EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

PUPILS AND STAFF

Some situations will occur where fast reaction is vital. Because of the nature of the
technology curriculum and the multiplicity of resources and skills involved, the
chances of serious accidents may be higher than with other curriculum activities.
Even after a full and thorough risk assessment programme, there is still the potential
for accidents. It is impossible to cover for every eventuality.

The most common accidents involve:

injuries to the eyes or skin
asthma attacks and inhalation of noxious gases
allergic reactions
severe cuts or suspected breaks
electric shock
fire to the hair or clothes
swallowing or choking.

As many of the practices described above involve touching and handling of the pupil,
parents should be clear as to the circumstances under which such actions will be
taken. Clear information will help to ensure that unnecessary allegations for
inappropriate touching are not brought against staff.

PLANT AND RESOURCES

Even with the most comprehensive risk assessment programme, there will inevitably
be occasions when accidents occur and emergency situations develop. Aspects
should be rehearsed from time to time, thus ensuring that as far as is humanly
possible the appropriate actions will be taken in an emergency. It is impossible to
ensure a fail-safe procedure as the human element will always be involved.

A vital element in the emergency procedure will be to ensure that the problem does
not spread and become a greater emergency. For example, if a piece of machinery is
the source of the problem, it should be stopped immediately and the area around it
evacuated. If the incident involves gas or electricity, the mains should be turned off
immediately. Spillages and breakages should be clearly signed and the immediate
area around them evacuated. Should the incident involve fire, evacuation becomes
an immediate requirement.
Staff should be aware of the requirements of the procedures. In all cases,
consideration must be given to the health, safety and welfare of the pupils, as well as
to the immediate concerns of dealing with the practical problems related to the
emergency.

FIRE PRECAUTIONS
Fires can be defined as rapid oxidation in the course of which light and heat are
produced. Under normal circumstances a fire can start only if combustible material,
oxygen and a sufficiently high temperature are present. All three conditions are
necessary for combustion to be maintained.
In most cases substances will burn only after the solid or liquid matter has been
heated sufficiently to produce a gas which burns when mixed with oxygen in the air.
However, a few materials, notably celluloid, contain sufficient oxygen to support
combustion and can therefore burn in the absence of air.
Electrical fires are normally caused by the careless use of hot and by the arcing or
overheating of conductors. If electrical apparatus remains live, care must be taken to
select an extinguishing agent which does not conduct electricity; this is the main
difference between electrical and any other class of fire.
Fires are generally divided into the following classes:
Class A: Fires Involving Solid Materials
The most common risk of fire is from solid materials such as wood, cardboard, paper
and textiles. Rubbish and floor sweepings in particular contain a considerable variety
of materials, many cellulosic, and can easily be ignited. Foamed plastics used in
upholstery and similar furnishing materials are likely to be extremely hazardous
because many of them give off poisonous gases when ignited.
Class B and C: Fires Involving Flammable Liquids or Gases
Flammable liquids and gases are commonly used in laboratories for experimental
purposes, as sources of energy, or as media for cooking foods such as oils and fats.
Whilst oils and fats do not ignite easily when cool, when heated they produce
vapours which can be ignited relatively easily.

Class D: Fires Involving Metals

Special techniques are necessary to secure extinction.

FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT

The first priority is to get children to safety. To fight a fire successfully, either the
combustible material must be removed (which is almost certain to be difficult and
dangerous), the temperature of the burning materials must be reduced or the oxygen
removed, or a combination of these methods

The selection of a portable fire extinguisher will depend on the type of fire the
extinguisher is likely to be used against. BS EN 3 Portable fire extinguishers
recommends that all extinguisher bodies should be coloured red. BS 7863: 1996
allows an additional colour coding panel to be affixed to the extinguisher to indicate
the contents. This panel must not exceed 5% of the extinguisher surface area. The
standard colours are as follows.

Water Red
Foam Cream
Dry powder Blue
Carbon dioxide (C02) Black
Vaporising liquid (Halon) Green

Fire extinguishers are located throughout the department and all staff should be
aware of their location and type.

The department has a fire drill at least once per year, normally at the beginning of the
school year, to allow for newcomers to the school to become acquainted with the
procedure. This is particularly important for newcomers to the school who should be
shown the assembly point as soon as possible. for The Head of department arranges
the drill and has the alarm keys to instigate the alarm sounders.