Organisations need to manage health and safety with the same degree of expertise and to the same standards as other core business activities, if they are effectively to control risks and prevent harm to people. [They] need to define the responsibilities and relationships which promote a positive health and safety culture, and secure the implementation and continued development of the health and safety policy. Structures and processes are needed which: establish and maintain management control; promote co-operation between individuals, safety representatives and groups so that health and safety becomes a collaborative effort; ensure the communication of necessary information throughout the organisation; and secure the competence of employees. Visible and active support, strong leadership and commitment of senior managers and directors are fundamental to the success of health and safety management.
i. Health, safety and welfare are managed through the University's management. There is consultation between management and staff and student representatives at both university and local level.
3.1 Management structure
i. Ultimate accountability lies with the Vice Chancellor who has delegated responsibility for the management of the health, safety and welfare strategy to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Resources) and responsibility for the design, development and implementation of the management
ii. Members of the Corporate Planning and Performance Team, corporate managers, and heads of department are expected to lead by example. Each level of management is responsible for resolving problems that those reporting to them are unable to resolve.
iii. Members of the Corporate Planning and Performance Team and corporate managers must put in place within their areas effective management in line with policy and standards.
iv. Staff who manage or supervise people, classes, activities or areas must ensure the effective implementation of policy, standards and procedures within their area of responsibility. This includes ensuring that all those affected by their activities are provided with appropriate information, training and supervision.
v. Staff whilst working on behalf of the University must take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and other people who may be affected by what they do or fail to do. In particular they must comply with policy, standards, procedures, guidance and instructions, co-operate with staff who supervise people and activities to enable them to carry out their responsibilities, make proper use of the health and safety facilities provided, and neither misuse nor interfere with anything provided in the interest of health, safety and welfare.
vi. Staff must report if they consider a particular activity puts them or others in imminent danger of serious injury or ill health: see Part 2.
vii. Competent advice on legislation and analysis of performance on health, safety, welfare, and environmental issues, fire precautions and emergency planning is provided or organised by the Health and Safety department.
viii. The Health and Safety department has authority from the Vice Chancellor to stop activities that they assess place people in imminent danger of serious harm and to report directly to the Vice Chancellor if they deem that there are serious failures in health and safety management and performance.
3.2 Staff and student representation
i. Staff and students are represented by safety representatives whose roles are to represent their members both individually and collectively on health, safety and welfare issues. The trade unions that currently have official safety representatives working in partnership with the university are:
UCU, representing academic staff
UNISON
The Students' Union, representing all students.
ii. As well as these official safety representatives, the University encourages staff and students to nominate local representatives to local safety committees set up by corporate managers.
iii. The University recognises the vital role of safety representatives. Managers to whom these representatives report are required to ensure that these representatives have appropriate time and resource to fulfil their role.
iv. Safety representatives are not accountable for health and safety provision. Their role as representatives includes investigating accidents, participating in safety inspections, representing the views and concerns of staff and students, and being consulted about the provision of information and training, the implications of risk assessments, accidents, inspections, and the introduction of measures and new technologies. The Head of Health & Safety will liaise with safety representatives and ensure that they are kept informed and involved.
3.3 Communication and consultation
i. The University has arrangements for communication and consultation on health, safety and welfare issues between management and staff and student representatives via its health and safety committees. The objective is to encourage discussion, understanding and consensus between the various communities within the university about health, safety and welfare issues and their resolution.
ii. The most senior committee is the Health & Safety Committee chaired by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Resources) or the University Registrar / Secretary. Its membership comprises staff and student representatives from the official trade unions and management nominees. Its composition and terms of reference are detailed in Part 2. This committee may instigate sub-committees: these are detailed in Part 2.
iii. Corporate managers will establish local forum at which staff can be consulted on health, safety and welfare issues pertaining to their specific areas. Guidance for these local forums is set out in Part 2.
iv. Staff who supervise people, classes, activities or areas must ensure there is regular and timely dialogue on health, safety and welfare issues with those affected by their work.
3.4 Provision of information
i. The purpose of these documents is to provide information to staff about the university's policy standards and procedures. It is compiled and maintained by the Health and Safety department who must ensure that recent revisions are brought to the attention of staff and that the university's health, safety & welfare policy statement, details of first aid contact, and of emergency procedures are displayed at appropriate locations in each building.
ii. The University Registrar / Secretary must ensure that the current Employers Liability insurance is current, up to date and available.
iii. The statutory poster "Health and Safety Law - What You Should Know" is prominently displayed at main entrances throughout university owned or managed buildings.
iv. The Health & Safety Committee recommends how information about health, safety and welfare issues is best made available to staff and students.
v. Heads of department must ensure that staff, students, visitors, and contractors are given information on any risks that they face and on the necessary preventative and protective control measures.
3.5 Co-operation with other organisations
i. Corporate managers and heads of department must ensure that arrangements with other organisations address significant foreseeable health and safety risks. These arrangements should be based on the findings of risk assessments, include specification of standards, exchange of information, and be subject to monitoring and review.
ii. Corporate managers and heads of department must ensure that organisations and individuals such as contractors and visiting lecturers who carry out work on behalf of the university take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and other people who may be affected by what they do or fail to do and comply with the University's code procedures and with all specific instructions issued to them. Engineering and building contractors are required to agree to abide by the University's code of practice for contractors: see Part 2. Guidance for assessing the competence and performance of suppliers and contractors is provided in Part 2.
iii. Health, safety and welfare issues between the Students' Union and the university are resolved between the President of the Students' Union and the Head of Health & Safety.
iv. The Health and Safety department maintains links with enforcement agencies and emergency services.
