Risk
Management takes an active role in identifying, evaluating and protecting the
physical, financial and human assets of Portland Public Schools. Activities
include reviewing school and departmental safety and loss control procedures to
avoid and prevent claims, purchasing insurance, and transferring risk through
contracts.
All
departmental staff, students and supporting persons.
Purpose
Purpose
The department is committed to the
health, safety and well-being of students, staff and others involved in
all curriculum activities conducted at schools or other locations. This
procedure outlines the responsibilities that regional directors, principals,
teachers and others have in managing the hazards and risks associated
with all school curriculum activities.
Overview
Overview
This procedure:
establishes
the context for effective curriculum risk management
outlines
the responsibilities school staff and others have for the safe delivery of
curriculum activities
establishes
a minimum procedure for the approval and implementation of risk management
for curriculum activities undertaken in schools and other locations
applies
to all curriculum activities organised and/or conducted by school staff.
Those
responsible for any school curriculum activity have legal obligations under
the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and a common-law
duty of care to ensure the safety of all those involved in the activity
through risk management.
When
effectively implemented, risk management processes enable staff to demonstrate
a systematic approach to safely manage curriculum delivery thereby fulfilling
their legal obligations.
Curriculum
risk management constitutes only one component of the school’s overall risk management framework.
The
risk management of curriculum activities involves the identification of
hazards, the assessment of risks and the treatment of risks
associated with the activities.
All
curriculum activities, especially new or unusual ones, should be considered in
terms of their inherent level of risk. To do this, consider risks in
terms of:
1. Which students will be involved?
2. What will students be doing?
3. What will students be using?
4. Where will students be?
5. Who will lead the activity?
This procedure and its associated guidelines are to be used to determine the
inherent risk level and, where necessary, plan measures so the activity can be
conducted with an acceptable level of residual risk.
If
a Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment Guideline
exists for a specified activity being planned, that guideline is to be adhered
to. Where a minimum recommendation of the guideline cannot be met, alternative
controls are to be implemented to ensure an acceptable level of safety is
provided.
The
Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment Template and
Guidelines set the minimum requirement for the documentation of a risk
assessment. However, it is recognised that some schools or curriculum
departments may adopt more detailed risk assessment proformas. Where an
alternative risk assessment proforma is used, it is to include the following
information as a minimum:
activity
details (date, locations etc)
inherent
risk level of the activity
identification
of the hazards and risks
level
of supervision and qualification of leaders
explanation
of the planned control measures
date
of submission for approval
approval
details (who approved, approval date)
activity
review notes.
Whenever
there is a change of circumstance for an activity such as venue, student
cohort, time of year or number of participants, any existing risk assessment
for the activity is to be reviewed and updated as necessary.
The majority of routine classroom curriculum activities undertaken with
students involves minimal risk of safety and could therefore be considered of
‘low’ risk. As these types of activities have little inherent risk a formal
written risk assessment is not required.
When
planning curriculum activities consideration should be given to:
providing
parents/carers with information about the nature of the activities
obtaining
parent/carer permission for their child to participate in the activities (Note:
parental/carer permission must be obtained for extreme risk activities)
seeking
information from parents/carers and/or students with any condition (e.g.
physical or medical) that may impair a student’s capacity to safely
participate in the activities.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
Regional
Directors:
Principals:
Deputy
Principals, Heads of Programs (i.e. Head of Department, Special Education,
Curriculum):
Teachers:
Others
supporting the delivery of curriculum activities (e.g. sporting club coaches,
qualified instructors, parents/carers, volunteers):
Process
Process
Regional
Directors:
Principals:
ensure
all staff understand the need for compliance with this procedure
-
risk
level of proposed activity
qualifications
and experience of teachers and other leaders in relation to the activity
identified
hazards and control measures to mitigate risk.
establish
a process for the review and approval of risk assessments for high and
extreme risk curriculum activities, whereby:
principals
only are to approve Curriculum Activity Risk Assessments for extreme risk
activities
principals
may delegate the approval of Curriculum Activity Risk Assessments for
high risk activities to any relevant deputy principal or head of program
(such as head of department, special education, curriculum) and document
any delegation arrangements.
