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Risk Management - Accessing Resources

The following is an illustration of how to access resources for a specific query. The potential risk areas in schools are numerous. We have grouped them into 36 general Risk Management categories (PDF 16 KB)  relating to school duty of care liability and 27 Occupational Health and Safety categories (PDF 15 KB).

Below is an example of a guided search concentrating on one category “playgrounds”. By identifying playgrounds we do not diminish the need to be aware of the remaining risk areas.

The need to be aware of potential hazards and management of the risk inherent in playground areas is illustrated in the following case study extracts.

Each example highlights the necessity to implement and maintain practical policies and procedures to ensure learning areas are appropriate and play is supervised and managed without serious injury.

A student finds a syringe in the playground

A seven-year-old Victorian student found a discarded syringe in the playground. He picked up and touched the needle but it did not pierce his skin. Although tests indicated that the student had not been infected by HIV and hepatitis A, B and C, his classmates teased him and told him was going to die of AIDS.

After 18 months of counselling for post-traumatic stress disorder, the student sued the school for damages over the psychological pain he suffered as a result of the incident. The case was settled out of court.

A school needs to have a documented policy and practised procedure for the safe handling of syringes, incorporating relevant training, education and equipment.

Makeshift cricket game causes injury to student

A 13-year-old student injured his leg in a cricket game. The students were using a slat from a bench with a jagged edge as a bat. The crease at the bowler’s end was a metal grate, and as the student approached this crease the ‘bat’ got caught in the grate, he tripped and the slat pierced his calf.

Although the teachers who were able to observe the game were supervising, they were found in the Court of Appeal to have breached their duty of care by allowing the game to continue, as there was a substantial risk for such an accident to occur.

A school needs to assess all aspects of playground equipment and supervision and have procedures in place to accommodate all foreseeable risks and hazards.

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• Risk Management Categories (PDF 16 KB)
• Occupational Health and Safety Categories (PDF 15 KB)