Tips and shares on A to Z of Coronavirus in schools

Action plan – keep this updated for COVID related issues.

Bubbles continue to be used for grouping vulnerable and key worker pupils.

Contact time – Effective time taken from application to effectively kill the bacteria or virus. Follow contact times on your product it could be up to 5 minutes before wiping off.

Distancing – 2m staff should keep this distance between themselves and other staff

Equip the lateral flow testing centre with staff, time and PPE and equipment for carrying out the testing safely.

Face coverings should be worn by Staff and pupils (Years 7 and older)  in communal areas and corridors.

Governors should be kept informed of your risk assessment and control measures.

Hand dryers can be used in staff and pupil toilets see myth buster WHO website site

Information – keep staff and parents updated on your COVID arrangements.

Jumpers – staff and pupils should wear lots of layers as windows will be open to create ventilation

Keeping doors and windows open for ventilation in the workplace

Lateral flow Testing – Secondary schools to start testing staff and students

Monitoring control measures are being followed, staff socially distancing, hand washing and wearing of face coverings.

New variant of COVID 50-70% more transmissible so important to ensure control measures are being followed in schools

Online documents to help with managing the risk from COVID in our Coronavirus Hub.

Processor – someone that processes the lateral flow swab test in schools

Quality Management plan – a plan on how the quality of lateral flow testing will work

Registration – where pupils and staff go to register for lateral flow testing

Screens – Reception desks should be fitted with screens to protect staff.

Touch points should still be cleaned frequently throughput the day.

Unprecedented – A word used frequently to describe the pandemic

Vaccinations – Ensure staff in prioritised groups can attend their vaccination appointments

Waste from lateral flow testing must be disposed of as clinically waste – check your arrangements

X For Parental Consent for lateral flow testing (Under 16)

Year – This is how long COVID has been with us changing all out lives

Zones in schools where pupils stay within their bubbles

We love sharing tips and our knowledge with schools and have been posting these through our social media accounts! Please follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Covid19 has been the biggest Health and Safety risk that schools have faced in 100 years.

Since March schools have demonstrated incredible resilience in the face of the COVID19 pandemic. They have adapted from traditional classroom education to a mix of classroom and remote delivery.

On the 2^nd July, the Government released guidance on full opening of schools from September 2020. This guidance focused on schools producing a risk assessment for managing the risk from Covid-19.

COVID-19 Risk assessment for Schools

Apart from the Government guidance requiring schools to carry out a risk assessment. All schools as the “employer” have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to take all reasonably practicable steps so as to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their staff and anyone else impacted by their operations (this includes pupils and visitors and contractors).

There is also the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 regulation 3 that requires the employer to undertake “suitable and sufficient assessments of the risks to the health & safety of employees and other persons, not directly employed, that could be affected by their undertaking”.

Both these pieces of legislation require the employer to complete a risk assessment to identify what measures need to be in place for managing the risk from Covid-19 and reducing the risk to a low as possible.

Risk Management

The HSE on their website have guidance on how to complete a risk assessment and many schools may have engaged the services of a Health and Safety consultant to carry out the risk assessment or conducted this themselves. The risk assessments would have been extensive and between 20 to 30-pages.

The safety “hierarchy of control” should have been used when considering what can be done to manage the risk. Any mitigation controls devised and implemented must reduce exposure of employees and pupils to the virus.

The risk assessment should cover the following “prevention” and “response to an infection” measures.

Prevention:

• Minimizing contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or who have someone in their household who does, do not attend school.
• Hand hygiene.
• Good respiratory hygiene by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach.
• Enhanced cleaning, including cleaning frequently touched surfaces often.
• Minimise contact between individuals and maintain social distancing wherever possible.
• Where necessary, wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Response to any infection

• Engage with NHS Test and Trace process
• Manage confirmed cases of coronavirus amongst the school community
• Contain any outbreak by following local protection team advice

Once the risk assessment has been completed it is important to remember that a risk assessment does not control risk. It is the actions of individuals who apply the controls identified by the risk assessment that mitigate the risk.

For example, where the school identifies social distancing as a control measure between pupils and their teachers (secondary schools) if this is not followed by staff or pupils the risk will remain.

