Health & Safety
Pupil and staff safety is paramount. The Building Safety Act, and recent issues such as RAAC risks, highlights the ongoing challenge to maintain safety. We offer dedicated services to help you meet the legislative requirements with confidence.
CREATING WARM, SAFE AND DRY SPACES
Schools face increasing pressure to ensure their environments are safe, compliant, and fit for purpose. For school business managers, this means navigating a complex web of regulations.
From interpreting technical legal requirements to upgrading aging infrastructure, the path to compliance is not straightforward. Constrained budgets, and the need for ongoing staff training, add further layers of complexity. Schools must also maintain detailed records and be ready for inspections— with minimal disruption to term time.
Despite these prevailing challenges, taking a proactive approach and having a clear understanding of responsibilities can help schools and academy trusts to stay ahead.
HOW RLB CAN HELP
With decades of experience working at the cutting-edge of education construction, our award-winning health and safety team works closely with schools and academies to help ensure that building safety is managed and maintained.
Our extensive knowledge of statutory requirements and guidance with matters of estate risk, can enable Head Teachers, Business Managers, and Governors to ensure risks are identified and mitigated, so they can focus on academic priorities.
Services and solutions
- Building Safety Act compliance
- CDM services / Principal Designer
- General health and safety management
- Statutory compliance
- Health and safety audits / risk assessments
- Fire safety services
- Fire risk assessments
- Fire compartmentation / fire doors
SOLUTIONS IN ACTION
Girls' Day School Trust
The Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) operates 25 specialist schools and academies across England and Wales. Its diverse estate portfolio includes buildings of varying methods of construction, from Grade II listed villas dating from the 1800s to CLASP-constructed facilities from the 1960s.
RLB was appointed to conduct an estate-wide fire compliance survey, which included over 250 buildings. Working closely with the GDST estates team, we devised a subsequent programme of works that would enhance active and passive fire safety provision.
Drawing on existing sector experience, the project team was able to working within allocated budgets and minimise disruption by scheduling works during academic term breaks.
The project team was carefully chosen to harness skills within fire safety, health & safety, mechanical and electrical engineering and project management, and provide bespoke solutions for prioritised buildings. This approach brought GDST cost and project management benefits along with effective fire protection that meets Building Regulations.
