Health+and+Safety+Committee

Date 4th March 2012 Attendees: Annie, Caron, Chris, Ita, Gideon, Sana, Wafa, Anca Absent: None Time: 3.05-3.30 __Staff Welfare Issues__ 1 With reference to earlier concern, Chlorine is dispensed automatically by pool maintenance staff. 2 Please could you clarify staff sick absences. How many days off before a note from the Ministry is required and where is the office? Also, the Health Authority has launched a new electronic leave Attestation System for absences longer than 7 days. No change for short leave this is automatically approved. 3 Teaching Assistants have now been given basic first aid training for the buses. We would like this extended to all staff especially the Heimlich Maneuver for choking. 4 We desperately need telephone numbers by every telephone including the kitchen. This is an urgent request for emergencies and for locating staff around the school. I have a temp clinic number for now for each phone but a full list is required. Also please teach the Assistants and a couple of children in your class how to dial the clinic in case of an emergency. Please note emergency calls cannot be made from these phones. Staff should dial 999 from their mobile (free call) and need to be able to give location for the school, street name etc. and notify the front gate to open for the ambulance. The crew will also need to be escorted to the point of emergency, who will organize this? We need a policy in place please. __Health Issues:__ 1 Buses are not equipped with First Aid boxes this is essential for minor accidents as per two weeks ago. 2 Please reinforce the washing of hands for children. Ronald has made super posters for the bathrooms. Tip from Mr. John is to recite Happy Birthday while lathering hands to ensure they are washed properly. 3 The school vaccination programme will commence on 21st March for Grade 1 students from 10.30. Please inform the parents in the Communication Book and, of course, pre warn the children!!!! __Safety issues:__ 1 The firm alarm should be tested each week at same time and same day to ensure it is functioning in the event of a real fire. 2 Doors are still chained and causing claustrophobia issues with some staff that they cannot get out easily. This is an urgent problem and needs a quick solution please. We have to evacuate 500 students safely in the event of an emergency. 3 The toilet locks need oiling since a Grade 1 student was locked in for stall for approx. 30 mins. During lunch. There was no one to help and no number to call for maintenance. The teacher involved eventually located two men who brought a ladder and hauled the child over the door. Needless to say he was very distressed. Warning to staff and children do not use the lock, especially teachers who are in the school alone and after hours. When the lock is stiff coins, knives or brute strength does not work!!! 4 Thanks to Steven for completing the emergency lists for each class. Please laminate and stick in a prominent place. It’s a good idea to attach a whiteboard marker too. Support staff need a copy from each class they teach, who will organize this? 5 There are some issues with children arriving at the front entrance. Cars are being given priority to enter and children are unaware that they have to give way. The security guard is unaware of this safety hazard and should ensure the children wait for the car to pass. Or as an alternative ensure cars use the left side for parking first avoiding the need to cross the children’s path. 6 What is the policy for children being removed early from lessons? We receive a small piece of paper with the name and the child leaves with no explanation as to where he/she is going or with whom. The bus assistants are not notified and if the teacher is not in the classroom when a child comes to get their bag they have no idea they have gone home. This is an issue for safety and fire. 7 Could we have a security guard positioned near the dining room when lunches begin? This is a busy triangle with dining room, toilets and playground in constant use. An extra pair of eyes and hands would be helpful.
 * __Health and safety/Welfare Committee Meeting 5__**

Date: 11th January 2012 Attendees: Anca, Annie, Caron, Ita, Gideon, Kaye, Sana Absent: Chris, Wafa Time: 3:05 - 3:35
 * __Health & Safety/Staff Welfare Committee 4__**

1. Identity Cards – To clarify, teachers are classed as Government Employees (although private by ADEC). This also means that teachers will not receive a Labour Card. 2. Pigeon holes need to be checked regularly and notice board available for staff notices. 3. It is requested that staff receive a free lunch on Tuesdays due to late finishing. 4. Survey – It is requested that the survey for teachers in taken as a paper copy since online does not guarantee confidentiality. 5. Could we please have clarification concerning the locked gates at the main entrance and how teachers can leave during their free periods or what the procedure is to take approved absence due to illness or appointments during working hours.
 * __Staff Welfare Issues:__**

1 The Clinic have two first aid boxes that can be wall mounted. One for the playground and the other for the swimming pool. They Just need authorization to go ahead. 2 Thursday 16th February is the final day to bring vaccination forms back. The Clinic will then notify the MOH and vaccination programme will take place soon. 3 There have been a few incidences of head lice recently. The policy is being standardized across all campuses and will then be put on the K Drive. Ronald the male nurse has also made a very nice informational chart about the treatment of Lice at home but this needs to be translated in Arabic too. 4. Can we block the access of the toilet into the dining room. It is not sanitary to see the toilets when eating lunch. There are currently three doors to access the toilet. 5 We are happy to see water now being served at lunch time. The cups could be kept and used for the children to drink from the water coolers to save using another cup. 6 There was some concern that the swimming pool was not being checked for bacterial and chlorine levels but Ms Anac found that it is checked daily each morning.
 * __Health Issues:__**

