The RoSPA LEISURE EDUCATION€¦ · The RoSPA Leisure Education Journal January 2019 05 RoSPA news...

Swimming pool guide page 11

Water safety page 05

Scuba diving fatalities page 08

Automated gates pages 12 - 13

Playground risks page 09

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

Child exercise survey page 11

January 2019

LEISURE & EDUCATION The RoSPA

JournalRoSPA’s quarterly journal for professionals working in water, leisure and education safety

http://www.rospa.com

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This year’s conference will discuss what policies and practical initiatives can be implemented in 2019 to protect some of Britain’s most vulnerable road users.

The conference will allow you to:

• Hear from key policy makers, leading academics and practitioners

• Discuss ideas with like-minded individuals who share the same goals

• Learn about exciting new initiatives

accidents don’t have to happen

www.rospa.com/events0121 248 2091 | [email protected]

2019 RoSPA Road Safety ConferenceFebruary 13 | Edgbaston Cricket Ground

Making our roads safer for vulnerable road users...

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03The RoSPA Leisure & Education Journal January 2019 03

Editor Andy ColemanEmail [email protected] Advertising Sue PhiloTel 01367 820367Email [email protected] © Published quarterly by RoSPA Enterprises Limited - a wholly owned subsidiary of The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. RoSPA House, 28 Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 1RP. Tel 0121 248 2000www.rospa.com

Opinions expressed and claims made by individual contributors are not necessarily subscribed to by RoSPA. No responsibility can be accepted for any such opinions or claims.

RoSPA is a Registered Charity No. 207823. Any donation whether large or small will support our vision for life, free from serious accidental injury. Please visit www.rospa.com/fundraising/

The RoSPA Leisure and Education Journal subscription rates:RoSPA members £13.00 p.a.Non-members £15.00 p.a.

Other RoSPA journals available on subscription or as part of a membership package are:

The RoSPA OS&H Journal, incorporating The RoSPA OS&H BulletinSafety ExpressCare on the RoadThe RoSPA Home Safety Journal.

To subscribe, contact RoSPA’s membership department: call 0121 248 2051 or email [email protected]

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ISSN 2514-6939

Cover image: Pixabay

Sponsored by

This year’s conference will discuss what policies and practical initiatives can be implemented in 2019 to protect some of Britain’s most vulnerable road users.

The conference will allow you to:

• Hear from key policy makers, leading academics and practitioners

• Discuss ideas with like-minded individuals who share the same goals

• Learn about exciting new initiatives

accidents don’t have to happen


2019 RoSPA Road Safety ConferenceFebruary 13 | Edgbaston Cricket Ground

Making our roads safer for vulnerable road users...

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TC3574 - RSC Advert 2019 v2.pdf 1 26/09/2018 10:39:33

Some of the articles and guidance in this edition could

make a contribution to readers’ personal CPD requirements.

Welcome Happy New Year. The RoSPA Leisure & Education Journal’s first issue of 2019 has a wide variety of news, views, information and opinions covering leisure, water safety, education and RoSPA activities.

Read about RoSPA’s new Managing Safety at Inland Waters book, which can now be viewed online, on page 07. The publication includes a thorough run-through of relevant water-related risks, a manager’s legal priorities, including case law, and offers numerous case studies of good management of waterside spaces. We hope you find it useful.

A court case that potentially sets an important legal precedent is highlighted on page 16. Law firm Keoghs successfully defended Butlin’s against a dance floor slip claim. David Scott, from Keoghs, says there was previously no UK case law in which a slipping incident on a dance floor had been successfully defended, making this a landmark case.

Jim Watson, from the British Sub-Aqua Club, contributes an overview of the club’s 2018 Diving Incident Report on page 08. Compiled for the BSAC by Jim and his incidents adviser colleague Clare Peddie, the report is a sobering read, revealing that UK scuba diving fatalities were at their highest since 2004.

Exercise and play are important elements of children’s formative years. On page 09 we examine the notion of risk in children’s play, prompted by an Ofsted report claiming that some nurseries do not encourage youngsters to be busy and active. Then, on page 11, we turn our attention to Sport England’s latest survey which reveals the amount and type of physical activity and sport undertaken by school children.

On pages 12 and 13, Richard Jackson, founder of Gate Safe, explains the importance of maintaining automated gates, which are increasingly being fitted at school sites to improve security.

Regular contributor Jim Bennetts, a former Ofsted inspector, offers some insight into the potential dangers when transporting children in a minibus (page 19) and considers the issue of traffic and parking restrictions around schools (page 21).

It is already looking like a busy year for RoSPA – on page 04 there are details of the forthcoming RoSPA road safety conference, while on page 06 we highlight the free 2019 RoSPA Home Safety Congress, being held at Leicester’s National Space Centre on February 27. There are many more events in the planning stage – we’ll be reporting on some of them in our next issue.

David Walker RoSPA leisure safety manager [email protected]

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The RoSPA Leisure & Education Journal January 2019

RoSPA news

04

Dubai for Intersec 2019RoSPA will be at Intersec 2019 in Dubai to highlight the importance of keeping employees, clients and supply chains safe from injury and ill health. During each day of the security, safety and fire protection trade fair on January 20-22, RoSPA safety and health experts will be hosting sessions in the safety zone.

Covering topics such as training, consultancy and fleet and driver safety, RoSPA representatives will discuss with delegates how they can safeguard productivity and improve tender bids by demonstrating their commitment to safety via the internationally renowned RoSPA Health and Safety Awards.

The RoSPA team will include head of training Rob Burgon, fleet safety manager Keith Bell, international fleet consultant Rob Hodges and Dr Karen McDonnell, RoSPA’s occupational safety and health policy adviser and former president of the Institution of

Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

Karen said: “We already enjoy excellent relationships with organisations in the Middle East, through our RoSPA Awards and fleet safety training, and we are excited to develop new relationships at Intersec 2019.

“It’s so important to develop connections in the region to continue to improve safety performance within a local context. We are already doing this with our members in the Middle East and those organisations involved in our Awards Excellence Forum – an exclusive body of safety professionals who have entered or won a RoSPA Award, and which facilitates the sharing of best practice to make improvements in safety worldwide.”

Registration for the RoSPA Health and Safety Awards 2019 is now open. See www.rospa.com/awards for full details.

RoSPA conference will focus on the safety of vulnerable road users Making roads safer for vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians is the focus of RoSPA’s 2019 Road Safety Conference.

Taking place on February 13, at Birmingham’s Edgbaston cricket ground, the event includes presentations by key policy makers and leading academics. Topics scheduled for discussion include child car seats, rural roads, cycle safety and pedestrian training.

Mark Bennett, from childcare products manufacturer Britax, will launch the conference with an update on car seat regulations. Mark will be followed by Stuart Reid (far right), from Transport for London’s Vision Zero, who will outline Vision Zero’s strategy and objectives.

Joe Green, Birmingham City Council’s transportation behaviour change manager, will explain how the proposed introduction of a Clean Air Zone in Birmingham will affect road safety and examine additional ways that transport and road safety initiatives can

be used to help tackle air pollution.

“Country Road – Take Me Home!’’ is the title of the presentation by Lyn Morris (right) from Carmarthenshire Road Safety. Lyn will reveal the road safety challenges in rural areas, turning the spotlight on ‘‘Dangerous roads; dangerous vehicles; dangerous speeds; dangerous road users”.

The Government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) is currently under consideration and Ameena Berkowitz, the Department for Transport’s policy adviser, road safety policy (vulnerable road users), will tell the conference what the department is

doing, why it is important and how it fits in with wider road safety activity.

Two speakers will focus on cycling. Michael Frearson, from The Bikeability Trust, the national charity for Bikeability, the Government’s cycle education programme, will explain the changes to the National Standard for Cycle Training and instructor training, as well as introducing the revised Bikeability Delivery Guide. Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK’s head of advocacy and campaigns, will then ask the question ‘‘UK Cycling’s vision – what next?’’.

After lunch, RoSPA’s research and evaluation officer, Becky Needham, will present a summary of pedestrian training provision in England and an overview of pedestrian training best practice.

Professor John Wann, from Royal Holloway, University of London’s Department of Psychology, will then consider the link between ascribing blame for collisions involving cars, motorcycles and pedestrians and the way we process what we see.

Nick Lloyd, RoSPA’s road safety manager, will return to the subject of car seats, revealing the latest research and advice on carrying low birth weight babies, including how long they should be left in a car seat.

To conclude the conference, Dr Karen McDonnell, RoSPA’s occupational safety and health policy adviser, will explain the new national strategy to prevent serious accidental injuries in England and look at its key recommendations to protect vulnerable road users.

For more conference information, including details of a reduced advanced booking fee, see: www.rospa.com/events/road

The RoSPA Leisure & Education Journal January 2019 05

RoSPA news

development manager, said: “Given the fact that Scotland carries a disproportionate burden of the UK’s accidental drowning fatalities, with a rate more than double the UK average, it’s really important that everyone plays their part in driving this number down.

“There are some excellent examples of good policies and practice at some of Scotland’s local authorities, however this must be extended across all 32. We’re urging every local authority to join Water Safety Scotland, to ensure that they are staying abreast of good practice examples and developments, and learning from what works well in other areas, so that we can save lives.”

