HLS-PR-012: Managing Risks in School Curriculum Activities

• Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 Part 4 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/E/EducGenPrA06.pdf
• Education (General Provisions) Regulation 2006 Part 2 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/E/EducGenPrR06.pdf
• Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 Part 3 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/W/WorkplHSaA95.pdf
• Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 Parts 10 and 16 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/W/WorkplHSaR08.pdf

• Education Queensland's Organisational Health Policy Statement http://education.qld.gov.au/health/docs/orghealth-policy-statement.pdf

• CRP-PR-009: Inclusive Education /strategic/eppr/curriculum/crppr009/
• FNM-PR-003: Risk Management /strategic/eppr/finance/fnmpr003/
• HLS-PR-003: First Aid for Schools and Non-school Locations /strategic/eppr/health/hlspr003/
• HLS-PR-005: Health and Safety Incident Recording and Notification /strategic/eppr/health/hlspr005/
• SCM-PR-002: School Excursions /strategic/eppr/schools/scmpr002/
• HLS-PR-006 Managing Occupational Risks with Chemicals /strategic/eppr/health/hlspr006/
• HLS-PR-013 Developing a Sun Safety Strategy /strategic/eppr/health/hlspr013/
• HLS-PR-015 Managing Excessive Heat in Schools /strategic/eppr/health/hlspr015/
• CRP-PR-003: Work Experience Placements /strategic/eppr/curriculum/crppr003/
• HRM-PR-010: Working With Children Check - Blue Cards /strategic/eppr/hr/hrmpr010/

Statement of intent

Department of Education and Training (DET) is committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of students, staff and others involved in all curriculum activities conducted at schools or other locations.

This procedure:

• establishes the context for effective curriculum risk management
• outlines the responsibilities school staff and others have for the safe delivery of curriculum activities
• establishes a minimum procedure for the approval and implementation of risk management for curriculum activities undertaken in schools and other locations
• applies to all curriculum activities organised and/or conducted by school staff.

In applying this procedure it is expected that principals, teachers and others responsible for implementing school curriculum activities, identify and manage all risks associated with the activity to ensure the safety of all involved.

Those responsible for any school curriculum activity have legal obligations under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Qld) and a common-law duty of care to ensure the safety of all those involved in the activity through risk management.

When effectively implemented, risk management processes enable staff to demonstrate a systematic approach to safely manage curriculum delivery thereby fulfilling their legal obligations.

Importantly, curriculum risk management constitutes only one component of the school's overall risk management framework.

The risk management of curriculum activities involves the identification of hazards, the assessment of risks and the treatment of risks associated with the activities.

All curriculum activities, especially new or unusual ones, should be considered in terms of their inherent level of risk To do this, consider risks in terms of:

1. Which students will be involved? (age, maturity, experience, special needs, number etc.)
2. What will students be doing? (running, jumping, swimming, cutting, cooking, throwing etc.)
3. What will students be using? (hazardous materials, sporting equipment, tools, stove etc.)
4. Where will students be? (classroom, outdoors, restricted space, pool, creek, the beach, elevated, etc.)
5. Who will lead the activity? (experience, qualifications etc.)

All activities have an 'inherent' level of risk. This procedure and its associated guidelines are to be used to determine the inherent risk level and, where necessary, plan measures so the activity can be conducted with an acceptable level of residual risk. For example, a high ropes activity has an inherently high level of risk. Therefore, a formal risk assessment procedure is to be undertaken and documented for the activity. Safety measures are to be devised and implemented to minimise the risk of injury to students and others. The activity is then conducted with an acceptable level of residual risk.

If a Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment Guideline exists for a specified activity being planned that guideline is to be adhered to. Where a minimum recommendation of the guideline cannot be met alternative controls are to be implemented to ensure an acceptable level of safety is provided.

The Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment Template 400k and Guidelines set the minimum requirement for the documentation of a risk assessment. However, it is recognised that some schools or curriculum departments may adopt more detailed risk assessment proformas. Where an alternative risk assessment proforma is used, it is to include the following information as a minimum:

• activity details (date, locations etc)
• inherent risk level of the activity
• identification of the hazards and risks
• level of supervision and qualification of leaders
• explanation of the planned control measures
• date of submission for approval
• approval details (who approved, approval date)
• activity review notes.

Whenever there is a change of circumstance for an activity such as venue, student cohort, time of year or number of participants, any existing risk assessment for the activity is to be reviewed and updated as necessary.

The majority of routine classroom curriculum activities undertaken with students involves minimal risk of safety and could therefore be considered of 'low' risk. As these types of activities have little inherent risk a formal written risk assessment is not required.

When planning curriculum activities consideration should be given to:

• providing parents/carer with information about the nature of the activities
• obtaining parent/carer permission for their child to participate in the activities (Note: parental/carer permission must be obtained for extreme risk activities)
• seeking information from parents/carers and/or students with any condition (e.g. physical or medical) that may impair a student 's capacity to safely participate in the activities.

Responsibilities

• Take all reasonable steps to ensure curriculum risk management strategies according to this procedure are implemented in schools
• provide training for principals to ensure their competence in risk management for curriculum activities.

