Gill O'Donnell

A former teacher, Gill O'Donnell now works alongside her husband as a health and safety consultant on everything from large international exhibitions through to small local charities. Her ethos is to demystify Health and Safety issues by making the theory behind regulations accessible and finding practical solutions to everyday safety problems.

Gill has written many articles for Optimus Education, including her book, ‘Practical Health and Safety in Secondary Schools: A whole-school resource’.

 

 

  • A-Z of health and safety: poster
    Good health and safety practices are a must within the workplace. Download and use this poster in offices or staff rooms for a friendly reminder
  • Being risk-aware online
    How can schools encourage a more positive, risk aware attitude to online activities? Gill O’Donnell offers strategies for identifying and managing online risks
  • Creating an online safety policy: four areas to cover
    Helping students stay safe online means teaching them not to take unnecessary risks. Gill O’Donnell outlines how to cover this when developing an online safety policy
  • How to write a fire risk assessment
    Everyone must be aware of fire safety procedures and how to assess fire risk. Gill O’Donnell explains how to write a fire risk assessment and provides a template
  • Creating risk aware students
    If students aren’t exposed to risks, they can’t develop the skills to deal with them. Gill O’Donnell explains how to become a risk aware school and the benefits it brings
  • To close or not to close?
    The decision to temporarily close a school is never easy, and can have wider implications. Gill O'Donnell provides some practical approaches to risk assessment and communications
  • Securing your school during holidays: safety checklist
    Is your school safe and secure even in the holidays? Gill O’Donnell suggests what to consider out of term time, including lone workers, contractors, security and insurance risks
  • Assessing risk: making your school safer
    To secure the safety of people in your school, you need to regularly assess the risks of various tasks. Gill O’Donnell talks us through the processes involved, showing how each stage should work in practice
  • Deciding on your fundraising priorities
    There are many factors to consider when deciding on what are your priorities for fundraising – Gill O’Donnell sets out the key questions to ask to aid your decision-making
  • Managing fundraising: the best approach
    Having a clear vision and strategy for your school’s fundraising activity is vital when it comes to generating funds. Gill O’Donnell explains how to put the basics in place

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