To read Local Authority Approaches to Managing Water Safety see www.rospa.com/about/around-the-uk/scotland/water-safety

Local authorities urged to implement water safety management policiesLocal authorities in Scotland should aim to have water safety management policies in place by 2026, in line with the country’s Drowning Prevention Strategy, according to a new RoSPA report.

Local Authority Approaches to Managing Water Safety also recommends that councils should share good practice and successes in water safety by joining Water Safety Scotland, a group of organisations from across the country dedicated to tackling drowning.

The report is the culmination of a study conducted by RoSPA, in which all 32 of

Scotland’s local authorities were surveyed on their management of water safety.

The research found that only around 40 per cent of Scotland’s councils have a water safety policy, while just under half state that there is a person or department within the authority that is responsible for water safety. Just over half of respondents were aware of Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy – a document produced by Water Safety Scotland with the aim of cutting the number of drowning deaths by half by 2026.

Carlene McAvoy, RoSPA’s community safety

On average, 29 people take their own life in water-related suicides in Scotland each year. Suicide, like unintentional injury, is preventable.

Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy launched in January 2018 with two overall targets:

Reduce accidental drowning deaths in Scotland by 50 per cent by 2026 and reduce risk among the highest risk populations, groups and communities

Contribute to the reduction of water-related suicide.

Water Safety Scotland, which launched the strategy, agreed the following objectives to help achieve the target related to suicide prevention:

Act in a supporting role to raise awareness amongst agencies that could play a role in the reduction of water-related suicide

Support the understanding that suicide is preventable and encourage discussion on further action.

In order to deliver these objectives, Water Safety Scotland set up a Suicide Prevention Subgroup. This subgroup has been working to link up water-related suicide with relevant policy areas in Scotland, including the need to integrate water-related suicide with national strategy.

The Scottish Government recently released Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan, which lists the actions that need to be taken to transform attitudes towards suicide in Scotland. One of the key actions of this plan was the setting up and funding of a National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG). Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy is listed as being a key contributory factor to this group and it is hoped that Water Safety Scotland’s Suicide Subgroup will work closely with the NSPLG to help reduce water-related suicides in Scotland.

Key strategies and work areas including the Mental Health Strategy (2017-2027), the Justice Vision (2017-2020), Policing 2026, and Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy (2018-2026), will make a significant contribution to the NSPLG’s work.

Helping reduce water-related suicides in Scotland

Every year, an average of 50 people accidentally drown in Scotland, with men aged 60-69 being most at risk, according to a RoSPA assessment of data. The analysis focuses on Water Incident Database (WAID) data over a five-year period from 2012 to 2016 and looks specifically at males aged 60 – 69 in Scotland.

It has revealed a number of key points regarding 60 to 69-year-old males:

There were 35 fatalities during the five-year period Accidental drownings accounted for 80 per cent of this figure The average age of a fatality was 65 Half of the accidental fatalities happened at the coast More than one third of incidents happened in spring. Thursdays and Saturdays were the most common day for a fatality 90 per cent of fatalities happened during the daytime Approximately 6 in 10 accidental fatalities were the result of recreational water activities Angling is the leading cause of recreational drowning fatalities.

http://www.rospa.com/about/around-the-uk/scotland/water-safety

http://www.rospa.com/about/around-the-uk/scotland/water-safety


RoSPA news

The countdown is on for the 2019 RoSPA Home Safety Congress, taking place at the National Space Centre in Leicester on February 27.

With the theme of “Achieving Step Changes in Accident Prevention”, the free event includes two strands, offering delegates the option of focusing on either home safety for children or home safety for older people.

Among the specialist speakers are consultant clinical psychologist Dr Elizabeth Kilbey (top right) (“How to give safety messages to children”), Dr Elizabeth Orton (top left) from the University of Nottingham (“Implementing the Falls Management Exercise Programme; an evidence-based toolkit for commissioners and providers”) and Prof Denise Kendrick, also

from the University of Nottingham (“Working together to promote home safety: The Stay One Step Ahead project”).

The congress will be opened by RoSPA chief executive Errol Taylor who will outline the new national accident prevention strategy for England (see page 7), followed by David McGown, assistant chief officer and director,

Make space in your diary for RoSPA’s 2019 Home Safety Congress

Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, who will speak on Building Safer Communities in Scotland.

Delegates will then move to their chosen track – “Child in the home” or “Older people in the home”. Additional speakers include Daniel MacIntyre, Public Health England’s population health services manager, Dr Helen Hawley-Hague, from the University of Manchester, Elizabeth Lumsden, from RoSPA Scotland, and Nick Lloyd, RoSPA’s acting head of road safety. More presentations will be announced soon.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to view the National Space Centre which boasts six interactive galleries, the UK’s largest planetarium and the iconic 42m high Rocket Tower. More details at www.rospa.com/events/home-safety-congress

RoSPA’s 2019 National Home Safety Congress will look at new approaches and good practice in child safety and the safety of older people in the home. This will range from core principles of valuing quality of life to evaluating the effectiveness of strategies and programmes. The congress will benefit anyone who works within public health.


2019 RoSPA Home Safety CongressFebruary 27 | National Space Centre, Leicester

Achieving Step Changes in Accident Prevention...

Book yourFREE place

http://www.rospa.com/events/home-safety-congress

http://www.rospa.com/events/home-safety-congress


RoSPA news

For further information on Managing Safety at Inland Waters see www.rospa.com/leisure-safety/water.

Book offers guidance and advice to help prevent drowningsA new RoSPA publication, Managing Safety at Inland Waters, is now available, offering guidance and advice on how to administer sites to help prevent tragedy.

Aimed at those with responsibility for land adjoining inland waters, such as risk managers, land managers and facilities managers, the book aims to help improve water safety by helping to inform decisions on risk and safety.

Managing Safety at Inland Waters provides a thorough run-through of relevant water-related risks, a manager’s legal priorities, including case law, and offers numerous case studies of good management of waterside spaces.

David Walker, RoSPA’s leisure safety manager and author of the book, said: “Over the five years from 2012, 60 per cent of drownings were at inland water sites, so clearly this is an issue that urgently needs addressing. There is something that all stakeholders can do to reduce the risks, and by working together we can drive down the number of people needlessly dying in the UK’s waters every year.

“I hope that Managing Safety at Inland Waters will enable all managers with a responsibility for such sites to better understand and manage risks, and that it acts as a catalyst for further

reductions in drownings.”

Steve Birtles, head of safety management at The Broads Authority, which manages the Broads National Park, and chairman of the National Water Safety Forum inland waters group, said: “We welcome this new edition that has drawn on the expertise and experience of a wide range of organisations which are directly involved with the management of public safety on inland waters.

“It has been designed to help landowners and managers learn about best practice and some of the simple measures that they can take to mitigate the risk of drowning, to help them obtain a clearer understanding of the extent of their responsibilities and appreciate the wide range of resources that are available to support them. Most importantly, I hope that they will recognise from the various case studies and examples that they will not be alone when working on drowning prevention.”

RoSPA and Arco, the UK’s leading supplier of safety equipment and work wear, have signed an agreement that will see the two organisations working more closely on initiatives to drive down the number of serious accidental injuries and cases of ill health in the UK and beyond.

The partnership will see Arco become RoSPA’s preferred personal protective equipment (PPE) supplier and sponsor of the Best New Entry Award at the annual RoSPA Health and Safety Awards.

The company is also supporting the charity’s

Brighter Beginnings Appeal by funding 500 Keeping Kids Safe packs, which will be distributed to young families in disadvantaged areas via the Goodwin Trust. In November, Arco hosted a week of safety activities for staff and the company’s local community in Hull. This included first aid sessions for parents and a family safety talk from RoSPA’s head of strategic partnerships, Becky Hickman.

Becky said: “We’re really excited by the potential of our new partnership with Arco. We have brought together two organisations with long traditions and a passion for making sure everyone gets home safe to their families at

the end of every working day.

“One of RoSPA’s objectives is to bring excellent health and safety practice out of the workplace and utilise it to address the serious injuries that vulnerable people suffer in their own homes – we believe that our partnership with Arco can help us to achieve this goal.”

For more information on the Brighter Beginnings Appeal and Keeping Kids Safe packs, see www.rospa.com/brighter-beginnings. To find out more about the RoSPA Awards, see www.rospa.com/awards

Partnership to get everyone home safe

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http://www.rospa.com/leisure-safety/water

http://www.rospa.com/brighter-beginnings

http://www.rospa.com/brighter-beginnings

http://www.rospa.com/awards

06 The RoSPA Leisure & Education Journal January 201908

Diving incident report

The UK saw its highest number of scuba diving fatalities since 2004 between October 1, 2017, and September 30, 2018.

According to the latest British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) incident report, during this period 19 divers died, six of which were BSAC members. Three of the fatalities were divers over the age of 70 and the average age of the divers who died was 55.8 years (last year the average age was 55.3). This is, regrettably, the highest number of fatalities since 2004 and compares against a 10-year average of 13.2 fatalities per year.

BSAC began highlighting the possibility of an increased incidence of Immersion Pulmonary Oedema (IPO) in the Annual Diving Incident Report from 2016. In the 2018 report the

Diving incident report reveals highest scuba fatalities since 2004

in high-pressured incident scenarios, the Alternate Source technique (using a secondary supply of air) was deployed successfully in 85 per cent of reported incidents, while the Controlled Buoyant Lift technique (where divers control the ascent using the Buoyancy Control Device of the diver in trouble) was successful in 78 per cent of incidents.

