Safety in Schools

Should accidents to children in school be reported to the Health and Safety Authority?

The following types of accidents to school pupils must be reported to the Health and Safety Authority, by the school either online at www.hsa.ie or on the Incident Report Form (IR1):

A death, or an injury that requires treatment by a registered medical practitioner, which does not occur while a person is at work, but is related to either a work activity or their place of work. This applies to pupils in certain circumstances.

If the pupil is injured as a result of a work-related activity and requires medical treatment by a registered medical practitioner, this is reportable to the Health and Safety Authority.

Example 1: if a pupil is injured when using a mallet and chisel during wood working class, and requires treatment by a registered medical practitioner, this is reportable. However, if a pupil trips in the school yard this is not reportable.

Example 2: if a student trips during PE class and requires treatment by a registered medical practitioner, this is reportable. Where students are taken on school trips, they are considered to be a normal part of the work activities. Therefore, if a pupil is injured during the school trip and requires medical treatment this too is reportable.

The school must keep records of all accidents which occur for a period of 10 years.

Should School Trips be risk-assessed?

Schools should draw up a written risk assessment in relation to “school trips”. This should be contained in the safety statement. The Authority considers it good practice to have a school tours policy based on the risk assessment which should take account of details of the practices and procedures in the planning and execution of school trips.

Particular care should also be given when conducting the risk assessment to the nature and variety of school trips. Further, the safety statement should take into account the competence of teachers and/or other employees in the planning and execution of school trips.

The safety statement should be updated as required, and where any new or unusual risks may be identified. Schools are not obliged to carry out a separate written risk assessment for every school trip.

More information