Minibus Policy. Approved: 12 th November 2014 Next review date: Summer/Autumn Term 2016 Policy expires: 11 th November 2016 Version 2.

Transcription

1 Minibus Policy Approved: 12 th November 2014 Next review date: Summer/Autumn Term 2016 Policy expires: 11 th November 2016 Version 2.0 1

2 INTRODUCTION Heatherwood School owns 3 minibuses and safety must be of paramount importance. We share the responsibility of ensuring that our activities present minimum risk to ourselves, our passengers and members of the public. Staff should be acquainted with the full extent of this policy, including the insurance policy and the approved DMBC accident reporting procedures: Employees should note that they should always have due regard for the contents of this document within the context of the Health and Safety Framework. This policy does not set out mandatory minimum standards throughout, but minibus users should always actively assess risk in all situations in order to make appropriate decisions about which aspects of the guidance should be followed. Any management decisions about the responsibility for any collision or other incident will take into account whether or not this guidance has been followed. DRIVERS 1. During school time and with pupils on board drivers are considered to be on school business and must hold a full, clean driving licence which will be monitored at school annually. Supply staff are not permitted to take groups out on educational visits. (A specific risk assessment, only agreed by the Headteacher, may identify exceptions to this). 2. All designated drivers of the school minibuses must have taken the Basic Minibus Driving Test offered by DMBC. [See Appendix 1 for list of drivers]. 3. Heatherwood School minibuses must not be driven in the outside lane of 3-lane (or more) motorways. The maximum driving speeds for the minibuses are: 65 mph on the motorway; 60 mph on the dual carriageway; 50 mph on the single carriageway. 4. Smoking is not allowed on the minibuses. The driver will not consume any alcohol, and should not risk the effects of alcohol consumed previously. The effects of drugs and medicines should also be taken into account. If in any doubt consult the Headteacher. Any defective eyesight should be checked. 5. Drivers should be aware of the effects of tiredness upon driving. It is recommended that for round trips of 120 miles or more a second, approved driver shares the driving. The class teacher has ultimate responsibility for planning any journeys and considering time and distance. 6. A mobile phone must be taken on any trip in a minibus. The mobile phone must be fully charged and its number must be clearly stated on the Education Visit Form. A school mobile phone is available from the Facilities Co-ordinator. If you are unfamiliar with the phone please ask for advice from the Facilities Co-ordinator who can show you how to use it. The school phone number is kept in the phone memory and is also available in the A4 file kept in each minibus. Please remember that it is not permitted to use the phone whilst driving. 7. Drivers must not drive if they are unwell and do not feel fit to do so. This is particularly pertinent when a member of staff has been involved in an incident and they may not realise that they are unwell if, for example, they are suffering from shock. 2

3 8. Please ensure you are familiar with the risk assessments for each minibus. These are available in the staff handbook file or from the School Business Manager. SAFETY OF PASSENGERS 1. There should be no more than one person to each seat. After each journey seat belts and seats should be left tidy and ready for use. 2. All seats that have been removed from the bus to accommodate wheelchairs must be replaced correctly and safely. 3. There must be no standing while the bus is moving, with the exception of dealing with a medical emergency, until the bus driver can stop safely. 4. Pupils over the age of 12 years are permitted by law to sit at the front if necessary. 5. There should always be at least one escort who should sit where able to see the pupils. 6. Pupils should not distract the driver. 7. Pupils must not be carried up or down steps. If they cannot climb the steps, the tail lift must be used. 8. Wheel chairs must be securely clamped and double checked by teacher in charge of the group before moving off. 9. Wheelchairs should not face the sides of the bus [See Wheelchairs in buses (VSE 87/1 Department of Transport). This includes special guidance on the operation of minibuses fitted with power operated tail lifts. 10. Unsecured luggage can be dangerous in an emergency and should be secured. This includes folded wheelchairs. Unsecured luggage is particularly dangerous in the front and passenger space. Access to aisles and doors should be kept free. 11. Minibuses must be parked so that pupils and staff can exit on to a safe area on level ground and not on to the road. 12. Inform the School First Aider if items from the first aid boxes need replacing. The First Aider will check the buses at the beginning of each term. BREAKDOWNS AND ACCIDENTS: 1. In the event of a breakdown you will find all advice and information needed in the A4 file kept in each minibus. The telephone numbers are in the back of the A4 folder. The school telephone number is In the event of an accident the school must be informed immediately. 3. All accidents must be reported in writing to the Headteacher, who will pass the information on to the appropriate body. 3

4 N.B.: IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT TO A PUPIL OR MEMBER OF STAFF, REFER TO THE A4 FOLDER KEPT IN EACH MINIBUS MAINTENANCE 1. The Facilities Co-ordinator acts as the minibus co-ordinator and makes regular safety checks. [See Appendix 3]. 2. Before each journey, each driver should make extra safety checks on and in the buses. Copies of these checks are kept in the folder on the bus and checked by the Facilities Co-ordinator. 3. The minibuses will be safety checked every 3 months in accordance with DMBC Guidelines. If this does not occur the minibuses will be taken off the road until checked. Records of defects, repairs, inspections and services are kept by the transport department at DMBC. ADMINISTRATION 1. Blank log sheets are to be found in the minibuses and details, including mileage, must be filled in for every journey. Any defects should be recorded on the Daily Defect Report Sheet kept in the A4 folder on the bus and also reported to the minibus co-ordinator immediately. 2. All journeys are to be entered in the Bus Diary including which department, time of leaving the school and return times. The member of staff responsible for the trip should also complete the Heatherwood School Educations Visits Form and distribute it to all necessary staff. 3. The minibus timetable book is available in the Facilities Co-ordinator s room. 4. Please be flexible with your use of the school buses. Do not take seats out of a minibus unnecessarily if they have already been removed from the other minibus (if possible, use that bus instead). RESOURCES 1. SAT Navigation System Located in Facilities Co-Ordinator s room. 2. A Z of Doncaster Located in Facilities Co-Ordinator s room. Reviewed date: 12 th November 2014 Next Review due date: November 2016 Agreed by Finance & Resources Committee on:... Signed by Chair... Date:... Signed by Headteacher... Date:... 4

