ATL

Advice for ATL members on working in poor weather conditions

The recent snow and icy weather has resulted in the closure of many schools and colleges. This has led to ATL members raising concerns over their safety, both when traveling to work in potentially dangerous situations and when schools and colleges remain open in poor weather conditions.

When making a decision to close a school or college the safety of both pupils and staff must be paramount and management must carry out a risk assessment on whether it is safe to open. The number of schools and colleges that closed recently saw many heads and principals being mindful of this responsibility and ensuring that students and staff would be safe by not attempting to come in to school.

However, there were some occasions where students were sent home but staff were expected to stay. In such circumstances a school or college must explain why the premises have been deemed safe for staff but not for students. This should be backed up by a risk assessment that confirms the position. ATL safety reps should be informed and consulted on such decisions and should also have had input into the risk assessment.

In situations where there are disputes about the safety of a school or college, or part of a school such as the playground areas for example, ATL safety reps can investigate potential hazards, dangerous occurrences, causes of occupational health, and complaints from members. This means that imminent risks, or hazards which may affect members, can be investigated immediately without formal notice.

There should not be any responsibility placed on teachers, lecturers or support staff to clear snow or ice from school premises. It is not part of contractual obligations and nor is it likely to be safe. ATL members who are asked to undertake such a task should contact us as soon as possible for further advice.

Pay when schools and colleges are shut

If a school or college is closed, ATL members should make it clear that they are available for work and, if circumstances allow, may be able to do so from home. In such situations they should receive their normal salary.

If a school or college is open and some staff can not get in to work because of the weather or poor travelling conditions, then they should contact management and make it clear that it is impossible, and/or dangerous, for them to travel into work. On these rare occasions ATL would expect schools and colleges to allow staff to work from home, for example teachers taking their PPA time, and thus their salary should not be affected.

Teachers, lecturers and support staff work many unpaid hours for their schools and colleges on a goodwill basis. One way of schools and colleges recognising this is during times of extreme weather conditions where some staff may, through no fault of their own, be unable to get into work. 

Need further advice?

Your first point of contact is your ATL rep in your school or college. Your local ATL branch is also available to help with queries, or you can contact ATL's member advisors on tel: 020 7930 6441 or email us. Please have your membership number to hand when telephoning and include it with any correspondence - this will help us to answer your query more quickly.