• Promote a safe, supportive and productive learning environment and ensure the safety of all those at the workplace under the Education (General Provisions) Regulation 2006 and Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995
• establish risk management processes at the school that meet the requirements of this procedure
• ensure all staff understand the need for compliance with this procedure
• establish a process for the completion of Curriculum Activity Risk Assessments which considers the:
  • risk level of proposed activity
  • qualifications and experience of teachers and other leaders in relation to the activity
  • identified hazards and control measures to mitigate risk.
• establish a process for the review and approval of risk assessments for high and extreme risk curriculum activities, whereby:
  • principals only are to approve Curriculum Activity Risk Assessments for extreme risk activities
  • principals may delegate the approval of Curriculum Activity Risk Assessments for high risk activities to any relevant deputy principal or head of program (such as head of department, special education, curriculum) and document any delegation arrangements
• establish a process to maintain a School Curriculum Activity Register 125k of high and extreme risk curriculum activities
• include the following activity details, where an alternative school curriculum activity register is used, as a minimum:
  • date/s of the activity
  • staff responsible for the activity
  • student groups undertaking the activity
  • activity description including the inherent risk level
  • date of approval to undertake the activity.
• provide training for staff responsible for the planning and/or delivery of curriculum activities to ensure competence in risk management for relevant activities
• include a risk management component in staff induction programs conducted as soon as practicable after appointment to ensure all new and returning staff:
  • are competent in risk management for relevant curriculum activities
  • understand procedures for the documentation and approval of Curriculum Activity Risk Assessments.
• ensure a registered teacher takes overall responsibility whenever an adult other than a registered teacher is engaged for instruction in an activity
• be satisfied the competence of the nominated leader is appropriate for the activity
• ensure any incident or injury that occurs in association with an activity is reported, recorded and notified in accordance with HLS-PR-005: Health and Safety Incident Recording and Notification
  

• Review and approve Curriculum Activity Risk Assessments for high risk activities as delegated by the principal
• ensure details of the approved high risk activities are recorded in the School Curriculum Activity Register 125k
• provide support to teachers and others in preparing and implementing Curriculum Activity Risk Assessments
• monitor curriculum activities conducted to determine an appropriate level of risk management has been undertaken

Activity planning and risk assessment

• Refer to the Curriculum Activity Risk Planner 198k to guide the risk assessment process when planning curriculum activities (i.e. when teachers are planning units of work or when a secondary department is developing its curriculum)
• adhere to a Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment Guideline if one exists for a specified activity being planned, and complete same as the risk assessment for the activity
• consider seeking information from parents/carers and students with any condition (e.g. physical or medical) that may impair a student's capacity to safely engage in an activity
• the minimum requirement for the risk management of curriculum activities are:
  • for 'low' risk activities:
    • manage through regular planning processes
  • for 'medium' risk activities
    • document control measures in curriculum planning. A Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment may be completed to assist with the risk assessment process.
    • if a Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment Guideline exists for a planned medium risk activity it is to be adhered to
  • for 'high' risk activities
    • discuss the intention to undertake a high risk activity with the supervisor
    • complete a Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment for the activity
    • obtain approval to undertake the activity in accordance with the Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment by the principal, or a delegated deputy principal or head of program, prior to the activity being undertaken.
      Note: Once approved the activity is to be recorded in the School Curriculum Activity Register.
  • for 'extreme' risk activities
    • consider whether the activity should be done as a part of DET curriculum - do the potential benefits of the activity warrant the inherent extreme level of risk?
    • discuss the intention to undertake an extreme risk activity with the supervisor
    • complete a Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment for the activity
    • obtain approval of the principal to undertake the activity in accordance with the Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment prior to the activity being undertaken
      Note: Once approved, the activity is to be recorded in the School Curriculum Activity Register.
    • inform parents/carers of the details of the activity
    • obtain written permission from parents/carers for the student to be involved in the activity.
• refer also to the Curriculum Activity Risk Management Flowchart 82k
• whenever there is a change of circumstance for an activity such as venue, student cohort, time of year or number of participants, any existing risk assessment for the activity is to be reviewed and updated as necessary.

Managing the activity

• manage the hazards and risks associated with all curriculum activities
• conduct any high or extreme risk activity in accordance with the approved Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment
• provide comprehensive safety instruction on the processes and techniques associated with the activity to all involved
• emphasise the student's personal responsibility for:
  • the student's safety and the safety of others
  • following safety procedures and instructions
  • safely managing and reporting additional hazards identified.
• reinforce safety considerations throughout the activity
• maintain adequate supervision of students at all times
• ensure students adhere to all safety instructions and directions given in relation to the activity and the use of equipment, materials and personal protective equipment
• ensure others supporting the delivery of curriculum activities are aware of relevant responsibilities
• ensure the Blue Card requirements are met in accordance with the HRM-PR-010: Working With Children Check - Blue Cards policy.
• maintain an ongoing review of control measures to ensure adequate reduction of risks associated with hazards
• respond to any risk that emerges to ensure the safety of all involved in the activity
• report all injuries, illnesses and dangerous incidents that occur in relation to the activity in accordance with HLS-PR-005 Health and Safety Incident Recording and Notification.

• implement effective risk management strategies to ensure the safety of students and others
• follow all instructions provided on how the activity is to be conducted
• raise any concerns in relation to the implementation of an activity to staff responsible for the activity
• report any incidents to the supervising teacher
• comply with the Blue Card requirements in accordance with the HRM-PR-010: Working With Children Check - Blue Cards policy.

Forms

• Curriculum Activity Risk Planner 198k
• Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment Template 400k
• School Curriculum Activity Register 125k

Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment Guidelines

Other relevant documents

• Curriculum Activity Risk Management Flowchart 82k/strategic/eppr/health/hlspr012/flowchart.pdf
• HLS-PR-012 Definitions/strategic/eppr/health/hlspr012/definitions.html
• Blue Card http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/index.aspx

Contacts

For information about curriculum activity risk management, contact:

• HLS-PR-012: Curriculum Activity Risk Management - Version: 2.2
• HLS-PR-012: Managing Risks in School Curriculum Activities - Version: 3.0, 3.1, 3.2