Hi all, I have completed my nebosh exams this year(gen cert) after 7 years working in access equipment and height safety. I have today been offered the position of h&s supervisor at a school/college. The place caters for all ages, inc an infants creche, as well as a disabled college. although i am confident of doing a good job, a would appreciate any advice on what regs and laws i should specificallybrush up on prior to starting!?

Congratulations mattyturton - I work in a similar position and am happy to advise or just have a chat. PM me.

The specific Regs are likely to include most of what you have studied for Cert. My advice is to look at the real risks posed by the school's activities, concentrate on the significant issues and approach the trivial ones in an appropriate way. Law & Regs are all available in books: sensible H&S management is down to you. Many of the daft H&S stories so beloved of sections of our Press/Broadcast Media originate from banning activities. It's very easy to say "no you can't do that" whilst finding a sensible solution to significant risk takes time, effort and often persuasion. It may be that much of your role is in educating your staff colleagues in what is real risk and what is imagined or perceived fear of litigation.

Matty, I support the advice given by Bob at #2 and Martin at #4. These are both useful and required sources of guidance for schools/colleges. The matter of who is the "employer" will need to be clarified in you research. For maintained schools it is the LEA, hence Bobs comment about r7, but in independents and others it may be the Governors. Once you have checked with these sources I think you will see that there are systems and procedures for you to use and refer in your work. Most of the world of work occurs at some point inside schools/colleges and then you have children and young people at the centre of it! Quite a brief, good luck. Also you do not say whether this is a new position in the school or whether you are taking over. If the latter, then make sure you look out all the stuff that will already exist, the best wheels are always round with spokes to the centre :-) p48

Hi all, Thanks for the congrats and all the advice, very much appreciated!!! matty

Hi Matt, I'm in a similar role. You may have heard of the AoC. They have regional meetings for H&S Managers which are useful. See below - http://www.aoc.co.uk/en/..._Work/health_and_safety/