Student H+S Handbook 2015 V2

Health and Safety
Guide for Students

Keep It Handy

Contents

Introduction and Your Responsibility…………….1
Fire Safety …………………………………………….…….….2
Fire Evacuation ……………………………………….…..…3
Electrical Safety ……………………………………….…….3
First Aid ……………………………………………………….…4
Slips, Trips and Falls …………………………………,……4
Safety in Lessons…………………………….………..….…5
Sports and Activities ………………………………………5
Road Safety……………………………………….……………6
Cycle Safely…………………………………………………….6
Personal Safety ………………………………………………7
Internet and Mobile Safety …………………………… 8
Cyber Bullying ………………………………………...….….8
Computer Use …………………………………………….….9
Spot the Hazards Challenge ………………………….10
Emergency Contacts and Useful Websites ......Back page

Introduction

Your safety is as important to us as your learning experience. Please help us to make
sure you stay safe by reading this booklet and keeping it handy.

Your Responsibility…

We cannot keep you safe without your help, so please follow these simple rules:

DO

 Behave in a responsible and considerate manner
 Comply with health and safety procedures and instructions
 Obey all safety signs and notices
 Report all incidents involving fire, injury, property damage or criminal activity
 Report any bullying or aggressive behaviour towards you or other students or

staff
 Report any concerns you have about your safety or that of other students

DO NOT

 Misuse or tamper with safety equipment

Fire Safety

Fires can start and spread easily if you do not follow safety measures and regulations.

Even a small fire can result in significant damage to your personal property and the
smoke and fumes can kill quickly.

Fires can put many lives at risk, including those of fire fighters.

DO

 Keep your room tidy and clutter-free

 Ensure you can leave your room quickly in an emImmeerdgiateelny rcepyorting:
- anything that you think may

Familiarise yourself with the evacuation procedurceausseaa nfired, exit points in all the

buildings you use - any fire incident no matter how
small,

 - defective fire safety equipment.

Achieving Not overloading
electrical sockets

 Keep fire doors closed and evacuation routes cFliereaSrafoetfyclutter Not covering

accommodation

heaters with

clothing/towels etc.

.
.

 Treat all alarms as real emergencies unless you are informed otherwise

DO NOT

 Cook, smoke, use candles or burn incense in your room

 Misuse or tamper with fire equipment - lives may depend on this equipment

and it is a criminal offence

 Obstruct exits and escape routes
 Cover heaters, light fittings or fire detectors

Fire Evacuation

It is very important that you know what to do in the event of fire. Your student
induction will inform you of fire evacuation procedures and assembly points.
Please inform staff if you require assistance evacuating the building.

On discovering a fire…

DO

 Sound the alarm by breaking the fire alarm glass and pressing the call point
 Warn others close to you and leave the building immediately, walking quickly to

your assembly point
 Inform the nearest member of staff of the location of the fire or dial 999
 Report to the person taking the register or, if there is no one around, stay at the

assembly point until help arrives

On hearing the alarm…

 Leave the building immediately by the nearest exit and go to the assembly point
 If you are in class, follow your teacher’s instructions
 Report to the person taking the register or, if there is no one around, stay at the

assembly point. Be careful of traffic.

DO NOT

 Use the lifts
 Stop to collect belongings or wait for others
 Go back into the building until a member of staff says it is safe to do so
 NEVER try to put out a fire unless you have been trained and it is safe to do so

Electrical Safety

Electric shocks can be nasty and sometimes fatal. Electrical failures can also start

fires. Here are a few steps to minimise …

DO DO NOT

 Have faulty equipment checked  Use or attempt to fix faulty
 Check you have the correct CE
electrical equipment
approved UK adapters and plugs,  Use kettles, toasters, heaters, rice

or ask staff to check for you cookers etc. in your bedroom
 Switch off appliances and plug  Overload sockets

sockets when they are not in use

First Aid and Medicine

At your induction will receive information on your First Aiders and what to do if you
have an accident, are unwell or need to take medicines. Please follow the simple
rules below:

DO

 Report all accidents to a member of staff as soon as possible
 Store medicines safely and securely
 Get your medicine from an authorised dispenser

DO NOT

 Call the emergency services unless you cannot quickly locate a member of staff
Share medicines with other people

Slips, Trips and Falls

To help minimise accidents, please keep premises clean and tidy. Be aware of your
surroundings and...

DO

 Watch where you are going
 Be careful in busy areas on crowded stairs and in wet and icy conditions
 Report or clean up spilt food or liquid immediately
 Wear appropriate footwear for your environment

DO NOT

 Leave items unattended in walkways

 Drop litter or leave a mess behind you

Safety in Lessons ’g

Putting theory into practice in art and science classes
hazardous substances or sharp equipment.

DO

 Follow safety procedures and instructions
 Read written protocols for hazardous work - such as Good Laboratory Practice

and Safety in Fieldwork
 Wear the right protective equipment
 Concentrate when working with dangerous materials

DO NOT ’

 Start a risky activity

Sports and Activities

Any sport or outdoor activity involves risk. Using approved clubs and organisations
helps to reduce this risk, as does following these simple guidelines…

DO

 Ask the activity organiser if you have any questions about safety
 Use the right equipment
 Follow instructions

DO NOT

 Undertake sports activities without the appropriate equipment and supervision
 Undertake sports activities without appropriately warming up and down

Road Safety

I ’ as these maybe different from those in
your own country.
There is a list of useful websites at the end of this booklet which provide further
information on this topic.

