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.