COVID Secure Risk Assessment

This is a live copy of TopUp Learning London’s Risk Assessment for face to face teaching, training and general operations with the current Covid-19 situation at TopUp Learning London  148 Camden High Street, London. This risk assessment was built using templates from hse.gov.uk and hseni.gov.uk and with reference to the UK Government’s Covid-19 secure guidelines. The risk assessment is specific to Covid-19.

General approach

Our general approach towards countering the risks of Covid-19 transmission is closely based on the latest government Covid-19 secure guidelines. We are committed to consulting with and understanding the concerns of all stakeholders and to continue to act in the best interests of our staff and students in order to help them to return safely to our school.

Our approach is underpinned by five key threads:

Hygiene – this has always been the bedrock of our strategy and includes promoting good hygiene, making sanitisation products easily available, and maintaining enhanced cleaning regimes.

Contactless environment – we will, as far as possible, significantly reduce the need to have physical contact with the redesigned environment around us.

Social distancing – we will practice managed social distancing in the public spaces and in the classrooms and introduce a staggered timetable. We will also recommend the use of PPE and introduce protective barriers in certain areas of the building.

Bubbling – we will reduce the amount of physical mixing between classes and our teams. Technology will be used to a greater extent to facilitate communication.

Flexible working – for roles where this is possible, we will offer more flexible working arrangements that include varied working hours and greater working from home. Our experience of work will change but we intend to continue to provide our students with a safe, enjoyable and first class educational and life experience during their time in London.

This risk assessment pertains to: TopUp Learning London teaching and general operations at 148 Camden High Street.

What are the hazards?

Spread of Covid-19

Who could be affected? – TopUp Learning London staff – TopUp Learning London students – TopUp Learning London visitors – Local residents

Risk area

What is the risk?

Who may be at risk?

What is already done/ being done?

(& evidence)

What still needs to be done?

By when?

Cleaning – general

Virus transmission

●      Students

●      Group leaders

●      Staff

●      Visitors

●      Frequent cleaning of keyboards, mouse, light switches, door handles, desks, chairs, whiteboards, smart boards, shared teaching resources

●      Stockpiling of antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, hand soaps, disinfectants, paper towels, tissues, rubber gloves, toilet rolls

●      Bins emptied throughout the day.

●      Cleaning checklist created

  

Cleaning – in cases of symptomatic individuals on site

Virus transmission

●      Students

●      Group leaders

●      Staff

●      Visitors

●      Areas where symptomatic individuals have been held will be closed to others then cleaned and disinfected

●      Surfaces which symptomatic individuals have been in contact with will be cleaned and disinfected

●      Areas where symptomatic individuals have passed through will be cleaned

●      In the event of a blood/bodily-fluid spill, students and staff will be kept away from the area

●      If an area has been heavily contaminated with bodily fluids, cleaning staff will use protection for the eyes, mouth and nose, as well as wearing gloves and an apron

●       During shifts, cleaning staff will wash hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds, and after removing gloves, aprons and other protection used while cleaning.

Management of Blood and Bodily Fluid Spillages

Decontamination of Reusable Equipment guidance

  

Ventilation

Virus transmission

●      Students

●      Group leaders

●      Staff

●      Visitors

●      Windows will be kept open during school hours to aid ventilation

●      Doors will be propped open where this does not compromise fire safety or safeguarding.

  

Hygiene

Virus transmission

●      Students

●      Group leaders

●      Staff

●      Visitors

●      Staff and students will be reminded to wash their hands for 20 seconds more frequently than normal, including on arrival, before and after eating, and after sneezing or coughing

●      Antibacterial hand sanitiser and cleaning stations will be provided throughout the school

●      Staff will clear workspaces and remove waste at the end of a shift

●      Toilets are to be flushed with lids down to prevent faecal-oral transmission.

Best Practice Hand Washing

Best Practice Hand Rubbing

  

Dealing with symptomatic individuals

Virus transmission

●      Students

●      Group leaders

●      Staff

●      Visitors

If someone becomes unwell on the premises, and they, have been in, or are connected to someone who has Covid-19 or symptoms, they should: 

●      get at least 2m away from others; go to a separate well-ventilated room/ area behind a closed door

●      avoid touching anything 

●      cough or sneeze into a tissue and put it in a bin, or if they do not have tissues, cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbow 

●      use a separate bathroom, where possible. 

They should use their own mobile phone to call either:

●      for NHS advice: 111

●      for an ambulance, if they’re seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk: 999 

They should tell the operator:

●      their symptoms

●      which country they have come from in the last 14 days

The nominated ‘Responsible Person’ at the school should also contact the local Public Health Protection team on 111.

