The assessment procedure

The Manager/Headteacher should ensure that they take advice where necessary from specialist areas such as Human Resources, Facilities, Building Managers and the Health and Safety Team. It is essential that as part of the risk assessment procedure, the employee is invited to the workplace at an appropriate time to try the access/egress and working conditions available, in order to establish their requirements and personal needs. In addition, or as an alternative it may be possible to utilise the Government’s Access to Work Scheme (see 5.0 below).

The assessment of the workplace will identify where reasonable physical adjustments are required to the premises and ensure appropriate car parking arrangements. It will also identify the need for auxiliary aids for people with sensory impairment such as those affecting hearing and sight.  Part of the process will be for the employee to carry out a workstation assessment HSE Workstation Checklist.  Following this, arrangements can be made for a personal individual assessment by the Health and Safety Team.

The assessment should also specifically examine emergency routes in the event of fire and the provision of EVAC chairs for multi-storey buildings. Where the risk assessment indicates assistance is required for evacuations it is the Manager/Headteachers responsibility to ensure that arrangements are in place for the employee to receive the assistance they may require from appropriately trained colleagues and that a rota system exists to provide that assistance at all times including lunchtime.  These arrangements must be recorded on a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP).  It is recommended that PEEPs for employees working at locations managed by Facilities are checked out with the Facilities Management Team or Building Managers of non-BC locations.  A record form template for recording the PEEP can be found in BC Fire Safety Policy 3.3 Part 4. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) Employees.

When arranging meetings, consideration should be taken to ensure emergency evacuation arrangements are in place/still valid for the employee.

Guidance on assistance dogs in the workplace is also available from the Cohesion and Equalities Team.