Rank: New forum user 
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Having recently reviewed a School H&S Policy i have suggested that within the Responsibilities/Organisation section the following is included:
Pupils, allowing for their age and aptitude, are expected to:
• Exercise personal responsibility for the health and safety of themselves and others.
• Observe standards of dress consistent with safety and/or hygiene.
• Observe all the health and safety rules of the school and in particular the instructions of staff given in an emergency.
• Use and not wilfully misuse, neglect or interfere with things provided for their health and safety
The intention of this inclusion, (whilst i know its not a legal requirement as the pupils are not employees) is to encourage buy-in from the pupils and is used in other schools policies.
However, the question is do you think this is reasonable, as the school has come back with concerns that it is not appropriate?
Your thoughts are appreciated.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I am not sure it is appropriate for a h&s policy, which has a legal standing, to include responsibilities for pupils who have no legal duty within that policy. I think it is good practice for pupils to understand their personal responsibilities for themselves and others. Therefore, could this not be articulated in some other form of documentation?
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Rank: Super forum user
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I would have to agree with Ray - there are no legal requirements on pupils for a health & safety policy. Certainly in my time as a Health& Safety Governor all of the issues you address are covered in other other documents like a "Code of Conduct" or similar and "Uniform/Dress Policy" or similar. It is very likely this school will have similar documents. If they do not address the issues you want included then perhaps you should suggest that they be amended at the next review to include the H&S related issues. HTH
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Rank: Forum user 
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Hmmm...
If this were a "regular" workplace, rather than a school, would we be concerned if there was a statement outlining what we expect of visitors? They're not employees either.
Clukes doesn't tell us the age of the pupils - which I think is relevant - but assuming secondary or older, I think to be able to point to something in a legal document which outlines what's expected of them is part of their preparation for the world of work. The wording supplied says "pupils are expected..." rather than "pupils have a responsibility to...", and as long as this expectation is backed up in other documents - like a code of conduct - then I think it's perfectly fair to have it in the school H&S policy.
The only thing I might change is to add "...and this expectation is outlined in the school rules / code of conduct / whatever". The whole section is then clearly a statement about an important part of the arrangements for Health and Safety in the school.
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Rank: New forum user
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I agree with Bilbo. Like him I have been a school governor for many years and would expect to see "Code of Conduct" and other documents not in the H&S policy document for pupils, but which is for head teacher, teachers, support staff.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I don't know fancy someone suggesting that pupils can be held responsible for anything. You can't hold pupils responsible for thier own behaviour. When a pupil mis-behaves it is down to the parents or the teacher winding them up by asking them to stop doing something.
So if they were held responsible for thier own safety or the safety of others by 'thier' actions there would be an outcry. even those pupils who are in the old 5th year, year something or other in todays talk, cannot be held responsible and they are nearly ready for work.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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While I don't disagree with the majority of the resposnes, surely pupils can, and often are held responsible for thier own behaviour?!
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Rank: Forum user 
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I was, and couldn't sit down afterwards!
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Rank: Forum user
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Fail to understand why a pupil cannot be held responsible for his/her actions. Particularly when they have been given rules/guidelines to follow. They should accept that in all walks of life they have responsibilities to not only themself but others.
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Rank: Super forum user
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No one is saying that pupils should not be accountable for their actions - just don't put it in the h&s policy and use other mediums to convey the message.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Do all the pupils get a copy of the policy, if not why include it
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Rank: New forum user
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Hi all thanks for the considered responses. This is a secondary school so the pupils are of an age up to starting work and my thoughts mirror Paul Duells in that it may help them in preparing for work. Maybe a rider stating this is an expectation is a good idea that will appease those who get scared when something outside the box is included. The pupils are what the school is all about, so I just thought what a strong message to include such a commitment.
Steve pupils would be made aware of the contents of the policy in relation to what is relevant to them.
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Rank: Forum user
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Semantics maybe but ... "responsibility" in the case of the policy would not lie with the pupil as the H&S Policy cannot assign such to a pupil (or a non-contractural visitor).
It would be better to phrase it that the staff have a responsibility to enforce the various rules and guidelines to ensure that "pupils do x,y, and z".
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