here - Healthy Cities Illawarra

The NSW Department of Education and Training
has developed guidelines for schools to assist
in the management of children with allergies,
and treatment of anaphylactic shock. Those
guidelines are available on their website,
www.schools.nsw.edu.au/studentsupport/
studenthealth/individualstud/.
A safe environment
The breakfast program needs to be a safe
environment for adult helpers and for children
who attend. The premises need to be safe,
equipment needs to be safe, and work practices
need to be safe.
Helpers at the breakfast program, paid and
volunteer both, are covered by the the NSW
Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Act
2000. Under the Act, the ‘employer’ (eg. the school
principal or community centre manager) has a
duty of care to identify, assess and manage risk to
ensure a safe ‘workplace’. ‘Employees’ (workers,
paid and unpaid) also have responsibilities under
the Act, namely to take reasonable care for the
health and safety of others in the workplace, and
to cooperate with the employer to ensure safety.
Further information regarding OH&S policy and
procedures can be found on the Healthy Kids
website, www.schoolcanteens.org.au., in the
‘canteen management’ section. The information
is intended for use by school canteens, but is
very useful and relevant to breakfast programs.
• Electrical appliances and cords are away
from water
• Ensure knives are stored safely, and that
children cannot access sharp knives
• Children are supervised when in the food
preparation area; particularly in the vicinity
of hot kettles and toasters. Stress the
importance of the ‘no running’ rule.
Unfortunately despite the best OH&S practices
aimed at preventing injury and illness, accidents
can happen. It is important to ensure all
breakfast program helpers are familiar with the
school/community centre first aid policy and
procedures, and fire and evacuation plans for the
premises. Locate the nearest first aid kit and fire
extinguisher, and check they can be accessed
outside school/centre hours. Ensure all helpers
are instructed in the fire extinguisher’s use, which
is hopefully hanging on the wall in the vicinity of
breakfast club. The time a fire extinguisher is
needed is no time to start trying to get it off the
wall (maybe even find your glasses), and read the
instructions for use. Familiarising all volunteers
with the extinguisher won’t take long at all, but
will save vital seconds should it ever be required.
As part of those OH&S responsibilities, take a
look around the breakfast program premises
and set up, checking for potential safety risks.
Ensure all:
• Electrical items are in good working order,
paying particular attention to the toaster, if
domestic, which is often used so much it
can start to melt
• Electrical power points are not overloaded
• Extension cords used are tucked away
safely to avoid trip hazards. Pay particular
attention to the power cord of the kettle if
one is used
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