Under 18s

●      If the person is a child, a staff member will be asked to volunteer to supervise the child (probably be the person who has spent most time with the child that day)

●      The Responsible Person will contact NHS 111 (or 999 in emergencies) on behalf of the child and also contact parents

●       The child will use a separate bathroom which will be cleaned after use[1]

●      The member of staff who has assisted the student showing symptoms does not need to go home unless they develop symptoms themselves

●       They will wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with normal household products after any contact with an unwell student or colleague[2]

●      If there is a confirmed case of Covid-19 during provision, guidance will be taken from the local Public Health Protection team. They will discuss the case, identify others who may have been in contact with the affected person, prepare a risk assessment, and advise on any further actions or precautions that need to be taken.

Accommodation

In the event of a student or host(s) showing symptoms or testing positive:

●    The host agency will be informed

●    Hosts will need to isolate together with students.

Where a student in residential accommodation shows symptoms of coronavirus:

●      The student will need to isolate in the room

●      Meals and extra linens should be brought to the room

●       Cleaning should not take place in the room during the self-isolation period

●      Extra bin bags should be provided for the student.

  

First Aid

  

●      Adequate first aid cover will be arranged

●      Where there is a shortage of first aid cover, the school will work with neighbouring organisations to share cover

●       In the event of a symptomatic individual in need of resuscitation, first responders will follow guidance from the UK government COVID-19: guidance for first responders – GOV.UK

●       Extra First Aid training arranged for 25th Nov 2020.

 

Entrances/Exits

Virus transmission

●     Students

●     Group Leaders

●     Staff

●     Visitors

●     Arrival / departure times will be staggered to reduce crowding in and out

●     Lunch times/break times will also be staggered to reduce contact between students within the school

●     One-way flow routes will be implemented throughout the school

●     Separate entry and exit points will be implemented where possible

●     Hand cleaning facilities will be provided at entry and exit points

  

Corridors/Stairwells

Virus transmission

●     Students

●     Group leaders

●     Staff

●     Visitors

●     One way system created from floors 1 and 2.

●     Staff and students are asked to wear face coverings when moving around the building and in shared spaces such as classrooms to reduce the risk of transmission

●     Signage has been put up around the building

●     Face coverings are available for staff use for free

  

Offices

Virus transmission

●     Students

●     Group leaders

●     Staff

●     Visitors

●     Rota system in place for the minimum number of people needed on site

●     Online meeting tools will be used to avoid face-to-face meetings

●     Office layouts and processes will be reviewed to help maintain social distancing

●     Employees will be assigned specific floors/rooms to reduce rotation

●     Employees will work side-by-side or facing away from each other

●     Floor tape will demarcate areas to help employees keep to a 2m distance

●     Shared office equipment (staplers, pens, tape, calculators, etc.) use will be limited, with additional equipment provided for staff

●     Hand sanitiser will be provided in offices and meeting rooms.

  

Reception

Virus transmission

●     Students

●     Group leaders

●     Staff

●     Visitors

●     A ‘Virtual Reception’ will be implemented – homestay change requests, level change requests etc. will be done via, Zoom

●     Course book/evaluation form collections and returns will be staggered

●     Returned course books will be kept separate from other books for at least 72 hours

●     Student numbers in reception area will be restricted

●     Outside areas will be used for queuing (where weather conditions allow)

●     Clear guidance will be provided to students on arrival

  

Coffee Bar

Virus transmission

●     Students

●     Group leaders

●     Staff

●     Visitors

●     Seating and tables will be reconfigured to maintain spacing and reduce face-to-face interactions

●     Kitchen access will be restricted to as few people as possible

●     Access to fridge and microwave will be restricted to one person at a time

●     Contactless card payments will be used.

  

Deliveries/Collections

Virus transmission

●      Students

●      Group leaders

●      Staff

●      Visitors

●      Times will be scheduled for the collection of goods

●      Load will be done without interacting with driver

●      Contact will be minimised during exchange of documentation.

  

Testing (and tutorials)

Virus transmission

●      Students

●      Group leaders

●      Staff

●      Visitors

●      Conduct tests online prior to arrival (totally or partially)

●      2m distance will be maintained between tables/desks

●      Tests will be staggered

●      Staff and students to sit at 90degree angles rather than face to face during speaking tests.

