Health and Safety Concerns
A risk assessment appropriate for the project was needed that encompassed both risk mitigation approaches taken by QUT and CSHS, and to determine appropriate level of responsibility. There are polices and legislative responsibility for ensuring health and safety of staff, adults and students and processes for risk management of the projects led within Universities. Risk assessments established by university researchers are comprehensive and based on adult engagement in activities, decision-making and careful realistic assessment of the project-related risks with an aim that all individuals involved in the project are aware of risks and mitigation strategies, and share in the responsibly to maintain safe work practices. A risk assessment document had to ensure that all project-related risks are considered, and all risks are evaluated and managed appropriately for junior high school aged students. The schools however have different approaches to ensure health and safety of students, as normally students would carry out the project activities at school in an environment where supervision is provided, risk reduction strategies can be implemented and monitored.
The COVID-19 isolation with online and practical learning at students’ homes and/or local environment, brought a new health and safety challenge because the teacher could not monitor or enforce any of the measures outlined in the risk assessment document. The students were minors needing a degree of parentally supervision. The QUT ARG prepared a risk assessment document with suggested considerations and guidelines regarding identified safety and risk mitigation plans for the project, as seen from the perspective of researchers to share with CSHS (Table. 2). The version of the document was then considered, modified and adopted into a simplified but effective form by CSHS. The school took the responsibility to email the students’ parents/guardians to make them aware of the project and highlight all of the risks identified. The core recommendation was to always have students accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult. In addition, the main risks and health and safety measures were incorporated in online lessons and explained by the agricultural science coordinator before students had undertaken the activity. The EpiCollect5 online tool itself contained a short note on safety in the introduction.