Handsam Training for Placement

These are the notes for some of my Handsam trainings in advance of my first placement.

1.

Display Screen Equipment

Common Health Issues

Work related upper limb disorders:

- Trigger finger

- carpal tunnel syndrome

- Eye strain

- Stress

- Lower Back Pain

In 1992 display screen regulations were introduced.

Who is at risk?

Students are less at risk as they use display screens less often

Staff are at risk from those who use continuous use for periods of an hour at a time.

Workstation Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the interface between a person, their workstation ant their equipment.

Chairs, mouse, keyboard must be at comfortable positions to be as supportive as possible.

The top of the screen, should be level with our eyes. Arms and legs should be at 90 degrees.

Taking Breaks

Take between a five and ten minute break every hour.

A necessary break takes the form of a change in repeated process.

Key points

1 - Ensure workstation is set up specifically for you

2 - Take suitable breaks

3 - Inform responsible person if you require additional ergonomic equipment

2.

Asbestos in Schools Awareness

Introductory information

75% of state schools in the UK still have asbestos

in the ten years until 2010 - over 220 employees at schools died from asbestos related diseases, despite being banned in 1999.

The DfE has estimated that at least 21,500 schools still have asbestos in their buildings.

It was used for about a century before being banned.

It is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate material that was used in buildings since roman times.

Three colours: White, Blue and Brown.

If in doubt, assume that it might be Asbestos.

Key signifiers

- lacking on pipes and boilers

- Sprayed coatings

- Boarding for fire protection

- Display boards

- Ceiling tiles

- Floor tiles

- sheetings for guttering

- Soffit boards

- Be aware for asbestos stickers also.

How does Asbestos affect us?

- Lung cancer

- Mesotthelioma

- Asbestosis - scarring of lungs

- Diffuse pleural thickening

Death can be painful and very slow.

Asbestos can only be harmful when it is disturbed, and these fibres become airborne allowing them to be breathed in.

Most at risk are those who will disturb the asbestos.

Who has legal duty for managing asbestos?

Anyone who has duty to maintain the building:

- Normally the employer

- State school - the local authority

- academies - the governing body or trust

- Private schools - the proprietor

Managing Asbestos

Can only be removed by qualified contractors.

An estimated 10,000 teachers, pupils and staff who have died from asbestos in schools in the last four decades.

Establish information, familiarise yourself with it and comply with procedures

Ensure it's not disturbed under your control.

If it is disturbed:

Put on a protective rag

Evacuate from the area

remove dust and shower if necessary.

Out of 8000 annual work related cancer diagnoses in the UK, over 4000 are associated with exposure to Asbestos.

Good news

It should not be a cause for concern as long as it isn't disturbed.

3.

Classroom Risk Assessment

Introductory information

A risk assessment is a careful examination of what can cause harm in your professional environment. Allowing things to be done safely and effectively.

Why are they needed?

- Legal requirement

- Important step in protecting staff and students

- Helps to identify risks

- Financial security - protects you from being sued.

DfE released new advice in July 2012, aimed at reducing paperwork in schools.

"Children should be able to experience a wide range of activities. Health and Safety measures should help them to do this safely, not stop them."

Five steps to Risk Assessments:

1 - Identify the Hazards

2 - Decide who might be harmed

3 - Evaluate the risks

4 - Record your findings

5 - Review the assessment

On average over a million working days are lost because of slips, trips and falls.

Identifying hazards

You can ask workers

You can identify them through past history of incidents

You can identify yourself

Evaluate the risks

Think about probability and consequence equally to categorise the risk as low, medium or high.

Risk = Likelihood x Severity of outcome

Record your findings

The law requires you to record significant findings and you do not need to log

insignificant or trivial hazards. Review

Every year unless:

Change in premises

Change in Activities

Examine the incident log since a risk assessment was written.

4.

Coping with Stress in Schools

What is Stress

Stress affects us all.

15.4 million working days were lost due to stress in the UK a year.

This is a huge issue to the education sector, which has a knock on effecrt t other staff members and students.

Stress is the adverse reaction people have to excess demands and pressure.

There is a difference between pressure and stress.

Stress is a response to pressure. Pressure can stimulate and can be positive.

When these pressures exceed our ability to cope then it can result in genuine stress.

Work related stress is stress caused by work-related pressures.

In 2016 76% of educational professionals experienced symptoms of stress due to their work.

Effects of Stress

Physical - High blood pressure, high metabolic rate,

Emotional - mood swings, panic attacks,

Behavioural - nervous break down, suicide

Lack of employee engagement

Increase in accidents

Lower teaching standards

Detrimental image

Laws around Stress

There is no litigation about work related stress

However the Health and Safety at work act of 1974 requires employers to maintain the health, safety and welfare of employees at work.

Management of Health and Safety at work regulations 1999 requires employers to carry out risk assessments of employees at work - this includes stress-related issues.

You can ask your employer to work out a plan to reduce stress levels or ensure that it doesn't exceed your tolerance.

Contact mental Health first aiders if feeling stress.

Causes of Stress / Stressors

IF you need help due to external factors - contact line manager or union representatives.