Further analysis of the resuscitation techniques instigated by divers when the casualty was unconscious and not breathing shows that Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), oxygen-enriched CPR and use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was successful in bringing the casualty back to consciousness in 16, 18 and 30 per cent of incidents respectively. This new analysis demonstrates the life-saving value of rescue skills training in diving and the importance of keeping skills current.

The 2018 BSAC Diving Incident Report can be downloaded from www.bsac.com/incidentreport

Published by British Sub Aqua Club each year, the 2018 report analysed 251 diving incidents in the UK over the last 12 months.

Compiled by incidents advisers Clare Peddie and Jim Watson, the data was gathered from incident report forms submitted by divers, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, the RNLI, MOD Superintendent of Diving, PADI, EMEA and RoSPA. Incidents were recorded against eight categories: fatalities; decompression illness; boat/surface; ascents; technique; equipment; illness/injury and miscellaneous.

By Jim Watson,British Sub-Aqua Club

condition – where fluid leaks into the lungs from the body’s own blood supply – has been confirmed by medical assessment in two incidents. Both individuals survived by immediately leaving the water and attending hospital. A further 20 incidents have been identified where IPO is suspected of being a factor. The incident report offers advice to divers of what they need to be aware of with IPO and the symptoms which can include one or more of the following:

Breathing difficulties when not exercising particularly strenuously

Breathing difficulties may be indicated by rapid, uneven or heavy breathing, or coughing uncontrollably

Confusion, swimming in the wrong or random directions

Inability to carry out normal functions, while appearing to have to concentrate on breathing

Belief that a regulator is not working properly

Indication of “out of gas” when their regulator(s) are found to be working correctly and with adequate gas supplies

Divers refusing or rejecting an alternate source when “out of gas”

Indication of difficulty of breathing when on the surface.

Should one or more of these symptoms occur, divers should leave the water as soon as it is safe to do so, sit upright (if conscious), take oxygen and seek medical advice.

It is worth noting for other activities in water that the risk of IPO results from immersion in water and has also been identified in swimmers and triathletes.

For the 2018 report BSAC conducted a new analysis of the efficacy of the diver rescue techniques in the incidents reported. Even

http://www.bsac.com/incidentreport

http://www.bsac.com/incidentreport

03The RoSPA Leisure & Education Journal January 2019 09

Some nurseries stifle child development by not encouraging them to be busy and active, according to Ofsted’s latest annual report.

The document, launched on December 4, states: “We know that in the early years, a crucial part of preparing children for school is developing their muscular strength and dexterity. The best nurseries recognise this and encourage children to be busy and active. But we also know that in other settings this good practice is stifled by undue concerns about the risk and safety of such activities.”

Presenting the report, Amanda Spielman,

the chief inspector of schools, said: “There’s a great deal of concern about children hurting themselves, concern about children having the lumps and bumps that are part of childhood. It is very important that children can develop physically, explore, do all the things they need to do to test their physical boundaries.”

She claimed that without risk “we stifle children’s natural inquisitiveness and their opportunities to learn and develop, and deny them those opportunities to build that muscular strength and dexterity.”

The report continues: “While it is a basic expectation of any institution that cares for children to carry out proper risk assessments, some level of risk is an essential part of childhood. Without it, we stifle children’s natural inquisitiveness and their opportunities to learn and develop and deny them those opportunities to build that muscular strength and dexterity. We hope that nurseries and other childcare settings take a common sense approach to managing risk.”

Nathan Davies, RoSPA head of consultancy, said: “RoSPA believes that children need to be equipped to deal with the real risks in their lives. It is important to find the right balance in keeping children safe while keeping their instinctive nature alive, and taking away things like climbing frames may stifle this. Children must be educated in proper conduct in play and at school, so playground activities need not be an issue. Risk in play is a key part of that learning and it needs to be preserved – while seeking to limit life-changing injuries.

“RoSPA’s recently launched ‘Safe and active at all ages, a national strategy to prevent serious accidental injuries in England’ urges the Department for Education to ensure that the prevention of accidental injuries is a core topic within the new compulsory health education curriculum for all schools. Children and young people need opportunities to develop the capability to keep themselves and others safe, being able to recognise the hazards, assess the risks and benefits of an activity and manage the risks to themselves and others, as appropriate for their age and stage of development. We believe these are skills that will stand them in good stead to develop safe, healthy and fulfilling lives, helping realise RoSPA’s vision of ‘Life, free from serious accidental injury’.””

To read the strategy see www.rospa.com/nationalstrategy

Sector news

A level of risk is an essential part of childhood, Ofsted claims

http://www.rospa.com/nationalstrategy

http://www.rospa.com/nationalstrategy


Wellbeing

Secondary schools should appoint a head of wellbeing to support the emotional and physical health of pupils and staff, according to a healthcare organisation.

Having somebody with responsibility for wellbeing can make a positive difference to the emotional and physical health of students and staff, suggests Nuffield Health in its new report, Improving wellbeing in schools.

The report follows on from the Government’s budget announcing an additional £2billion investment to fund specialist mental health teams in schools and concerns about the growing levels of obesity in children.

Improving wellbeing in schools shares the findings and methodology from a pilot that installed a Head of Wellbeing – Nuffield Health worker, Terry Austin, who has experience in personal fitness, health screening programmes and helping people with stress and their

Having wellbeing experts in schools will reap benefits, says new report

mental wellbeing – within Wood Green School in Witney, Oxfordshire, for two years. An initial needs assessment at the secondary school had highlighted mental health issues and stress management as priorities for the school. The Head of Wellbeing worked closely with students and staff to assess emotional and physical wellbeing priorities and develop a targeted, responsive programme of initiatives and activities for the whole school.

As a result of the pilot, wellbeing is now one of Wood Green School’s six values and is timetabled within the school curriculum. Head teacher, Robert Shadbolt, said: “I don’t believe there’s a single child in this school who hasn’t thought about the importance of what they eat, what exercise they do, what they do with their screen time, the importance of good mental health and how they achieve that. I think if that’s not part of what education is for, then we’re failing. Having someone whose specific role it is to coordinate, deliver and

drive the wellbeing programme, rather than trying to combine this with a member of staff’s other teaching commitments, is critical to its success.”

The school plans to maintain a wellbeing role as a part-time post after the completion of the project.

Findings

Outcomes from data collection and evaluation showed changes in emotional wellbeing levels for both students and staff. Staff mean scores for wellbeing (as measured by WEMWBS – Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale ) had risen by 11.89 per cent by the end of the pilot.

In students, although there was a slight decrease in mean scores, further analysis showed this was primarily driven by students in Year 7, who were showing the signs of experiencing the often-difficult transition from primary to secondary school.

There were also improvements in fruit and vegetable consumption across the board. In terms of exercise and activity, the mixture of both new opportunities and a better understanding of their bodies provided students with the impetus to exercise more regularly. There was a marked increase in the number of staff using gym facilities, with almost a quarter signed up for regular activities.

The report identified the importance of providing the support in a tailored approach to ensure relevance to the school’s situation and that interventions needed time to embed. The outcomes show it takes time to adapt, elicit behavioural changes and for these to be sufficiently rooted to have lasting results.

Nuffield Health is a not-for-profit UK healthcare organisation, running a network of hospitals, medical clinics, fitness and wellbeing clubs and diagnostic units across the UK, and supporting businesses in looking after their employees by operating their fitness and wellbeing facilities services.

RoSPA has welcomed the announcement of a 10-year plan for the NHS, which has a greater focus on prevention.

Errol Taylor, RoSPA’s chief executive, said: “This new focus is long overdue given the UK’s growing burden of accidental injury. The steady reduction in injury rates from road and workplace accidents that we have enjoyed until recently appears to have stalled. In parallel, we’re seeing a steady and unnecessary rise in the rate of injuries due to home and leisure accidents.

“To arrest the rising trend in accident rates, we need a step change in our approach to prevention. Accidents are preventable and therefore don’t have to happen. Investment in injury prevention programmes provides parents, carers and individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to safely negotiate everyday hazards.

“Unintentional injury to young children leads to many more disability-adjusted life years, placing a burden not only on the health services but also, in real terms, their family. As stated in the Government’s announcement, very young children deserve the best start in life and we need all new parents to receive the type of educational material that is included in resources such as RoSPA’s Keeping Kids Safe packs, largely funded by generous donations to our Brighter Beginnings Appeal.

“At the other end of the age spectrum, RoSPA’s successful collaboration with the Department of Health on the Stand Up, Stay Up programme shows the importance of physical activity, spending time with friends/family, home safety checks and practical aids such as extra handrails, to help people age well.”

NHS plan is a welcome and overdue focus on prevention


Sector news

More than 40 per cent of children in England do an average of more than 60 minutes of physical activity a day, a first-of-its-kind survey has found.

Sport England’s Active Lives Children and Young People Survey showed that around 3million children (43.3 per cent) lead active lives, but of that group, only 1.2million (17.5 per cent) are meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines of more than 60 minutes of activity a day every day of the week.

The survey is the largest ever of its kind and gives comprehensive insight into how children in England are taking part in sport and physical activity, both in and out of school.

