Health and safety inspections at schools fall

THE number of health and safety inspections at schools and colleges fell by almost two-thirds in the past five years, despite a 1995 recommendation that they be significantly increased.

Only 62 educational institutions were visited by Health and Safety Authority (HSA) inspectors last year, compared to 170 in 2001. A report by an advisory committee to the authority 12 years ago recommended that one-in-five, or more than 800, schools undergo planned inspections. But the HSA does not actively inspect schools, except in response to complaints or accident investigations.

The country’s schools have almost 800,000 young people in their care every day. While no statistical information is available about injuries to pupils there have been some cases of litigation, where the courts considered the teachers in loco parentis duty. However, there have been no prosecutions.

According to an expert who examined the issue for a dissertation for her masters degree, neither the Department of Education or the Health and Safety Authority have actively taken on any role in advising or inspecting schools with respect to pupil safety. Tracey Kelly’s research set out to find how Irish primary principals are supported to appropriately discharge their safety management duties.

A survey she conducted among primary principals found while schools are complying with their statutory duty to prepare safety statements: “Only 15% are doing so with the benefit of a trained safety officer.”

She presented the findings in a dissertation to the University of Strathclyde for her masters of science in safety and risk management this autumn. “The 1995 HSA Advisory Committee on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in Education made eight recommendations, many of which have yet to be implemented. In particular, there has been no increase in the number of HSA inspections of schools,” Ms Kelly wrote.

“It’s my understanding that the department does not help schools with release of teachers for safety rep training. The only such training for schools is that available from the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) or safety training providers, which is not adapted specifically for schools,” she said.

INTO general secretary John Carr said health and safety in schools should be given greater priority by the Department of Education.