Posted By Kieran J Duignan
Paul

If your intention is to improve control of risks to pupils, as a classroom teacher it is appropriate for you to express your concern in principle in writing to both the headteacher and the safety officer of the school, asking them to carry out the necessary technical risk assessment.

If your intention more of an April Fool's ploy, try elsewhere, dear chap.

Posted By Kieran J Duignan
Fair comment, Paul

Yet my first proposal remains. As a CMIOSH, I've been commissioned by a maintained (i.e. not fee-paying) school to carry out a risk assessment about an issue which the headteacher persuaded the teacher required a thorough risk assessment which could withstand a legal challenge. So, I question the validity of the research you're doing, however well-intentioned it is.

Since you have invested 3 days already, is that not enough to make the case to the school that an independent risk assessment should be conducted by an appropriate specialist who has the appropriate professional indemnity insurance as well as specialist knowledge base?

Good wishes, whichever path you attend.

Btw, I either qualify every letter I write today with a comment about my own intentions or else date it '2 April 2007' :-)

Posted By Paul
Hi Kieran,

Here is my update on what has happened since we last spoke!

Right after Easter, I wrote to the Headteacher and Head of Music at that school, clearly stating my Health & Safety concerns at the prospect of having to work all day in an unventilated room 2.0m x 1.75m x 2.33m high, with no natural daylight. I asked for a Risk Assessment.

The Deputy Head said he was always keen to listen and act upon colleagues concerns and he would make it a priority to have a H&S Inspection. But he was disappointed at my 'official' letter! Can you believe it.

I asked them why they had totally ignored the Government Building Bulletins for music room design; Building Regs ventilation, and acoustics; HSE approved code of practice for 11m3 volume of air per worker and fresh air rates of 8L/sec/person etc. And then I asked why they hadn't used an Architect? Who approved these room sizes? (Head of Music, was the answer!). Then I was told by the school's H&S representative: "Why not work in the corridor instead then!"

For the next few weeks I heard nothing from any of the senior management. That is until last week when I found out that the school has decided to give me the boot, after 3+ succesful years there. The Headteacher knew nothing about this decision when I asked him face-to-face. It was the Head of Music's doing. Funny that.

It's easier for them to do this, than accept someone has made a c*ck-up and wasted a lot of money. I was the only person who raised a H&S concern, and crossed paths with the Head of Music. She took this as a personal battle. So she picked fault with my work to try and say it was a 'performance' and 'rudeness' issue. Very sly.

You did warn me that people often end up losing their jobs over H&S issues Kieran. You weren't wrong m8.

As I work via an Agency who employ me, not the school directly, I am going to try and make use of The Employment Act 1996, Chapter 18; Part V; 44 (1) d & e. This protects employees against detriment for bringing up a H&S issue. I want to take them to an Employment Tribunal. I'm in touch with my union.

We'll see what happens next.

Posted By Kieran J Duignan
Hello Paul

While I share Andrew's good wish that, in the classif phrase of Dave Allen, your God may go with you, the courts in the UK don't recognise this entity.

To think through an imaginative strategy that you yourself don't find too stressful, may I recommend that you study the essentials of Reversal Theory of motivation and personality, developed by Michael Apter.

In the event that the school may employ a barrister who is 99% ignorant of safety law but very skilful with langauge, I also suggest that you study Howard Raiffa's guidance on negotiation and game strategies.

Both of these can help you in the medium-term as well.