1 Notices are required for the lists to inform parents and children that children are not allowed to take the lift alone. Also a sign to say that the lifts should not be used in the event of a fire, this may be a requirement by the Federal Law? 2 There was a nasty accident when a child ran into the flag pole during playtime. Can we extent the padding another meter to prevent another head injury? 3 The black stairs are still a slipping hazard and need to be checked please.
 * __Safety Issues:__**

Date: January 29th 2012 Attendees: Annie, Caron, Chris, Ita, Gideon, Sana Absent: Kaye (sick) Time: 3.10 – 3.30
 * __Health & Safety/Staff Welfare Committee 3__**

I’ am on the ‘Disaster Management Team’ for the British Embassy and will circulate any security notices I receive that relate to personal safety and security within the region.
 * __Staff Welfare Issues:__**
 * 1) ID cards. This is a requirement by Federal Law (1998 Article 6) You will be deemed an Illegal resident if you are not in possession of an ID card on April1st 2012. Emirati nationals have an extension until October 2012. You can now apply online and may be able to wait in person while they print you card, no longer needs to be collected. Without this card you will not be able to function e.g. cannot open a bank account, register your car or even check you Etisilat account!!!
 * 2) Staff are urged to also register with their relevant Embassy. This is important for the event of an Emergency evacuation due to instability in the UAE. Existing and new staff need to register every year and some Embassies also require you to notify them if you leave the county for a trip or vacation. This is usually an on line procedure and easy to do.


 * __Health Issues:__**
 * 1) Vaccinations will be underway soon and the clinic staff ask that we remind children to return their forms asap. I have asked Ruby to give us 24 hrs. notice for the MOH team arriving so that we can prepare the (younger) children and it is not a shock to be whisked off for a jab!!
 * 2) Ruby is also planning to weigh each child and work out their BMI. Also teeth check too, great news. Hopefully this will include a follow up with the parents of overweight children for some help, advice and support.
 * 3) The Sharps Box is urgently required for the mass vaccination programme. Maybe they will supply their own but if not the Clinic will require at least one. A requisition is in place and I’m told Nadia just needs Mr. Gustav to sign its authorization.
 * 4) We would like to suggest that the salad be dispensed with at lunchtimes for the children and they offer carrot and cucumber sticks as an alternative. They don’t seem to like lettuce so it seems like a good idea and probably cheaper. Also, to dispense with the juice at lunch and give them cups of sealed water instead, also cheaper and healthier too.
 * 5) The Clinic has distributed a form highlighting the children with existing medical conditions in each class. This should be laminated and prominently displayed for all staff to see, especially substitute staff.

This is a big and serious issue. The Committee felt that it should be handed to an external expert for a Risk Assessment. We can however help to point out certain issues such as chained exits, electric doors that may fail to open in the event of a fire, marked areas outside allocated to each class, the role of the security guards, who ‘sweeps’ the school, ie check toilets etc. Also the clinic needs an Emergency Box that can be wheeled out to dispense first aid. Also, should some staff be trained in First Aid? If there are trained staff already these should be visible and we should know who they are. Steven has kindly agreed to type out a numbered and uniform class lists to be distributed to each room. They could be laminated and have a marker pen attached so that a quick and easy register can be taken at evacuation.
 * __Safety Issues:__**
 * 1) Swimming pool now has a functioning telephone. It does not have an outside number so any emergency calls need to be made via the Clinic. The clinic extension is 3510. There should be some policy concerning who tells the security guard to open the gates and who accompanies the medics to the place of accident (this could be anywhere in the school for staff or children).
 * 2) A school Policy needs to be implemented for school field trips. Currently nothing in place. Lots of issues such as, insufficient buses, no pre-visit, no tagging of children, stranger safety, bus safety, mall safety, escalator safety, water safety, seat belts not working, emergency info carried and first aid box. A school mobile should also be carried so that staff do not need to call parents on personal phones which breaches their privacy. Each trip also needs a thorough pre and de-briefing and written feedback from each teacher.
 * 3) __Procedures for Fire Evacuation.__

Date: January 15th 2012 Attendees: Annie, Caron, Chris, Ita, Gideon, Kaye and Sana. Absent: Anca (duty) Time: 3.00 – 3.30pm
 * __Health & Safety/Staff Welfare Committee__**


 * __Staff Welfare Issues:__**
 * 1) Swimming pool access under discussion.


 * __Health Issues:__**
 * 1) Committee were asked by John to devise a survey to give to all the children to establish their thoughts and preferences for lunch and snack menus. This is in response to the previous meeting concerning the unhealthy content and carbohydrate rich diet they are currently having.
 * 2) It was suggested that fish and lentils (ie vegetarian day) could be included. Also more carbohydrate variety each day. Rice/pasta/lentils/macaroni/Biriyani
 * 3) A two weekly menu could be devised and rotated twice a month.
 * 4) Menu’s should also be posted online for the parents to see.
 * 5) Juice should be eliminated (empty calories) and water only provide at the lunch table.
 * 6) Canteen staff should be prevented from piling lots of rice onto children’s plate. They frequently don’t want it, and it is a common occurance with overweight children!!!!! Maybe the Nurse could give some informal training into the merits of healthy eating.

