Did I report this safety issue in a preschool the wrong way?

[Elber]

I’ve recently started a new position. During my induction training I was told that health and safety is everyone’s responsibility. In a meeting with a head facilities manager, I discussed a safety issue I had already seen. I was told to raise the issue via an IT report system. It took me a while to figure out how to log on to this system, but I finally managed to do it today.
I was told in very, very strong terms by a different manager that I should not have done this. She was clearly very upset with me. The report had gone through, and I think she felt implicated. She thinks I should have discussed it with her or my line manager first.

I’m afraid I saw it as a facilities issue, rather than anything else - so thought it was right to raise it with them. I saw them as the people best placed to assess the safety.

I’m still not completely clear who is who, and as this was about protecting children’s safety - I wanted to ensure the report was made. If a child was hurt as a result, and I’d noticed but not raised a ticket (as advised in my induction training) I’d have felt very responsible.

Did I do the wrong thing?

@Got2getout I’m only there for a short time everyday, and often don’t see (who I now know) is the nursery manager when I start and leave.

I also thought I’d started the issue with facilities anyway, and was using (what I thought) was the correct system : which would be a caretaker to come out and potentially fix or remove/have the correct tools. It took a while because I needed to be set up on the IT system. I did see it as urgent and explained to the people I directly work with what I’d done,

I think the issue opis there was broken equipment and dangerous equipment that no one had bothered to do anything about. You come in, new, and immediately report it formally. No conversation with colleagues about ooh should those bikes be out? Or the kids keep falling on that stand, should I move it?
Now obviously they were happy just ignoring it until something went wrong which is why they're upset.
In future I'd mention it to colleagues and offer to remove it and report it. If you then feel they're not dreaming with it appropriately you can't escalate it

It will be ok. Can you take them in something nice to share eg chocs or biscuits, apologise for the inconvenience and say you were just practicing reporting a minor issue for your IT training, and you didn't realise it would cause any problems.

They are annoyed because you've made them look shit at their job. Tbf, they might be. Did she tell you the preferred procedure at least?

You did the right thing b in theory but in practice the staff will see the new starter as a busybody and a troublemaker sadly. Not saying this is right btw but you will have got their back up straight away.

@Wheresmykitten

I think that’s it exactly. I think I’ve come across as a busybody/troublemaker.

However if it’s the option between being a busybody or the option of a child getting hurt : I can live with the former but absolutely not the latter.

So the manager who to.d you that you shouldn't have done this, what exactly is she saying should have been done? Nothing? What's her actual problem with what you did?

@NotQuiteNorma

Reported it to her and she would have dealt with it. The issue there is that I don’t always see her, I had already spoken to various people verbally about it : but it didn’t feel official. If someone (next day) had got the bikes out of the cupboard again, a child had got hurt, and investigation and I knew bike was dangerous : but only raised a verbal concern, and not done as the head of facilities has advised in his induction : I’m sure I would be liable.

I agree health and safety is everyone's responsibility and you shouldn't be a by-stander, but there are ways to raise issues that are more diplomatic and sensitive than others.

In this instance, especially being new to a company, I would have absolutely discussed with my line manager in the first instance before escalating.

Until you have been at the company a while will you understand the dynamics between different people, and reporting directly without discussion with your manager, whilst you haven't done anything wrong, isn't the most sensitive way to handle the situation IMO and may hve opened a can of worms.

No one can say you have done anything wrong, as you haven't. But it could have been handled more sensitively.

I think you did the right thing. Normally we go to to dsl and it's up them what they do next. Follow the procedure and god forbid if the dsl does F all and someone is hurt that's on the dsl.

For a fabric thing I wouldn't go to the dsl, it's the estate teams job to sort that out. Again follow the procedure and they have the brain cells to risk assess and fix.

If the bikes go and out of a shed you hope estates would remove it to where it can't be taken back into circulation.

I would never ever try to fix a bike, I'm not trained to, like I'm not trained to assess bruising. We have experts to do this better

Just to add, if you were worried about only reporting verbally, you could have followed up with your manager via email to say something like 'thanks for your time to discuss xyz, as discussed I will leave this in your hands to manage.... etc" so you are covered.

You did the right thing. Sounds like a dangerous set up and I’d be reporting to Ofsted, personally. Safeguarding is everyone’s business and it sounds like you were the only one to take it seriously. Too many just can’t be bothered. A nursery local to us was shut down last year. It was an absolute dive, full of broken toys that had become dangerous. The manager should be ashamed of herself.

@Janedoelondon

Yes. Which is what I think I shall now do??
But : if a bad accident happened, it would be the head of facilities that I would answer to. He will say : why didn’t you follow the procedure that was explained to you in your induction.

I only have a verbal ‘you shouldn’t have done that’ from the nursery manager. Nothing official. If I was scrutinised, what she said could easily be turned into ‘you misunderstood’ or you didn’t follow the school’s procedure.

Which is why you follow up via email to your line manager summarising the agreed approach....

Sorry OP, I didn't mean to appear critical! I really think in these situations there are multiple ways of handling.

If I were you, I would have a quick chat with my manager/the person who told me I shouldn't have reported it, explain your rationale and be willing to take on board what they say and how you will take on board for future.

I think that's all you can do. All the best!

Lots of companies talk a good talk, but in reality are completely different. You showed them up
for being lacks in the health and safety department, and the nursery manager was annoyed.