So much emphasis would have been on the full opening from September but spending effort on developing and applying controls bespoke to the school’s circumstances is a waste of time unless the implementation and performance is monitored over time. The written risk assessment is only the starting point and the successful delivery will be in the continual monitoring of the control measures that the school has identified.

Schools should identify plans for routinely reviewing the effectiveness of the risk assessment controls. It is vital to ensure that these controls are maintained and even improved on as knowledge about the virus, its transmission and its control develops.

Monitoring control measures

This could be as simple as allocating staff at different times of the day for example lesson changeover, breaks and lunches to observe staff and pupil behaviour and check control measures are followed. For example:

• When staff arrive at school early do, they wash or sanitise their hands. Are they keeping apart from colleagues?
• Are pupils hand washing effectively for 20 seconds throughout the day?
• Are staff and students observing social distancing in classrooms, corridors?
• Are staff and pupils using tissues when sneezing and putting them in a bin.
• Are toilets and high contact touch points being cleaned frequently throughout the day using the appropriate cleaning materials?
• Are shared resources quarantined for 72 hours or cleaned between bubbles.

Consider introducing a system of reporting near misses for example weaknesses in the controls.

Sharing the Risk Assessment

The risk assessment should have been shared with Trade Unions and with all staff (including those not in a trade union) meeting the employer’s requirement for legal consultation.

Before returning to work staff must be made aware of the hazards and measures in place to control them. For example, if administering first aid changes or new staggered break times etc.

Many schools have developed a staff guide/handbook/operational manual to record all the new arrangements.

Staff training (delivered remotely) on the new arrangements will be key to the success of the school’s operations. It is important to keep a record of any training delivered when this has been refreshed following changes.

For schools that have over 50 staff the risk assessment should also be published on the school website.

It is so important to get parental support and co-operation with the new school procedures. This could be in the form of a handbook/guide and parental agreement. The agreement could include a commitment to follow government advice and not send their child into school with symptoms, agree to their child taking a test if required and providing the result from any test as part of the NHS Track and Trace system.

Reviewing the COVID-19 Risk Assessment

This risk assessment will need regular review, initially daily, as things change for example following: –

• government and public health advice,
• scientific evidence,
• specific education guidance updates for example from CLEAPSS, Association of PE
• case of COVID-19
• Introduction of new activities such as lettings, educational trips, extracurricular activities
• other change in circumstance.
• local lockdown

In the Autumn term we will also be moving into the “normal flu” season. Good “respiratory hygiene” and “handwashing” remains a critical control for managing the risk from COVID-19, flu and other infections and therefore should be monitored closely.

Building resilience

We really do not not know what the future holds in terms of a second spike or wave in COVID-19 cases.

What we do know is that the virus will not go away until there is a vaccine, and this could be many months away.  Therefore, schools should be reviewing their business continuity plans and as a guide have a plan A, plan B and plan C in place.

Plan A – School open fully for all year groups delivering face to face teaching following government measures.

Plan B – School open with face to face delivery but also remote delivery for individuals or “bubbles” that have to be at home (self isolating, suspected or a confirmed case).

Plan C – School open for key workers pupils and remote learning as local or national lockdown in place.

The ability to be able to switch between plans will be so important to the successful seamless delivery of education over the coming months.

Cousins Safety is a health and safety consultancy to schools and provides a range of services including AUDIT, TRAINING and CONNECT (advice service) to schools to help manage the risk.

Please get in touch on 01480 718007 or info@cousinssafety.co.uk

Tips and shares on A to Z of Coronavirus in schools

Audit – Check your procedures are secure and followed by staff and pupils.

Break times in schools – Staggered, different play zones, cleaning equipment between bubbles, monitoring social distancing.

COSHH – Review your risk assessments for new products you have introduced since COVID19.

DSE assessments should be completed for staff that have now moved workstations. Staff should be 2m apart. Don’t forget those still working at home.

Everyone has a responsibility for Health and Safety, Teachers support staff, visitors and pupils to follow the new procedures in place for Covid19.

Forest schools are a good way to be outdoors which reduces the risk of transmission.

Gloves can provide a false sense of security. The virus will remain on the gloves and they need changing frequently. Even when wearing gloves avoid touching your face.

Handwashing – Washing your hands for 20 seconds frequently part of the measures to control the spread of the virus. Build time for this into the school day.

