Page 6 - Professional Advisory Safety in Learning Environments: A Shared Responsibility

Advice to members: minimize the risks
• Know and apply legislation and your employer’s policies with respect to student safety generally and particularly those regarding codes of conduct, reporting and responding to incidents of violence and abuse, lockdown procedures and safe school protocols.
• Know and apply legislation and your employer’s policies regarding the specific activity you are conducting with students, such as occupational health and safety legislation, health and safety protocols, volunteer training or coaching manuals/ policies, and policies/protocols for all learning activities and environments.
• Be aware of legislation and your employer’s policies about intervening in violent or aggressive behaviour by and
among students.
• Ensure that you and your students have the necessary training, knowledge and skills
to safely undertake an activity, to respond safely to injuries or other incidents and to report unsafe activities or situations.
• Know the special medical needs identified for your students (such as allergies) as well as any accommodations or modifications that may be required.
• Model respectful behaviour and non- violent conflict resolution skills.
• Encourage healthy relationship and bullying prevention skills throughout the curriculum.
• Inquire about training and supports in your school that are provided to minimize risks, including the identification and contact information of staff trained in first aid and the location of first aid resources.
Determine whether the activity or situation poses some level of health and safety risk
• Be alert to changes in the physical
environment or equipment that have the potential to become safety issues such as science and technological labs, gymnasiums or other sporting venues, and co-operative education sites.
• Identify and report deficiencies in the environment or equipment you use with students.
• Determine whether parental consent is required before beginning an activity so that parents or guardians have appropriate awareness of student activities and authorize students’ safe use of tools, materials, athletic equipment and other equipment.
• Identify what resources are necessary to take suitable precautions within the given learning environment, including first aid resources.
• Assess whether the activity is appropriate given the number of students and their relative abilities, development, disabilities and ages.
• Determine whether additional supervision may be needed, such as the assistance of other volunteer coaches or teachers.
• Stop an activity you think is unsafe.
• Establish and monitor sound and consistent
safety procedures in your classroom or teaching, volunteer training/coaching or supervising area and review these procedures with students.
• Ensure that any intervention undertaken does not jeopardize your personal safety or the safety of others.
• Know who to contact and where to go to get help if needed.
4 Professional Advisory