Health and Safety

Profile

Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA) is an independent, international, day school located in Beijing. Founded in 2001 with a small cohort of students studying the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, it has now grown into a large K-12 school with over 1100 students. BWYA has developed a reputation for academic excellence coupled with a strong sense of community. We educate students with English and Chinese as the main language of instruction, as well as with a commitment to the Chinese government education policies for national students. BWYA is authorised with International Baccalaureate Organisation (IB), Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), and accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The school is also a member of Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS) and East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS).

Mission

Beijing World Youth Academy strives to provide members of our community excellent learning opportunities that incorporate critical investigation, exposure to different cultural perspectives and assessment against objective criteria. Our mission is to develop principled, open-minded thinkers who are capable of integrating with diverse international communities and who are empowered to shape their environs for the improvement of quality of life for themselves and others.

Values

As a school community, these are our values:

Compassion: We respect and empathise with the rights, opinions, culture and feelings of others.
Trust: We believe that honesty, integrity and reliability in ourselves and others, forms the cornerstone of our community.
Solidarity: We value harmony and oneness while recognising the individuality of each person in our community.
Collaboration: We recognise that the development of the student is the shared responsibility between the student, the family and the school.

Schoolwide Learner Outcomes

We have adopted the International Baccalaureate ® (IB) Learner Profile, which describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success, as our Schoolwide Learning Outcomes as part of our commitment to help all members of the school community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them.

As learners we strive to be:

Inquirers: We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.
Knowledgeable: We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.
Thinkers: We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.
Communicators: We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
Principled: We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.
Open-minded: We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.
Caring: We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.
Risk-takers: We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
Balanced: We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives — intellectual, physical, and emotional — to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognise our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
Reflective: We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.

Rationale

Beijing World Youth Academy considers no aspect of its operation or administration more important than the health and safety of its employees, students and visitors. This is achieved by maintaining safe and healthy working conditions and by fostering a culture focused on awareness, open communication, safety education and supervision, with safe working methods.

This policy reflects Beijing World Youth Academy's commitment to health and safety. It details all procedures and practicable steps taken by the school to secure the health, safety and welfare of all individuals legally on school premises and within the school community.

Guiding Principles

Safeguarding is a priority for the BWYA community. The Senior Leadership Team of the school and the Governing Body are committed to maintaining a constant and continuing interest in the health and safety of all school stakeholders by:

Ensuring that all reasonable steps are taken to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of users of the premises and all participants on school trips.
Ensuring that we meet our legal obligations to maintain safe and healthy working conditions.
Establishing and maintaining safe working procedures for staff and students.
Providing and maintaining safe school buildings and safe equipment for use in school.
Developing safety awareness, by appropriate training if necessary, amongst staff, students and others who help in school.
Formulating and implementing effective procedures for use in the event of fire and other emergencies.
Investigating accidents and taking steps to prevent a re-occurrence.

Policy and Implementation

Organisation and Responsibilities

In order to ensure the health and safety of everybody involved in the school, the Senior Leadership Team will arrange appropriate delegation of health and safety management issues as detailed in the following sections of the policy.

Buildings and Engineering

BWYA will ensure that all buildings and structures adhere to local and Chinese requirements and that they provide a safe environment for all students, staff and visitors.

Communication

BWYA uses many channels to foster effective communication within the BWYA community and create a positive, collaborative working and learning environment. These means of communication enable members of the community to raise issues regarding health and safety so that they can be addressed, and secondly, to ensure clear communication in the case of any emergency. Means of communication can be found in Student and Parent Handbooks.

Earthquake Prevention and Safety

BWYA has earthquake drills with procedures which adhere to all local and Chinese requirements. Such measures are implemented to minimise the likelihood of damage, distress and casualty as a result of an earthquake. BWYA has a Crisis Management Policy that outlines procedures for all stakeholders to follow in the event of major crises, such as earthquake, to safeguard the well-being of students, staff and anyone else on our school premises.

Emotional Well-Being of Student and Staff

BWYA recognises the importance of student and staff emotional well-being. The school has counselling service at each campus for students, parents and staff. The procedures to be used for this service can be found in the Student and Parent Handbooks, as well as the Pastoral Care Policy.

Fire Prevention and Safety

BWYA has fire prevention and evacuation drills with procedures which adhere to all local and Chinese requirements, and this can be found in the Crisis Management Policy. Such procedures are in place to reduce the likelihood of a fire at the school and, in the unlikely event of a fire, to ensure the safety of all students, staff and anyone else on our school premises.

