Are you applying safe practice in your PE lessons?

After a recent incident in a school where a child was seriously injured during a multi sports activity event, the health and safety team would like to remind schools of the importance of following the guidance outlined within the AfPE 'Safe Practice in Physical Education and Sport' 2012 resource. This guide is an essential reference tool for anyone delivering physical education and sports in schools. It gives definitive guidance in all aspects of the subject.

We recommend that all schools follow this guidance when completing their PE activity risk assessments when identifying and implementing controls for all sporting hazards. Following the AfPE guidance will ensure that you are following best practice and are using the specialist advice specific for Physical Education.

When completing your PE activity risk assessments consider the following safe practice/managing risk principles:

• Identify the risks arising from the activity
• Identify the likelihood or probability of harm occurring from the risks
• Implement controls to reduce the risk to an acceptable level
• If following a generic risk assessment, ensure that it is adapted to be specific to your school 
• Take sensible proportionate and appropriate planning for the activity
• Check the suitability of equipment used for the activity to ensure it is in good condition
• Check the suitability of the environment/premises being for the activity
• Check the safety of any transport being used for PE activities
• Suitability of footwear and clothing
• Personal protection is worn if applicable
• Check that PE teachers are suitably qualified to undertake the activity and are familiar with the latest procedures which should be applied to the activity
• Appropriate supervision of pupils (consider students with special needs, use of support staff)
• Clear instruction/information is given to pupils undertaking the activity
• Adapt your processes/procedures if circumstances change for the activity or the environment
• Safe storage of PE equipment
• Monitoring and maintaining your control measures within your risk assessment
• Review of risk assessment – (how often)
• The content of the risk assessment is clearly communicated to any persons using chemicals

PE risk assessments must be undertaken by a competent person, this means that they must have suitable knowledge, training on the activity that is being undertaken.

Contact details:

Health and Safety Team
Telephone:  Advice Line 03000 418456
Email:  healthandsafety@kent.gov.uk