Date: December 13th 2011 Attendees: Caron, Kaye, Annie, Ita, Gideon, Chris, Sana, Anca ü A mat is required under the ‘Monkey Bar’ equipment in the green playground as this will prevent serious head and neck injuries should the children fall onto the concrete floor. ü Anca needs more assistance from each pod’s nannies to help her change the children when they have swimming lessons and for water safety supervision. ü A telephone is needed in the swimming pool and gym in case of an emergency. ü Bus nannies should make sure that students sit in lines while waiting for the others to gather as students tend to run and play in the playground. A laminated list of children and their bus number on the wall would also help in locating a student. ü There has to be a policy in place for safe handling, cleaning and disposing of body fluids, blood, vomit, urine etc. in the playground and classrooms. Blood especially should be handled with greater care and gloves used by any staff member before attempting to touch or remove it. Cleaners should also be aware of the health and safety policy of the school when cleaning spillages. Do they use adequate industrial strength detergents and how do they dispose of contaminated waste? ü The clinic is still waiting for a ‘Sharps Box’ to safely dispose of needles etc.
 * __Safety Issues:__**
 * 1) A boy from Grade 1 fell from the top rung of the climbing part of the slide on Wednesday last week. This was a fall, face first of approximately 4 foot onto concrete and initially had a suspected broken nose and/or concussion. This highlights the need for cushioning under the apparatus again.
 * 2) Just to confirm there are 16 plug sockets in each playground that require covering (32 in total).
 * 3) It was noted that the taps are easily turned to give hot water quite accidently in the boy’s toilet near Pod A (Grade 1) An accident was averted when the child saw steam and alerted the teacher. Is there a default thermostat that can prevent the water from reaching such a high temperature?
 * __Health & Safety/Staff Welfare Committee__**
 * __Staff Welfare Issues:__**
 * Staff requested access to the fitness and the entertainment facilities e.g.: gym, pool, and theatre for movie nights.
 * Our swimming pool requires supervision and life guard personnel in case of emergency.
 * We should have a separate men and women dressing rooms or allocated male/female times/days.
 * Teachers rooms (or an allocated Staff Room) in Pods should be equipped with microwaves, kettles, and fridges, as many of us bring food and drinks that need refrigeration or heating. Staff also requested couches as it will help us rest between the lessons.
 * Pigeon holes: It would be helpful to have a pigeon hole for each staff member for internal and external mail. Undelivered mail has been found stacked in the kitchen! A more secure system has to be devised to ensure that it is delivered to a safe place for collection.
 * We are still waiting for clocks in our classrooms, playground and dining room. Anca asked for one in the gym and the swimming pool.
 * __Social gatherings:__ Mr. Chris suggested to have a bulletin board to inform the staff about weekend activities, social events or parties so people can come and join in.
 * Accommodation issue: Apartment # 215 has a “offensive smell” problem and Ms. Anca has asked many times for a fix but it’s not fixed yet. This is becoming a serious health issue that may require external expertise.
 * __Health Issues:__**
 * Cleaners need to be told about the proper way to clean the mops rather than cleaning them in the sinks!
 * Nannies are not supervising the children when they enter the washrooms. The toilet locks need maintenance since some children are locking themselves in and are very distressed when they cannot get out and there is no adult supervision.
 * Classroom carpets should be vacuumed every week and chemically cleaned monthly and during vacations. Non of the Grade 3 classes have carpets yet!
 * We need wall mounted sanitizers in each class to avoid cross infection and sickness of teachers and children.
 * Students should be provided with (unflavoured) milk and fruit at the morning snack instead of the heavy bread rolls and juice that is full of sugar. Teachers have to encourage students to eat salad during lunch and drink water. The current diet is too carbohydrate rich, lacks variety and the monthly menu should be available to parents online.
 * __Safety Issues:__**
 * First Meeting. 3rd October 2011**
 * Topics Discussed:**


 * Health and Safety of School Building.**
 * 1) No fire evacuation plan in each classroom.
 * 2) During the last fire drill several teachers reported that they could not hear the alarm.
 * 3) There is no exit from the third floor in case of fire.
 * 4) There are no external staircases to evacuate the building from upper floors if internal stair cases are deemed unsafe.
 * 5) Should there be air quality inspections periodically?
 * 6) All electrical sockets should be covered with for safety, especially in playground.
 * 7) Are the plants non- poisonous? Have they been approved for use in schools?
 * 8) There are no telephone numbers attached to internal phones. Can we please have an internal directory.


 * Health and Safety of Staff.**
 * 1) To avoid unnecessary periods of prolonged standing can chairs or benches be provide in the playgrounds for staff on duty? This would avoid future health problems such as varicose veins, back problems and aid teachers with hip/ knee conditions etc.
 * 2) All staff should be aware of fellow staff members who have chronic health conditions e.g diabetes or epilepsy.


 * Health and Safety of Students.**
 * 1) Teaching staff have not been issued with lists of children with chronic medical conditions. Who are the diabetic and epileptic students or those with allergies?
 * 2) Can each class please be issued with wall mounted hand sanitizer?