Laboratory Workers from Overseas

The following Guidance Note produced by the University Occupational Health and Safety Committee dated 12th December 1994 applies. A copy of the note must be provided to any overseas persons engaged on research work in Departments (no matter how distinguished).

Important Guidance Note for Laboratory Workers from Overseas

  • All work in University laboratories in the U.K. is subject to Health and Safety Legislation, much of it flowing from the European Union.
  • In particular, we are obliged to conform to the requirements of safety law, the major acts being:
    • The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)
    • The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
    • The Electricity at Work Act (1989) 
    and many other pieces of consequential legislation.
  • Considerable guidance is given in the University's Safety Handbook as well as in individual Departmental Safety Handbooks. In all laboratory departments there is also a Departmental Safety Adviser whose duty it is, under guidance from the University Safety Adviser, to implement the University Safety Policy and to ensure compliance with safety legislation.
  • I am sure that you will appreciate that as a visiting researcher, it is your duty to make yourself familiar with the safety rules and to act in such a way as to avoid endangering yourself or any member of the University.

If you have any doubts whatsoever about the safety of any experiment or procedure on which you are engaged you must seek advice and clearance from the Departmental Safety Adviser.

Dr. D. Cohen Registrar 12th December, 1994.

June 2004: The University Staff Health and Safety Handbook no longer contains detailed information for members of Science Departments.  Please refer to your Departmental or School Safety Handbook.