Health and Safety
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Yes, absolutely. If the Health and Safety in early years setting is not where it should be by the legal standard you have two responsibilities – Leave and report. I know it can get crazy guys…
In one setting it took them walking through the classroom doors to steal a personal belonging from me before I realised that it could have easily been a child. It wasn’t a one off incident. The children had no toilets! They would have to use one that was unflushable and didn’t work. There was no lock to the nursery and the management did nothing about it.
The thing with health and safety is that it will not only cost you your career in childcare forever if something goes wrong but it could cost a life! You and the children deserve to be in an environment that keeps you safe.
Here are some health and safety red flags
- Staff are consistently under ratio of the children
- Dangerous items are left out with no reflection
- There is no risk assessment in place or it is not being followed#
- Children are constantly injured due to old or broken equipment
- There is no first aid or accident record procedure in place
- The equipment has not been made for safety.
You can look at this guide to help decide when to report or quit your job.
MANAGER HEALTH AND SAFETY SURVIVAL GUIDE
Okay, as a secret between you and me! Some managers are thrown into a role with no experience or training! I was in that position many years ago because I was a ‘’yes ma’am’’ girl. I DO NOT want you to get into hot water so here is what you do for those who were in my position years ago.
Last but not least! Here are some items you need in a nursery to help ensure health and safety is being followed!
Finger pinch guard
This is to ensure children do not get their fingers caught in between doors and prevent them from having accidents with their fingers.
Plug covers
Children get their fingers into everything and anything! They also tend to put everything inside everything! Please make sure you have your plugs protected!
Baby Gate
Baby gates are an excellent way to show children this is an adult only zone for this area can only be accessed by an adult. This is great if you have a kitchen in the same room as your setting or rooms without doors.
Table corner protectors
If you work with children you know how easily head bumps can happen, table corner protectors can be the difference between calling an ambulance or just filling out an incident report. Make sure you use these for the corners of the resource cupboards.
