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FAQs

 

1. Where is the health and safety policy?
The main health and safety policy is being revised in line with recent changes to how we provide and manage health and safety at our university. The new policy will be published in June 2008, but in the meantime we have an interim health and safety policy document.

2. Why has the site been redeveloped?
Feedback from staff as well as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggested we needed to improve health and safety communications across our university – not just to keep up with legislation but also to make it easier for staff to get the information they need.

The new site gives clear information on what you are responsible for, and guidance on how to do it. It will be developed in phases with additional content added over time.

3. What are ‘topics’ and ‘standards’ and why do we have them?
Health and safety is a massive and complex area, so we have split the website into specific ‘topics’ such as fire safety and manual handling. The new website already features 12 of these topics, with more to follow.

Every topic is divided into 17 core ‘standards’ relating to the way they are managed - from risk assessment and personal protective equipment to emergency planning. The standards are the same for every topic and state what we need to do and who is responsible for doing it. It’s a consistent way to establish everyone’s individual responsibilities, and to clarify what is required of the University and the people in it.

4. Why are there only 12 topics on the current website? Where are the rest?
We chose 12 topics to be treated as a priority because they apply to most people across campus. We will be developing and adding new topics following the recruitment of a dedicated policy manager, but if you need help on a topic that isn’t covered in the meantime, contact health and safety services.

5. Why do we have to do all this?
The impact on the health and safety of individuals around the University is significant, with 1 in 9 people having reported an accident or incident on campus in the past year. In addition, some areas of the University have been served with internal prohibition notices meaning that all activities (including teaching and research) have had to stop. This obviously causes major disruption for all concerned, and it’s a situation we want to resolve as soon as possible.

6. Who is responsible for health and safety?
Everyone is responsible for health and safety, both for themselves and for those around them. Deans, heads of school, heads of service and line managers have additional responsibilities for the management of health and safety; they are assisted by faculty safety managers to ensure these duties are fulfilled.

7. How do I know what I am responsible for?
This website provides specific information on your responsibilities. Just search by your role to find out what you’re responsible for.

8. I haven’t got time to do everything that’s asked of me. Is this a priority?
Health and Safety has to be a priority for everyone as it forms the base-line for all activities taking place at the University.

9. What can I do if I have any concerns about health and safety in my area?
At the moment you should raise your concerns directly with your line manager. From February 2008 each area will have a designated health and safety manager as well as local health and safety co-ordinators. You can find contact details on the key contacts page.

10. What is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)?
The HSE is the enforcing authority, which ensures the University complies with health and safety regulations. Its role is to protect people against risks to their health and safety arising out of work activities. The HSE carries out regular checks in all areas of the University, and has the power to shut them down if they don’t comply with legislation.

11. What are the changes to health and safety services?
From 1st February 2008, a new structure for health and safety will be launched, when the new health and safety services will replace the former Health and Safety Services.

The local health and safety managers will work in partnership with deans and heads of schools and services to provide expert advice and guidance, line managed by the head of health and safety. This means you will be able to turn to a much stronger network of local health and safety managers for advice and support.

A central team will back up the new managers and provide support for health and safety training, carrying out audits and developing future policies.

12. What is the role of health and safety services?

  • Developing health and safety policy and standards for the University, through consultation with staff and outside authorities.
  • Delivering extensive audit, training and development programmes.
  • Improving the competency of everyone involved in managing and implementing health and safety.
  • Working in partnership with deans, heads of schools and services to deliver improved health and safety management.
  • To act on behalf of University council in an executive capacity to ensure action is taken to prevent unsafe practices and unsafe plant equipment from being used.
  • To provide health and safety advice to the whole University community.
  • Working with line managers to coordinate staff with dedicated health and safety responsibilities, and make sure they work effectively (eg. fire wardens, health and safety co-ordinators).

13. What is Sentinel?
Sentinel is an online accident reporting form which replaces the old paper forms. Staff and students can ask their local Sentinel user to report any accident, incident, near miss or case of ill health that happens on campus.

When an accident, incident, near miss or case of ill health occurs it should be reported as quickly as possible - contact your local department's health and safety coordinator, who will be trained to input accident data onto the system.

The names of all the health and safety co-ordinators are listed on the local health and safety contacts page. If you’re still unsure, phone health and safety services on ext 34201 or email safety@leeds.ac.uk.

Things that should be reported include slips, trips or falls; faulty equipment, needle-stick injuries, burns (thermal/chemical), cuts, electric shocks and muscle strains from manual handling.

Make sure you report every accident, incident and near miss - even if you think it’s trivial, we would prefer you to report it as it could turn out to be important later. Hard copy reporting forms will continue to be provided for schools or services that do not have access to a computer.

14. Where is training advertised on this site?
We already have some training courses on our training pages. As a university we will be investing in online training to run alongside traditional training methods, which will standardise the training provided and improve the accessibility of materials across campus. We will start introducing the first online packages from February 2008 and keep adding to them regularly.

15. How do I print out my DSE assessment?
We already have some training courses on our training pages. As a university we will be investing in online training to run alongside traditional training methods, which will standardise the training provided and improve the accessibility of materials across campus. We will start introducing the first online packages from February 2008 and keep adding to them regularly.