The figures also showed that more than 2.3million children and young people (32.9 per cent) are less active, meaning they do fewer than 30 minutes of physical activity a day. A further 1.7million (23.9 per cent) are fairly active, doing between 30 and 59 minutes of physical activity a day.

The report is based on responses from more than 130,000 children aged 5-16 in England during the September 2017 – July 2018 academic year.

The results showed some significant inequalities in activity levels, based on family income. In total, 39 per cent of children in the least affluent families do fewer than 30 minutes of activity a day, compared to 26 per cent of children from the most affluent families. While 77 per cent of all children can swim 25 metres unaided by the time they leave primary school, that figure drops to

42 per cent for children from the least affluent families and is at 86 per cent for the most affluent.

Other findings include:

There is not a lot of difference in the amount of sport and physical activity that

takes place inside school, compared to activity levels outside of school, so both have a

critical role to play. Around 22 per cent of children are active for at least 30 minutes per day outside school, with 28 per cent of children active in school.

Activity levels peak at the end of primary school to the beginning of secondary school, but no age group reaches a majority of children doing the recommended levels of 60 minutes per day, every day.

Sport England’s activity survey reveals child exercise statistics

The type of activity preferred changes as children get older. “Active play”, such as tag or scootering, is the most popular form of activity for younger age groups, with team sports growing in popularity as children get older. By school Years 7 and 8, team sports are the most popular and remain so through to age 16.

There is a gender divide between activity levels of boys and girls. Boys are more likely than girls to be active every day – 20 per cent (boys) versus 14 per cent (girls). This difference increases as girls get older, with a large gap opening from the end of primary school (Years 5 and 6).

The survey, carried out independently by Ipsos MORI, also covers the “outcomes”

of sport and activity and helps to show the benefits of being active on both the physical and mental wellbeing of children, but also their personal development and that of their community.

The report is based on responses from more than 130,000 children

aged 5-16 in England

Activity levels peak at the end of primary school to the beginning

of secondary school


Automated gates have become a popular feature on many school sites and in terms of providing a means of controlling access at key entry points and therefore enhancing physical security measures, they represent a sound investment.

However, an automated gate, which is classed as a machine under the EU Machinery Directive, while designed to boost safeguarding measures for pupils and staff, can actually become a potential safety threat if it is not installed or maintained correctly in line with best practice.

Since 2010, Gate Safe has been campaigning to improve the standard of safety of automated

Schools urged to check their automated gates are safe

Gate safety

gates in the UK. Accidents involving victims being crushed or dragged by an automated gate which fails to stop upon contact with a person are regularly recorded and, sadly, such incidents are often fatal. In addition, there have been a number of serious accidents/ fatalities involving automated gates which have fallen to the ground, leading to innocent victims being pinned under the significant weight of a heavy metal gate (often weighing as much as 250kg/ ¼ tonne).

The accidents can be horrific. Outside of the grief associated with causing a serious accident or, worse, loss of life, a school – which has a duty of care to ensure that any gates are safe – is likely to face a drawn-out court case, a potential hefty fine (recent fines have been as much as £60,000) and certain damage to reputation. While the school may not have actually installed the dangerous gate, the investigating authority will undoubtedly adopt the view that the school had a role to play in ensuring they have adopted best practice to ensure the safety

of this type of installation by adhering to the publicly available guidance and working with a suitably qualified installer/maintainer. Schools that use an automated gate or barrier (or those looking to install either access control device in the future) should consider the following:

Take a training course to improve your understanding of what constitutes a safe gate. Gate Safe delivers IOSH-approved specialist awareness training for installers and any trade associated with automated or manual gates/barrier installations. Alternatively, ensure that the gate is fitted and maintained by a Gate Safe trained installer

Do not be lulled into thinking a European Community (CE) marked gate means the gate has been signed off as “safe”. A gate is only “safe” once it has been checked in situ and a full risk assessment has been undertaken which takes into consideration all the local factors

By Richard Jackson,founder of Gate Safe


Gate safety

Automated gates should feature two types of safety: Gate Safe recommends the use of photocells/ light curtains and safety edges on ALL automated gates. However, be aware that these must be fitted correctly (both in terms of positioning, quantity and size/area covered) to deliver the desired level of protection

Always ask the installer to provide training to not just the school business manager (aka caretaker) but also to other members of staff. The training should include how to put the gate into manual operation in the case of an emergency and the location of the keys for the control cabinet and manual release. Not being able to find the keys to release the gate can lead to even greater safety issues and will, of course, impact on the emergency services’ ability to respond to the incident. Be aware that the school business manager may not always be on duty. Accidents can occur at any time so be prepared for how to deal with such an occurrence if the usual member of staff is not around

Just like a car, which is required to undergo regular servicing to ensure that it remains

roadworthy, an automated gate should also be maintained. It is a legal requirement to ensure an automated gate is adequately maintained (PUWER – Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998). The maintenance check can be undertaken by a Gate Safe Aware installer and will take into consideration the wear and tear on the gate,

its smooth operation and the continued efficacy of all safety features. It could also include a full risk assessment to re-evaluate the physical setting and requirements of the gate as these may have changed since its original installation or last maintenance visit.

Gates installed and/or maintained by a Gate Safe Aware installer would feature the easily recognisable Gate Safe MOT which displays a clearly visible date indicating when the gate was last checked

If in any doubt about the safety of a school gate, ask for a specialist site visit. The cost of such an exercise is a drop in the ocean compared to the damage that can ensue if a child is injured.

For more information, see Gate Safe’s schools guide: https://bit.ly/2VER5pD (published in conjunction with education compliance management specialists Handsam) or email [email protected]

Gate Safe was set up in 2010, in the wake of the tragic deaths of two children crushed by automated gates, in separate accidents. The charity’s aim is to put a stop to any further accidents or fatalities occurring as a result of an unsafe electric gate or barrier installation.

https://bit.ly/2VER5pD

mailto:info%40gate-safe.org?subject=


Toolkit aims to tackle stress in schoolsThe Health and Safety Executive has released a new Talking Toolkit designed to help prevent stress in schools.

The resource has been launched as part of HSE’s Go Home Healthy campaign, which is designed to reduce cases of work-related ill-health, looking particularly at the three key areas of work-related stress, lung disease and musculoskeletal disorders.

According to the HSE, over half a million working days were lost in secondary schools over the last 12 months due to stress, depression or anxiety caused, or made worse, by work.

The Talking Toolkit is a practical guide to help line managers, heads of department, heads of area or supervisors in schools have conversations about issues that may be causing work-related stress, or issues that could have the potential to become future causes if not managed properly, the HSE says.

The toolkit contains conversation templates for line managers to use with colleagues on six key themes: demands, control, support, relationships, role and change. For each conversation, the first sheet gives the line manager ideas on questions to provoke a conversation about causes of stress, while the second sheet offers ideas on tackling them.

The toolkit can be downloaded online and is accompanied by a short video explaining how it can be used.

See: www.hse.gov.uk/gohomehealthy/stress/education.htm

From Safety Express, Nov/Dec 2018

Supervisor reactions Promoting positive supervisor reactions when a worker is injured, such as expressing empathy and reassurance, is an important organisational work disability management strategy, advises a new study that examines the impact of the social workplace system on sustained return-to-work (SRTW).

When people get injured and take time off work to recover, the way their supervisors react to the injury can affect every stage of their SRTW – and how likely it is that they will successfully

News from other journals

Company boss jailed after brothers killed in explosion

insideModern Slavery Act 2015 to be reviewed News – Page 2

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Safety and Health at Work; dangerous substances

– Page 5

Focus on...Being struck by an objectLaw in action – Page 7Metalworking fluids initiativeOn message – Page 8Sound advice Nic Wray, Communications Manager at the British

Tinnitus Association, explains what tinnitus is and how

damage to hearing can be prevented – Centre pagesSickness absence falls

Health focus – Page 13Safety at risk in schools, says union Union update – DVLA launches eyesight campaign

On the road – Page 15


The sole owner and director of a construction

company has been sentenced to eight months in

prison after two labourers were killed in an

explosion.Brothers Ardian and Jashar Lamallari were employed as labourers

by Simon Thomerson, Director of Clearview Design and Construc-

tion Ltd, and were working inside an industrial park in Hoddesdon,

Hertfordshire in October 2015 to refurbish several of the units.

An explosive fire occurred within one of the units and both broth-

ers suffered near 100% burns and died within 12 hours of the

incident. A third man who was working with them also suffered

severe burns but survived.A joint investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Health

and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Mr Thomerson had supplied

the three men with several litres of highly flammable ‘thinners’,

which they then poured onto the floor of the unit to remove old

dried carpet tile adhesive.The investigation found that the vapour had spread over an area

up to half the size of a tennis court and was ignited by one of sev-

eral possible ignition sources.It concluded that Mr Thomerson had given no serious considera-

tion to the safe use of the thinners, despite the obvious warnings

on the containers.Simon Thomerson pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He received a custodial

sentence of eight months and was ordered to pay a victim sur-

charge of £170.

HSE Inspector Paul Hoskins said: “This tragic incident led to the

wholly avoidable death of two brothers, Ardian and Jashar, destroy-

ing the lives of their young families.“The risks of using highly flammable liquids are well-known, and

employers should make sure they properly assess the risks from

such substances, and use safer alternatives where possible. Where

the use of flammable solvents is unavoidable, then the method and

environment must be strictly controlled to prevent any ignition.”

