FAQs - Health and Safety
Infection control
What measures should we take to try and stop the spread of infections within the setting?
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has produced a guidance sheet on infection control in childcare settings.
General health and safety in the workplace
What should our group consider in terms of Health and Safety?
Your group should have a Health and Safety Policy and insurance for your employees and volunteers and do risk assessments on your premises and activities. An early years Health and Safety Policy and Risk Assessment is available from the SPPA publications sales list and RSA provide SPPA member groups with integrated insurance packages that will cover your pre-school groups’ requirements. The Health and Safety Executive have produced guidance for small businesses which you may find useful, as it covers other things that your group should consider.
We have a new staff member joining us. Is there anything we should do to their ensure their safety?
The Health and Safety Executive have produced a guide for new people starting work which will help you to protect any new staff or volunteers. Their website gives you their six steps to protect new starters.
Temperatures in indoor workplaces
What should the temperature be in my workplace?
Comfort depends on air temperature, radiant heat, air movement and humidity. Individual personal preference makes it difficult to specify a thermal environment which satisfies everyone. Health and Safety Executive advice for workplaces where the activity is mainly sedentary, for example offices, is that the temperature should normally be at least 16ºC. If work involves physical effort it should be at least 13ºC.
Assessment of the risk to workers’ health, from working in either a hot or cold environment, needs to consider two sets of factors - personal and environmental. Personal factors include body activity, the amount and type of clothing, and duration of exposure. Environmental factors include ambient temperature, and radiant heat; and if the work is outside, sunlight, wind velocity and the presence of rain or snow.
Health and Safety at Fundraising Events
What safety issues do we need to consider when planning a fundraising event?
Check the Health and Safety Executive's updated health and safety guidance for event organisers.
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