Health and safety management
Overview
The University Council has overall responsibility for health and safety within the University. The Vice- Chancellor is the senior officer of the University and has overall executive responsibility for managing health and safety. In this the Vice-Chancellor is supported by the Chair of the University Health and Safety Committee, to whom day-to-day responsibility is delegated. Other senior officers of the University are responsible for ensuring that all actions of Council, the Senior Management Board and relevant Committees are consistent with the health and safety policy objectives and are implemented in their areas of responsibility.
Further details of the health and safety management arrangements are given in Safety Guide 2 - Management and Organisation.
University Health and Safety Committee
Advice is provided to senior officers through the University's Health and Safety Committee, which develops health and safety policy, monitors performance, and acts as a consultative body with employee representatives.
If you wish to raise any matter with the committee please contact the appropriate committee member. Union members should contact their Safety Representative; non-union members should contact the most appropriate management member.
Submissions must be made to the Secretary no later than three weeks before the date of a meeting, so that appropriate papers can be circulated with the agenda. Dates are published in the University calendar.
Current membership of the Health and Safety Committee
Two sub-committees are responsible for assessing and approving work involving the use of hazardous biological agents and radioactive materials.
Sub-Committee for Biological Safety
Radiation Safety Sub-Committee
School/Directorate Management
The Head of the School/Directorate/Unit is responsible for the health and safety of all work activities carried out by staff and students within their area.
Here is a summary of health and safety standards for Heads of Schools/Directorates:
They may delegate responsibilities/ actions to managers, principal investigators, and section heads. Each School/Directorate must develop, implement and maintain an effective health and safety management system, incorporating:
- Risk assessment
- Development of safe operating procedures
- Training
- Emergency response
- Consultation and communication with staff and students
- Maintenance of local records
- Workplace inspections
- Investigation of accidents and incidents
- Regular review of performance
- Reporting of performance to Faculty and University Health and Safety Committee.
Each School/Directorate should have its own local Area Health and Safety Code, which explains the local management arrangements and provides essential information for staff and students.
Area Health and Safety Co-ordinators (AHSCs) are appointed locally within Schools/ Directorates/Units to act on behalf of the Head of Unit to co-ordinate health and safety arrangements. Further details on the duties of an AHSC are given in Safety Note 1 - Duties of an Area Health & Safety Co-ordinator.
Building Managers are appointed locally by Schools/Directorates to co-ordinate building-related health and safety issues, in particular fire safety, and to provide a first point of contact for liaison with Facilities Management Directorate. More information on their responsibilities can be found in .
Further information is given under Local responsibilities.
Personal responsibilities
Staff and students must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by what they do, or fail to do, at work and study. Everyone is encouraged to be proactive in health and safety, by following safe working procedures; by ensuring they know and follow the emergency arrangements; and by reporting all accidents, near misses, unsafe activities and occupational disease or ll-health to their manager/supervisor.