A Safety Guide for School Minibuses
13 September 2018
Everyone enjoys a trip out of the ordinary working day. A chance to explore a new place as part of your day job can be a fantastic pro to working in education. Minibuses are an asset to those schools which are fortunate enough to have one at their disposal, although the task of managing these in schools should not be undertaken lightly. The safety for pupils and staff on a school excursion is a crucial aspect of making sure that trips run smoothly and remain fun throughout.
If you are lucky enough to be a trusted volunteer to drive a school minibus, you are personally first-hand responsible for the safety of the passengers on the road. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), a generic risk assessment for the minibus should be conducted and recorded. This document should detail the process of recruiting, training and supervising drivers, needs and behaviour of the pupils on board, parental consent, selecting and maintaining the minibus, journey planning and emergency procedures.
To battle any complications, there is a recommendation that a second trained driver is on hand in the event of an emergency. If the school trip is a little longer than expected, this allows flexibility to swap drivers to eliminate driver tiredness. As an additional safety buffer, staff and drivers need to be correctly trained to implement your minibus maintenance systems effectively. The appropriate people need to have a basic technical ability to complete these checks, while having the knowledge of how to report and record these systems.
We understand that health and safety checks may seem a bit excessive at times, although the peace of mind it provides for staff, pupils and parents alike is invaluable. For additional information regarding size of your minibus, usage and compliance, please visit our website here.
Need a minibus for your next school trip or excursion? Contact us today and work with a company that specialises in minibuses for schools.
For all driver services please call: 01480 220 444.
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