Interviews – Avoid face to face and use platforms to interview candidates remotely.

Journeys  –  If staff and pupils are coming in on Public transport they should be wearing face coverings. Provide a bin for disposal at the school entrance or a plastic bag so they can be stored safely.

Keeping our weight down and improving fitness is a factor in our resilience against the virus.

Leading by example. School leaders and teachers to maintaining social distancing, regularly wash hands and follow catch it bin it kill it

Movement around schools may have changed, one-way systems, teachers moving to classrooms before pupils – keep everyone updated.

Norovirus – Winter vomiting has not gone away and we need to continue to follow good personal hygiene to prevent the spread.

Open evenings – replace with virtual school tours, Headteacher address remotely.

Planning for the different scenarios Plan A, All year’s groups in their bubbles at school, Plan B – Some year groups in and others working from home (bubble closures) Plan C Lockdown – all pupils working from home

Questions from Parents and staff will be ongoing, Use FAQ on your website and get competent H&S person advice.

Reception areas should have barriers between visitors and staff and clear floor markings where visitors can stand.

Social distancing between bubbles, classrooms marked out with the 2m between staff and pupils for secondary schools.

Track and Trace – If you think you have symptoms staff and pupils are eligible for testing.

Underestimating Covid19 could lead to it spreading – keep up the measures, social distancing, handwashing, catch it bin it kill it.

Visitors – limit and meet remotely. If visitors do come to school inform them of your arrangements for Covid19.

Wave – A second wave is an increase in positive cases of Covid19.

X is for parents agreeing to not send their children to schools with symptoms of Covid19 and getting them tested.

Yes is for a positive case of Covid19. Initiate your track and trace response.

Zoom – How any of us had heard about let alone used this platform before March 2020?

We love sharing tips and our knowledge with schools and have been posting these through our social media accounts! Please follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

How Health and Safety can identify savings for Schools?

At Cousins Safety we are experts in Health and Safety Consultancy Advice to schools.
We really do recognise the current challenges facing schools and have extensive experience of working with schools to overcome these.

We are acutely aware of the financial constraints on school budgets and the implications of this particularly in relation to repairs and maintenance of school buildings. The impact of staff cuts and increase pressures on schools staff.  We hope this blog offers you some solutions.

H&S Audit identified savings of £6000 for a school

Our Health and Safety Audits are a great way to identify efficiencies and savings as well as assess compliance and identify risks. Here are some of the ways we have identified savings in schools:

• We often find schools paying for maintenance service costs that they do not need. An audit found a school was paying £900 plus for a service of their evacuation chair. The company claimed a service was required to comply with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations.
• Identified a reduction in the number of staff required in the school kitchen and to cover lunchtimes saving the school approx £6000 per annum.
• School was paying for a company to carry out monthly legionella tests and sampling costing over £1500 when this could be completed by the Site Agent.

We offer affordable Health and Safety Audits which provide assurances to Governing body/Trustees on compliance and satisfy insurers that health and safety is being monitored and managed.

YouGov survey published October 18 found 31% of all teachers had experienced mental health issues in the past 12 months.

How we have helped save money?

• We have worked with HR, Occupational health and the school to complete stress risk assessments to support staff back into work.
• To support Headteachers and School Business Managers we deliver IOSH Occupational Health and Wellbeing Training courses.

This course is part of a range of training courses that we offer to schools that can be delivered in house or on one of our open training courses. See our latest open course dates for latest course dates and our training brochure of all our courses.

The legal responsibility (and thus the accountability) for Health and Safety lies with the employer.

So, in different types of schools: who is the employer?

This will depend on the category of school.  In England, the Local Authority is the employer in:

• Community schools, community special schools, voluntary controlled schools, maintained nursery schools.

The Governing Body/Trustees is the employer in:

• Foundation schools, foundation special schools, voluntary aided schools, Academies and free schools

The proprietor is the employer in independent schools.

Note: Although overall accountability lies with the school employer, other senior school managers involved in the day to day running of the school also have responsibility for the health and safety of staff and pupils.

Voluntary Controlled Schools

The Local Authority (LA) is the employer and has overall responsibility for health and safety compliance. This responsibility cannot be devolved. The LA must provide oversight and monitoring.