First Aid

The Crisis Management Policy specifies the basic emergency and first aid supply to be kept on campus and for school trips. In addition, the school hires external first aid training service for teachers and staff for adequate and appropriate first aid training to be provided to students, staff, parents and visitors, if necessary, on each of the campuses and during all school activities and field trips.

Health and Safety Inspections

A schedule of regular health and safety inspections are held at each campus. The schedule includes a detailed list of what needs to be inspected, the process for undertaking the inspection and the process and timeline for communicating the results of the inspections to management. The inspectors consist of Principals, Deputy Principals, Facilities Manager and Head of Maintenance Team.

Physical Education

Physical Education has been identified as an area of possible increased risk within the school. The PE Department has put in place policies and practices which all BWYA PE instructors have to follow in order to ensure all sports activities within the school proceed in a safe manner. The policies have been displayed in the PH&E Handbook under the Health and Safety Procedures chapter, pages 9-16.

Risk Assessment

Before any activity is carried out at BWYA a risk assessment will be carried out to determine all possible risks to health and safety. Formal written risk assessments will be completed for all field trips and other high-risk activities with the trip or activity only being approved if management are confident that all risk factors have been suitably addressed.

Safe Recruitment

A Safe Recruitment Policy is now used to ensure that only suitable staff are hired.

Safeguarding

BWYA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students. The school has a Child Protection Policy in place with clear expectations for all staff stated in this policy.

Science Labs

BWYA has the following measures in place to ensure safety in its laboratory classrooms to minimise potential risks.

Students are provided yearly safety training with documentation kept on file; classrooms are equipped with fire extinguishers and fire blankets; and Safety Rules and Procedures are displayed on the walls in the labs.
The school has had regular inspections by government officials and the school continues to meet requirements as regulations change, especially with regard to the storage of possibly harmful chemicals.
The science curriculum has been modified to not include any experiments that may create potentially harmful fumes. This is necessary as the chemistry laboratory extractor fans are not fully functional even though the chemical fume hood and multiple exhaust fans are operational.

BWYA will make it a priority to maintain safe practices with regard to chemical safety and fire prevention as the school continues its relocation plans. The Science Department will include a more comprehensive handbook to improve its safety instruction.

Security

Security personnel are present on each campus to restrict access to the campus and respond to any emergencies. Parents are required to register online in advance to participate in school events while visitors must check in at the front desk of each campus after going through the security at the gate.

Service and Maintenance

As BWYA now employs a team of service and maintenance professionals, regular and systematic maintenance schedules are in place for all buildings and structures to maintain a safe, healthy and hygienic environment for all students, staff and visitors.

Transport

BWYA now has a bus manager who oversees the school bus fleet and drivers, as well as any external bus service hired for school activities and trips. The aim is to provide safe, reliable and efficient transport service for students and staff.

Trips

Staff are to make effective arrangements to ensure that students and staff are safe during trips. The school has a trip proposal procedure in place which states factors that need to be considered and highlights the process that needs to be followed to guarantee that trips are well planned and all necessary factors have been considered. The Principal and the Activities Office will not permit any trip to proceed unless it adheres to the trip procedures and is deemed to be safe.

What are Our Responsibilities?

Members of the Senior Leadership Team

Promote a health and safety culture within the school and on offsite visits in order to prevent accidents, work-related ill health and damage to property.
Develop, implement and communicate a clear written health and safety policy in accordance with legal obligations.
Maintain effective management of health, safety and welfare of staff, students, contractors, visitors and others so far as is reasonably practicable.
Ensure adequate control of health and safety risks arising out of the school's activities.
Provide and maintain safe premises, plant and equipment.
Allocate responsibilities for health, safety and welfare to specific individuals, and those persons are to be formally informed of such responsibilities.
Ensure that individuals to whom health and safety responsibilities are delegated are competent to do their tasks i.e. that they have sufficient experience, knowledge and training to perform the required tasks and have sufficient time and resources to undertake the role.
Provide adequate information, instruction, supervision and training for staff and students and others such as contractors, where appropriate.
Ensure arrangements are in place for the effective consultation with staff and students regarding health and safety matters.
Develop clear procedures for risk assessment, safe working practices and reporting of accidents/incidents, dangerous occurrences and near misses.
Formulate effective procedures for use in case of fire and/or the need for emergency evacuation of the school.
Ensure sufficient funds are set aside for health and safety management.
Ensure compliance with school reporting and record keeping obligations.
Ensure accidents, incidents, absence and complaints pertaining to matters of health and safety are properly investigated.
Ensure health and safety performance is measured both actively and reactively and measures are put in place to monitor the effectiveness of the health and safety arrangements in controlling identified risks.
Ensure the school’s health and safety policy and performance is reviewed and monitored regularly at the termly Compliance Committee meeting.

