The teenager was a Sixth Form student at the school, which is for children with special educational needs.
The student had been diagnosed with Pica – a potentially life-threatening eating disorder where sufferers have a compulsion to eat things which have no nutritional value. They had been a student at the school since the age of 11. Despite a near miss incident just days earlier, the school failed to take action to make sure it didn’t happen again.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that none of the staff in the student’s class team had received any specific training on the management of safety risks associated with Pica.
The HSE investigation also found that students at the school have individual risk assessments which detail any specific health and safety risks, which relate to them, and the control measures that need to be in place at to protect against that risk. The risk of choking associated with Pica was identified on the risk assessment and a “named person” was supposed to supervise him to make sure they did not eat anything that could cause them harm.
HSE guidance states that when assessing the health and safety risks to individual students is necessary, educational employers should follow a risk management approach that focuses attention on the real risks; involving employees, students and carers in identifying the individual’s needs and necessary precautions.
The Corporate Health and Safety Team run training courses related to the Management of Health and Safety and Risk Assessment, dates previously advertised. The Council’s risk assessment policy and guidance documents are available on SIP.
School Academy Trust fined £300,000 after student death – HSE Media Centre
For more information contact Darren Allsobrook
Email: Darren.allsobrook@derby.gov.uk
Telephone Number: 01332 642380