A Voluntary Controlled school is usually a religious or faith school, where the land and buildings are owned by a charity (often religious) but the local education authority funds the school, runs it, and employs the staff.

Voluntary Aided Schools

The governing body is the employer and so is responsible for health and safety.

A Voluntary Aided school is usually a religious or faith school, where the land and buildings are owned by a charity (often religious) but the governing body runs the school and employs the staff, and the school is jointly funded by the local education authority, the governing body and the charity.

Converting to an Academy?

Many schools converting to an Academy are not aware of the change in Health and Safety responsibility.  In conversion the focus is usually on finance, HR and Governance and Health and Safety is often overlooked.

A school should update their health and safety policy to reflect Academy status and the changes this brings in responsibilities.

Some LA’s provide a buy back service to Academies and VA schools but most seek out a health and safety consultant.

Cousins Safety are experts in Health and safety in the education sector and have a passion for ensuring risks are managed appropriately so that schools can focus on what they do best which is teaching and learning.

Please get in touch to find out more about the services we offer call 01480 719007 or email info@cousinssafety.co.uk

Coronavirus – Advice to schools, Early Years Settings and Colleges (last updated March 2020)

The government is closely monitoring the spread of the Coronavirus and is taking action at home and abroad.

Situation in the UK as of 5th March 2020

87 patients in England have tested positive for coronavirus.

Based on the World Health Organization’s declaration that this is a public health emergency of international concern, the UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the public from low to moderate. This permits the government to plan for all eventualities. The risk to individuals has increased from low to medium.

Returning travellers

Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people immediately if you’ve travelled to the UK from:

• Hubei province in China in the last 14 days, even if you do not have symptoms
• Iran, lockdown areas in northern Italy or special care zones in South Korea since 19 February, even if you do not have symptoms
• other parts of mainland China or South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan or Thailand in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are mild)
• other parts of northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar or Vietnam since 19 February and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are mild)

Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do next.

• Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
• In Scotland call your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours.
• In Wales call 111 (if available in your area) or 0845 46 47.

This guidance is based on the recommendations of the UK Chief Medical officers. These areas have been identified because of the volume of air travel from affected areas, understanding of other travel routes and number of reported cases. This list will be kept under review.

For areas with direct flights to the UK we are carrying out enhanced monitoring. Passengers will be told how to report any symptoms they develop during the flight, at the time of arrival, or after leaving the airport.

The Department of Health and Social Care will be publishing updated data on a daily basis at 2pm until further notice https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public.

Information about the virus

A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.

Novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China.

As it is winter, most respiratory illnesses in the UK are due to the common cold and other viruses, including influenza.

The UK is well prepared to deal with any cases of coronavirus that arise. We are one of the first countries in the world to have developed an accurate test for coronavirus, and we have the ability to scale up this test should the virus be detected in the UK.

The NHS has expert teams in every ambulance service, and specialist hospital units with highly trained staff and equipment ready to receive and care for patients with any highly infectious disease, including coronavirus. Specific guidance on handling the Wuhan coronavirus has been given to NHS staff.

Current evidence is that most cases overseas appear to be mild.

Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Sore throat

However, symptoms may not become apparent until up to 14 days after exposure.

Advice for parents/guardians

Parents and Guardians should not be unduly worried about the possibility of their children catching the Coronavirus.

There is no reason why children should not continue to attend their early years, school or further education setting as normal.

It is recognised that some families or children may be planning to travel abroad during the Easter holidays. If so, please refer Parents to the FCO’s latest travel advice via the link https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

What should the public do if feeling unwell?

If you are feeling unwell and have not been contacted by Public Health England, then there is no need for concern.

You should continue to treat your symptoms as usual for seasonal flu or a common cold. If you feel unwell and do not know what you should do, then call NHS 111.

As always, if you have symptoms of a cold or flu, then there are measures you can take to bugs spreading:

• Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

What can schools do?

Public health England has issues specific guidance for educational settings and this should be followed by the school.

If you are a school and have questions around Coronavirus please get in touch as we offer an advice service to schools. support@cousinssafety.co.uk

Where can I find more information?

Information for schools: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19#what-to-do-if-a-case-of-covid-19-pupil-student-or-staff-is-confirmed-in-your-childcare-or-education-setting

Information for the public: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public

Blog and frequently asked questions: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/23/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know/

Travel advice for those travelling and living overseas: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus

Norovirus in Schools

Many schools across the UK are currently experiencing high volumes of sickness and diarrhoea and resulting in a number of school closures.

