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AIBU?

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Original poster

H&S incident at nursery

173 replies

NoodleDoodle97 · 31/01/2025 17:28

Today, our DD nursery rang to tell of an incident what had happened. For the last 3 days they have been having a new roof. One of the workers today fell through the roof, taking out a ceiling panel. Luckily nothing fell and luckily the children and him were ok but it could have been very bad. Would you report this to ofsted or somewhere else as I don’t think they should be working on a roof when there is children below. The owner of the roofing company apparently was devastated and said this does happen but he’s really sorry it’s happen in a nursery

OP posts:
crackfoxy · 02/02/2025 09:56

Why would you report this? I'm pretty sure the nursery will be following this up

Tumbleweed101 · 02/02/2025 10:08

Any risk assessments would have been done by the company working on the roof and a copy would have been given to the nursery who would have then done their own risk assessments based on it.

The fact that the nursery was open suggests there was no reason to expect the kind of accident that happened. It could have simply been human error by that particular worker.

At this time of year the contractor wouldn’t be able to work outside of nursery hours due to daylight and many nurseries are open 7-6. If they had closed to be super careful then all the working parents would have had to find alternative care or take time off and the risks on paper may not have seemed bad enough to warrant it.

Outside workers would never have access to children without a member of staff being present.

I’d imagine the nursery and roofing company are doing what needs to be done in reporting the incident appropriately.

tillymintt · 02/02/2025 10:23

People are being really blase about this.... if he had fallen on a child they could have been killed...everyone here would 'ah well meh'.

Nonaynevernomore · 02/02/2025 10:32

tillymintt · 02/02/2025 10:23

People are being really blase about this.... if he had fallen on a child they could have been killed...everyone here would 'ah well meh'.

But he didn’t, the what ifs are not relevant.

Zaichik · 02/02/2025 11:49

WeeOrcadian · 31/01/2025 17:33

I'm not sure what you think OFSTED will do, this isn't an education issue

Ofsted is the regulator of private nurseries so, if it is privately run, the nursery should be notifying Ofsted of the accident as a 'significant event'. At the very least, Ofsted will want to ensure that there are adequate risk assessments in place to keep children safe, and that the setting has taken appropriate action following the accident. If the setting has a poor regulatory history, they may decide to inspect or conduct a regulatory visit.

Sillyname63 · 02/02/2025 12:36

I agree they shouldn't be working while the children are there and work should have been scheduled for the weekend when they are closed.
I would ask the manager ( not the staff) what measures have been put in place to stop this happening again and go from there.
Just a thought though, if you report it to USE or whoever they may come and close the place down and you will be scrabbling around for day care as everyone will be in the same boat.

custardpyjamas · 02/02/2025 12:44

Were they working on a weak roof without crawling boards and other safety precautions? There are very strict rules on roof working, if you want to complain complain to health and safety about potentially dangerous working practices. The nursery won't know what is or isn't allowed they are relying on the competence of the builder.

custardpyjamas · 02/02/2025 12:47

Sillyname63 · 02/02/2025 12:36

I agree they shouldn't be working while the children are there and work should have been scheduled for the weekend when they are closed.
I would ask the manager ( not the staff) what measures have been put in place to stop this happening again and go from there.
Just a thought though, if you report it to USE or whoever they may come and close the place down and you will be scrabbling around for day care as everyone will be in the same boat.

The trouble with only working weekends is that the roof may be left unsafe or leaking, if the job isn't finished. Then you may find the nursery would be suddenly closed completely until the work was finished.

Aaron95 · 02/02/2025 12:50

Nickay · 31/01/2025 17:37

The company will need to report the incident to HSE under RIDDOR

Not from what the OP described.

Nobody was seriously injured. It wouldn't be a reportable accident.

wholettheturnipsburn · 02/02/2025 17:12

Sillyname63 · 02/02/2025 12:36

I agree they shouldn't be working while the children are there and work should have been scheduled for the weekend when they are closed.
I would ask the manager ( not the staff) what measures have been put in place to stop this happening again and go from there.
Just a thought though, if you report it to USE or whoever they may come and close the place down and you will be scrabbling around for day care as everyone will be in the same boat.

The HSE wont close it down. They wont even take action over the accident.

PeachyPeachTrees · 02/02/2025 19:46

I don't think the nursery staying open is profits over safety. Imagine all the working parents reacting to no childcare for a week due to roof works?