  

Inductions

Virus transmission

●      Students

●      Group leaders

●      Staff

●      Visitors

●      Social distancing in to be implemented in common spaces where presentations/ inductions take place

●      Desks/ chairs will be spaced 2m apart

●       Social distancing guidelines will be included in induction – these will be demonstrated, and concept checked

●      Electronic paperwork will be used where possible (eg. collecting student emergency contact details)

●      Disposable gloves will be used when collecting passports/identity cards

●      Emergency details to be collected in advance of arrival via email or similar

●      Create a digital version on the welcome pack

 

Teacher’s Room

Virus transmission

●      Students

●      Group leaders

●      Staff

●      Visitors

●      2m distance will be maintained between desks/tables/chairs

●      Social distancing will be maintained during teacher meetings

●      Limits will be put on the amount of shared resources (eg. course books) that can be taken home

●      Teachers will be encouraged to prepare lessons at home

●      Sharing of stationery and other equipment will be reduced

●      Shared materials and surfaces (eg. printer, scanner, tables, guillotine handles) will be frequently cleaned and disinfected

  

Classes

Virus transmission

●      Students

●      Staff

●      Visitors

●      Class sizes will be reduced to max 8

●      Break times will be staggered to reduce pressure on the break rooms,

●      Students will be kept in the same small groups

●      A reduced number of teachers will be assigned to each class

●      Classes will be allocated to a specific classroom

●      Students will be assigned a specific table

●      Sitting positions will be 2m apart.

●      Some lessons will be held outdoors (where weather conditions allow)

●      Antibacterial gel ‘Cleaning Stations’ will be available in class

  

Homestays

Virus transmission

●      Students

●      Group leaders

●      Hosts

●      See risk assessment from Hosts International

  

Residences

Virus transmission

●     Students

●     Group leaders

●     Staff

●     Hand sanitiser will be provided in rooms

●       Guidelines will be provided for students – eg, kitchen rotas to reduce contact in kitchen areas

●      Crowded reception areas will be managed – stagger check-in and check-out times, maintain 2m distance through tape/barriers

●      Hand sanitiser will be provided in reception areas and at lifts.

●      Check risk assessment from each provider

●      Add reminder to student induction re behaviour in accommodation.

 

Staffing

Virus transmission

●      Students

●      Group leaders

●      Staff

●      Staff in the ‘shielding’ category will not be able to work on site

●      The minimum level of staff needed to deliver provision will be onsite at any one time

●      Staff who are showing symptoms of coronavirus must not come to work

●      Equipment will be provided for employees to work from home (eg. laptops)

●      Where a Fire Marshal is working from home or self-isolating a suitable staff member will be identified to fill the role

●      Where a Designated Safeguarding Lead is unable to work on site, adequate cover will be in place

●      Safer recruitment will be in place for staff and accommodation providers in regulated activity

●      Where staff have been furloughed, they will be given clear guidance on all virus control measures before starting.

●      Review safeguarding and fire marshal training

●      Manage under 18s in school

 

Critical Systems

Virus transmission Health & safety risk

Fire

Legionnaires Disease

●      Students

●      Group leaders

●      Staff

●      Prior to reopening, the condition of:

❏    plumbing and water,

❏    gas, electricity/electrical systems,

❏    alarm systems,

❏    call points, fire alarms, fire extinguishers,

❏    ventilation systems,

❏    waste and recycling systems,

❏    IT systems, and

❏    other critical infrastructure

will be checked to make sure it meets health and safety standards.

●      Kitchens has been deep cleaned and any out of date food has been discarded.

●      Fire safety systems have been checked prior to reopening,

●      Fire extinguishers have been checked to ensure they are in date. Where the inspection date has been exceeded, they will be inspected prior to reopening.

●      While the site is idle,  waste will not be allowed to accumulate in order to reduce the risk of arson and vandalism.

●      Fire extinguishers will not be used to prop open doors

●      Fire doors will not be propped open

  

Fire Evacuations

Virus transmission

●      Students

●      Group leaders

●      Staff

Social distancing will be maintained at assembly points

  

Social Programme/Excursions

Virus transmission

●     Students

●     Group leaders

●     Staff

●     Venue risk assessments and social distancing measures will be acquired prior to a visit – these will be factored in to our own risk assessment and guidance for staff and students

●     Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers will be used to guide activity staff leading excursions on public transport

●     Students will be advised to clean hands after using public transport

●     Travel will be scheduled to limit exposure to large crowds and rush hours

●     Pick-up and drop-off will be reviewed to reduce crowding at one point

●     Staff will not share face masks with each other or with students (e.g. where a face mask is required to enter a venue and a student or colleague does not have one).

  

Date created: 10/03/20  Created by: Sian Matos (Principal)

Review date 1: 18/03/20 (SM)

Review date 2: 12/10/20 (SM)

Review date 3: 09/11/20 (SM)

Review date 4: 11/12/20 (SM)

Review date 5: 15/03/21 (SM)

Review date 6: 30/04/21 (SM)

Review date 7: 30/05/21 (SM)

Review date 8: 29/06/21 (SM)

Review date 9: 28/07/21 (SM)

Review date 10:

[1]Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for educational settings – GOV.UK

[2]Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for educational settings – GOV.UK

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