If you have an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea strict control at an early stage is essential to prevent further spread.

Classification of an outbreak in school

An outbreak or incident may be defined as:

• an incident in which 2 or more people experiencing a similar illness are linked in time or place
• a greater than expected rate of infection compared with the usual background rate for the place and time where the outbreak has occurred

For example:

• 2 or more cases of diarrhoea or vomiting which are in the same classroom, shared communal areas or taking part in the same activities

The Local Health Protection Team provide advice to schools on outbreaks and will advice schools on when to close and there is Government guidance on controlling infections in schools.

Controlling the spread of Norovirus in Schools

• Implement strict infection control measures.
• Ensure that a person or persons are nominated (i.e. yourself and or others) to:
• Maintain a record of cases
• Record all staff/pupil cases.
• Implement control measures.
• Provide advice to all relevant persons including parents, children etc.
• Ensure cases do not return to school until 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting.
• Isolate infectious children and send them home immediately.
• Inform visitors/relatives of outbreak, restrict visiting if necessary.
• If anyone should vomit in an area where there is uncovered food or drink then it must be discarded since there is risk that it has been contaminated with the virus.
• Following all vomiting incidents, all surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned, and dried, and where possible, evacuate the area during this period.
• Food surfaces that may be contaminated following a vomiting incident should be immediately, thoroughly cleaned.
• Ensure all surfaces in toilet areas are cleaned regularly and after any incident, and all surfaces wiped with a hypochlorite solution. Preventative disinfection should be carried out throughout the day.

Preventing/preparing for an outbreak of Norovirus in Schools 

While it is not possible to prevent an outbreak occurring under all circumstances, the following precautions will help to reduce the likelihood of an outbreak becoming established:

• Vigilant monitoring of vomiting and diarrhoea incidents on the premises.
• Early identification of the signs of an outbreak.
• Staff training and awareness of their role.
• Awareness amongst staff and parents / carers regarding the importance of not reporting for work or school if suffering from sickness or diarrhoea (until 48 hours after symptoms have cleared). NB this applies to all staff and pupils, not just food handlers
• Thorough routine cleaning procedures for hand contact surfaces such as taps, toilet handles, door handles etc.

Have a plan identifying the equipment, staffing and resources required for the control of an outbreak and ensure the availability of cleaning materials, liquid soap, disposable towels, waste bags etc.

Cleaners must be provided with sufficient equipment for their own safety and to ensure that cleaning is effective e.g. gloves and aprons, disposable cleaning cloths/paper.

For advice and support on health and safety issues affecting schools sign up to one of our Connect packages.

Dirty Computer Keyboards

Sounds disgusting but did you know computer keyboards harbour bacteria that can cause infections and illnesses that cause staff and pupil absences?

How many schools clean their keyboards?

Most never do!

Speak to your school/nursery IT guru for the best way to clean them but here is some general advice:

• Switch devices off before using even a little liquid on them.
• To clean LCD screens and other gadgets, use a microfibre cloth and gadget-safe cleaning liquid.
• Avoid harsh alcohol-based cleaners which can damage electronics and take the lettering off keys.
• Tip up a keyboard to shake out loose crumbs and dust.
• Consider buying one of those little USB-powered vacuum cleaners.
• Canned air is great for cleaning keyboards and hard-to-reach corners on devices.
• Consider getting a UV light to see dirt that you can’t see with the naked eye.
• Pay extra attention to space bars, trackpads and mice – anything that gets heavy use.
• Follow manufacturers’ instructions to avoid using cleaning products that might damage your devices.
• Keep your working environment clean and dust-free – it’ll reduce the amount of dust getting on and into your devices.
• Wash your hands before and after using a keyboard or use a hand sanitizer.

Identify a program of regularly cleaning the keyboards throughout the school – will it be IT or your cleaning staff?

Teachers and support staff

Eating at your desk is often too convenient and is common practice in schools.

Eating at desks should be discouraged! Staff should take a break from their screens and use a staff room for eating lunches. It is also important to encourage staff to eat away from their desks and have a break for their staff wellbeing.