Health and Safety - an update

Ian GillettSafety Director

College Health and Safety Policy - extracts

“At Imperial College we are committed to giving health and safety the highest priority in all of our activities.

It is our stated intention to educate our students in health and safety management by incorporating the basic principles into all appropriate courses.

Every Faculty, Division and Department, must have written arrangements….giving details of what, by whom and how health and safety will be managed locally.”

Policy Statement

Imperial College Philosophy

The College’s philosophy on health and safety is that Heads of Departments/ Divisions are responsible for the safe operation of their Department/ Division.

The Head of Department is expected to ensure that all work within the department complies with current health and safety legislation.

Activities that cannot achieve compliance, through lack of funding or other reason, must be stopped until they do.

Responsibilities of the Head of Department

Heads of Department are accountable to the Principal of their Faculty, or, for those outside the Faculties to their line manager, for the health and safety of their Department and its compliance with College and statutory requirements. They must ensure that proper arrangements are in place to discharge their responsibilities.

In particular they should help promote a positive health and safety culture by, for example:

• Ensuring effective communication of health and safety information.

• Including safety as an agenda item at all departmental meetings.• Taking a personal and proactive interest in health and safety by,

for example, accompanying the Departmental Safety Officer on inspections and audits.

Heads of Department Responsibilities

Responsibility

Health and Safety is YOUR responsibility because:• Your department is doing the work• Your staff are the ones who know what is hazardous• Your staff are the ones who need to deal with the

risks.

But there are people to help you.

Successful management of health and safety

Establish and maintain controlActively encourage and support consultationEnsure clear communication – lead by exampleEnsure competence – the right person with the right training and experience for the task

Control - Planning and Budgeting

Health and safety needs to be included at the beginning of all projects.Ensure that health and safety is considered in your planning and budgeting and that resources are used effectively and in proportion to the local risks.

• How do you pay for your Genetic Modification registrations?

• How do you pay for Personal Protective Equipment?• Do you have any laundry costs?• How is the cost of your waste disposal covered?

Some grants will cover these items – others will not. How will you cover the shortfall?

Control - Health and Safety Duties

Delegate health and safety duties to competent people, in writing, together with the necessary authority and resources to discharge them.Certain activities require the appointment of specific advisers

• Eg Radiation Protection Supervisor.If you do not delegate the duties then, by default, you must fulfil the role.You can delegate the duty but not the responsibility.

Control - Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment, or Risk Management, is vital in dealing with health and safety.

Identify the principal hazards, evaluate the risks that these hazards present, identify the control measures, record the risk assessments, establish emergency procedures, and ensure that work is carried out in accordance with specified controls by competent people.

Failure to carry out risk assessment . . . .

Cooperation and Communications

Ensure that there is proper coordination, cooperation and communication with other users of shared and/ or adjacent space.

• Is there a Building Users’ Group? How is your Department represented on this?

• Do you work with or alongside researchers from other organisations, eg NHS Trust, MRC?

Any significant findings, especially Emergency Procedures, from your Risk Assessments which could affect others working near you must be communicated to them.

Competence - Training

Ensure that appropriate induction and training are provided for all staff, students, visitors and contractors and that staff attend such training.

• Identify needs• Check competence• Know what is available• Day One Induction Checklist• “Month One” Basic Health and Safety Training• Competencies Framework.

Monitoring

Ensure that arrangements are in place for the regular monitoring, auditing and review of health and safety performance.

• What is the inspection regime in your Department?• What equipment do you use that needs to be

routinely tested?• How do you plan for this?

Emergencies

Ensure that proper arrangements are in place for dealing with emergencies, providing first aid and reporting accidents, incidents and non-compliances.

• What emergency procedures do you have in place?• What happens if your control measures fail?• Are all accidents reported? Do you know about

them?• What do you do about “non-compliances”?• What would happen to your research if one of your

laboratories burns down? – or the one next door?

Costs to avoid

Stopping Work

Suspend activities where health and safety is being, or is likely to be, compromised.

• What would you stop? And how?• Are your staff and students aware of these

procedures?Take appropriate disciplinary action where staff have breached the College's Health and Safety Policies and Procedures.

• Are your staff and students aware of what you would find unacceptable?

• Suspension of access to animal areas?

Accidents and Incidents

All accidents, near misses and non-compliances must be reported to the College Safety Department via your Departmental Safety Officer.

Health and Safety Advice

Liaise closely with the persons appointed by the Department/ Division/ Faculty for advice on health and safety.

The College, Safety Department, Occupational Health Service and Fire Office provide specialist advice.

Safety Department

College Policy

College Policies, based on health and safety legislation, and Codes of Practice been produced on several topics.

You need to ensure that all staff, students and others working under your control comply with College health and safety policies, procedures and codes of practice.

If there is no specific policy, you need to ensure that you are aware of any other legal requirements.

Positive Health and Safety Culture

Set the standards you expect your Department to follow.Lead by example.Ensure effective communication of health and safety information.Regularly check the effectiveness of health and safety by carrying out your own monitoring.

iCare Campaign

iCare Control the situation

Assess the hazards

Reduce the risk

Educate staff and students