HS Management - Keele University
Clouds  

Welcome to

Department of Occupational Health and Safety

 

Department of Occupational Health and Safety

Health and Safety Management

  1. Control
  2. Co-operation
  3. Competence
  4. Communication

1. Control

The successful risk management of health and safety at Keele University is achieved by securing the commitment of all employees to clear health and safety objectives. Managers take full responsibility for controlling all factors which could lead to ill health, injury or loss. It is they who provide clear direction and take responsibility for the working environment. The following organisation, arrangements and responsibilities form the basis for planning and measuring health and safety performance. See Flowchart of University Scheme of Responsibility (PDF).

Council

The Council is the executive governing body of the University; it manages and administers the whole revenue and property of the University and conducts all the affairs of the University, including the arrangements for the health and safety of its staff, students and visitors. It has endorsed a number of corporate health and safety objectives and recommendations which are periodically reviewed.

Vice-Chancellor

The Vice-Chancellor has general responsibility to the Council for maintaining and promoting the efficiency and good order of the University. The Vice-Chancellor has the general responsibility for ensuring that the Council is properly advised by an Occupational Health and Safety Committee and that adequate University Officers are appointed with specific responsibilities to ensure compliance with both statutory health and safety requirements and the University Health and Safety Policy. 

The Vice-Chancellor will strive to promote improved safety practices in the University and will ensure that recommendations made by the Health and Safety Executive or by any other inspecting authority are implemented or that other equally effective means are provided.

Secretary and Registrar

The Secretary and Registrar is directly responsible to Council for ensuring that members of the University and visitors comply with the safety provisions required by the University in law and that the safety practices approved by Council or by any Council Committee given delegated responsibility, are observed.

Deans, Research Institute Directors, Administrative Directors

Deans, Research Institute Directors and Administrative Directors should ensure the implementation within their realm of responsibility of effective health and safety procedures in line with University policies.

Other Responsible Persons

Other responsible persons are appointed who have delegated duties.  For further information follow the relevant link to a pdf file.

2. Co-operation

Participation, commitment and involvement in health and safety activities at all levels is important, not only to fulfill legal obligations for consultation, but also to achieve effective management of risk. Participation complements control in that it encourages the 'ownership' of Keele University's Health and Safety Policy by employees at all levels, and establishes an understanding that the organisation as a whole and those working in it benefit from good health and safety performance.

3. Competence

It is the Policy of the University to ensure adequate levels of competence in occupational health and safety. Staff at all levels will be provided with appropriate information, instruction, training, supervision and communication systems to ensure this.

The Department of Occupational Health and Safety headed by the University Health and Safety Adviser will endeavour to provide advice and assistance at all levels of occupational health and safety law and practice. See Flowchart Responsibilities of DOHS showing the responsibilities of DOHS.

Recruitment and placement procedures already in place attempt to ensure that every member of staff at every level have the necessary qualities and abilities for their jobs, or can acquire these through training, retraining and experience.

There are a great many Acts, Regulations and Orders relating to occupational health and safety. The duty to provide health and safety training is a statutory duty on the University which is fundamental to the achievement of competence.

The majority of health and safety training is arranged by the Learning and Professional Development Centre.  All new members of staff are invited to attend a Welcome to Keele session which includes a section on health and safety. 

 The following courses are advertised by e-mail and can be booked on-line.

  • Manual Handling
  • Risk Assessment
  • Workplace Safety Adviser
  • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
  • Ionising Radiation

 Requests for the following or any other training needs should be made direct to Department of Occupational Health and Safety

  • Electrically Competent Persons
  • Fit testing of face masks

Some Schools/Departments will have a number of other health and safety training courses according to their own needs, with particular emphasis on induction courses for new staff and students.

4. Communication

Effective communication of health and safety information is essential. At the University the Health and Safety Adviser through the Department of Occupational Health and Safety and the Occupational Health and Safety Committee form a central hub from which communication flows. See  Flowchart Responsibilities of DOHS.The Head of the Department of Occupational Health and Safety  keeps in close touch with the Health and Safety Executive, Universities 2000, the University Safety and Health Association, and the Institute of Safety in Technology and Research to ensure that all developments are identified and considered at the earliest possible moment.

 A Staff Health and Safety Leaflet is issued to all employees and is revised and reissued every 3 years.

Some Schools/Departments issue their own Safety Handbooks. 

A further means of communication within the University is the Occupational Health and Safety Committee (OHSC) which reports directly to Council. Workplace Safety Advisers receive Agenda items and papers and hold their own meeting prior to the main Committee. The Chairman of the Workplace Safety Advisers reports to the OHSC.

The constitution of the OHSC can be seen here.