PeriPeriMam · 02/02/2025 19:54

tillymintt · 02/02/2025 10:23

People are being really blase about this.... if he had fallen on a child they could have been killed...everyone here would 'ah well meh'.

Totally. A lot of mysteriously dismissive "oh well,it was an accident" responses that are strangely and totally unreasonable

Of course the nursery and roofing firm should report this to the HSE. 100% RIDDOR reportable. Will they? Hopefully. Would you be unreasonable to make sure someone has? No of course not. Make a call, set your mind at rest.

Thank goodness nobody was hurt. Awful.

PeriPeriMam · 02/02/2025 19:55

Aaron95 · 02/02/2025 12:50

Not from what the OP described.

Nobody was seriously injured. It wouldn't be a reportable accident.

Show quote history

Absolutely nuts. Extremely near miss.

wholettheturnipsburn · 02/02/2025 20:01

@PeriPeriMam If it needs reporting to hse it would be the roofers not the nursery

Also, it is 0% reportable. Unless the poor guy is off work for over 7days

surreygirl1987 · 02/02/2025 20:16

PeriPeriMam · 02/02/2025 19:54

Totally. A lot of mysteriously dismissive "oh well,it was an accident" responses that are strangely and totally unreasonable

Of course the nursery and roofing firm should report this to the HSE. 100% RIDDOR reportable. Will they? Hopefully. Would you be unreasonable to make sure someone has? No of course not. Make a call, set your mind at rest.

Thank goodness nobody was hurt. Awful.

Show quote history

This!! So many things go under the radar because everyone assumes someone else has reported it! Put your own mind at ease, make that call or write that email, and then relax - your role is done.

surreygirl1987 · 02/02/2025 20:18

Zaichik · 02/02/2025 11:49

Ofsted is the regulator of private nurseries so, if it is privately run, the nursery should be notifying Ofsted of the accident as a 'significant event'. At the very least, Ofsted will want to ensure that there are adequate risk assessments in place to keep children safe, and that the setting has taken appropriate action following the accident. If the setting has a poor regulatory history, they may decide to inspect or conduct a regulatory visit.

Edited
Show quote history

Exactly this. Even if nobody was actually hurt on this occasion, it is still a significant event.

Be prepared for nursery possibly closing for a few days but at least you'll feel confident that it's going through the correct channels. Nursery should have reported it already anyway (but whether they have is another matter).

surreygirl1987 · 02/02/2025 20:19

Nonaynevernomore · 02/02/2025 10:32

But he didn’t, the what ifs are not relevant.

Show quote history

The 'what ifs' are absolutely relevant and are potentially what could prevent a child from getting killed next time! You can't seriously be saying that when a risk is identified we need to wait until someone is injured or dies before action is taken?! 🤯

surreygirl1987 · 02/02/2025 20:21

crackfoxy · 02/02/2025 09:56

Why would you report this? I'm pretty sure the nursery will be following this up

If the nursery are indeed following it up, and doing things by the book, then the OP will be doing no harm in reporting it, will she?

Nantescalling · 03/02/2025 15:05

As you say this employee ha been there a long tile and you are new so I would tread very carefully when reporting her.

Presuming there are no CCTV cameras, would you feel comfy asking for the bosses to install one withtout giving specifics?

I, personally, wouldn't approach the kid's mother or you might get fired for non-confidientality. (If you end up losing your job over this then I would talk to the Mum}

Original poster
NoodleDoodle97 · 04/02/2025 00:20

Ok so I actually found out what had happened. He did fall through from the roof but it was just his legs that came through the ceiling of the actual room so his whole body didn’t fall through but his legs were visible. The room was a mess, plaster everywhere, massive hole in the ceiling and crack on the wall that now has a sheet over it until they can come to sort it. The man was ok, hurt his legs a bit but was apparently more apologetic and checking the children were ok. Children were nearby apparently when it happened but luckily nothing else fell from up there and everyone was ok.

OP posts:
Original poster
NoodleDoodle97 · 04/02/2025 00:22

They haven’t closed the nursery but call each parent to fully explain the situation again and ask if we can keep our children off then please do so

OP posts:
Original poster
NoodleDoodle97 · 04/02/2025 00:26

The sheet theyve put there is covering the big hole but you can even see the sunlight through it so it’s really come through

OP posts:
BigSilly · 04/02/2025 00:28

Nickay · 31/01/2025 17:37

The company will need to report the incident to HSE under RIDDOR

Why, no one was hurt?

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