[Design and Technology] Health and safety news from the Design and Technology Association based in the UK

[Tran, Lorraine I]

www.data.org.uk <http://www.data.org.uk/> 

 

 

Health & Safety news

British Standard 4163:2007 Heath and Safety for D&T in Schools and Similar Establishments

A new edition of BS 4163 has now been published and is available to purchase from the D&T Association for £20 for members. There is a lot of new information including the recommendation that, '...the maximum number of students in any one work area is 20 students with one competent, qualified teacher' (paragraph 3.1).

British Standard 4163:2007 is now fully revised for 2007 and available now! Contact Pam Osborne on: 01789 473 901 or email: pam at data.org.uk <mailto:pam at data.org.uk> 

Two serious accidents in local authority schools

Members working in local authorities should be aware of recent accidents having serious implications.

In one school, a technician cut his hand badly on a circular saw because the crown guard had been removed by a teacher the previous day. The HSE report stated: "It was only at this stage (when he had cut his hand) that the technician realised the guard was missing" as he had never been formally trained to use the machine. As the employer, the local authority were prosecuted by HSE for "failing to impose, monitor and enforce a uniform safe system of work and minimum levels of training". 

The fine was £12,000 with legal costs of £4,884.

This demonstrates the need for local authorities to ensure that equipment used in schools is maintained in a safe condition and that staff are trained and the condition of equipment is monitored. However many colleagues in local authorities will know of the difficulties of doing this when budgets are delegated and there are insufficient trained staff to carry out monitoring work. If local authorities require monitoring work, it may be better to see if H&S consultants who are part of the D&T Association scheme can do the work.

In another accident, a girl was injured following an attempt to make plastic casts of her hands. The plaster of Paris became hot, expanded slightly and set so that she was unable to remove her hands. Fingers and thumbs from both hands had to be amputated. 

The fact that heat is generated when plaster of Paris sets is well known, and CLEAPSS have produced two useful guidance leaflets on the use of plaster of Paris, L72 and L74. These are available to all CLEAPSS subscribers, which includes all local authorities. 

Members may wish to alert Art and Design colleagues in their schools to this matter, and to pass on this information to local authority colleagues who have responsibility for Art and Design. web.data.org.uk/data/health_safety/consultants <http://web.data.org.uk/data/health_safety/consultants.php> 

 

 

Lorraine Tran

Curriculum Manager, P - 12 Design and Technology

Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA)

41 St Andrews Place

East Melbourne 3002

http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au

 

Email: tran.lorraine.i at edumail.vic.gov.au

Telephone: (03) 9651 4407

Mobile:       041 933 1630

 

The VCAA provides curriculum and assessment for prep to Year 12. The VCAA is a statutory body directly responsible to the Minister for Education and Training and serves government and non-government schools. 

 


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