12.1 General

12.1.1              

The parties recognise the importance of ensuring good and safe working conditions

through Health and Safety in the workplace and that it is a mutual obligation of the employer and employees to achieve this through a representative, engagement and participative approach.

12.1.2

To this end, the employers’ and employees’ attention is drawn to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and associated Regulations. This and other legislation, relevant Codes of Practice and Guidelines are the reference points for gaining a common understanding of what those obligations are, what will assist in meeting those mutual obligations and also in promoting best practice.

12.1.3

Where employees’ health, safety or welfare is shown to be at risk in the carrying out of their duties the employer will take all reasonably practicable steps to eliminate or minimise the identified risk for the employees and to do so in consultation with the relevant health and safety representatives, committees and authorities that may be identified.

12.2 Protective Clothing

12.2.1

Where the nature of a teacher’s work in science laboratories and workshops is considered to be more than normally destructive to clothing, suitable protective clothing will be issued.

12.2.2

Protective clothing may be issued on a permanent basis or on temporary loan as is decided by the employer.

12.2.3

Protective clothing issued on temporary loan will be laundered at the employer’s expense.

12.3 Safety Glasses

12.3.1

Where a teacher is considered to be working in an “eye danger” area the teacher will receive a personal issue of standard neutral safety glasses which will remain the property of the employer.

12.3.2

Where a teacher who ordinarily wears optical glasses at work is engaged on work in an “eye danger” area, the teacher will be supplied for the time engaged on such work, with specially hardened neutral “clip on” type safety glasses to be worn over normal glasses, such “clip on” will remain the property of the employer.

12.4 Immunisation

12.4.1

The Secretary for Education will advise employers of their responsibility for the immunisation against Hepatitis B of those teachers who, because of the nature of their job may be significantly at risk, as advised by the Director General of Health.