Safety Office 1 Basic Health & Safety Domestic arrangements Outline of training session Presented by Vincent Theobald University Safety Office 1 Park Terrace Tel. 6274

Safety Office 2 Health and Safety Health and safety is intended to bring about condition free from risk of injury or threat to our health and well-being. This objective is not a natural state of affairs.

Safety Office 3 We Believe Workplace accidents, illness and incidents are preventable provided that Health and Safety is Managed

Safety Office 4 Clapham Junction Accident “A concern for safety which is sincerely held and repeatedly expressed but, nevertheless, is not carried through into action, is as much protection from danger as no concern at all.”

Safety Office 5 What could happen? Near-miss Minor injury Major injury Death

Safety Office 6 Kinds of Accidents

Safety Office 7 Why report accidents? Accidents should be reported because:  The law requires some specific types of accidents to be reported to the Enforcing Authorities.  The University Safety Policy requires all accidents and near misses to be reported to the USO.  It enables investigations so as to prevent further accidents.  Reports enable the University to identify trends. Report accidents on-line at

Safety Office 8 How big is the Accident Problem? HSE shows accidents cost: APAU studies  37% of annualised profit.  8.5% of tender price.  5% of running costs. Bear in mind that these were large and well organised companies that already had a high standard of loss control and lower than average accident rates.

Safety Office 9 General duties on the employer The HSWA places the following general duties on the employer, which apply to staff,students, visitors and contractors: provide safe place of work provide safe plant and equipment provide safe systems of work

Safety Office 10 General duties on employees The HSWA places the following general duties on staff, students, visitors and contractors: to take reasonable care to co-operate with the employer not to interfere with safety arrangements

Safety Office 11 Reasonably practicable Risk should be set against the effort required to remove it.  It is not reasonably practicable if the cost of removal of risk is disproportionately high  It is reasonably practicable if a risk can be removed at minimal cost and effort

Safety Office 12 Herald of Free Enterprise “The failure on the part of management to give proper and clear direction was a contributory cause of the disaster.”

Safety Office 13 Responsible People for University  The VC.  The PVC for Safety.  The Provost / Registrar.  The Head of School / Service.  (The School Safety Officer).  The Lab/Area Manager.  The Lecturer.  Individual researchers, Staff, Students.

Safety Office 14 Safety Management This begins with Policy and uses tools such as Local Rules and Risk Assessment to establish control of the hazards and risks of work. It is a specific legal duty to manage safety so that all risks are suitably and sufficiently controlled.

Safety Office 15 Safety Policy  Legal requirement under S2(3) of HSWA.  University Policy published in a book and on web.  Schools need their Policies.  Labs/buildings may need additional policy/arrangements to provide more detail.  Arrangements will need to include Local Rules.  Some local rules are needed by law - e.g. rules for Ionising Radiation.

Safety Office 16 Policy The University Safety Policy MUST be followed See the USO website for the up to date policy Each School has a Safety Policy, providing more details as to how issues are dealt with in the School Some labs also have Policies and Local Rules with additional details.

Safety Office 17 Identifying the main hazards Examples which affect safety and/or health:  Biological hazards  Chemicals  Fire  Radiation  Waste  Electricity  Noise and Vibration  Lifting and carrying  Repetitive movements This is the first step in Risk Assessment

Safety Office 18 Biohazards Bio-COSHH Classification of organisms Control of Pathogens (inc. inoculations) Control of spread of organisms Control of GM work

Safety Office 19 Chemicals COSHH – Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. This applies to all chemicals and substances (including cultures) used in labs and elsewhere. There are specific additional measures for very high risk chemicals and substances – in particular CyanidesPathogensAsthmagens This is dealt with in more detail in the Risk Assessment Training provided by the USO.

Safety Office 20 Fire All Fire Alarms must be treated as genuine Evacuate immediately Close doors and windows as you leave Go to the assembly point

Safety Office 21 Actions to take to prevent Fire Keep smoke doors closed Do not obstruct escape corridors Store fire risk materials correctly Control wastes.

Safety Office 22 Radiation Very heavily controlled by the HSE and the Environment Agency. Specific laws relating to the use, storage and disposal of radioactive materials. Use is restricted to controlled areas. Only authorised persons permitted to use radiation. All use must be recorded, and all wastes controlled. Very specific Local Rules are in force. Good technique main protection against contamination.

Safety Office 23 Waste Many accidents are caused by incorrect disposal of wastes. Wastes must be segregated by law. University has strict rules. Errors put others at risk.

Safety Office 24 Getting help Assistance within the School. Project Supervisor School Safety Officer Biological Safety Supervisor Radiation Protection Supervisor The Safety Office website or you can call the Safety Office on 6274

Safety Office 25 Legal duties COMMON LAW duty of one individual to another - “Duty of Care” STATUTE LAW Criminal Law duty between individual and the state

Safety Office 26 The costs of failure Health and safety law is Criminal Law Failure to manage health and safety can result in: prosecution, fines and imprisonment compensation claims loss of output or service replacement costs loss of reputation

Safety Office 27 Cases of note Mr RE Hill – Asbestos UCL London - Sharps box Birmingham University - Lab Safety Regulations January 2006 – A University fined £70,000 following an accident

Safety Office 28 Any Questions If you have any questions on general Health and Safety issues please go to your School Safety Officer. If you have questions about this presentation please come to the front and ask them before I go. If you want to attend any of the University Safety Office training courses please book using the form on the USO website at

Safety Office Courses available include Accident and Investigation - Basic Fire Training - Basic Health & Safety - Biological Safety - Chemical Safety Training - Cryogenics Safety Training - Disposable Gloves - Emergencies - EVAC Chairs - Gas Safety – Laboratory - Gas Cylinder Safety - GM Safety - Safety Awareness - Health & Safety Law - Health & Safety Management - Portable Appliance Testing - Radiation Worker Safety Training - Risk Assessment - Safety Signs and their interpretation