-
include
the following activity details, where an alternative school curriculum
activity register is used, as a minimum:
date/s
of the activity
staff
responsible for the activity
student
groups undertaking the activity
activity
description including the inherent risk level
date
of approval to undertake the activity.
provide
training for staff responsible for the planning and/or delivery of
curriculum activities to ensure competence in risk management for relevant
activities
include
a risk management component in staff induction programs conducted as soon
as practicable after appointment to ensure all new and returning staff:
ensure
a registered teacher takes overall responsibility whenever an adult other
than a registered teacher is engaged for instruction in an activity
be
satisfied the competence of the nominated leader is appropriate for the
activity
-
Deputy
Principals, Heads of Programs (i.e. Head of Department, Special Education,
Curriculum):
review
and approve Curriculum Activity Risk Assessments for high risk activities
as delegated by the principal
ensure
details of the approved high risk activities are recorded in the School
Curriculum Activity Register
monitor
curriculum activities conducted to determine whether an appropriate level
of risk management has been undertaken.
Teachers:
Activity planning and risk assessment
Refer
to the Curriculum Activity Risk Planner to guide
the risk assessment process when planning curriculum activities (i.e. when
teachers are planning units of work or when a secondary department is
developing its curriculum).
-
Consider
seeking information from parents/carers and students with any condition
(e.g. physical or medical) that may impair a student's capacity to safely
engage in an activity.
The
minimum requirement for the risk management of curriculum activities are:
for
‘low’ risk activities:
for
‘medium’ risk activities:
document
control measures in curriculum planning. A Curriculum Activity Risk
Assessment may be completed to assist with the risk assessment process.
if
a Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment Guideline exists for a planned medium
risk activity it is to be adhered to.
for
‘high’ risk activities:
discuss
the intention to undertake a high risk activity with the
supervisor
complete
a Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment for the activity
obtain
approval to undertake the activity in accordance with the Curriculum
Activity Risk Assessment by the principal, or a delegated deputy
principal or head of program, prior to the activity being undertaken.
Note: Once approved the activity is to be recorded in the
School Curriculum Activity Register.
for
‘extreme’ risk activities:
consider
whether the activity should be done as a part of DETE curriculum - do
the potential benefits of the activity warrant the inherent extreme
level of risk?
discuss
the intention to undertake an extreme risk activity with the
supervisor
complete
a Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment for the activity
obtain
approval of the principal to undertake the activity in accordance with
the Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment prior to the activity being
undertaken
Note: Once approved, the activity is to be recorded in the School
Curriculum Activity Register.
inform
parents/carers of the details of the activity
obtain
written permission from parents/carers for the student to be involved in
the activity.
.
Whenever
there is a change of circumstance for an activity such as venue, student
cohort, time of year or number of participants, any existing risk
assessment for the activity is to be reviewed and updated as necessary.
Managing the activity
Manage
the hazards and risks associated with all curriculum activities
Conduct
any high or extreme risk activity in accordance with the
approved Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment.
Provide
comprehensive safety instruction on the processes and techniques
associated with the activity to all involved.
Emphasise
the student’s personal responsibility for:
o the student’s safety and the safety of others
o following safety procedures and instructions
o safely managing and reporting additional hazards identified.
Reinforce
safety considerations throughout the activity.
Maintain
adequate supervision of students at all times.
Ensure
students adhere to all safety instructions and directions given in
relation to the activity and the use of equipment, materials and personal
protective equipment.
Ensure
others supporting the delivery of curriculum activities are aware of
relevant responsibilities.
-
Monitoring and responding to events
Maintain
an ongoing review of control measures to ensure adequate reduction of
risks associated with hazards.
