Health and Safety Procedure for Pupils and Building

Introduction

It is the responsibility of all staff to help maintain the safety and security of the pupils and the working/dancing environment – being aware of the risks and know the appropriate action to take, identify any potential safety issues. As defined by the Health and Safety Executive 'a hazard is something with potential to cause harm.'

Equipment Checks

Correct storage of equipment is vital in the role of minimising risks. Any equipment not being used is a potential risk. Every piece of equipment that is used must be checked every day of every dance lesson to ensure its safety– first thing before class starts and last thing, before it is put away.

• Correct storage – make sure that all equipment/resources used are put away in the cupboard after each lesson
• Any equipment no longer being used for a lesson should be put back into the cupboard
• Any damaged equipment should be reported to the Health & Safety officer immediately, for repair or replacement
• The set-up of equipment must be correct and safe
• Safety mats to be used appropriately
• Teach pupils to use the equipment correctly and safely
• No pupils to access any equipment without supervision

Dance Studio Safety Checks

Law protects everyone's health, safety and welfare at work. But we also have the responsibility to look after others and ourselves.

Checks to be made before pupils enter the studio:

• Plug sockets – safe, no wire showing?
• Curtains – any falling/fallen down?
• Mirrors – unbroken?
• Floor – cleaned, foreign bodies removed?
• Doors and exits –secure, locked, safe?
• Lighting and the light switches – any not working, unsecured?

Personal and Pupil Safety Checks

• Correct dance wear/uniform must be worn for each class
• Long hair to be tied back
• Fringes to be secured away from the face and eyes
• Correct footwear to worn for each class
• Safety/protection clothing to be worn when needed, i.e. knee pads

Evacuation Procedures

Fire
Make yourself aware of the fire exits and the position of the fire alarms. No exit should be blocked in anyway. If you should discover a fire, set off the fire alarm. The evacuation area is on the top school car park – unless you are informed otherwise.

Your main responsibility is to help supervise the safety and orderly evacuation of pupils and any other people in your vicinity.

Keep calm. Try to keep others calm.

Do not prolong your evacuation but on passing check all the corridors, toilets etc. to make sure no one is left behind.

In the event of a fire/fire alarm
You are responsible for yourself and the pupils in your class only.

• A continuous ringing of the bell is the signal for a fire and it is the responsibility of the office staff to telephone the emergency services
• Evacuate the building immediately on hearing the alarm through the nearest fire exit – if possible try and do a ‘quick head count' – do not stop to collect belongings
• Assemble at the fire point and supervise an orderly and quiet line
• Health and safety officer for the dance school (not the building) will take the register and wait for further instructions – any findings should be reported immediately to the Health and safety Officer of the building
• Do not re-enter the building until you are informed to do so by the Health and Safety Officer of the building

Bomb Scare
The fire alarm will sound also in the event of a Bomb Scare

• On hearing the alarm follow all the procedure for a fire
• Assemble in the normal evacuation area unless told otherwise

Threat of Violence

Your safety is priority.

• Never meet anyone in isolation
• Always inform someone of a meeting before hand
• Do not approach ‘any known’ violent people on your own
• If you do have to meet with any of these people inform the 'Head' of the building and always take someone with you

Security Procedures and Systems

The office staff (usually three are on duty) are at the main entrance to the building. Anyone wishing to come down to the dance studio is escorted by a member of staff from the office. The building is also equipped with Close Circuit Televisions, and all footage is recorded. Any unidentified person found around the dances studios are reported to the office staff immediately.

Before lessons start there is a 'quick briefing' session, so all staff are aware of what is going on and who is where. If for any reason staff need to leave the building unexpectingly, inform the other teacher in the other dance studio. This keeps the staff attendance record up-to-date.

Only the caretaker in the office as a key to the building, he lets us in and locks and secures all exits once we leave. He is also responsible for setting and shutting off the alarm system.

It is important that all staff know the whereabouts of all its pupils and colleagues. The main dance studio holds the all the records on what pupils are present, absent and where they should be, as well as the medical details and contact forms.

At the end of each lesson the children are escorted out to their parents/carers by a member of staff. The staff will stay with the pupils until a parent/carer arrives. Any pupil will not be allowed to go home with any other person, rather than their usual parent/carer unless staff have been informed of the change before the lesson starts. Some older children have written permission off their parents to go home by themselves. However these children are not allowed to leave early unless staff have had prior instructions off their parents.

Pupils who are hurt

The office staff, and a dance teacher are all qualified first-aiders.

Minor injury, i.e. grazed knee – then staff can deal with it appropriately and fill out the accident record Head Injuries – however small, these incidents are always reported to the parents in case of concussion or any other medical reasons, and dealt with by the first-aider Major injury, i.e. suspected broken bones – should only be treated by the qualified first-aiders. Pupils should be not moved, they are to be kept safe until the first-aider arrives. The first-aider will inform the appropriate people and then complete the accident book.

Major injuries may cause disruption to a class. Try to keep the pupils calm and not to panic, if possible get some one to move them out of the area. The first-aider will reassure the causality at all times and make them aware of the situation.

NB: All pupils with specific medical needs have separate instructions on procedures to follow in case of an accident/emergency.

Disposal of waste and spillages of body fluids is dealt with by the caretaker.

First Aid Boxes

There is first aid equipment kept at the office and dance teachers also have their own first aid boxes, which are also able to be transported to accompany on outside activities, trips, shows etc. Inside every first aid box is:

• Individual wrapped sterile adhesive dressings
• Sterile eye pads
• Individual wrapped sterile triangular bandages
• Safety pins
• Individual wrapped sterile unmediated wound dressing
• Disposable gloves