Managing Health and Safety in Schools and Education Settings

The education sector is one of the largest in Great Britain, employing a wide range of staff across schools, colleges and early years settings.

Whether you manage a small nursery or lead a multi-site academy trust, education brings its own set of health and safety challenges. Understanding these risks, and managing them in a practical and proportionate way, is essential to protecting staff, pupils and visitors.

Getting health and safety right does more than meet legal requirements. It supports a safe, well-run learning environment where staff can focus on teaching and pupils can learn confidently.

What legal regulations apply to education settings?

Education environments are varied: from classrooms and science labs to sports halls, kitchens and outdoor areas, each space brings different risks. Because of this, health and safety responsibilities in schools can quickly become complex. Employers must comply with a range of key regulations, including:

• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 
• Working at Height Regulations 2005 
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 
• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 
• Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations 2013 
• First Aid at Work Regulations 1981 
• Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) 

These regulations cover everything from safe premises and equipment to managing hazardous substances, reporting incidents and ensuring staff and pupil safety across all activities.

What are the most common health and safety risks in schools?

Incidents in education settings are often linked to everyday activities. Understanding where risks typically occur helps schools take simple, effective steps to prevent them.

Slips, trips and falls: these account for over 40 percent of non-fatal injuries. They are often linked to busy corridors, wet floors, playgrounds and high footfall areas.

Manual handling injuries: around 7 percent of non-fatal injuries relate to lifting, carrying or assisting pupils. This is particularly relevant in early years settings and for support staff.

Being struck by objects: approximately 9 percent of injuries involve contact with moving objects, including during PE, playtime or when using classroom and workshop equipment.

Work-related ill health: there are an estimated 178,000 workers in the sector affected by work-related ill health; over half of these cases are linked to stress, depression or anxiety.

Musculoskeletal disorders: around 36,000 workers are affected by musculoskeletal issues, often caused by repetitive tasks, poor posture, manual handling or prolonged standing.

These figures highlight that risk in education is not just about accidents; long-term health and wellbeing also need to be managed.

Are there any other key risks to consider?

Alongside the most common incidents, schools and colleges face a range of additional risks linked to their environment and activities. These include:

• Behaviour-related risks, including challenging behaviour and physical intervention 
• Science and laboratory hazards involving chemicals, heat and equipment 
• Design and technology workshop risks such as machinery, tools and fumes 
• PE and sports risks from high-impact activities and large group supervision 
• Early years risks including lifting children and managing play safely 
• Building-related risks such as asbestos, ventilation and maintenance work 
• Crowd movement risks during arrival, breaks and dismissal times 
• Lone working risks for cleaners, site staff and after-school teams 
• Educational visits and outdoor learning risks

Each of these areas requires clear procedures, supervision and appropriate control measures.

How can schools work towards compliance?

For many education settings, the first step is building awareness across the whole team. When staff understand the risks in their environment and what is expected of them, they are better equipped to apply safe practices in day-to-day activities.

Practical steps include:

• Providing clear induction and refresher training 
• Reviewing and updating risk assessments 
• Checking that equipment and facilities are inspected regularly 
• Ensuring reporting procedures are understood and followed 
• Carrying out regular audits of health and safety systems 

A structured but proportionate approach helps schools stay compliant while keeping safety manageable.

Where can I find guidance?

The Health and Safety Executive provides sector-specific guidance for schools, colleges and early years settings. This includes practical advice on managing risks in classrooms, workshops, playgrounds and outdoor environments, helping education providers meet their legal responsibilities and maintain safe learning spaces.

How can Stallard Kane help?

Managing health and safety in education can feel complex, especially with so many different activities, environments and responsibilities to consider.

At Stallard Kane, we work with schools, colleges and early years providers to simplify compliance and provide practical, tailored support. From reviewing your current arrangements to helping you strengthen your systems, our team is here to help you create a safe and supportive learning environment.

To discuss your requirements, contact our Health & Safety team:
 healthandsafety@skaltd.co.uk
 01427 420 403

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