The College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences (the College)
is committed to the provision of a healthy and safe workplace and work
environment for all employees, students, contractors, visitors, and members of
the general public who may be affected by the work of the College.
The Dean of College recognises
and accepts this responsibility, and undertakes so far as is reasonably
practicable to:
- Ensure the Health, Safety and
welfare of employees whilst they are at work, and other persons who may be
affected by the work of the College.
- Comply with the Health and
Safety at Work Act (1974) together with other relevant legislation and
legal requirements.
- Provide the necessary resources
to ensure that proper provision is made for health, safety and welfare.
- Regularly monitor the workplace
and work activities to ensure the effectiveness of the Health and Safety
policy and to ensure that safe systems of work exist and are followed by
employees, students and visitors.
- Liaise with Buildings and
Estates so that the University may provide and maintain the premises and
all items of plant, equipment and machinery ensuring systems of work that
are safe and without risks to health.
- Where applicable, provide and
maintain appropriate and sufficient personal protective equipment and
health monitoring devices.
- Provide such training,
information, instruction and supervision for new and existing employees so
as to ensure their health and safety whilst at work, together with the
health and safety of others who may be affected by their actions.
- Carry out risk assessments, maintain
records and review and revise as necessary in accordance with the legal
requirements.
- Provide and maintain First Aid
services adequate to the College’s operations.
- Maintain statutory measures for
fire prevention and liaise with Buildings and Estates so that suitable,
sufficient and adequate fire fighting equipment is supplied with
appropriate systems and protocols employed for emergency evacuation.
- Consult with employees and
their representatives on matters relating to health and safety.
- Maintain records of, and take
appropriate action as a result of, all accidents and incidents.
- Ensure that adequate provision
is made for the proper use, handling, storage and transportation of
articles and substances so that they are safe and without risk to health.
- Provide health surveillance to
personnel where appropriate.
To achieve the above
statement the Head of College will:
- Appoint a College Safety Officer
and other nominated staff with specific Health and Safety duties as
appropriate.
- Maintain a consultative Safety
Group to administer safety matters, set safety targets, co-ordinate safety
inspections, and monitor safety performance within the College, in
consultation with University Health and Safety Officers as appropriate.
- Ensure all levels of management
are aware of their Health and Safety responsibilities and their
obligations to provide and maintain as far as is reasonable practical,
safe systems of work.
- Ensure all employees understand
their individual statutory duties under relevant legislation so securing
as far as is reasonably practicable the Health, Safety and Welfare of
themselves and other persons with whom they are in contact at work.
- Establish and maintain lines of
communication throughout the College, consulting with employees as and when
required to secure their co-operation and aid the effective monitoring of
safety matters.
- Maintain a proactive attitude
regarding safety criteria when consideration is given to refurbishing
existing or planning new premises.
- Review this policy on a regular
basis to ensure that legal compliance with new or existing legislation is
maintained, in consultation with University Health and Safety Officers as
appropriate.
Supervisory staff are
responsible for statutory compliance in their areas of responsibility. This
involves identifying and ensuring compliance with safe schemes of work, and
includes responsibility for the safety of students in their laboratory/area,
and for ensuring that aall
Postgraduate students and new research staff under their supervision have
attended general induction and appropriate further safety training.
All other staff have a
duty to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others
who may be affected by their actions and omissions. They have a duty to comply
with relevant regulations and the College’s arrangements for Health and Safety.
The College has a duty of
care towards students and they are offered the same health and safety
protection as employees. In return, students also have a duty to take
reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others who may be
affected by their actions and omissions, and students are required to comply
with the College’s arrangements for Health and Safety.
Research students must consult their academic supervisors
about all their practical work in order that the potential hazards may be
assessed and suitable safety precautions taken. Further discussion with
appropriate Safety Officers or Advisers, or the Head of College may be necessary
for some experiments.
All staff and students
have a duty to ensure that they are working in a safe manner, and to bring to
the attention of their immediate supervisor, Safety Officer or representative,
any matter or practice they consider to be dangerous or unsafe. All have a
duty to attend Health and Safety mandated training provided by the University
and/or the College.
The essence of Health
and Safety policy is that all work procedures which expose any person to a
significant hazard are to be assessed for risk and appropriate control measures
adopted. Upon identifying a hazard, there should be a written and recorded
risk assessment which concludes by identifying a safe system of work. This is
covered in detail within the University’s Guidance Notes for the Management of
Health and Safety At Work which includes a risk assessment form for general
use. Specific procedures and forms are introduced for particular
circumstances, such as handling substances hazardous to health (Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health (COSHH) procedures), in managing work where this is risk of
radiation, for manual handling tasks, and for work associated with lasers. All
University policies, codes of practice, guidance notes and risk assessment
forms can be obtained via the documentation page of
the Health, Safety and Environment Office website.
All persons carrying out a risk assessment must be satisfied
that they have sufficient expertise and experience to be able to recognize
potential hazards. It is the person undertaking the work/procedure who has
the responsibility to ensure that this is the case before starting work. In
the case of students, the assessment of risk should be done by the supervisor
and the students must be made aware of all the potential hazards and the
detailed requirements of the safe system of work.
The College is committed
to ensuring the Health, Safety and Welfare of contractors and visitors whilst
they are on the College’s premises. Any restricted areas will be clearly
defined and where necessary restraints (e.g. barriers) installed. All College
employees have a responsibility to ensure such areas are respected. Authorised
contractors coming on to the premises will be advised by the College of its
Health and Safety policy but it is the responsibility of the contractor to
ensure that their employees are fully aware of the contents of the Safety
Manual as it affects them in their work. All contractors must supply the
College with a copy of their Health and Safety policy, scheme of work and other
relevant statutory registers or documentation if requested.
The Vice Chancellor together with the Registrar
and Secretary of the University has executive responsibility for safety in the
University. The University Health
and Safety Policy outlines these responsibilities. The University Health
and Safety Officer and assistants advise members of the University on safety
matters. The Head of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences has executive responsibility within the College, and delegates the
implementation of regulations to staff with specific responsibility in certain
areas; the College Safety Officer, the Director of Building, the College
Radiation Protection Officer, the College Laser Safety Officer, Laser Safety
Supervisors, Radiation Protection Supervisors, and general supervisory staff.
Terms of reference for (H&S) for the Head of
College, Director of Building and College Safety Officer are contained within the University Health
and Safety Policy. Terms of reference for the College Laser Safety Officer, and
Laser Safety Supervisors are contained within University of Exeter Local
Rules for the use of Lasers and the Association of University Radiation
Protection Officers “Guidance
on the Safe Use of Lasers in Education and Research”. Terms of reference
for the College
Radiation Protection Officer and Radiation Protection Supervisors are contained
within University of Exeter Use of Radiation
and Radionuclides Codes of Practice and Guidance Notes.
The College Safety Group is
an advisory group set up in order to promote an effective safety culture within
the College and provide the guidance to ensure a safe working environment iaw relevant
legislation and University safety policies and procedures, by:
- monitoring incidents and
accidents and advising the Head of College on safety issues arising, in
consultation with University Health and Safety Officers as appropriate
- maintaining appropriate Health
and Safety documentation
- ensuring adequate training is
provided to new joiners
- reviewing risk assessments and
conducting safety inspections to assure that hazards have been properly
identified and appropriate control measures implemented to minimise risk
- providing points of contact for
staff to seek advice in specific areas of Health and Safety
