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Writer's pictureMark Ardron

Why is a Competent Person Important?


As a School Safety Consultancy, we at the School Safety People understand the importance of providing competent advice when it comes to health and safety in schools. It is crucial for CEOs, Head Teachers, and School Finance Officers to engage with competent persons for school health and safety, as health and safety failings can lead to serious consequences, including prosecution and even imprisonment.

Many people assume that health and safety regulations are just a box-ticking exercise, but the reality is that they are in place to protect the health and safety of pupils, staff, and visitors in schools. If health and safety regulations are not taken seriously, the consequences can be severe. CEOs, Head Teachers, and School Finance Officers have a legal responsibility to ensure that their school is safe for everyone who enters it. If they fail to do so, they can be prosecuted for health and safety failings.

It is essential to engage with a competent person for school health and safety to ensure that the school is compliant with health and safety regulations. At the School Safety People, we are accredited by OSHCR, a register of competent persons recommended by the Health and Safety Executive. This accreditation shows that we have the necessary knowledge and expertise to provide competent advice on school health and safety.

Engaging a competent person for school health and safety can also reduce the risk of health and safety failings and, in turn, reduce insurance premiums. Insurance companies recognize the importance of health and safety in schools and will take into account the measures put in place to ensure compliance when calculating premiums. By engaging a competent person for school health and safety, you can demonstrate to insurance companies that you take health and safety seriously and that your school is a safe place for everyone.




But the most important reason for engaging a competent person for school health and safety is to protect the health and safety of pupils, staff, and visitors. A competent person can identify potential hazards and provide advice on how to mitigate them, ensuring that the school is a safe place to learn and work.

It is also important to note that health and safety prosecutions can lead to serious consequences, including fines and imprisonment. CEOs, Head Teachers, and School Finance Officers can be held personally responsible for health and safety failings in their schools. This means that they could face prosecution, and in some cases, imprisonment. By engaging a competent person for school health and safety, CEOs, Head Teachers, and School Finance Officers can demonstrate that they have taken reasonable steps to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, reducing the risk of prosecution and protecting themselves and their schools.

In conclusion, it is essential for CEOs, Head Teachers, and School Finance Officers to engage a competent person for school health and safety. Health and safety failings can lead to serious consequences, including prosecution and imprisonment. Engaging a competent person for school health and safety can ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, reduce insurance premiums, and most importantly, protect the health and safety of pupils, staff, and visitors. At the School Safety People, we are accredited by OSHCR and have the necessary knowledge and expertise to provide competent advice on school health and safety. If you are concerned about the health and safety of your school, speak to a school safety specialist today.

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