As Schools are returning during September, we are looking at an alternative service provision. It is important to remember that both the schools and the local authority have a legal duty under Health and safety legislation to provide this service to educational
establishments within the district.
Unfortunately, due to the Covid 19 pandemic, we are all having to adapt to the restrictions this virus imposes on us.
After considering a number of scenarios, our proposed plan for the immediate future is we will provide a WebEx health and safety service to schools as an alternative to site visits, for the following reasons.
1. It reduces the number of site visitors, who would not normally be there, therefore reducing the risk of viral transmission.
2. Should a school that has just been visited be identified as having one or more Covid cases, leading to one or more persons or bubbles having to self-isolate or at worst close, this could also impact unnecessarily on other schools that our service
may have visited in the following days.
Reducing the number of social contacts can significantly reduce the virus transmission risk, so by using a visual web based system, where meetings could be held over the computer, just the same as if we were visiting site, questions can be asked and answered
in real time. Documentation will be sent prior to the agreed meeting via email, for review and preparation. If there is a particular need, there could be a planned onsite inspection of an area of the school whilst following Covid-19 risk mitigations. For example,
a raised concern within school which cannot be resolved by any other means.
Whist it is our intention to give schools an alternative of a site visit, if a school is visited there will need to be a time gap of at least 10 days prior to subsequent visits to assist with reducing the risk of virus transmission. However; schools will
continue to be supported as normal in an emergency situation.
Please contact
occupational.safety@bradford.gov.uk leave your details and we will contact you to discuss your arrangements.
Rolling programme visits pro forma