4.1 Setting's Health And Safety Policies And Procedures

Box 1 4.1: Setting’s health and safety policies and procedures

Legislation and regulations guide practitioners how they must work within the nursery. They are also important because they communicate to practitioners how the nursery should run. The nursery must interpret the law and the regulations that apply to them. Settings do this by inventing policies that explain how the setting will work in line with the law and the regulations. Policies also let other professionals, parents/carers and children know how the setting works. It is important you understand that you understand all of the policies in the nursery and you must work within them. To ensure that policies and procedures are effective, it is good practice for nurseries to review them regularly, at least once a year. Practitioners should check that their policies and procedures still reflect current legislation and regulations, since these are updated from time to time. Practitioners should consider whether the ways of working outlined in the policies successful. This should be done in consultation with colleagues and when appropriate, parents/ cares, children and outside professionals.
It is the employer’s duty to put policies and procedures into place to ensure that the setting is meeting the standards of The Health and Safety at Work Act and ensure they are being followed. By following this we are making sure that the indoor and outdoor environment is well maintained, clean and safe. Equipment is stored correctly and is regularly checked to ensure it is safe. Hazardous materials and equipments are locked away and we follow COSHH. COSHH is the law that requires employees to control substances that are hazardous to health. Substancs that can be hazardous to health are bleach, washing up liquid, washing powder, washing tablet etc. If any substances are in sight they must be locked away, and out of reach of