The scene following the explosion in the industrial unit.

Rise in workplace fatal injuries

144 workers in Great Britain were fatally injured

in 2017/18, provisional figures released by HSE

have revealed.The figure represents a rate of 0.45 deaths per 100,000

workers, which is the same as the average rate of fatal injury

over the last five years. A total of 135 workers were killed in

2016/17.HSE said that despite the rise in the number of deaths, there

has been a long-term reduction in fatalities since 1981 and

the figure has remained broadly level in recent years.

The highest rate of fatal injury in 2017/18 was found in the

agriculture sector, where 29 workers were killed and the rate

of deaths was around 18 times as high as the all-industry rate.

38 fatal injuries to construction workers were recorded,

accounting for the largest share of any industry. The annual

average rate over the last five years in construction is around

four times as high as the all-industry rate.

12 waste and recycling workers were killed at work and HSE

said that despite being a relatively small sector in terms of

employment, the annual average fatal injury rate over the last

five years is around 16 times as high as the all-industry rate.

15 fatal injuries were recorded in both the manufacturing and

the transport and storage sectors, which have an annual

average rate of fatal injury around 1.5 – 2 times the rate

across all industries over the last five years.

The three most common causes of fatal injury were falling

from height (35 deaths), being struck by a moving vehicle (26

deaths) and being struck by a moving object (23), accounting

for nearly 60% of fatalities at work in 2017/18.

The figures also revealed that 40% of fatalities in 2017/18 were

workers aged 60 or over, even though workers of that age

made up only around 10% of the workforce.

The HSE data does not include fatal accidents on non-rail

transport systems or work-related deaths from fatal diseases.

100 members of the public were fatally injured in incidents

connected to work in 2017/18 with just over half of these

occurring on railways.HSE Chair Martin Temple said: “Despite the fact that Britain’s

health and safety record is the envy of much of the world, the

increase in the number of workers fatally injured is clearly a

source of concern.”

SafetyexpressSeptember/October 2018

Getting to the heart of workplace health and safety

August 2018

RoSPA Awards

pages 06 & 07

Fleet safety

page 10

Medallist’s Dutch Reach

page 11

Cycling and walking

pages 16 & 17CARE ROADON THE Biking abroad

pages 12 & 13



Newspage 02

Court reportpage 06

OS&H Bulletin centre

Bringing safety homepage 09

Managing dangerous substances page 18

The RoSPAOS&H JOURNAL

October 2018

H&S productspage 28Did you know...

RoSPA members get half-price advertising in all RoSPA journalsCall: 01367 820367 Email: [email protected]

Did you know...

RoSPA members get half-price advertising in all RoSPA journals

Call: 01367 820367 Email: [email protected]

Waste paper company fined £250,000 after fatality

insideReport sets out scale of labour exploitation

News – Page 2

Skin deep Cartoon – Page 3Violations of workers’ rights on the rise One world – Page 4

Checking-up A short guide to the topic of health surveillance. – Page 5Focus on...AsbestosLaw in action – Page 7Dangerous substances campaign launched On message – Page 8Public duty Jacky Steemson looks at

some of the most common health and safety issues that

can lead to prosecutions for endangering members of

the public. – Centre pagesPresenteeism hits record high, survey finds

Health focus – Page 13New TUC guide for reps Union update – Page 14Motorists urged to respect road workers On the road – Page 15

Half of workers have experienced

poor mental health, survey finds


48% of workers have experienced poor mental health,

such as stress, low mood, and anxiety, while working at

their current organisation, a new survey has found.

The poll of almost 44,000 employees, carried out by mental

health charity Mind found that half of those that had

experienced poor mental health chose to tell their employer

about their difficulties.84% of the survey respondents said that they would continue

to go to work when experiencing poor mental health,

compared to 58% who would go to work when experiencing

poor physical health.42% of workers felt their manager would be able to spot the

signs they were struggling with poor mental health, while

21% said that their current workload was unmanageable.

Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind, said:

“Too many people struggling with poor mental health, such

as stress, anxiety and depression, still feel they need to stay

silent. For some, reasons include; not feeling comfortable

disclosing their mental health problem, worrying their

employer will think they can’t do their job and not wanting to

be treated differently.“We need to see more workplaces encouraging open

conversations about mental health and championing a more

supportive and open environment.”

A waste disposal company has been sentenced

after an employee was crushed to death in a baling

machine.The worker was killed in March 2017 at RRS London Waste Papers

Ltd in Kent, after falling down the loading hopper into the compac-

tion chamber of a baling machine. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said that the employee was

most likely attempting to clear a blockage when he fell into the

chamber, initiating the compaction sequence. He was found dead

inside the chamber after suffering fatal crush injuries.

HSE’s investigation into the fatality found that it could have been

prevented if the company had devised and instructed workers on a

safe method for clearing machine blockages.

Climbing up the baler to clear machine blockages exposed workers

to the risk of falling a significant distance either into the compac-

tion chamber or the surrounding concrete floor, HSE said.

RRS London Waste Papers Ltd was found guilty of breaching Sec-

tion 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined

£250,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,639 and a victim sur-

charge of £170.HSE Inspector Nicholas Wright said: “This tragic incident, which led

to the avoidable death of a father, was easily preventable and the

risk should have been identified.“Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply

effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous

parts of machinery. Maintenance work should only be carried out

when the piece of equipment is isolated and confirmed safe. Com-

panies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take enforce-

ment action against those that fall below the required standards.”

The baling machine at RRS London Waste Papers Ltd (above and right).

Worker’s death was “easily preventable,” according to HSE

SafetyexpressJuly/August 2018


June 2018

Risk Up campaign

page 08

Fleet safety news

page 09

Cycling

pages 10 & 11

Motorcycling

page 16CARE ROADON THE Road workers’ safety

pages 12 & 13


Company boss jailed after brothers killed in explosion

insideModern Slavery Act 2015 to be reviewed News – Page 2

Avoiding slips Cartoon – Page 3Black lung on the rise in USOne world – Page 4

A matter of substanceA look at the theme of this year’s European Week for

Safety and Health at Work; dangerous substances

– Page 5

Focus on...Being struck by an objectLaw in action – Page 7Metalworking fluids initiativeOn message – Page 8Sound advice Nic Wray, Communications Manager at the British

Tinnitus Association, explains what tinnitus is and how

damage to hearing can be prevented – Centre pagesSickness absence falls

Health focus – Page 13Safety at risk in schools, says union Union update – Page 14DVLA launches eyesight campaign

On the road – Page 15


The sole owner and director of a construction

company has been sentenced to eight months in

prison after two labourers were killed in an

explosion.Brothers Ardian and Jashar Lamallari were employed as labourers

by Simon Thomerson, Director of Clearview Design and Construc-

tion Ltd, and were working inside an industrial park in Hoddesdon,

Hertfordshire in October 2015 to refurbish several of the units.

An explosive fire occurred within one of the units and both broth-

ers suffered near 100% burns and died within 12 hours of the

incident. A third man who was working with them also suffered

severe burns but survived.A joint investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Health

and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Mr Thomerson had supplied

the three men with several litres of highly flammable ‘thinners’,

which they then poured onto the floor of the unit to remove old

dried carpet tile adhesive.The investigation found that the vapour had spread over an area

up to half the size of a tennis court and was ignited by one of sev-

eral possible ignition sources.It concluded that Mr Thomerson had given no serious considera-

tion to the safe use of the thinners, despite the obvious warnings

on the containers.Simon Thomerson pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He received a custodial

sentence of eight months and was ordered to pay a victim sur-

charge of £170.

HSE Inspector Paul Hoskins said: “This tragic incident led to the

wholly avoidable death of two brothers, Ardian and Jashar, destroy-

ing the lives of their young families.“The risks of using highly flammable liquids are well-known, and

employers should make sure they properly assess the risks from

such substances, and use safer alternatives where possible. Where

the use of flammable solvents is unavoidable, then the method and

environment must be strictly controlled to prevent any ignition.”

The scene following the explosion in the industrial unit.

Rise in workplace fatal injuries

144 workers in Great Britain were fatally injured

in 2017/18, provisional figures released by HSE

have revealed.The figure represents a rate of 0.45 deaths per 100,000

workers, which is the same as the average rate of fatal injury

over the last five years. A total of 135 workers were killed in

2016/17.HSE said that despite the rise in the number of deaths, there

has been a long-term reduction in fatalities since 1981 and

the figure has remained broadly level in recent years.

The highest rate of fatal injury in 2017/18 was found in the

agriculture sector, where 29 workers were killed and the rate

of deaths was around 18 times as high as the all-industry rate.

38 fatal injuries to construction workers were recorded,

accounting for the largest share of any industry. The annual

average rate over the last five years in construction is around

four times as high as the all-industry rate.

12 waste and recycling workers were killed at work and HSE

said that despite being a relatively small sector in terms of

employment, the annual average fatal injury rate over the last

five years is around 16 times as high as the all-industry rate.

15 fatal injuries were recorded in both the manufacturing and

the transport and storage sectors, which have an annual

average rate of fatal injury around 1.5 – 2 times the rate

across all industries over the last five years.

The three most common causes of fatal injury were falling

from height (35 deaths), being struck by a moving vehicle (26

deaths) and being struck by a moving object (23), accounting

for nearly 60% of fatalities at work in 2017/18.

