Health and Safety Compliance in the Education Industry in South Africa

The education industry in South Africa has a generally average level of compliance to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. However, there are areas where improvement is needed, as there are a significant number of accidents and injuries that occur in schools each year.

Not sure whether your institution is Health and Safety Compliant? Click on the button below to contact us and find out how we can assist you. 

The most common types of accidents in schools are falls, trips, and slips. Other common accidents include machinery accidents, electrical accidents, chemical accidents, assaults, fires, exposure to hazardous substances, and bullying and violence.

Health and Safety Requirements for All Educational Institutions in South Africa

Health and safety is a requirement for all educational institutions in South Africa, regardless of their type or size. This includes public and private schools, crèches, colleges, universities, and other private training institutions for higher education.

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) requires that all educational institutions have a health and safety management system in place. This system must include a written health and safety policy, procedures, and risk assessments. The institution must also have a qualified health and safety officer and provide training to staff on health and safety matters.

In addition to the DHET requirements, educational institutions must also comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993). This Act sets out general health and safety requirements for all workplaces, including educational institutions.

The following are some of the key health and safety requirements that educational institutions must comply with:

• Physical infrastructure and safety: Educational institutions must have safe and well-maintained premises. This includes having adequate fencing, alarm systems, and burglar-proofing, as well as measures in place to prevent fires, electrical accidents, and slips and trips.
• Health and safety management system: Educational institutions must have a written health and safety policy, procedures, and risk assessments in place. The institution must also provide training to staff on health and safety matters.
• Emergency preparedness and response: Educational institutions must have an emergency plan in place and train staff on how to respond to emergencies. The institution must also have first aid kits and equipment available.
• Health and well-being of students and staff: Educational institutions must provide a safe and healthy learning environment, as well as promoting healthy lifestyles and well-being.

The top 10 hazards and associted risks for the education services industry in South Africa are:

• Working at heights without proper fall protection
• Using hazardous substances without proper training or personal protective equipment
• Operating machinery without proper training or guarding
• Lifting heavy objects without proper training or technique
• Working alone in hazardous situations
• Failing to report accidents or injuries
• Not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment
• Not following safe work procedures
• Distracted driving
• Fatigue

The top 10 unsafe acts and conditions in the education industry in South Africa are:

• Slippery surfaces
• Uneven surfaces
• Poor lighting
• Cluttered walkways
• Unguarded machinery
• Exposed electrical wires
• Dangerous chemicals
• Lack of fall protection
• Inadequate supervision
• Bullying and violence

The top 10 pain points in health and safety for the education industry in South Africa are:

• Lack of funding for health and safety programs
• Lack of training and awareness of health and safety procedures
• Poor maintenance of school facilities
• Large class sizes
• High turnover of staff
• Lack of support from management
• Bullying and violence
• Mental health issues among students and staff
• Substance abuse among students and staff
• Fatigue among students and staff

In 2021, the Department of Employment and Labour issued 2,153 contravention notices to the education industry in South Africa.

 The top 10 reasons for these contravention notices were:

• Lack of training and awareness of health and safety procedures
• Inadequate supervision of students
• Poor maintenance of school facilities
• Failure to report accidents or injuries
• Not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment
• Not following safe work procedures
• Distracted driving
• Fatigue among students and staff
• Bullying and violence
• Exposure to hazardous substances

To avoid these issues and others, click on the button below to speak with a consultant regarding your Health and Safety Concerns.

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Control Measures and Solutions to Address the Hazards, Risks, Unsafe Acts, and Contravention Notices

There are a number of control measures and solutions that can be implemented to address the hazards, risks, unsafe acts, and contravention notices mentioned above. These include:

Health and Safety Compliance Audit for Schools: A comprehensive health and safety compliance audit can identify areas where an organisation needs to improve its compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Once the audit has been completed, the organisation can develop a plan to address any areas of non-compliance.

Risk Assessments for Health and Safety: Risk assessments can be used to identify and assess the risks associated with all activities and processes in a school or other educational institution. Once the risks have been identified, the organisation can develop control measures to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.

Policies and Procedures: Schools and other educational institutions should have written policies and procedures in place for all aspects of health and safety. These policies and procedures should be communicated to all staff and students, and should be regularly reviewed and updated.

Training and Awareness: OHS Act training for school staff in South Africa on health and safety procedures is of the utmost importance. This training should cover topics such as risk assessment, hazard identification, and incident reporting.

Supervision: Students should be adequately supervised at all times. This is especially important during activities that are considered to be high risk.

Maintenance: School facilities should be properly maintained to eliminate hazards such as slippery surfaces, uneven surfaces, and poor lighting.

Personal Protective Equipment: Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be provided to staff and students when required. PPE can help to protect workers from hazards such as dust, fumes, noise, and chemicals.

Incident Reporting: All accidents and injuries should be reported to the appropriate person or authority. This will help to identify areas where improvement is needed to prevent accidents and injuries from happening in the future.

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In addition to the above control measures, schools and other educational institutions can also implement the following:

Health and Safety Committee: A health and safety committee can be established to help ensure that the organisation is meeting its health and safety obligations. The committee can be made up of staff, students, and other stakeholders.

Emergency Preparedness Plan: An emergency preparedness plan should be in place to deal with emergencies such as fires, explosions, and natural disasters. The plan should be communicated to all staff and students, and should be regularly reviewed and updated.

Health and Safety Management System for Schools: A health and safety management system can help to ensure that the organisation is continuously improving its health and safety performance. HSMS software for schools in South Africa should include elements such as risk assessment, policy and procedure development, training and awareness, and incident reporting.

By implementing these control measures and solutions, improved health and safety in schools and other educational institutions can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries, and improve their compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

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