Can you give me some information in about Health and Safety in relation to ICT?

The basis of UK health and safety law is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This sets out the general duties which employers towards employees and members of the public, and employees have to themselves and to each other. These duties are qualified by the principle of ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’. This requires that the degree of risk in a particular job be balanced against time, trouble, cost and physical difficulty of taking measures to avoid or reduce risk. This is made more explicit through the requirements of regulations enabled via the Health and Safety at Work Act. In 1992, the UK Health and Safety Executive implemented a set of 6 key health and safety regulations that were the UK version of a series of EC workplace directives. These regulations are known as the ‘six-pack’ regulations and whilst still falling within the scope of the Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA) (1974), introduced the need for workplace risk assessment. Of these, the regulations that are of most relevance to ICT are:
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, (amended 1999)
These define the need for and require employers to carry out risk assessments of all work activities and to document findings. Risk assessments need to identify risks to health and safety and demonstrate courses of action to remove / reduce risks.
Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations, 1992
The regulations require employers to identify DSE equipment (e.g. any item of ICT equipment – including VDU screens, keyboards, mice, printers) in use, define users and perform risk assessments to assess and reduce risks associated with using this equipment. Workstations are required to meet minimum requirements, including screens, keyboards, desks, chairs, lighting. Areas such as length of time spent working at the equipment, provision of eye tests and work breaks are also covered, but these would not be relevant to school children and students.
Whilst school children and students are not considered to be employees, there is still a need for educational establishments to provide ‘safe workplaces’ for them. This would include the use of IT equipment and the environment it is used in, as well ensuring the health and comfort of the equipment users. For example, by providing work desks or tables of suitable height, having window blinds to reduce external glare, and suitable chairs for use whilst performing IT tasks. 
Therefore it is advisable that simple risk assessments are carried out, as a ‘check and balance’ to ensure there are no risks that may have been overlooked. Using a common sense approach can be of immense value. For example, trailing leads and cables from equipment may present a trip hazard if these have to run across floor areas / access routes, screens placed directly in front of windows without blinds may cause glare and poor screen legibility which can be a source of eyestrain. Mismatches between desk heights and chair size may be an issue, especially if students of widely differing age groups use the ICT room.

I have to do a poster on health and safety and I need to know what it is in the workplace in a brief and simple explanation and how to overcome it.

Many people are injured each year while at work or made ill as a result of their job. It has been estimated that 2.2 million people in the UK suffer from ill health, caused or made worse by work. Approximately 160,000 work-related injuries are reported each year. The cost to employers of this illness and injury has been estimated at between £4,000 million and £9,000 million per year. Fall accidents, especially from ladders, scaffolding or through fragile roofs are one of the largest and most serious categories of injury.  Back pain and stress are among the top causes of work-related illness.
The best way of preventing accidents or illness is to design jobs and equipment so that they are safe from the start. For example, designing workplaces so that people do not have to work at height. Where this can not be avoided, scaffolding is safer than ladders. To avoid back pain, objects can be moved by machinery, rather than having workers lift and carry.
A frequently used but not always effective way of improving health and safety is training. This is where workers are told how to work safely. One problem with training is that the danger is still present, unless something is done about this as well. Also, workers often find it difficult to put advice into practice.  For example, training is often given to workers, telling them how to lift correctly. But it can be difficult for people to lift this way in real work situations.

Are bouncy castles safe?

Yes they can be but they are also a significant source of injury and should be designed, assembled and used with care.  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published guidance on their safe use and this is available, single copies free, from HSE Books on 01787 881165.  Ask for HSE Entertainment Sheet number 7 "Safe use and operation of play inflatables, including bouncy castles".

I am a committee member of a Parent/Teacher association and we have raised money to pay for the building of a store for large (generally outdoor) toys. The plan was for the Council undertake the work and to attach this new building to the nursery.  However, we have now been told that, in addition to the building work, they will charge extra unless we accept responsibility for health and safety issues.  What does our association need to know?

I'm sorry but I don't know the answer to this, not least because the responsibilities of headteachers, school governors and local councils keeps changing!  This is a mine field and you would be well advised to get professional help/advice - do any parents work in appropriate areas?  To give you an idea of the issues there is an overview document on the Health and Safety Executives (HSE) website (go there). Search for the "contractors in schools" documents.