MOTORISTS DRIVE ON THE LEFT IN THE UK AND IRELAND

DO

 Pay attention when using roads and

walkways
 Use identified walkways and crossing

points

C “L r /L ”

markings on the road before crossing

DO NOT

 Drive a car unless you have a valid licence and insurance

Cycle Safely

Cycling is a great .T …

DO

 Obey traffic and crossing signs

Path is shared Separate Paths Cyclists Only
 Look out for vehicles turning left across your path
 Wear a helmet and use lights
 Check your brakes and tyres regularly

DO NOT

 Leave your bike unlocked, it can disappear in seconds

Wearing headphones or talking/texting on your mobile will distract you from your
surroundings and greatly increase your chance of having an accident

Internet and Mobile Safety

The internet and mobiles are a great source of information and communication.
However you may encounter people (predators) who use them to persuade you into
dangerous situations.

DO DO NOT

 Remember that not everyone is  Give personal information to

who they say they are. Predators ’
can post fake names, information  Plan to meet anyone you have

and pictures communicated with online
 Tell a member of staff and the  Give out financial information or

website provider if you suspect make payments online other than
someone could be a predator
through verified websites or

payment system

Cyber-Bullying

Cyber-bullying is any form of virtual or online bullying. All of your actions online can

have a lasting presence on the internet, so think carefully before sharing opinions,

comments or images.

DO DO NOT

 Block anyone who is bullying you  Post intimate images or

from contacting you online or via comments on any website

your phone and tell someone or send them to anyone

 Change your number or email electronically
address if necessary and only give  Reply to nasty messages you

new details to people you know you receive

can trust

 Contact a helpline if you feel you

’

Personal Safety

By taking simple precautions you can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a

victim of crime…

DO DO NOT

 Secure your bedroom and/or  Let anyone into college buildings

personal belongings who does not have a pass/you
 Report anything/anyone
’ ’ well
suspicious
 Carry your ID and report it L

your phone/electronic devices or

immediately if you lose it any money
 Keep money in the school safe, or

in a pocket money or bank

account

Safety when out and about

It is sensible to follow a few simple precautions when you are out and about

DO

 Try to use cashpoints in daylight, beware of people standing close to you and
conceal your PIN number

 Keep to busy, well lit areas at night

DO NOT

 Show your money in the street or leave valuables on display or within easy reach

A x’

Safety on a night out

Make your night memorable for the right reasons…

DO see who is behind you, get to a
busy area or call a friend to tell
 Tell your accommodation them where you are. If necessary,
call the police
provider/a friend where you’re
DO NOT
going and when you’
 Plan how to get home and take

money for a taxi (just in case)  Get into a car with a driver who

 Make sure your mobile is working appears to be under the influence

 Let friends know where you are of alcohol or drugs

going if you split up  Leave drinks unattended where
 Only use licenced taxis, or walk
they might be spiked

home in a group  Take unknown or illegal
 Stay alert to signs of danger
 If you think you are being substances

followed, cross the road, check to

Computer Use

It is very important to set up your work station correctly and adopt a good posture as
this will help to avoid common problems such as eye strain, finger, wrist, back or
shoulder pain and headaches.

M’
the top of the screen aligned with your eyes

Keep your head and body
straight with shoulders relaxed

Adjust the back of the chair so that
the curve of the chair supports
your lower back

Keep your mousse close to you Keep elbows close to your
and hold it lightly. Keep your sides
wrists straight and flat with
your arms, wrists and forearms Ensure you have a gap between
parallel to the floor the edge of chair and the back
of your knees
Keep your feet flat on the floor

DO DO NOT

 Make sure you can read the  Slump or lean over your desk
 Put prolonged or unnecessary
screen clearly without flicker or
pressure on the underside of
glare
 Take regular breaks during screen your thighs/back of your knees

work
 Use a foot rest if your feet don't

touch the ground

Ask if you would like help with your work area or if you are suffering from any
complaints associated with computer use.

ANSWERS
1.Broken smoke detector / 2.Broken window pane / 3.Mouldy Food / 4.Hot drink on edge of table /
5. Coat covering lamp / 6.Loose handle on door / 7.Clothes piled on floor / 8. Overloaded plug socket
9.Broken floorboard / 10.Hair Straighteners on rug / 11.Wires all over the floor / 12.Coat close to electric fire
13.Papers close to the electric fire / 14.Mouse chewing the mouse wire! / 15.Nail varnish remover near open flame

Spot the hazards

See how many accidents …

(Answers below)

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

CALL 999 for immediate help from the police, fire and ambulance services

Other important numbers to add…
Out-of-hours number for your place of study: ______________________________________
Accommodation/homestay emergency contact: ___________________________________
On-site nurse/doctors’ surgery: ______________________________________________________
GP surgery: ______________________________________________________________
GP our-of-hours service: ______________________________________________________________
Site security contact: ______________________________________________________________

Other useful numbers you want to keep…
______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Useful Websites

The following websites provide comprehensive information and advice on road
safety and the Highway Code.
www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk
www.rospa.com
www.highwaycode.gov.uk

Apps for staying safe in a whole range of situations …

www.alert5.co.uk

www.suzylamplugh.org/personal-safety-tips/app-directory/live-life-safe-app/

www.getbsafe.com

This is a confidential service for young people (up to 19) covering many issues
including online bullying, self-harm, stress and relationships
www.childline.org.uk or 0800 1111