Health and Safety Coordinator

Promote a positive health and safety culture within the school.
Maintain liaison with other specialist health, safety and fire safety roles appointed within the school, to coordinate compliance actions and provide a central point of contact.
Disseminate information relevant to health and safety compliance ensuring all compliance duty holders and other key parties within the school are included.
Coordinate the school’s Compliance Committee meetings.
Remain the central coordinator and key point of contact for any accident, incident or near miss occurrence. Ensuring thorough investigation, review, recording of information and escalation has been conducted and final actions closed out.
Liaise with all school departments to ensure risk assessments are produced for tasks/activities within such areas, with information provided to relevant parties and regular review undertaken.
Act as a key contact and to co-operate with any enforcement agency, such as the fire authority, as required.
Ensure that systems are established to allow all staff to receive adequate information, supervision and training (both induction training and ongoing training) in health and safety matters relevant to their specialist area.
Evaluate promptly and, where appropriate, take action on health, safety and welfare concerns and issues which are reported to them, or refer them to the SLT.
Ensure routine monitoring is established at the school including both internal and external audits and inspections, to ensure ongoing H&S compliance is reviewed and any actions raised are appropriately dealt with.
Provide termly updates to the SLT detailing the school’s progress with identified compliance issues and areas of focus.

Heads of Department and Heads of Grades

Apply the school’s Health and Safety Policy to their own department or area of specialism.
Develop and disseminate a departmental/team health and safety policy, if appropriate, detailing the particular roles and responsibilities for health and safety in that specialist area and the organisational arrangements in place for achieving this.
Ensure they are familiar with current Regulations, Codes of Practice and Guidance appropriate to their specialist areas and with this policy.
Ensure that risk assessments of the activities for which they are responsible are conducted and reviewed at least annually.
Ensure that all staff under their control (including supply teachers and work experience students) receive adequate information, supervision and training (both induction training and ongoing training) in health and safety matters relevant to their specialist area.
Ensure that all appropriate safety signs are displayed in their specialist area.
Ensure that adequate first aid provision, protective clothing and equipment, registers and log books are available for use in their specialist area.
Ensure that machinery, equipment and substances are accompanied by adequate information on use and that use is restricted to named individuals where necessary for reasons of health and safety.
Evaluate promptly and where appropriate take action on health, safety and welfare concerns and issues reported to them, or refer them to the Principal.
Carry out regular inspections of their areas of responsibility to ensure that equipment, furniture and activities are safe and record these inspections where required.
Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the provision of sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision to enable other staff and students to avoid hazards and contribute positively to their own health and safety.
If required to do so, investigate any accidents, which occur within their sphere of responsibility.
Monitor the health and safety of his/her department or area of responsibility (including records of risk assessments, health and safety related issues and complaints, and records of accidents regularly) and prepare an annual report for the Principal on the health and safety performance of his/her department or area of responsibility.
Include health and safety at departmental/team meetings.

Teachers

Cooperate with the Principal, their Head of Department/Head of Grade and their Line Manager on health and safety matters.
Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and for that of staff, students, volunteer helpers and visitors under their supervision.
Ensure they are familiar with this policy and the procedures in respect of fire, first aid and other emergencies, and to carry them out as required.
Exercise effective supervision of students and give clear oral and written instructions and warnings to students as often as necessary.
Follow any safe working procedures issued for their subject area and generally.
Provide and require the use of appropriate protective equipment, clothing and guards where necessary and ensure they are used as required.
Make recommendations to their Principal or Head of Department/Head of Grade on health and safety equipment and on additions or necessary improvements to plant, tools, equipment or machinery.
Integrate all relevant aspects of safety into the teaching process and, where necessary, provide special lessons on health and safety in line with Curriculum requirements for safety education.
Avoid introducing personal items of equipment (electrical or mechanical) into the school without prior authorisation.
Report all accidents, defects and dangerous occurrences to their Principal or Head of Department/Head of Grade.

