Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Foreword

Protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of our community is a key priority for me and the University’s Council. 

Promoting a safe, secure and healthy environment is fundamental to all areas of University activity. To implement this Policy successfully, we must work together – whether you’re a member of staff, a student, a visitor or contractor - everyone has a responsibility for their own health, safety and wellbeing. 

This Policy helps members of staff, and students understand our collective health and safety responsibilities. Staff in particular are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Policy and to discuss it within their teams, identifying how best to implement the requirements in their areas. 

Together we continue to enhance our health, safety and wellbeing approach, working in partnership with campus Trade Unions to drive positive change through effective planning and continual improvement. 

Professor Shearer West CBE 

Vice-Chancellor and President

 

Overview

The University is determined to support a culture that recognises that (almost!) anything is possible when it is managed properly. 

No situation is risk-free, so every member of the University community has to understand their responsibilities, and apply these to all University activities wherever they take place.

These responsibilities increase through the levels of the University line management structure. Specific health and safety duties are laid upon the University by legislation, civil law, our own expectations, and a desire for work and study to be a positive experience.

We formally translate these into the key elements below to explain what is expected of the University community: 

• Policy Statement: which sets out the University’s commitment to health, safety and wellbeing. 

• Responsibilities aligned to roles in the University line management system. The responsibilities themselves cannot be delegated, however the management for carrying out these responsibilities can be delegated to other staff. 

• Documented Standards which set out what must be achieved by all faculties and services for each health and safety topic. Sometimes a Standard specifies a procedure, table, form or level of training – if this is the case, it must be followed. Each Standard forms part of the Health and Safety Protocols which are produced by specialist teams within Wellbeing, Safety and Health, and technical experts, as authorised by Council. The Standards follow a comprehensive consultation process (including participation) and the approved versions can be found on the Wellbeing, Safety and Health intranet pages. 

This Policy and the Health and Safety Protocols reflect the requirements set out in the Universities Safety and Health Association (USHA) document ‘Leadership and Management of Health and Safety in Higher Education Institutions’.