The figures also revealed that 40% of fatalities in 2017/18 were

workers aged 60 or over, even though workers of that age

made up only around 10% of the workforce.

The HSE data does not include fatal accidents on non-rail

transport systems or work-related deaths from fatal diseases.

100 members of the public were fatally injured in incidents

connected to work in 2017/18 with just over half of these

occurring on railways.HSE Chair Martin Temple said: “Despite the fact that Britain’s

health and safety record is the envy of much of the world, the

increase in the number of workers fatally injured is clearly a

source of concern.”

SafetyexpressSeptember/October 2018


August 2018

RoSPA Awards

pages 06 & 07

Fleet safety

page 10

Medallist’s Dutch Reach

page 11

Cycling and walking

pages 16 & 17CARE ROADON THE Biking abroad

pages 12 & 13



Newspage 02

RoSPA newspage 06

OS&H Bulletin centre

Ladder safetypage 16

Mental health supportpage 11

The RoSPAOS&H JOURNAL

November 2018

Brexit vigilancepage 18

http://www.hse.gov.uk/gohomehealthy/stress/education.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/gohomehealthy/stress/education.htm


return to work, state researchers from Australia’s Monash University and the Institute for Work and Health (IWH), Canada.

They found that “a supervisor’s supportive reaction to an injury – for example, by expressing empathy and reassurance instead of scepticism and blame – can matter more than whether an injured worker has strong social support at the workplace, though the latter is also important.”

The study is based on the compensation claims of 869 workers, in the Australian state of Victoria, who were taking time off due to a workplace injury (both physical and psychological), and a follow-up study on 629 of those workers six-months later.

Participants were asked about the level of support and co-operation they received from supervisors and co-workers prior to their injury, as well as their reactions to the injury, such as blame, support, anger, sympathy and disbelief.

Results showed that those who reported a supportive supervisor reaction were 2.3 times more likely to have sustainably returned to work than those who received a negative supervisor reaction. Those questioned six months later were also more likely to have sustainably returned to work if they had a supportive supervisor.

From The RoSPA OS&H Journal, December 2018

Reduce teacher workload, says union The UK’s largest education union has called for action to reduce teachers’ workload following a poll of primary and secondary school staff.

The National Education Union (NEU) says that the Department for Education (DfE) and Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) must do more to cut down on unnecessary practices surrounding marking, planning and data collection, which it argues

15

See page 03 for a full list of RoSPA’s journals and information about how to subscribe.

is one of the biggest contributing factors to teachers’ excessive workload and for many teachers leaving the profession.

The union’s survey of 11,341 primary and secondary school teachers working in 6,908 schools found that 25 per cent of primary school teachers and 18 per cent of secondary teachers have seen a review in policy and practice in their school in planning since the publication of the Government’s 2016 recommendations on reducing workload.

A total of 78 per cent of secondary teachers and 69 per cent of primary teachers reported that the volume of marking they undertake remains unmanageable, while 60 per cent of primary teachers and 54 per cent of secondary teachers said the volume and type of planning required is unmanageable.

Triple marking, where teachers mark students’ work, students respond to feedback and then teachers mark it again, is still being undertaken in 63 per cent of primary schools and 59 per cent of secondary schools. Photographing pupils’ practical work, more usually seen in primary schools, is still being done by 82 per cent of primary teachers, while recording conversations with pupils and what the conversations were about (“oral evidence”) is carried out by 61 per cent of primary teachers.

According to the NEU this is highly impractical when teaching 30 pupils or more, time consuming and takes time away from actual teaching.

From Safety Express, Nov/Dec 2018

Keeping Kids Safe packs RoSPA chief executive Errol Taylor visited Scotland to meet families that received Keeping Kids Safe packs at their north of the border launch during 2018’s Family Safety Week.

Errol headed a focus group with five mums at Home-Start, Dundee, one of the organisations working with RoSPA to distribute the packs to families who really need them. The mothers reported that they found the packs beneficial and, since receiving them, their children had not been involved in any accidents. Along with Carlene McAvoy, RoSPA Scotland’s community safety development manager, Errol was keen to hear from the mums of any changes that could be made to improve the packs.

Dundee was the first place in the UK to distribute the packs through a project coordinated by the city council’s home safety officer Laura McDermott. Home-Start is one of the leading family support charities in the UK, with volunteers helping families with young children deal with the challenges they face. The next RoSPA Family Safety Week is April 1-5, 2019.

From The RoSPA Home Safety Journal, Dec 2018

News from other journals

Felled tree hits car Leisure safety: www.rospa.com/leisure-safety/

Safety in education: www.rospa.com/schoolandcollegesafety/

Play safety: www.rospa.com/play-safety/ (RoSPA’s activities in the area of play safety are carried out under an exclusive licence arrangement by an independent and highly experienced specialist company, “Playsafety Ltd” which trades under such licence as “RoSPA Play Safety”).

Useful RoSPA resources for leisure and education safety professionals

http://www.rospa.com/leisure-safety/

http://www.rospa.com/play-safety/

News


Butlin’s case “potentially an important precedent” The successful defence of Butlin’s against a dance floor slip claim relating to a spilt drink sets a legal precedent for future cases, says law firm Keoghs.

Keoghs’ corporate and sector risks team defended Butlin’s against the claim by an attendee of an adult-only weekend at a Butlin’s resort during which music acts were performing at an on-site venue close to capacity. The claimant alleged that she slipped on a spilt drink on the dance floor, sustaining a fractured left foot. The claim was brought against Butlin’s pursuant to section 2(2) of the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 and/or in the tort of negligence. The trial was heard by His Honour Judge Cooke at Birmingham County Court.

The claimant and her witness alleged they had not seen any of the prevention systems, such as warning signs and advice on TV screens, in operation on the day of her accident. The claimant’s counsel also submitted that systems Butlin’s had in place, like regular DJ announcements, inspection and cleaning and fully briefed staff members, were inadequate and that the defendant should have taken steps to prevent any customer from taking drinks onto the dance floor.

The judge pressed counsel for suggestions as to measures he felt should have been taken. In response, he accepted that it was a drinking venue and was not suggesting that Butlin’s should have banned all drinks or that the entrance to the dance floor should have been controlled by a barrier where checks would be carried out.

Claimant’s counsel did, however, suggest the defendant could have stationed sufficient employees to intercept and prevent any customer who attempted to take a drink on the dance floor. This was dismissed by the judge as a wholly unrealistic suggestion.

The judge stated that in any public venue where drinks are being served and carried by members of the public there is an inevitable risk of spillage. He also found that there was no evidence as to when the spillage actually occurred. He suggested that the spillage could have appeared only moments before the claimant slipped and Butlin’s staff would not have had the opportunity to clean it before the accident happened.

The judge made three key conclusions when summing up the case:

1. The common duty in issue did not require the defendant to completely prevent all customers from bringing drinks onto the dance floor, in breach of their policy

2. The system in place to reduce the risk of customers doing so, along with detecting and clearing up spillages if they occurred, was operational and its measures reasonable, satisfying the common duty

3. Even if he were wrong on the first two points, the judge stated that there was no evidence to conclude that a different policy would have prevented the accident or made it more unlikely.

The claimant’s claim was dismissed.

David Scott, Head of Keoghs Corporate and Sector Risks’ Leisure and Hospitality team, said: “This is potentially an important precedent for the leisure industry, given there is no UK case law in which the defendant has been successful in defending a slipping accident on a dance floor. As this matter was heard by a circuit judge we hope that this matter will provide guidance in future cases.”

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the charity that runs London Zoo, pleaded guilty to two health and safety offences after a 20-year-old keeper suffered neck injuries when a ladder she was using gave way as she cleaned out an aviary in July 2016.

Zoo keeper injured using faulty ladder

Court shorts


Court shorts

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard the stepladder was known to be faulty but was accidently brought back into use as it had not been labelled as defective. In addition, the keeper had not received any training with regard to the use of ladders during her four years of employment. In court, the judge said this lack of training was a direct cause of the accident.

In defence, the counsel for ZSL told the court that the keeper had been due to have ladder training but was “at the bottom of the list” as she did not usually work at height.

ZSL was fined £40,000. The fine was reduced from a starting point of £150,000 due to ZSL’s guilty pleas and due to mitigating circumstances – the fact that ZSL is a charity and so any fines would have to be paid from the donations ZSL receives to carry out its conservation work.

A company specialising in underwater civil engineering and commercial diving was fined following an incident where a working diver was injured.

Beverley Magistrates’ Court heard how, on August 29, 2017, a Northern Divers (Engineering) Ltd employee’s finger became trapped whilst fitting a cofferdam underwater at Immingham Port, causing the finger to be severed.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the work was not properly planned, managed or conducted in a manner that protected the health and safety of all persons taking part in the project, thereby exposing employees to serious risk of entrapment and injury.

Northern Divers (Engineering) Ltd of Humber Place, Hull, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6 (1) of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 in relation to the incident and were fined £12,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,369.

Two construction companies were fined after sub-contractors working under their control were exposed to asbestos fibres during school refurbishment work.

