Special needs case studies
School playground equipment
The issue
New playground equipment needs to be installed.
What could go wrong?
- Equipment is installed that does not comply with relevant standards.
- The equipment is un-suitable for the individual
- A young person could fall from the fireman's pole and break a limb.
Solutions/control measures
An assessment of the potential risks in relation to the playground equipment including students' limitations, and whether the controls were adequate or in place was undertaken.
The following documents helped to identify solutions or control measures for each risk identified:
- industry guidelines, eg relevant standards; Play Safety Forum guidance; High Level Statement on Children's Play and Leisure
- Managing for health and safety at work
- manufacturers' guidelines
- school accident book – to check trends.
| Hazards | Issues to consider | People at risk | Existing controls | Standard to be reached | Immediate/future actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Play equipment |
Did the equipment meet BS EN 1176 standard? |
Students | New equipment not built to British and European standards |
Ensure it is to BS EN 1176 |
Take out of use until manufacturer/ supplier modifies the equipment in accordance with standards |
| Resilient surface | Did the resilient surface meet BS EN 1177 standard? Did it meet the students' needs? |
Not suitable as risk of falls from height | Ensure it is to BS EN 1177 standards | ||
| Faulty equipment | Is the equipment adequately inspected and maintained? Have findings been recorded? |
Students | None | Manufacturer's guidelines | Equipment to be maintained and inspected as per the manufacturer's guidelines and findings to be recorded |
| Supervision | Is the ratio of employees to students adequate? | Students | Supervision is provided but does not take into account students' limitations eg is student able to grip the fireman's pole? | Ensure there is adequate supervision that takes into account any student limitations, so that equipment can be used safely. | Review risk assessment |
Reasonable adjustments for a student returning to school with a broken leg
The issue
A student with a broken leg is due to return to school following a hospital stay.
What could go wrong?
- Employees are concerned about how they will manage the young person's impaired mobility and do not want to accommodate him in school.
- No individual assessment, related to the physical environment, is carried out.
- No reasonable adjustments are made to accommodate him.
Solutions/control measures
The individual's needs were assessed and reasonable adjustments made to the student's day. These included:
- delaying class attendance to avoid crowds;
- providing assistance to and from classes; and
- explaining that extra support would be made available for a limited time period.
The student, relevant professionals and the carer all worked together in the assessment process.
Special school - generic moving and handling assessment for students with profound and multiple learning difficulties
The issue
A teacher is required to repetitively lift students throughout the school day.
What could go wrong?
- the risks from moving and handling operations are not understood
- no mechanical lifting aids are available, and
- no training provided for the teacher.
The teacher suffers an acute back strain and as a result is off work for six months.
Solutions/control measures
The school reviewed its approach and identified the repetitive lifting as a significant moving and handling risk to employees. The risks were then avoided or minimised in a number of ways:
- manual moving and handling was avoided where possible
- where that was not possible then the risks were reduced by the use of mechanical aids
- training in safer handling techniques also backed this up. This included how to recognise hazardous handling situations and how to determine a safer approach.
A number of employees, students and managers worked together to assess the risks; they established good communication systems and cultivated understanding and co-operation between all parties.
Individual manual handling assessment for student with spina bifida
The issue
A student with spina bifida requires support when being transferred from a wheelchair to the toilet.
What could go wrong?
- During the transfer the employee could slip and both student and employee be injured.
- The needs of the individual were not identified.
- No mechanical aids or training were provided.
Solutions/control measures
The school assessed the risks involved, including the physical environment/accessibility. This highlighted that a restricted workspace might affect the ability to assist a student properly. The risks were avoided or minimised in a number of ways by the use of handling aids. One such aid was a moulded plastic shell with an aperture for toileting, which could be used with a hoist. Wherever possible, similar techniques to those used at home were employed.