Building – Construction
by Rob Gordon Director, Curo Construction
KEEPING PUPILS AND STAFF SAFE DURING THE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
THE refurbishment and renovation of a school is preferably done during the school holidays. It limits the impact on day-to- day school operations and supports continuity. However, there are occasions when construction work must be completed during term times. This can bring with it a number of health and safety challenges. Hundreds of students and staff moving around a school whilst contractors are on site can cause hazards, not least during a global pandemic when social distancing measures are enforced.
Prior to the refurbishment of any school, it’s important to determine where
responsibilities lie. Any school undergoing construction work will need to meet the requirements of Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This stipulates that they must keep others, who are not in their employment but who may be affected by their undertaking, safe.
As the work is commissioned by the school, this accountability cannot be delegated to anyone else. It is therefore essential for the school to be able to demonstrate it has done all that is reasonably practicable to fulfil this legal requirement.
As the enforcing authority, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) may visit a site where there has been a significant failure, which may lead to prosecution.
Construction works at schools vary from extensions, refurbishments and complete renovations. It is vital that any contractor works closely with headteachers, bursars or other department heads to ensure pupils and school staff aren’t inconvenienced or put in danger. Their safety is paramount. The potential risks include pupils gaining access to construction or maintenance areas, items beings dropped from height, or danger from tripping over rubble, tools or equipment.
CASE STUDY: CHANNING JUNIOR SCHOOL
We have a long standing relationship with Channing School, Highgate Hill, London. Following the completion of its new state-of-the-art sixth form and sports hall, and then its performing arts building, we were tasked to further upgrade its expanding campus. The expansion would provide the Junior School with new facilities including subterranean changing rooms and shower areas (phase 1), dining hall and kitchen (phase 2), and classrooms and external play areas with integrated landscaping (phase 3). We reduced the ground level by approximately 1.4 metres to create new modern dining facilities, which are situated partly underground. Directly above this on the roof, a glass balustrade features a flat playing surface area for the pupils where various sports and activities can be played. The school remained live throughout the project so we had to set up extensive separation and management
Enquiry Service:
crownwood@btconnect.com
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