Derby Crown Court heard that on August 1 2016, Oakwood junior school in Derby was undergoing refurbishment work during the school holidays. During the work, two subcontractors removing suspended ceiling tiles from rooms in the school entered a storage room which had a suspended ceiling made from asbestos containing ceiling tiles. They started to remove the tiles, unaware that they contained asbestos, potentially exposing themselves to harmful asbestos fibres. A licensed asbestos removal company working on site alerted management to the situation and action was taken to stop the work and deal with the contamination.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Ashe Construction Limited, the principal contractor for the project, failed to effectively plan, manage and monitor the work to prevent the accidental removal of the asbestos containing tiles. It failed to effectively communicate information about the asbestos, leaving the storage room open without barriers or signage warning of asbestos. The work was not then suitably managed or monitored to ensure that nobody came into contact with the asbestos.

The HSE investigation also found that Cladceil Limited, a contractor appointed by Ashe Construction Ltd to carry out the suspended ceiling removal work, also failed to effectively plan, manage and monitor the work.

Ashe Construction Limited, of Hitchin, Herefordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at

Company fined after diving incident

Work Act 1974. It was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9,759.76.

Cladceil Limited, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 15(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. It was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay costs of £47,184.48.

Tendring District Council was fined after a member of public, who was a regular user of its leisure centre facilities, contracted Legionnaires’ Disease.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard how the member of public frequently used the showers at Walton Lifestyles when, in November 2016, he fell seriously ill and was taken to hospital where he remained for 18 days. He was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, sepsis, pneumonia and chronic kidney failure. Water samples taken from the men’s shower tested positive for the legionella bacteria. Legionella bacteria can proliferate in hot and cold water systems that are not properly maintained or cleaned.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Tendring District Council had failed to adequately manage the water systems at a number of leisure centres in the district, including Walton Lifestyles, Dovercourt Lifestyles and Clacton Leisure Centre. The significant failings included not having suitable and sufficient Legionella Risk Assessments for the leisure facilities and not providing adequate control measures required for Legionella control. Staff were not adequately trained and a lack of monitoring meant these failings went unnoticed for several months.

Tendring District Council of Town Hall, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £27,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,500.

Legionnaires’ disease at leisure centre

Construction companies fined after asbestos exposure


Minibus safety

Bridgend County Borough Council has been fined following the death of one pupil and injury to another after the pair were involved in a collision with the school minibus.

Following its investigation into the death of 15-year-old Ashley Talbot, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has urged schools to review traffic arrangements within their grounds, and where possible design layouts so pupils are separated from moving traffic.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how, on December 10, 2014, Ashley was crossing the road in the grounds of Maesteg Comprehensive School to board his bus home when the collision took

Bridgend County Borough Council fined following pupil death

place. Ashley was pronounced dead at the scene. Another pupil was also injured.

An investigation by the HSE found the layby created before the school opened in September 2008 was never large enough to accommodate

all school buses at home time. This had been identified by council officers but Bridgend Council made no plans to enlarge the layby so that pupils could board safely from the pavement.

For three years before the collision, some school buses had been parking on the other side of the road, which had no pavement, leaving children to board in the middle of the road while other vehicles were able to travel in both directions between the waiting buses.

South Wales Police investigated the circumstances of the collision and no charges were brought against the minibus driver.

In the days following the accident, HSE took enforcement action against Bridgend Council. This prohibited children from boarding school buses from the road and required the council to modify the

bus layby to make it big enough for all children to board their bus from the pavement. This was completed by the council within a few weeks.

Bridgend County Borough Council of Civic Offices pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay costs of £29,228.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Helen Turner said: “Firstly, we send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ashley Talbot, whose life was tragically ended at just 15.

“We believe Ashley’s death could have been prevented, and a series of missed opportunities meant this incident was waiting to happen. Although there had been previous near misses at Maesteg, there was no system for these to be reported and discussed. There are some clear lessons to be learned, particularly for other modern school sites.

“The need for children to cross the road to board their bus could have been taken away with proper planning and design, which should always seek to keep vehicles and pedestrians apart. HSE’s guidance clearly states that transport safety at every workplace should start with the creation of a ‘safe site.’

“Planning and parking should take into account ‘desire lines’, which are the routes most people will choose to take. Children may not be risk aware, there will be a rush of children all leaving school at once, and they will race for the back seat. This predictable behaviour makes it all the more important that transport risk is properly managed, and regularly reviewed.

“At HSE we stand by the principle of Plan, Do, Check, Act. This management approach is as pertinent for school grounds as it is any other workplace. We hope this prosecution will serve as a reminder to those with a responsibility of care to address transport risk in schools and actively monitor that their arrangements are effective to keep children safe.”

A series of missed opportunities ment this incident

was waiting to happen


Minibus safety

Jim Bennetts, former Ofsted inspector and chair of governors at a school in the north west of England, considers the lessons to be learnt from transport tragedies

Heed should be paid by schools to the potential dangers of traffic circulation on or near their sites. The tragic incident that occurred at Maesteg Comprehensive School (page 18) could have been foreseen. The HSE makes much of “desire lines” with pupil movement. In this case, pupils routinely dashed across the road for their homebound bus, possibly keen to get their favourite seats. A bus driver described the situation as “a free for all”; teachers described several previous “near misses”.

A few years ago, at an independent school in the south east, a boy was killed as he dashed across the road from the main site to a sports field on the opposite side of a busy road. At an independent school in Somerset, which has iconic listed buildings, inspectors required the governors to ensure safer traffic circulation on the site. The school responded quickly, putting in a better road that enabled parents to pick up and drop off day pupils safely and without driving amongst pupils on a narrow driveway.

Driver competence was not an issue with the south Wales incident. However, there was a tragic incident in Coventry, where an elderly and stressed Midland Red bus driver lost control of his double decker bus, with fatal results. That highlights the need for vigilance on the part of managers with regard to the competence of drivers. Midland Red was fined £2million on account of ineffective management of its staff.

As a young teacher, I believe I was in control when driving minibuses. Of course, I was sometimes teased (hopefully not distracted) by students who orchestrated, for instance: “Sir, is a police car following us? Sir, there’s something flashing! Sir, Jonny’s going to be sick” etc. And

I possibly responded: “OK guys; yeah, you want to wind me up. But don’t mess me about when I’m trying to concentrate. I don’t want my driving to kill you. Really I don’t!”

There were a lot of trips but I had only two mishaps when I was the only adult on board: a prang on the very narrow Honister pass in the Lake District and a breakdown near Tenby, where a local church took us in for the night. Drivers of pupils must be fully in command of the vehicle, of the passengers, and of themselves, and be capable of dealing with any difficult circumstances. Some schools require a second adult to be on

the bus, especially with younger pupils, or where mobile phone contact cannot be guaranteed.

A few years ago, a chair of governors at a secondary school in the north west recounted how a teacher was found to have taken out pupils in a minibus early in the morning while the worse from the night before. Governors blocked the teacher’s pay progression for one year. If there was a mishap with a school party in a minibus, the buck stops with school leaders and governors.

Occasionally, accidents occur with school minibus parties, often with no blame to the driver. In 2018 there was a horrendous accident affecting a school minibus on its way north through Birmingham. A bin lorry pulled out (recklessly, as it has since been judged) in front of a large school minibus; the bus turned over. There was a fatality, a highly talented girl. Accounts of the situation bring tears to the eyes. The bus driver was exonerated.

Schools should be rigorous with all training and monitoring of school bus drivers, so that they can demonstrate that they have taken all reasonable steps to ensure safety. There is no national requirement for schools to have

a policy on minibus driving. However, there is government advice: Driving school minibuses, advice for schools and local authorities. This defines minibuses as 9-16 passenger vehicles, for which drivers may need a category D1

licence, though in some circumstances a B licence is accepted (generally if the driving test was pre-1997). Much hinges

on “use not for hire or reward”, and the driver operating on a voluntary basis. Fee-paying schools which do not have charitable status should take legal advice; staff who have driving as part of their job description may not be deemed voluntary.

Subject to Brexit, EU drivers are entitled to the same driving allowance in the UK as a UK licence holder but do not have the same entitlement in their own country, for example, a German driver on a B licence can drive a 16 seater minibus (weight restricted) in the UK, but not in Germany. In Northern Ireland everybody driving a vehicle with over eight passenger seats must have a full D1 or D licence.

The guidance recommends MiDAS ((Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme) training courses, especially where the driver has a B rather than a D category licence. RoSPA offers similar and has guidance which can be incorporated in school policies: RoSPA Minibus safety, a code of practice (see links below). The 70-page code of practice gives advice for managers,

drivers, on passenger care, about the vehicle, and on travel abroad. An appendix has pro-

forma with, for example, advice to parents and children.

www.rospa.com/rospaweb/docs/advice-services/road-safety/practitioners/minibus-code-of-practice.pdf

www.ctauk.org/training/midas

www.rospa.com/safety-training/on-road/driver-training

Lessons to be learnt from school minibus tragedies

The school responded quickly, putting in a better road that

enabled parents to pick up and drop off day pupils safely

A teacher was found to have taken out pupils in a minibus early in

the morning while the worse from the night before

Schools should be rigorous with all training and monitoring of

school bus drivers

http://www.rospa.com/rospaweb/docs/advice-services/road-safety/practitioners/minibus-code-of-practice.pdf




A very happy 65th birthday to RoSPA’s iconic Tufty FluffytailTufty Fluffytail, the iconic red squirrel who was instrumental in helping millions of children to learn about road safety from the 1950s-1990s, has celebrated his 65th birthday.

