1.3 Implementing Health and Safety in Early Years Practice

Health and safety in an early years setting is a continuous process, not paperwork completed once and forgotten. This lesson follows a setting introducing new equipment and shows how to identify hazards, assess likelihood and severity, and put suitable controls in place. It explains physical, chemical, biological and ergonomic hazards, alongside engineering controls, updated procedures and personal protective equipment. You will also learn why risk assessments must be reviewed when equipment, processes or regulations change. The lesson covers induction and ongoing training, supervision, routine environment checks and the importance of recording those checks. It then explores emergency procedures and drills, including how practice can reveal weaknesses in evacuation arrangements. Finally, it explains why incidents and near misses must be recorded and used to improve risk assessments, controls and training. Together, these measures help protect children and staff while supporting compliant, effective practice in an early years environment. Read the related CMS Vocational Training guide: https://cmsvoc.co.uk/blog/safeguardin... Chapters 00:00 Health and safety as everyday practice 00:35 Identifying hazards and completing risk assessments 01:25 Choosing controls and reviewing assessments 02:53 Training, supervision and safe environments 04:14 Emergency procedures and practical drills 05:06 Incident and near-miss reporting 05:54 The continuous health and safety cycle