1.1 Identify legislation in relation to health and safety in a learning environment

This guide will help you answer 1.1 Identify legislation in relation to health and safety in a learning environment.

Health and safety are a shared responsibility in any school or learning environment. Laws guide schools, colleges, training centres and other educational organisations to maintain safe spaces where children and young people can learn without facing unnecessary risks.

As a worker supporting teaching and learning, you need to be aware of the main legislation that applies to your setting. Knowing the key laws helps you follow correct procedures, understand your own responsibilities, and recognise when actions taken meet legal requirements.

This guide covers the main pieces of legislation that relate to health and safety in a learning environment, and how they apply to your role.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the primary law on workplace health and safety in the UK. It applies to all employers and employees, including schools.

This act sets out the duties of employers to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, pupils, visitors and contractors. It also places responsibilities on employees to look after their own safety and the safety of others.

In a learning environment, this means the school must:

• Provide safe buildings and equipment
• Make sure working practices are safe
• Give clear instructions, training and supervision
• Maintain a safe environment for pupils and staff

Your responsibility includes:

• Following safety instructions and procedures
• Using equipment correctly
• Reporting hazards and accidents promptly
• Taking reasonable care not to put yourself or others at risk

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

These regulations expand on the Health and Safety at Work Act. They require employers to assess and manage risks in the workplace.

In schools, leaders must carry out regular risk assessments for classrooms, playgrounds, sports facilities, science labs and workshops. Risk assessments identify possible hazards, evaluate the chance of harm, and set out measures to control or reduce risks.

As part of your role, you may not carry out formal assessments, but you should be able to:

• Spot potential hazards and report them
• Follow safe systems of work created from risk assessments
• Support staff in keeping pupils safe during activities

This law also requires schools to plan for emergencies, such as fire evacuations or lockdown drills, and to provide staff with health and safety training.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

These rules focus on the physical conditions in the workplace. They apply to schools and cover things such as:

• Ventilation
• Lighting
• Cleanliness
• Space and temperature
• Toilets and washing facilities

For example, classrooms must have enough lighting for pupils to read without straining their eyes. Heating should keep rooms at a comfortable temperature. Floors must be clean and free from trip hazards.

Knowing about these requirements helps you notice when parts of the environment are not maintained to the right standard.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002

COSHH aims to protect people from harmful substances at work. In schools, harmful substances can include cleaning chemicals, science lab reagents, paint, glues, and materials used in technology workshops.

Employers must:

• Identify hazardous substances
• Assess the risk they pose
• Put in place safe handling, storage and disposal measures
• Provide training for anyone using them

For your role, this means:

• Only using substances you are trained to use
• Wearing protective equipment when required, like gloves or goggles
• Storing products safely and away from unauthorised access
• Reporting spillages immediately and following correct cleaning procedures

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013

RIDDOR requires employers to report certain work-related incidents to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). These include:

• Serious workplace injuries
• Work-related illnesses
• Certain dangerous occurrences, like equipment failure that could cause harm

In a school, the appointed person often handles the reporting. Your role is to make sure incidents are reported internally without delay so that the correct paperwork can be completed.

Examples in a learning environment might include:

• A pupil breaking a bone from a fall in the playground
• A staff member suffering an injury from faulty equipment
• A dangerous gas leak in the science lab

Accurate reporting helps prevent similar incidents from happening again.

The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999

These regulations set standards for school premises in England. They cover issues such as:

• Classroom sizes
• Washing facilities
• Medical rooms
• Playing fields

They link to health and safety because they make sure facilities are suitable and safe for pupils. For example, a school must have adequate washing and toilet facilities for the number of pupils attending.

Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

Manual handling means lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling loads by hand or bodily force. These regulations require employers to eliminate manual handling where possible, or to reduce risks to the lowest reasonable level.

In your role, manual handling might involve moving equipment, carrying boxes of books, or setting up display stands. Safe practice involves:

• Assessing the weight before lifting
• Using proper lifting techniques
• Asking for help or using mechanical aids when needed

Injury from poor manual handling can be long-lasting and prevent you from working, so following training is important.

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

These regulations require employers to provide protective equipment where risks cannot be controlled in other ways.

In a school this might include:

• Safety goggles during science experiments
• Gloves when handling cleaning products
• Ear defenders during loud practical work

If PPE is provided, you have a legal duty to use it correctly and keep it in good condition.

The Children Act 1989 and 2004

The Children Act relates to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children. While it is mostly linked to safeguarding policies, it ties into health and safety by requiring that children are cared for in safe environments.

This includes:

• Creating safe play areas
• Preventing access to dangerous objects or spaces
• Ensuring adequate supervision in all learning activities

It supports the idea that health and safety is part of safeguarding.

The Equality Act 2010

This law protects people from discrimination. In health and safety terms, it means reasonable adjustments must be made to allow safe participation for all pupils, including those with disabilities or medical conditions.

For example:

• Providing ramps for wheelchair users
• Adjusting timetable activities for pupils with specific health needs
• Ensuring emergency evacuation plans include arrangements for all pupils and staff

You should always consider how health and safety measures apply to everyone, so no one is excluded.

The Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR

While this legislation focuses on personal data, it links to health and safety where health or medical information is stored and shared. Accurate records help respond to emergencies and protect welfare.

For example, information on allergies or medical conditions must be safely stored but quickly available to those who need to see it.

Food Safety Act 1990 and Food Hygiene Regulations 2006

If your role involves helping with food activities or being near school kitchens, you must be aware of food safety laws. They protect against food poisoning and allergic reactions.

This includes:

• Storing food at the correct temperature
• Preventing cross-contamination
• Following hygiene rules like washing hands before handling food

How Laws Work Together

In a school, several laws apply at the same time. For example, the Health and Safety at Work Act sets the broad duty to keep people safe. COSHH regulations then deal with dangerous substances in detail. The Equality Act makes sure these measures include everyone.

Your role involves working under this combined legal framework. You may not be the person making high-level decisions, but you are part of the system that keeps everyone safe.

Your Responsibilities under the Law

Although employers carry the main responsibility for legal compliance, employees have legal duties too. You are expected to:

• Follow training and instructions
• Use equipment safely
• Report any hazards, defects or unsafe practices
• Cooperate with colleagues to maintain health and safety

Failing to follow these duties can put people at risk and could have legal consequences.

Good Practice in Following Legislation

Understanding the laws is one step. Putting them into everyday practice is how safety is achieved. Good practice includes:

• Keeping work areas tidy to reduce hazards
• Supervising pupils closely during active lessons, experiments or off-site trips
• Wearing appropriate clothing and PPE when needed
• Knowing evacuation and emergency procedures
• Attending refresher training when offered

You should also recognise your limits and ask a trained colleague for help with tasks you have not been instructed to do.

Final Thoughts

Health and safety legislation exists to prevent harm before it happens. In a learning environment, it is not only about protecting pupils but also ensuring that staff, visitors and volunteers remain safe. The laws give clear expectations to employers and employees and create a framework for working safely.

When you understand which laws apply and how they affect your role, you can take part fully in your organisation’s safety culture. Your actions, from spotting a hazard to following a procedure correctly, make a direct difference to the well-being of the people around you.

Safety in education is everyone’s responsibility, but it starts with knowing the rules and applying them in your daily work. By working within the law, you help create a place where learning can take place without preventable risks. This benefits not only the pupils but the whole school community.