5 APPENDICES: 1. Minibus drivers 2. Clamping of wheelchairs 3. Minibus tail lift and winch 4. Maintenance 5

6 Appendix 1 NAMES OF THOSE WITH PARTICULAR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE MINIBUSES Overall responsibility: Headteacher. The Headteacher is construed as the operator responsible for the lawful use of the vehicles, although the driver is responsible for driving the vehicle. Minibus co-ordinator: Lesley Adamson (Facilities Co-ordinator). Designated drivers of the school minibuses: Ian Blakesley Diana Sutherton Dave Thornton Irene Ratcliffe Ann Staton Carrol Hood Daryl Bennett Kirsty Butler Andrea Parkin Susan Coleman Jo Tomlinson Karen McFarlane Suzanne Fulwood Lesley Adamson Chris Robertson Debbie Case Maria Dowey Sarah Byrne Sue Shillito Kayleigh Woodrow Samantha Lee Members of staff who attended Group Leader training for educational visits Jo Quick Chris Robertson Jo Tomlinson Melissa Guy Irene Ratcliffe Jo Anderson Tracey Watson Lesley Adamson All teaching staff have received training to risk assess educational visits. The Headteacher authorises all risk assessments. 6

7 Appendix 2 The use of minibus restraints The driver is responsible for everything on the minibus: including the safe use of wheelchair clamps and seat belts (but not pupil behaviour other staff take responsibility for this in order to ensure that the driver is not distracted). We have numerous models of wheelchairs and these guidelines may need adjusting to suit some of the chairs in school. If you are uncertain about any particular chair and the safety of the pupil therein, DO NOT JUST MAKE DO, seek advice from the Facilities Co-ordinator. Even if it means a pupil has to be left at school until it can be certain how the chair and pupil should be restrained. Use common sense. If, once clamped, it is possible to move a chair so that the wheels turn or shift across the floor then it is not likely to be secure. (Some movement must be expected). Strap fixings All chairs should be fixed using webbing ratchet straps. Once the chair has been positioned over the floor rails, the front straps should be placed around a suitable point on the chair. NEVER PUT WEBBING ON A PIECE OF FRAME THAT DETACHES FROM THE CHAIR, such as the footplates. Once these have been fitted move the chair backwards to take up any slack in the webbing. Apply the brakes and fit the ratchet straps to a suitable point near the rear of the chair. Once the slack has been taken up, the ratchet can be tightened and the chair tested for stability. Clamping points are identified on most wheelchairs. There are various attachments which can be added to the carabiner clip if the clip itself is not appropriate to the wheelchair. Ratchet strap Seat belt fixings The seat belts need to be positioned in a similar position to the pupil in a wheelchair that you would expect to find in a car seat. The seat belt is there to stop the pupil being thrown forward out of their chair during heavy braking or a collision. Once located in the track 7

8 behind the chair, the belt is fed through the chair so that the belt runs as close to the pupil as possible. Never around the top of the chair arm, it must go under the arm and rest on the pupil. (Just as a seat belt would fit in a car). Brakes on chairs must always be applied when clamping and left on whilst travelling. Leave as much of an aisle as possible so that movement by staff is possible around the bus if necessary. The driver should always stop the vehicle safely in an appropriate place if staff need to get to a pupil. If you are uncertain about any of these instructions and need to be shown how to use the clamps or webbings please ask a member of the SLT to organise this. Drivers should be happy with the fixing of the wheelchairs in the vehicle before driving off. 8

9 Appendix 3 Minibus tail lift and winch All of the minibuses have an electric tail lift on them to enable wheelchair users and others, where risk assessed this is the better option for accessing and exiting the bus. One bus has a winch to assist with the handling of large heavy manual wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs. When planning trips out of school the more appropriate bus needs to be considered depending on which wheelchairs are going. If you are uncertain on the use of either the tail lifts or the winch and need to be shown how to use these please ask a member of the SLT to organise training for yourselves. 9

10 Appendix 4 Maintenance of School Minibuses: 1. The Facilities Co-ordinator makes weekly safety checks on each bus and these are documented and retained. 2. Before each journey, each driver is responsible for making safety checks on and in the buses. Copies of these checks for buses passed to and kept by the Facilities Co-ordinator. 3. The minibuses will be serviced every 3 months in accordance with DMBC guidelines. If this does not occur the minibuses will be taken off the road until serviced. Records of defects, repairs, inspections and services are kept by the minibus co-ordinator. Safety Checks All vehicles are safety checked every 3 months at the North Bridge Depot. The Tail Lifts are serviced regularly and weight checked. MOT MOT test dates are as follows. If an MOT is failed the minibus is taken off the road until passed. Registration Number Y859 UKR YN10 FRJ SJ08 PZM Month MARCH JUNE JUNE Road Tax The minibuses are not exempt from road tax and this is dealt with on the schools behalf by DMBC at North Bridge Depot. Blue Badge Scheme Each minibus has its own blue badge which is renewed every three years. These are kept by the Facilities Coordinator. Fire Extinguishers The fire extinguishers are maintained/checked annually by a LA approved contractor, along with the in-school equipment. 10