Non-Teaching Staff

Cooperate with the Principal, Head of Department/Head of Grade and their Line Manager on health and safety matters.
Act with due care for the health, safety and welfare of themselves, other staff and other persons at the school.
Exercise effective supervision over those for whom they are responsible.
Ensure they are familiar with the contents of this policy and, in particular, the procedures in respect of fire, first aid and other emergencies.
Observe all instructions on health and safety issued by the school or any other person delegated to be responsible for a relevant aspect of health and safety at the school.
Implement safe working practices which comply with school policies and procedures and set a good example personally.
Act in accordance with any specific health and safety training received.
Exercise good standards of housekeeping and cleanliness.
Ensure that offices, general accommodation and vehicles are kept tidy and report any defects to their Line Manager.
Ensure that tools and equipment are in good condition (and not use them otherwise), ensure that they are appropriate to that use and that adequate instructions for their use are provided.
Report any defects in tools and equipment and actual or potential hazards to their Line Manager or the Principal, and ensure that defective equipment is immediately taken out of use until it has been made safe.
Use protective clothing and safety equipment provided (when appropriate) and ensure these are kept in good condition.
Provide instructions, warning notices and signs as appropriate.
Report all accidents in accordance with current procedure.
Ensure that any accidents or incidents, dangerous occurrences or near misses are reported to the Principal.
Assist in the investigation of any accident (or incident where personal injury could have arisen) and take appropriate corrective action.
Ensure that if authorising work to be undertaken or authorising the purchase of equipment, the health and safety implications of such work or purchase are considered.
If entrusted with responsibilities for specific aspects of health, safety and welfare, they must ensure that those responsibilities are appropriately reassigned in their absence. Such reassignments must be approved by the employee’s Line Manager.
Minimise the occasions when an individual is required to work or study in isolation.
Not interfere with or misuse anything provided to safeguard their health and safety.

Members of staff are expected to be vigilant at all times but particularly where there are vehicles on site and when activity is taking place at height.

Students (in accordance with their age and aptitude)

Cooperate with the Principal and staff on health and safety matters and, in particular, must follow the instructions of staff in the event of an emergency.
Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others at the school.
Observe standards of dress consistent with safety and/or hygiene.
Use and not wilfully misuse, neglect or interfere with anything provided to safeguard their health and safety.
Report all health and safety concerns to the Principal, Adviser or class teacher.

Visitors

All visitors and other users of the school premises (including contractors, delivery people and visitors to the school) must:

Cooperate with the with school on health and safety matters and, in particular, follow the instructions of staff in the event of an emergency.
Observe the rules of the school.
Ensure that they comply with the school's signing-in/out visitors' and/or contractors' procedures, the appropriate means of access to and egress from the school site and the host arrangements whilst on site.
Ensure that they are familiar with the school's fire and emergency evacuation procedures.
Ensure that they have adequate information about premises, plant and equipment (if appropriate including the location of asbestos containing materials if intrusive works are to be conducted).

Health and Safety Committee

The Health and Safety Committee will be made up of members from senior management from each campus of the school, as well as the General Affairs Director and the Health and Safety Coordinator. The committee has a central coordinating role in relation to health and safety matters and is responsible for:

The development of a Health & Safety Strategy.
Oversight of the Health & Safety Management System.
The formulation of policies to promote the health, safety and welfare of employees, students and visitors.
Promoting co-operation between management and staff in initiating, developing and carrying out measures to ensure the health, safety and welfare of staff, students and visitors.
Keeping under review measures taken to ensure health, safety and welfare of staff, students and visitors.
Keeping under review safety training and communications within the school.
Monitoring the effectiveness of the Health & Safety Policy.
Monitoring statistics of accidents and other untoward occurrences provided by the Health and Safety Coordinator.
Recommending priorities for expenditure on measures to improve health, safety and welfare.
Inviting such persons as are necessary to attend Health and Safety Committee meetings in order to give specialist/expert advice on particular topics.
Recommending and/or establishing specialist sub-groups as are necessary in order to advise on specialist hazards, such as fire, estates, building works, etc.
Liaising with Health and Safety Committees of other Beijing Independent Schools as and where appropriate.

Crisis Management Policy
Student Handbook
Parent Handbook
Pastoral Care Policy
PH&E Handbook
Safe Recruitment Policy
Child Protection Policy