Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy

The Council of the University believes that the health, safety and wellbeing of the University community is one of its highest priorities. The University commits itself to the highest standards of health, safety and wellbeing through continual improvement and the control of risk, whilst ensuring the continued delivery of wider engagement with national and international partners to deliver world class education and research.

To achieve this, the University will ensure effective management of risk (including psychosocial risk) by establishing, implementing, maintaining and continuously improving a quality-based occupational health and safety management system (encompassing occupational health, staff counselling and psychological support, and wellbeing) and by allocating the resources necessary to attain these. 

It will also define clear management systems and ensure the involvement of its staff, by consultation (including participation) with their representative organisations.

The principal aims of this Policy are to ensure: 

• that risk management systems are in place to prevent work-related injury, accidents and ill health, providing safe and healthy working conditions, plant, premises and equipment

• there is a framework for setting occupational health and safety (OH&S) and wellbeing objectives, as part of the planning process for University activities

• we have programmes and services to meet the workplace wellbeing needs of our staff, leading to a better connected, healthy and happy workforce

• compliance with health and safety legal requirements as a minimum, and other requirements where relevant

• continual improvement of the OH&S management system

• that hazards are eliminated, where possible, and OH&S risks are reduced

• that effective communication and consultation systems (including participation) for health, safety and wellbeing are in place 

• that systems are in place to respond to emergency situations and major incidents

• that risk management systems and processes are in place and opportunities are identified to enhance OH&S performance

• that health and safety responsibilities are defined for all roles at the University

• that the requirements of this Policy and the associated Protocols are implemented

• that systems are in place to monitor health, safety and wellbeing by the University, in partnership with the Trade Unions

• that a University Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee meets regularly

• the development of a health and safety management system and processes, designed to achieve certification against internationally recognised standards

• that an annual review of the effectiveness and suitability of the OH&S system is carried out.