Respond
to any risk that emerges to ensure the safety of all involved in the
activity.
Report
all injuries, illnesses and dangerous incidents that occur in relation to
the activity in accordance with Health and Safety Incident Recording,
Notification and Management.
Others
supporting the delivery of curriculum activities (e.g. sporting club coaches,
qualified instructors, parents/carers, volunteers):
Follow
all instructions provided on how the activity is to be conducted.
Raise
any concerns in relation to the implementation of an activity to staff
responsible for the activity.
Report
any incidents to the supervising teacher.
Comply
with the Blue Card requirements in accordance with the Working With
Children Check - Blue Cards procedure.
Online Resources
Online Resources
Forms
Supporting
documents
Definitions
Definitions
Acceptable
level of residual risk
An
acceptable level of risk exists when the educational outcomes expected to be
achieved in undertaking an activity, justify doing the activity given the level
of risk.
The
residual risk is the level of risk remaining after the controls have been put
in place.
Assessment
of risks
The
part of the risk management process that involves:
a) identifying hazards associated with an activity
b) assessing the risk level of the activity by determining the likelihood
of an incident occurring and the severity of the consequence (e.g. injury)
should the incident occur
c) determining controls to manage the risks.
Common-law
duty of care
Those
responsible for curriculum activities must take reasonable care to avoid
foreseeable risks of injury, for example by:
making
sure that activities are safe and appropriate for the students’ age
ensuring
students are properly instructed and prepared for the activities
ensuring
all equipment is in a safe condition to use
providing
adequate supervision.
Control
measures
Actions implemented to reduce the level of risk. Control measures should be
reviewed to ensure their effectiveness. Some safety controls may not be
effective at providing the level of safety anticipated. Sometimes, a safety
control measure may create its own risk to safety (albeit unintended). In these
cases, safety controls which provide an adequate level of safety are to be
implemented.
Control
measures should always be reviewed after an incident (including a near miss) to
reassess their appropriateness.
Curriculum
risk management
The process of managing risks associated with curriculum activities. It
involves the:
identification
of hazards
assessment
of inherent risk level
identification
and implementation of controls to mitigate risk
monitoring
and review of controls.
For
high and extreme risk activities, it also includes the approval
of the risk assessment prior to the activity being undertaken with students.
Extreme
risk activity
An
activity that is inherently dangerous. There is a high chance of an incident
occurring that would result in debilitating injury or death.
Serious consideration should be given to alternative ways of achieving
comparable learning outcomes in place of engaging in the extreme risk activity.
Significant additional controls would need to be put in place to lower the risk
level of the activity.
A
risk assessment is to be completed and approved by the principal before any
extreme risk activity is undertaken with students.
Hazards
A
hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm (e.g. electricity,
chemicals).
High
risk activity
An
activity where there is a likely chance of an incident resulting in injury or
illness requiring medical treatment.
Additional
controls would need to be put in place to lower the risk level to an acceptable
level.
A
written risk assessment is to be completed and approved before any high risk
activity is undertaken with students.
Inherent
level of risk
The level of risk related to the nature of:
persons
in control (e.g. principals) have a responsibility to ensure the risk of
injury from the workplace is minimised
workers
(e.g. teachers) have the responsibility to comply with workplace health
and safety instructions.
Low
risk activity
An
activity that has little chance of an incident occurring which would result in
an injury.
Medium
risk activity
An
activity that has some chance of an incident occurring which would result in a
minor injury requiring first aid.
Others
Parents,
volunteers, external coaches and leaders involved in planning, delivering or
supervising any curriculum activity.
Treatment
of risks
The
implementation of safety control measures to reduce the risk level of an
activity.
is rare. Little time is spent stimulating students questions. Students are
expected to receive knowledge given to them; they are not typically encouraged
to doubt what they are told in the classroom, or what is written in their
texts, students’ personal point of view or philosophies are considered
irrelevant to education.
