Health and safety: role of the link governor

Understand the role of a health and safety link governor, get tips on monitoring your school's compliance and download our model role description.

Last reviewed on 2 November 2022
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Contents
  1. Stay strategic 
  2. Monitor key health and safety documents
  3. Go on school visits and site walks
  4. Hold your school to account
  5. Take our health and safety link governor training course
  6. Download a printable version of the role description

Our thanks to our associate education experts for their advice: David New, Bill Dennison, Keith Clover and Steve Ward.

Stay strategic 

The health and safety link governor isn't a statutory requirement, so your role may vary.

Generally, it's your role to take the lead on the governing board's health and safety responsibilities, but be sure to keep your role strategic.

For example, you won't:

  • Inspect the school yourself or decide if it's safe
  • Tell your school leaders what they need to do to make your school safe
  • Organise contractors
  • Write policies and procedures

These things are all operational and will be dealt with by your school leaders.

Monitor key health and safety documents

Risk register: ask questions about how leaders are mitigating risks to see how well the school deals with them Incident log: ask questions about any trends you can see, to make sure