Episode 3 - Christmas Decorations and Managing Winter Conditions

Join us for Episode 3 of The Safer Schools Podcast where we discuss managing winter conditions, including key considerations for:

• Lighting and visibility
• Wet and decaying leaves
• Blocked drains, gutters, downpipes, flat roofs etc.
• Preventing slips at building entrances/exits and external access routes
• Flooding
• Ice, frost and snow, including how to compile a gritting plan
• Outdoor activities
• School vehicles
• Preventative maintenance checks for premises; and
• Winter illnesses (e.g. flu, Norovirus etc.)

We also discuss key considerations for staff putting up Christmas decorations in your school.

So, if you’re a Bursar, Estates Manager, Health & Safety Manager, School Business Manager, or indeed ANYONE responsible for managing H&S in a school, then this is the episode for you!

Let’s start a conversation on how we can make our schools safer!

Questions, comments, suggestions for topics? This is your Podcast too – drop an email to: info@pearsonwebb.co.uk

 

We've provided links below to the various guidance documents and other resources referred to in this episode:

• Learn about our Fixed Fee Advisory Service: https://www.pearsonwebb.co.uk/services/fixed-fee-advisory-service/
• Follow our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pearson-webb-consulting
• Our article on the latest HSE statistics for the Education sector: https://www.pearsonwebb.co.uk/education/generating-discussion-on-health-safety-using-the-latest-hse-education-statistics/
• CIBSE LG205 Lighting for Education (2011): https://www.cibse.org/knowledge-research/knowledge-portal/lighting-guide-05-lighting-for-education-2011
• CIBSE LG06 The Exterior Environment (2016): https://www.cibse.org/knowledge-research/knowledge-portal/lighting-guide-06-the-exterior-environment-2016
• Health & Safety Executive (HSE) HSG33 Health and Safety in Roof Work: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg33.pdf
• Andel Smart Flood Risk Monitoring Solutions: https://www.andel.co.uk/flood-defence/smart-flood-monitoring-solutions/
• Ecclesiastical Flood Advice: https://www.ecclesiastical.com/risk-management/flood-advice/
• QBE Flood Response Planning: https://qbeeurope.com/document-library/risk-solutions/flood-response-planning/
• Environment Agency Business Flood Plan Checklists: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-your-business-for-flooding/business-flood-plan-checklists
• Sign up to receive flood warnings via phone, text or email (England): https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings
• Sign up to receive flood warnings (Scotland): https://www.sepa.org.uk/environment/water/flooding/floodline/
• Sign up to receive flood warnings (Wales): https://naturalresources.wales/flooding/sign-up-to-receive-flood-warnings/?lang=en
• Check the risk of flooding (Northern Ireland): https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/check-risk-flooding-your-area
• News Article, The Independent - Shovelling snow can lead to fatal heart attacks, research finds: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/shovelling-snow-heart-attacks-cardiac-arrest-research-bmj-deaths-winter-a8103166.html
• Ecclesiastical Cold Weather Advice: https://www.ecclesiastical.com/risk-management/cold-weather/
• QBE Winter Freeze Checklist: https://qbeeurope.com/documents/index/4003/419965
• Allianz Preparing Commercial Property for Severe Weather: https://www.allianz.co.uk/business/business-risk-support/weather-advice/commercial-property.html
• NHS HANDi App: https://bnssg.icb.nhs.uk/health-and-care/health-advice-and-support/handi-app/
• NHS Is my child too ill for school?: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
• Department for Education - Norovirus: Information for parents, schools, and early years providers if a child is sick: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2023/03/17/norovirus-information-for-parents-schools-and-early-years-providers-if-a-child-is-sick/
• Video from Envirograf - Christmas Tree Fire Demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZFMrfjgYqc

Intro/outro music: Phello / No Signal / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Intro/outro music voiceover: Eloise Pearson (aged 4 years)
Sound editing: Leo Sartain / Creative Director / rafikistudio.com