The designated person for health and safety is Denise Jones, although it is the responsibility of all staff members to ensure that the setting reaches its aims and objectives regarding all health, hygiene and safety issues.
- The premises are to be checked before opening and closing of the nursery and senior staff members are to carry out any risk assessments required.
- Equipment should be checked before use and any broken or dangerous items must be reported to the Supervisor, these items will then be repaired or discarded. Any items awaiting for repair will be kept out of reach of the children in a secure location and clearly labelled ‘NOT TO BE USED’.
- Tables, chairs and other furniture must not be moved until all the children are seated onto the carpet area.
- Chairs must not be stacked more than four high.
- Care must be taken when moving furniture and equipment. Small tables should be lifted individually and not to be lifted in stacks of two. Larger tables and other furniture should only be lifted by the guidelines set out in the ‘principles of safe manual handling’ guide, which is available to all staff/volunteers upon request.
- When required staff MUST use the step ladders provided and should NOT use tables, chairs or other equipment to reach high objects.
- A staff/volunteer accident book is available and must be completed in full following any accidents.
- Fire doors/exits must not be obstructed.
- Fire drills will be held at least once a term, with all staff having a solid understanding of their roles and responsibilities during these periods (as stated in the Fire Procedure Policy).
- Fire drills are checked annually and staff are trained how to use them correctly.
- Heaters, electrical points, wires and leads must be adequately guarded.
- All dangerous materials, including medicines and cleaning materials are to be stored in the appropriate designated cabinet/cupboards provided.
- Protective gloves must be worn at all times when cleaning up spills of bodily fluids. Floor and other surfaces must then be disinfected. Fabric contaminated must be thoroughly washed or put into a named bag and sealed. Then given to the correct parent/guardian/carer.
- Protective gloves must be worn when dealing with any blood, vomit or excrement and any spills must be disposed of hygienically, i.e. down the toilet.
- All staff members must be aware of how infections, including HIV, can be transmitted.
- Staff are to follow the procedure of what to do when changing a child’s clothing, by having a second staff member present (in a discrete manner) and completing the relevant forms.
- Staff members must be appropriately dressed at all times whilst at nursery, including flat shoes and clothing that allows for interaction with the children at their level, (i.e. sitting on low chairs/on the carpet).
- At ALL times staff members must NOT be under the influence of alcohol or any other substance which may affect their ability to care for the children. This includes prescribed medication which may affect their ability in which a member of staff can care and look after the children and medical advice should be sought.
- All staff members have allocated lockers for storing personal belongings, which are to be kept locked at all times when the children are on the nursery premises.
- Staff are not permitted to smoke whilst on the nursery premises.