30 Apr Sharing the dangers of finger trapping in your school
When it comes to finger trapping accidents at home, at school or within the workplace, it’s safe to say that prevention is always better than cure. Using our finger protection devices to stop finger trapping accidents in their tracks and keep digits safe will save you a lot of time, money and heartache – especially when safeguarding the littlest of hands.
We work closely with schools around the UK and the rest of the world to put door safety first and keep everyone safe from the serious harm that entrapment can so easily cause. While we’ve got the finger guards sorted (with supply and fitting both delivered by our specialists), briefing pupils of all ages about safety at school is important.
Read on to discover our top tips for educating pupils, and raising awareness about door and general classroom safety within the school environment.
Your duties as a school
As a UK school, there are a number of rules and duties to uphold the highest standard of health and safety.
With parents and guardians entrusting you with their children, it’s a big responsibility, and one that’s covered by countless pieces of legislation. This includes the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. But, who exactly is responsible for health and safety at school? We’ll let the Department for Education (DfE) answer this very question:
“The employer or, in the case of independent schools, the proprietor, is accountable for the health and safety of school staff and pupils. The day-to-day running of the school is usually delegated to the headteacher and the school management team. In most cases, they are responsible for ensuring that risks are managed effectively. This includes health and safety matters.”
Alongside the appointment of a ‘competent person’, other teachers and staff in schools have a common law duty when in charge of pupils to take the same care of them as they would as a parent.
Briefing your pupils
Every school should have a health and safety policy that aims to plan for, appropriately execute, monitor, report on and resolve any issues with health and safety management. This includes providing education and awareness regarding health and safety standards. Such information can be shared with pupils, especially when upholding door and wider classroom safety, providing it is communicated in an age appropriate manner.
Schools can communicate about safety with their pupils by using clear, easy to understand language and engaging methods. For younger children, teachers can use stories, role-playing exercises and visuals to explain key safety rules in a simple and reassuring way.
Older students may benefit from discussions, workshops and real-life examples to help them understand the risks and ultimately stay safe in school. Schools should also use posters, assemblies and digital resources to reinforce safety messages. Encouraging open conversations where pupils feel comfortable asking questions is essential every step of the way, and will ensure they know who to turn to for help.
Boost safety in your setting
By making safety education interactive and relevant, schools can help pupils feel informed, confident, secure and safe. Every setting, whether fitted with finger door guards or not, has a responsibility to inform and educate on appropriate safety issues.
Despite being one of the most common classroom injuries, finger trapping accidents are completely preventable. Bolster safety further by exploring our range of door finger protection products today or contact our team for further support and advice.
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