Education: Specialist schools

Hazards and Solutions

1. Hazard 1 Challenging behaviour

   • Room layout and design must support staff safety (eg mechanical lifting aids, location of desks, multiple exits), particularly in schools where staff are at risk of student-initiated challenging behaviour.
   • Implement duress / assistance plans and ensure that staff know how to seek assistance.
   • Risk (re)assessment of students should occur at least annually and be linked to students' behaviour management plans.
2. Hazard 2 Classroom and office ergonomics

   • Provide appropriate workstations (eg height-adjustable chairs, computers with height-adjustable monitors, adequate lighting, desk and foot space and mouse pad area, docking station for laptops). This includes home offices or off-site work areas.
   • Ensure sufficient storage and display space to support good housekeeping.
3. Hazard 3 Lifting and moving children and equipment

   • Provide appropriate aids and equipment (eg height-adjustable change tables, cots with a higher working base, height-adjustable highchairs with removable trays, height-adjustable trolleys for shifting goods in and out of vehicles, wheeled trolleys or frames for laundry bags) and ensure they are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
   • Develop and implement appropriate policies and procedures and communicate them to all staff (eg teachers, middle managers). Actively implement ways to reduce the risk of industry.
   • Ensure employees receive a site induction and ongoing training (eg about how to use any risk controls).
   • Train employees in the selection and use of any aids and equipment and safe handling methods (eg ensure stacking and lifting work can be carried out between shoulder and mid-thigh height, large or awkward objects such as timber should be transported on dollies).
   • Store frequently used heavy objects at waist level, and design and position shelves for easy access.
4. Hazard 4 Slips trips and falls

   • Use good design to prevent foreseeable hazards (eg replace extension cords with built-in power points).
   • Ensure all stairs and steps have handrails.
   • Regularly tidy and remove clutter so it does not accumulate.
   • Clean up spills immediately.
   • Ensure carpets are flat and in good state of repair.
5. Hazard 5 Work-related stress bullying and harassment

   • Develop and implement appropriate policies and procedures for workplace bullying and harassment.
   • Encourage a positive workplace culture, including reporting of bullying and harassment.
   • Hold regular team meetings and debriefing sessions for staff to raise OHS matters.
   • Ensure all employees (including emergency and student teachers, temporary staff) understand what bullying and harassment is, and the procedures for reporting incidents (eg policies and procedures should be promoted during employee induction and workplace bullying prevention or training).
   • Provide access and encourage employees to use employee counselling / support services, where possible.
   • Train employees on how to identify and defuse potentially volatile situations.
   • Encourage employees to report any workplace stress factors (eg work demand, low control, poor support, lack of role clarity, organisational culture) and control appropriately.