GIDO Meetjesland

The organisation’s largest school, the Ten Doorn secondary school in Eeklo, has around 3,000 to 3,300 students, teachers and school staff. “Education is a unique sector," says coordinating prevention advisor Jos Van Laeken, who is responsible for safety in the group’s secondary schools.  

This unique situation comes with its own risks and challenges. GIDO Meetjesland and the IDEWE Group are therefore focusing on ventilation, voice usage and a learning environment where everyone feels safe both mentally and physically. 

Ventilation can be learned

“Air quality in classrooms has always been a focal point, even before the Covid-19 pandemic. With twenty to thirty students in a classroom, it can start smelling stale after just one lesson”, says Jos. “Since Covid, the rules around air quality have naturally become much stricter. In consultation with the IDEWE Group, we’ve invested in the relevant equipment and keep a close eye on CO2 levels. Our students are now used to open windows and wearing warmer clothes.”

Fresh air and a fresh mind

Although students usually prefer to keep the windows shut, it’s important to make sure rooms are aired out regularly. Doing so makes both students and teachers feel less tired, more productive and even allows them to make better decisions.

The IDEWE Group carries out a thorough check of our buildings every year. The expert will then explain the results at the committee for prevention and protection at work so our employers know exactly what our needs are.

“The IDEWE Group carries out a thorough check of our buildings every year. The expert will then explain the results to the committee for prevention and protection at work so we know exactly what our needs are”, says Jos. “As an example, we’re looking at other ways to ventilate the buildings, such as demand-controlled ventilation.” This would only trigger the system as required by CO2 levels.

Save your vocal cords with the voice usage workshop

You can’t have lessons without a voice. Nevertheless, 50% of teachers are suffering from problems with their voice. As a result, GIDO Meetjesland organised the Take Good Care of Your Voice workshop in partnership with the IDEWE Group. Agnes Goeman, a secondary school teacher, took part: “The instructor, a renowned speech therapist and voice coach, showed us how to save as much of our voice as possible. The last time I felt a little hoarse, her tips helped me stop it from getting worse.”

Stress at school is a delicate subject

Administrative reforms, increasing diversity and increasing responsibilities for teachers mean education is a sector that’s in a constant state of flux. And because change increases stress, it’s important to pay extra attention to employee wellbeing.

Jos: “We measure satisfaction and resilience on a regular basis. Our teachers have access to a tool from Catholic Education Flanders, while we use IDEWE’s questionnaires for technical and maintenance staff to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.”

“We also have plans for conflicts with or between students to ensure we have a suitable approach for any type of incident,” says Jos. We want to expand this approach to staff, too. We’ll soon be working with the IDEWE Group to draw up an aggression prevention policy, which will include phone cords. If an employee experiences an act of aggression, they can alert colleagues at the push of a button. Colleagues can then intervene quickly.”

Dealing with aggression requires a specialised approach. IDEWE Group excels in this area, too, says Jos. “Imagine an incident takes place. I know we can count on an expert from IDEWE.”

Three tips for dealing with aggression at school

1. Have the internal prevention advisor or confidential counsellor document every incident – no matter how small it may seem.
2. In the event of a conflict in the workplace, support your employee, stay calm and keep a clear head. Don’t minimise the facts, but don’t inflate them either.
3. Make sure the manager schedules a meeting with the employee as a priority. Check in with employees who have experienced an incident.

Separate children and adolescents for a safe learning environment

GIDO Meetjesland’s schools offer a whole host of different courses, including livestock farming and catering. “Such courses involve specialised equipment, and each piece of equipment comes with a safety instruction card (SIC) upon commissioning”, says Jos. “I can create a safety instruction card for simple appliances such as a mixer, but I’d prefer to call IDEWE for a cattle crush that farmers use to maintain a cow’s hooves [laughs]. The experts know exactly whateach card needs to mention, and they can adapt the language to our young users.”

I used to give first-aid training myself. The IDEWE Group’s instructors are just as good. There’s no lack of commitment or professionalism!

When accidents happen, every second counts in an emergency. Jos knows this only too well as a former first-aid instructor. In order to provide quick, effective assistance, employees must become familiar with what they should do – and they need to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. The IDEWE Group’s training courses help staff to do just that. “I used to give first-aid training myself, but we’re bringing the IDEWE Group in due to a lack of time. I’ve already seen the instructors at work, and there’s no lack of commitment or professionalism!”

Partners in safety

“The IDEWE Group is a large company, yet the service remainswarm and personal. We often work with the same people, too, and you form connections. We’re very pleased with the partnership. If I have a question, I only have to pick up the phone to find out the answer. And that makes the IDEWE Group more than just a supplier; they’re a true partner.”