6.4              Duties of Employees

Section 9 of the 1989 Act sets down the duties of all employees while at work. Every employee has a primary duty to take reasonable care for his or her safety, health and welfare and to co-operate with the employer in implementing those codes of practice and behaviour which are put in place to ensure the safety of all. Employees who are appointed to positions of authority share in the management’s responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of those members of staff for whom they are responsible.

All members of staff in a school have a shared responsibility for the health and safety of pupils who are under their care.

“Reasonably Practicable”

Section 6 of the 1989 Act provides that it shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far is as reasonably practical, the safety, health and welfare at work of all employees. The same requirement may be assumed to apply equally to the Boards obligations in relation to pupils and visitors to the school.

The term “reasonably practicable” may be seen to imply a degree of flexibility in the obligations of the Board to deal with health and safety issues.

In practical terms a Board of Management should ensure:

§  That health and safety procedures and regulations are consistent with the educational and disciplinary requirements of the school.

§  That direct expenditure by the school arising from health and safety considerations is within the limits of authorised school expenditure.

§  If the Board considers that health and safety issues require expenditure which cannot be met directly by the school budget it must ensure that appropriate representations are made to the Department of Education and Science for the necessary funding.