Causes of non-work-related stress include: Relationships

Marriages

Moving House

Death of a friend/family member

Financial concerns

Work related stressors include:

Six factors identified by the HSC 'Stress Management Standards'

1 - Demands - (workload)

2 - Control

3 - Support

4 - Relationships with staff and students

5 - Role within the organisation

6 - Change

Teachers work between 54- 60 hours a week.

Ofsted inspections can also create stress.

- "We do not grade individual lessons or people."

- "We do not require lessons to be planned in a certain way."

- " We do not require schools to prepare for inspections."

Recognising signs of stress:

Emotional symptoms: - negative/depressive feelings

- disappointment within oneself

- increased emotional reactions

- Withdrawal

- Loss of motivation and confidence

- Mood swings

Mental symptoms:

- Feeling indecisive or confused

- Finding it difficult to concentrate

- Loss of memory

Changes from normal behaviour:

- Changes in eating habits

- Increased smoking, drinking or drug abuse

- Mood swings affecting behaviour

- Changes in sleep patterns

- Twitchy or nervous behaviour

- Attendance issues

While these symptoms associate with stress, they may be indicative of other issues.

Discuss this experience with your line manager, or a mental health first aider, or HR department or a trade union representative or an occupational health provider.

What can you do to manage your stress levels?

Find the best level of pressure for you

Break tasks into individual components

Keep your issue in perspective

Establish a course of action and stick to it.

Manage your time

Prioritise important tasks

Avoid unrealistic goals

Use time productively

Be assertive and say no when needed

Take regular breaks

Deal with problems as they appear, before they intensify.

Establish and maintain a strong support network

Maintain good relationships

Adapt your lifestyle to avoid stress

Engage in relaxation Engage in exercise

5.

Fire Safety in Schools

Introductory information

Fire is a common threat, and can damage our professional assets.

You must ensure the safety of yourself and those you are responsible for.

Can cause:

Asphyxiation from a lack of oxygen

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Burns

Lung damage from smoke

irreversible damage to learning resources

The Regulatory Reform Fire safety Order 2005 - places responsibility on employer to risk assess and place procedures for a fire.

How do fires start?

1 - Heat or ignition source - e.g. arson, electricity, heaters, cigarettes, cooking etc

2 - fuel - 4 main classes - A - solid fires (timber, plastic, paper etc) B - Liquids (alcohols and paint thinners, petrols) C - gasses - such as in science departments or propane D - Metals (less likely unless in science departments also.)

3 - oxygen which is ever present in the air - can be intensified through open windows and doors

Arson

Security is paramount in preventing arson.

Often target waste-bins - make sure there are designated waste areas that are far from buildings

Ensure the security of accelerants for fires.

Electrical fires

Minimise use of extensions leads

do not overload plug sockets etc

Fire Spread

Spreads in the same way as heat :

- convection or rising though stairwells or service ducts

- Conduction where heat transfers through to solid objects

- Radiation where heat is transferred through the air - can even be up to 10 metres.

Safety in the event of a fire

Act quickly, especially when responsible for students.

Locate fire exit routes.

On discovering a fire, raise the alarm immediately.

Do not use extinguishers unless it is threatening your escape

Some students may have PEEPs - personal emergency evacuation plans as they may have special needs that need to be adhered to.

6.

Data Protection (GDPR)

Introductory information

General Data Protection Regulation - protection for personal data and obligation of those that process their data.

Rules around consent has changed

Data minimisation

Need to update data has been installed

From the EU GDPR - we have drafted the UK GDPR since leaving the EU

Personal Data

Any information associated with an identifiable natural person (aka data subject) - someone that can be referenced even indirectly by a name, location data, ID number, bank details or any factors specific to the Physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identifiers of a person.

Personal data is the sensitive data of a person - i.e. Race/ethnicity, Sexual Orientation, Political Opinion, Religious or philosophical beliefs, Trade or Union membership, genetic/biometric data & health data including sex-life.

Financial records are not covered under the GDPR.

What types of Data do schools hold?

Electronic data in spreadsheets

Social Media

Emails

letters

Accident reports

SEND records

Exam results/ Mark books

Meeting minutes

Who controls data?

- Data Subject - Anyone in the school including parents and guardian - personal control of any information that comes to them.

- Data Controller - Employer in your school - ensures methods for keeping data remains suitable - responsible for all aspects of data management within the organisation

- Data Processor - Someone who occasionally manages personal data.

Lawful keeping of data

Data must be accurate and updated when necessary

Keep contact details for parents and guardians up to date.

Any previous data must be destroyed.

If a data subject makes a formal request to amend the data you hold on them because it is inaccurate, you must do so within a month.

Illegal to keep record o personal data unless express consent is given.

If you cannot prove you have consent to keep personal data, you must destroy it immediately.

Processing personal data for purposes beyond given consent must be within the boundaries that the consent was given. e.g. It's not legal to use emergency emails provided for marketing chains. You must undertake a formal DPIA process if you have cause to make changes to any data keeping or processing practices.

If you are informed of a data breach, inform your Data Protection Officer (DPO) Immediately.

------

#Onlinetraining