Work Health and Safety Policy

At Pal Buddhist School, we understand that a safe and nurturing environment is essential for the well-being of our entire school community. This commitment goes beyond child protection, extending to our responsibilities under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation in New South Wales. We strive to ensure every staff member, student, volunteer, and visitor feels safe and supported within our school.

Understanding Our Legal Responsibilities

We follow the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and its regulations, designed to protect everyone in our school environment.

Key Principles of Our WHS Policy:

• Our Duty of Care: As the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), Pal Buddhist School takes seriously its duty to protect the health and safety of all individuals on our premises.

• We proactively identify and reduce potential risks, ensuring a safe environment for everyone.

• Hazard Identification and Risk Management: We use clear processes to identify potential hazards and assess risks.

• We act to remove or minimise these risks through appropriate controls, protecting against physical, mental, and emotional harm.

• Safe Work Practices: We provide clear and safe work practices and procedures for all school activities.

• We ensure all staff, students, and volunteers receive necessary training, information, and support.

• We maintain our facilities and equipment to high safety standards.

• Collaboration: We work with our staff to discuss and address health and safety matters.

• We encourage open communication and value input from all members of our community.

• We provide ways for staff to raise concerns and contribute to risk assessments.

• WHS and Child Protection: We recognise that a safe physical environment is connected to child protection.

• Good supervision, safe premises, and clear emergency procedures help keep our students safe.

• A supportive and healthy work environment for our staff helps them provide excellent care and protection for our students.

• Our Abuse and Neglect Policy shows our commitment to WHS obligations and highlights the link between WHS and child protection.

Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment

At Pal Buddhist School, we are dedicated to fostering a welcoming and nurturing atmosphere where everyone can thrive. By upholding our WHS responsibilities, we ensure a safe and supportive environment for all.

We encourage all members of our community to:

• Learn about our WHS policies and procedures.

• Report any potential hazards or safety concerns.

• Participate in safety training and discussions.

Together, we can create a safe and nurturing environment where our students can learn and grow.