Nursery Health and Safety Policy

It is the aim of the organisation to provide a safe and healthy working and play environment for staff, children and visitors.

Responsibilities

The Owner

Ultimate responsibility for health and safety will lie with the owner of the nursery. It is the duty of the owner of the nursery to ensure the nursery complies with legislative requirements at all times. In particular the owner will ensure that:

• health and safety regulations, rules, procedures and codes of practice are being applied effectively
• appropriate protective clothing and equipment, first aid and fire appliances are provided
• monitor standards of health and safety.

Nursery Manager

As part of her day to day responsibilities the nursery manager will ensure that:

• safe methods of working exist and are implemented throughout the facility
• health and safety regulations, rules, procedures and codes of practice are being applied effectively
• staff under her supervision are instructed in safe working practices
• new employees are given instruction in safe working practices
• check and maintain the first aid provision.

The Owner and Nursery Manager together

The owner and nursery manager together will:

• identify and evaluate all risks relating to the premises and proposed activities
• arrange a system of risk assessment to allow the prompt identification of potential hazards
• set in place arrangements or procedures to eliminate or control these hazards
• encourage staff, children and visitors to promote health and safety
• collate accident and incident information and when necessary carry out accident and incident investigations
• carry out a documented health and safety check at least four times per calendar year.

All staff

All staff will have a responsibility to:

• take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of any other person(s) who may be affected by their act(s) or omissions at work
• follow agreed working practices and safety procedures
• report any accident, near miss, incidents of violent or verbal abuse or any hazard
• ensure health and safety equipment is not misused or interfered with.

Procedures for Evacuation of the Premises

In the event of the need to evacuate the building for a period of time either for reasons of fire or other hazard the procedures below will be followed:

1. The fire bell will ring.
2. Children and staff will cease all activities immediately and staff will escort children out of the building using the nearest fire exit to assemble at the front of the nursery. Members of staff will position themselves to prevent any child leaving the premises unescorted.
3. The nursery manager will make every reasonable effort to ensure that the daily register and staff/visitors log book are rescued.
4. A head count of children and staff will be carried out and checked against the register/log book, if anyone is not accounted for the nursery manager will be informed
5. The nursery manager will contact the nursery owner
6. If emergency services are required and have not yet been contacted they will be contacted
7. Children and staff will not re-enter the premises until the premises have been declared safe either by the emergency services or by the nursery manager/owner in less serious incidents
8. If it is obvious that the premises will not be re-entered for the remainder of the session parents will be contacted to collect the children.