Created in 1953 by Elsie Mills MBE, who worked on child safety initiatives at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), Tufty helped to communicate simple safety messages to children across the UK.

In 1961, his influence was cemented through the formation of the Tufty Club – a nationwide network of local road safety groups for children. At its peak, there were 24,500 registered Tufty Clubs, with membership passing two million children in 1972.

Story books, short TV films (some narrated by Bernard Cribbins), comics, board games, handkerchiefs, jigsaw puzzles, stickers, colouring books, Christmas cards, soft toys, ceramic figures, puppets, toothbrushes, mealtime sets, knitting patterns, nightwear fabric and song sheets were among the items that helped to maintain Tufty’s profile. Although focusing on road safety education, Tufty and his Furryfolk friends, including Policeman Badger and Willy Weasel, also made forays into other areas of child safety, including home and water safety.

Tufty’s image was changed to keep up with the times in 1979, and again in 1993, before new methods of helping children to learn about road safety came to the fore. In 2007, Tufty once again rose to national prominence when he made a guest appearance in the cult BBC series Life on Mars.

Errol Taylor, chief executive of RoSPA, said: “Tufty’s legacy lives on through the messages that we continue to receive from former members of the Tufty Club, telling us of the impact he had on them and, for many, how they have used their memories of Tufty to talk to their children and now their grandchildren about road safety.”

Like many in his generation, Tufty has not retired – his image currently features on RoSPA’s Keeping Kids Safe packs for families with under-5s and he was also the subject of some safety activities for children at an exhibition to mark the safety charity’s centenary last year.

Errol Taylor said: “We’re looking forward to continuing to work with Tufty to raise awareness of some key safety challenges. That he has reached the age of 65 is particularly poignant because over-65s are among the groups most at risk of being seriously injured in accidents, especially from falls in the home, and they are a key priority group in the recently-launched national accident prevention strategy for England.

“People are increasingly seeking information about how they can age well to enjoy a productive and independent healthy older life, and there is a real opportunity to promote ageing as a good news story. Among the strategy’s recommendations for the over-65s age group are: continued action on falls prevention; the development of local partnerships that

address multiple safety, health and wellbeing issues such as fire safety, falls prevention and social isolation; and the promotion of self-assessment tools to enable older drivers to think about how they can drive safer for longer. We are also working with employers to promote sustainable working lives and some firms are beginning to develop carry-over programmes that take safety learning from the workplace into other parts of life, especially on falls prevention.”

See www.rospa.com/tufty/ for more Tufty highlights.

RoSPA news


Q. Should schools take action about traffic and the enforcement of parking restrictions outside schools?

A. Keeping children safe is a school’s most crucial responsibility - not least, safe from traffic hazards around the school. Where there are significant problems or the situation is unusual, Ofsted may express concern, as in the extracts below from two Ofsted reports written a few years ago:

Pupils say they feel safe in school. However, like many of their parents, they are concerned about the hazards from the large number of vehicles manoeuvring in a confined space while collecting children in the afternoon and the school has been bringing this to the attention of the appropriate authorities.

Following the findings of the previous inspection, the school, its governors and the parish council have made significant and impressive efforts to improve the safety of the crossing arrangements between the two buildings. These are judged to be as safe as they can be in the circumstances of current legislation, but are still considered to pose some risk.

Yellow zigzag road markings outside schools designate no-stopping zones, usually with a time plate nearby. The restrictions apply only in term time. Cars parked in the restricted area can conceal small children who are about to cross the road. The children may not see

approaching cars, and approaching motorists may not see the children. The Highway Code states “You MUST NOT wait or park, or stop to set down and pick up passengers, on school entrance markings” (rule 238, Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984.) Those parking in the restricted area could face a fine of over £100 and the car could be impounded.

A local newspaper recently reported: “Traffic wardens are to swoop on every council-run school in Lancaster in a bid to stamp out dangerous parking.” Council officers said they were not keen to issue penalties and often just moved cars on, but 76 tickets had already been issued. Less than a third of head teachers surveyed welcomed this action. One teacher challenged a traffic warden, asking why parents were being “picked on”. Sometimes, parking down

the road from a school is also dangerous, due to bends and junctions. Schools hesitate to upset parents and to seem officious.

A particularly hazardous situation can arise where parents are dropping off a pupil who is on the point of being late for the start of school: a car screeches to a halt, possibly on the side of the road opposite yellow markings, and a child leaps out into traffic.

Former Ofsted inspector Jim Bennetts answers your school and education questions.

Got a question? Email it to editor Andy Coleman, [email protected]. Or write to Leisure & Education Journal, RoSPA, 28 Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 1RP.

Your questions answered

Schools should work with pupils, families and local authorities to maximise children’s safety on the roads near schools, highlighting potential hazards and cultivating safe procedures. This may not be an easy task and some school governors have experienced verbal abuse when taking issue with drivers. Where practical, families should be encouraged to

walk pupils to school, or, where appropriate, to encourage cycling. The NHS specifically encourages “walking the kids to school”, associated with the “10,000 steps a day” fitness campaign.

At some schools, staff are assigned to pavement duty to manage the behaviour of pupils (and parents). However, school staff cannot assume the functions of a crossing patrol officer (for example, stopping traffic) unless properly trained and authorised.

Schools and education

Markings: No stopping on the yellow zigzags

Concealed: Parked cars can be a potential hazard

mailto:acoleman%40rospa.com?subject=

mailto:acoleman%40rospa.com?subject=


Final word

Final Word

it is the only means.” With this in mind, I proudly hang my fresh RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders certificate on my office wall, demonstrating my commitment to keeping skills and knowledge up to date through regular training and re-testing. The certificate shows an ability to perform to a satisfactory level in exam conditions and – more importantly – serves as a constant reminder to perform to the same level in everyday driving conditions.

A historical perspective shows how far we, as a country, have travelled. Back in the 1960s, more than 7,200 people lost their lives on British roads every year. This unacceptable death toll was addressed by a powerful coalition of legislators, police, road engineers, vehicle manufacturers and educators. Thanks to cars packed full of safety features, improved road layouts, Tufty and the Think! hedgehogs, the toll had fallen to 2,000 road fatalities per year by 2010. Although this is still too high, the reduction has meant that the road safety community has saved the lives of a population equivalent to the town of Carlisle (approx. 100,000 people). Most of these people will never realise that their lives were saved by their seat belt, a set of traffic lights or courtesy shown towards another frustrated driver. Human life is precious. According to DfT figures, the cash value of these saved lives is estimated – at 2017 prices – at a mind-blowing £190billion*.

During a recent visit to RoSPA’s Swiss equivalent, the bfu, we compared the similarities and differences between our organisations and their environments. Although the UK has tended to have one of the lowest fatal accident rates in Europe, Switzerland has deployed its wealth and clockwork precision over the last few decades to move from its relatively poor accident rate –

Errol Taylor, RoSPA’s chief executive, reflects on taking his advanced driving test.

What a huge sense of relief! After a few weeks of re-reading the Highway Code and trying to unlearn various bad habits, it was wonderful to hear the examiner pronounce “that was a gold grade drive” and to realise that I’d retained my position in that elite group of – arguably – the best drivers in the world. Just 0.02 per cent (or 1 in 4,500) of the UK’s drivers put themselves through the RoSPA Advanced Driving Test every three years. Advanced drivers tend to have fewer accidents and use less fuel than other drivers, while still being able to make good progress through our congested road network. As with any high standard, it is challenging to keep performing well, year after year.

Today’s increasingly connected world means that we rarely have time to focus on ourselves and maintaining our own performance. Yet we owe it to ourselves, our passengers and other road users to do our best whenever we get behind the controls of vehicle. Carmakers, together with Google, Uber and Tesla, will eventually develop completely safe, fully autonomous vehicles but in the meantime, we have to recognise that cars are driven by people and people make mistakes. According to the Department for Transport, human error and deliberately risky behaviour (such as exceeding the speed limit) were contributory factors in almost 90 per cent of UK road accidents in 2017.

For many, driving is an important part of life, giving a sense of freedom to travel wherever and whenever we want. In contrast, Albert Einstein had no car of his own, and he never learned how to drive, but it is hard to disagree with his assertion that “setting an example is not the main means of influencing others,

which meant it was languishing at the bottom of the league table – to challenging the UK for our third position behind exemplary Sweden and Norway. We agreed on the value of injury data and sophisticated analysis to identify root causes and accidents hot spots. A big difference was the Swiss preoccupation with winter sports and associated accidents. Unless we see a repeat of the spring 2018 blizzard conditions, the UK has to cope with rain rather than snow.

Data can often confirm “common sense” and the latest data shows that many skiing and snowboard accidents happen where pistes intersect. As a non-skier, I was baffled by the idea of hurtling down a thrilling ski slope and suddenly realising that I might have to take avoiding action because my route was crossing another which was full of skiers going in various directions. Ski slope designers could benefit from copying motorway design, where everyone is travelling in the same direction at similar speeds, or road junctions where traffic lights, stop and give way signs help us negotiate hazards safely. Maybe skiers themselves would also benefit from the skiing equivalent of an advanced driving test… because accidents don’t have to happen!

*DfT RAS60001 gives the average value of prevention per reported road casualty, in 2017, as £1.897million. £1,897,000 x 100,000 = £189.7billion.

Rush hour: The centre of Bern, home of the bfu

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