Celsius, or 27 degrees Celsius for
those doing strenuous work, with employers required to take action when
the temperature hits the Celsius ceiling. In the meantime, the TUC is
calling on employers to take commonsense measures to protect the health
and welfare of their staff. TUC's Brendan Barber said: "The TUC
urges employers to be flexible in these tough temperatures. If they
cannot reduce the heat at work they could relax dress codes, allow more
breaks, and more shift rotation."
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WORKPLACE
SAFETY LAWS IMPROVED
The Health and Safety Executive has announced that workplace safety
and fire regulations are to be changed to allow employees and employers
to claim damages for breaches of the regulations. The move comes after
a legal campaign by the fire fighters' union, FBU, which argued successfully
that UK safety law had loopholes that allowed employers to evade responsibility
when they failed to comply with legal risks assessment duties. The changes
mean employees will now be able to claim damages from their employer
in a civil action, where they suffer injury or illness as a result of
the employer breaching the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
1999 or the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997. However,
employers will also be able to bring actions against employees for breach
of their duties under the 1999 regulations.
The HSE news release is at www.hse.gov.uk/press/2003/e03172.htm
The HSE consultative document is at www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd177.htm
The HSE discussion on the consultation findings is here
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