Safety in Establishments for Further and Higher Education with Special Reference to the Teaching of Practical Skills in Further Education

Abstract

The thesis - that safety is not seen by establishments of further and higher education as an explicit objective in their work, despite many recommendations that it should be - is established within the limits of the investigation. The special attention given to engineering workshop procedures shows that the failure to see safety as an explicit objective is particularly relevant to the teaching of practical skills to further education students. Eight questions are judged to be key questions in determining whether or not safety is seen as an explicit objective. The questions are as follows: (i) Are substantial efforts being made to implement the principal official recommendations on safety and to carry out activities generally thought to be beneficial to safety? (ii) Is knowledge of accidents occurring in the establishments adequate for steps to be taken to improve safety in work activities of staff and students, and to show where improvement is required in the teaching of safety? (iii) Does the practice of safety display to students at first hand proper concern for safety and what to do about it? (iv) Is the practical significance of classroom teaching demonstrated to students at a personal level? (v) Are the necessary steps being taken to ensure that precautions known to be essential to safety in work activities are being observed? (vi) Are service staff competent to carry out safely the tasks required of them? (vii) Is safety taught in a positive way, particularly in connection with skills which students will use in industry? (viii) Have safety activities in the establishments been effective in improving the teaching and learning of safety? Answers to these questions are obtained from the results of a postal survey, and personal investigation, of safety activities; a survey of accidents; and the administration of a questionnaire/checklist to students. These answers provide the evidence to establish the thesis. Implications and applications of the research are drawn up from the findings.