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21 December 2010 - NR 61/10

IOSH call for risk education in schools

Schools should be teaching children how to be risk-savvy rather than cancelling trips and adventure activities, a leading health and safety body said today.

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) backs Government plans to simplify the process for schools organising trips – but it also wants balanced risk education to be part of the curriculum for pupils.

IOSH made the comments today in response to a wide-ranging UK Government review of health and safety.

Lord Young of Graffham’s review findings – ‘Common Sense, Common Safety’ – were published in October after Prime Minister David Cameron ordered a fresh look at health and safety and the red tape surrounding classrooms and school trips.

IOSH published its response – 'Getting the Balance Right' – this week ahead of a line of Government consultations on the review.

“We agree with the principle of simplifying the process that schools follow before taking children on trips,” says IOSH.

“School students should get to try out new experiences away from the confines of the classroom – and be encouraged to learn to think independently. We believe that teaching children to be risk-savvy will set them up for life.”

But the Institution warned against a cut in red tape meaning a cut in the quality of care we offer our children.

“It’s critical to make sure that trips are well planned and managed,” says IOSH.

“We look forward to seeing detailed proposals around the idea of introducing a risk-benefit assessment system for schools and the suggestion to separate ‘play and leisure from workplace contexts’.”

At present the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are trialling an online classroom risk assessments. The risk assessment expects individual teachers and teaching assistants to consider and control risk in their own classroom and consider issues such as asbestos. However, IOSH fears the tool kit will result in inconsistencies and duplication of resources for teachers in hard-pressed schools.

Chartered IOSH member David Garioch, who is responsible for the health and safety of 60 primary, secondary and special schools in the London borough of Sutton, said: “The classroom assessment is more geared up to an inspection – not a critical review of significant hazards in the school.

“Surely it’s better for managers, teachers and non-teaching staff to work together to assess and manage risks than having the added bureaucracy of teachers doing individual room assessments.”

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Notes for editors:

IOSH is the Chartered body for health and safety professionals. With more than 40,000 members in 85 countries, we’re the world’s biggest professional health and safety organisation.

We set standards, and support, develop and connect our members with resources, guidance, events and training. We’re the voice of the profession, and campaign on issues that affect millions of working people.

IOSH was founded in 1945 and is a registered charity with international NGO status.