St Laurence Catholic Primary School Lone Working Policy

St. Laurence Catholic Primary School Lone Working Policy

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“Through God’s grace, a community growing in knowledge and understanding”

St Laurence Catholic Primary School

Lone Working Policy

The Governing Body is committed to ensuring staff, volunteers and contractors

enjoy a safe working environment. It is recognised that there are occasions when

teaching, support, administrative, grounds, or cleaning staff may be required, or

choose, to work alone or in isolated situations. This however may introduce risks

for a normally non-hazardous work activity.

Categories of lone worker

Within St Laurence School a lone worker will most probably fall within one of the

following categories:

 Those who work in an otherwise unoccupied part of a building

 Those who work in an isolated part of school grounds

 Those responding to an alarm call out after normal school hours

Definition of Lone Working

Where staff are engaged in work (either outdoors or indoors) where there are no

other people who could reasonably be expected to come to their immediate aid in

the event of an incident or emergency.

Risk Assessment

It is the responsibility of the Head of School to ensure that an annual Health and

Safety and Risk Assessment is undertaken and that members of staff are aware

of the content of this as well as the risks of Lone Working.

The risk assessment will take into account:

 the type of tasks undertaken,

 the environment,

 health and safety instruction and training received, and

 the individual’s medical history.

Hazards identified will be evaluated by the Head of School for the likelihood of the

hazard causing harm. If appropriate the Head of School will consult the Premises,

Health & Safety Committee. Measures will be introduced if the assessment

shows that existing precautions are inadequate to eliminate or adequately control

the hazard. The risk assessment will be subject to review to ensure it is relevant

and current to the workings of the school.

Contractors will be given the opportunity by the Head of School to complete a

Lone Working Risk Assessment as necessary and receive the appropriate Health

and Safety information.

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Controls

 Staff should seek the permission of the Head of School to work alone in the

school buildings outside of normal school hours.

 The experience and training of all staff and the activities to be undertaken

will be taken into consideration before allowing lone working. Lone workers

must be considered capable of responding correctly in an emergency

situation by the Head of School. Whenever possible it is recommended that

staff work with a colleague.

 Staff should not enter the school premises if there are signs of intruders but

are advised to immediately call the police.

 Staff should lock themselves in the building when lone working and ensure

that areas of the school not in use are kept secure.

 Staff must not let unauthorised people into the building when lone working

 Staff must not place themselves in danger by challenging intruders or

vandals but should call the police for assistance.

 Staff must not arrange meetings with parents or members of the public

when lone working.

 Staff should not work alone if they have medical conditions that might cause

incapacity or unconsciousness.

 All lone working staff should establish their own checking in and out system

with either family, friends or work colleagues. It is advised that lone workers

provide a relative or friend with a telephone contact number (eg Head of

School) to call if the lone worker fails to return home at the expected time.

 Staff will receive information and/or training to help ensure they understand

the risks associated with lone working and to minimise these risks. All lone

workers, in an otherwise unoccupied building, should be familiar with the

fire safety advice given to persons hiring the school’s premises (see Fire

Safety Policy). Staff have a responsibility for making themselves familiar

with and following the school’s safety procedures and location of safety

equipment.

 Contractors should have access to their own first aid kit suitable for treating

minor injuries.

 If staff rely on mobile phones they must ensure that their network has good

reception within school. Although phones can give extra reassurance, they

do not provide complete protection and staff should still be alert for their

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own personal safety at all times.

 In the situation where two or more people are working in isolated areas of

an otherwise unoccupied building, personnel should keep each other

informed about their movements.

 Lone workers should not undertake activities that involve the handling of

money, working at height, any task that has been identified as medium or

high risk or which are potentially hazardous given their own level of

experience and the nature of the task. Staff working at height in an isolated

building must follow the “Working at Height” section of the school’s Health &

Safety policy (eg staff must not climb on furniture)

All school personnel are reminded about the importance of maintaining a healthy

work/life balance.

It is not normally practicable for the Head of School to periodically visit and

visually monitor people working alone.

It is the responsibility of all school personnel and contractors to adhere to this lone

working policy and to report any difficulties, failure of equipment or general

concerns on health and safety to the Head of School. If members of staff fail to

follow procedures designed to protect their safety, this could result in a disciplinary

matter as they will have contributed to their injury and any compensation claims

for damages or unfair dismissal may be reduced accordingly.

The School respects the right of the employee, under the Trade Union Reform

and Employment Rights Act 1993, to refuse to carry out work where there is a

serious and imminent risk of danger. They also can advise others to do the same

without being dismissed as a result. Staff should be proactive in bringing to the

attention of Head of School any aspect of work related risks.

The Head of School and/or the Premises, Health & Safety Committee or a

member of said committee will regularly monitor the implementation of these

procedures. Following any incident an investigation will be carried out and its

findings used to inform change to procedures and working practices.

Shared with staff: February 2013 and 2018 ongoing on staff share

Ratified by Premises, Health & Safety Committee: 14

March 2013, and 2018

Review Due: March 2023

St. Laurence Catholic Primary School Lone Working Policy

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