About This Sector
Schools, colleges, and universities have a duty of care to students, staff, and visitors that goes beyond standard workplace health and safety. Ofsted inspectors assess safeguarding and safety as part of their framework. Local authorities, academy trusts, and governing bodies carry legal responsibility for health and safety compliance. Arinite provides Chartered health and safety consultants who understand the specific requirements of educational settings, from primary schools to multi-campus universities.
Sector-Specific Regulations
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 applies to all educational employers. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require risk assessments for all activities, including those involving students. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires fire risk assessments for all school, college, and university premises. The Education (School Premises) Regulations 2012 set minimum standards for school buildings. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 apply to staff and, in many cases, to students using computers regularly. Specific guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) on health and safety in schools supplements the general legislation.
Common Compliance Failures We Find
These are the health and safety failures Arinite's consultants find most frequently in this sector:
Fire risk assessments that have not been updated following building modifications, extensions, or changes of use.
No risk assessments for educational visits, trips, or off-site activities.
Science laboratory risk assessments that are outdated or do not cover current curricula and chemicals in use.
DSE assessments missing for teaching staff who spend significant time at computers.
Asbestos management surveys that are not reviewed annually or are not communicated to contractors working on the premises.
No documented lone working procedures for caretakers, cleaning staff, or teachers working outside normal hours.
Our Services for This Sector
Arinite's education health and safety services include comprehensive risk assessments for all school and campus activities, fire risk assessments for school, college, and university buildings, science laboratory risk assessments and COSHH assessments, health and safety audits aligned with Ofsted safeguarding expectations, asbestos management plan reviews, educational visit and trip risk assessment frameworks, health and safety policy creation and annual review, staff training for fire marshals, first aiders, and health and safety coordinators, and health and safety software for managing compliance across multi-site academy trusts.
Book a Free Education Gap Analysis Call
Book a free gap analysis call with one of our Chartered health and safety consultants. In 30 minutes, we will assess your current education health and safety arrangements and identify the compliance gaps that matter most.
