RiskAssess: Easy Compliance with Primary School Science Experiment Safety Requirements

1. Mandatory risk assessments for Primary School science experiments:Let RiskAssess help you! Phillip Crisp and Eva Crisp

2. Requirements • Science experiments are required by the new Australian Curriculum in Primary Schools • Risk assessments are required by law

3. Problems • Primary School teachers are generally not science-trained • Serious injuries may occur as a result of lack of knowledge/experience

4. Solution • Training- all Primary teachers- specialist Primary Science teachers • Simple tools- easy access to model experiments- easy access to safety data- easy system for risk assessment

5. Primary RiskAssess • Tool to assist with risk assessments following- AU/ISO Standard on Risk Management - Work Health Safety Act (or earlier laws) • web-based • provides background information on risks of chemicals, equipment and living things • helps storage of records, communication, learning resources, scheduling, labelling … • easiest way to meet logical and legal requirements

6. THE LAWWork Health & Safety Act . . . a duty . . . to eliminate/minimise risks to health and safety as far as is reasonably practicable. . . . taking into account and weighing upall relevant matters including:(a) the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring; and(b) the degree of harm that might result from the hazard or the risk. . . . Part 2, Sections 17 and 18

7. all relevant matters includes • facilities available • behaviour of the class • students with special needs • students with allergies, etc (NOT book “risk assessment”, tick sheet, etc) likelihood degree of harm consideration requires proper risk assessment using a risk matrix e.g. Aust/ISO Standard on Risk Management

8. You should: • identify • assess • control risks Before: Establish the context After: Monitor and review Always: Consult and communicate

9. Risk identification • history of “accidents” and “near-accidents” at schoolat similar schools • brainstorming, preferably with colleagues • databases of possible risks

10. Risk assessment To assess the severity of a risk, you need to consider: • the consequences of the event, and • the chance that it will occur (likelihood) AU ISO 31000:2009 “Risk management” HB 436:2013 “Risk management guidelines”

11. Risk control Hierarchy of options: elimination substitution isolation engineering administration personal protective equipment

12. Assess risks ≥Medium risk level Low risk level Add control measures DO EXPERIMENT Inherent level of risk = risk level without any control measures besides “routine procedures” Residual level of risk = risk level with control measures in place

13. Advantages of risk assessments • reduced frequency of injuries to students to school staff • promotes a more enquiring attitude to safety • reduced costs for paperwork, litigation and payouts • compliance with the law • compliance with the Australian Curriculum

14. Advantages of a formalised system • proper consideration of risks and control measures • standardisation • storage of records for legal purposes • useful for new/inexperienced staff • limits spur-of-the-moment experiments

15. RiskAssess “Student RiskAssess” “Primary RiskAssess” “RiskAssess” for Students for Staff for Staff Started 2008 to meet Law (>1300 schools) Started 2013to meetAust Curriculum (>250 schools) Release 2016to meetAust Curriculum (>120 schools) Secondary schools Primary schools

16. Safety requirements in the Australian Curriculum for Science Years 3-4Safely use appropriate materials, tools or equipment . . . (C)Discussing safety rules for equipment and procedures (E) (Students) discuss ways to safely use equipment . . (A)Years 5-6Use equipment and materials safely, identifying potential risks (C)Discussing possible hazards involved in conducting investigationsand how these risks can be reduced (E)(Students) describe potential safety risks when planning methods (A)C = Content descriptionE = ElaborationA = Achievement standard

17. Logic • initial assessment of inherent riskif low, go to end of form if medium or more, record control measures(if high or extreme, third reviewer required) • cross-checking by reviewer, if needed • experiment scheduling to save time/allow review • inexpensive ($200 + GST per campus per year)

18. Details • access from school/home • nothing to install on computer • minimal data entry • unlimited number of users • complements Safety Data Sheets • continuing input from school staff • multiple backups of data & backup server • support and advice

19. Electronic devices all supported • computers • laptops • iPads (and other tablets) • smart phones (iPhones, Android, etc)

20. Summary of benefits • safer classrooms • meets logical/legal requirements of curriculum • reduced costs • uses newest digital technologies • helps training of students • happy Primary School Teachers!