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Safety Office
Basic Health & Safety

Domestic arrangements
Outline of training session

Presented by
Vincent Theobald
University Safety Office
1 Park Terrace
Tel. 6274
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Safety Office
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.
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We Believe

Workplace accidents, illness and incidents

are preventable
provided that

Health and Safety

is Managed
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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.”
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What could happen?

Near-miss Minor injury

Major injury Death

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Kinds of Accidents

Comparison University and HSE National data

Percentages of accidents of selected kinds

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Hit By Moving Flying Object

Handling Accident
Slips Trips and Falls (level)
Falls from Height
Assult
Other (not incl. Sports)

University from 2001 to 2006 HSE data from 2004/5

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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 www.safety.ncl.ac.uk
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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Herald of Free Enterprise

“The failure
on the part of
management
to give proper
and clear
direction was
a contributory
cause of the
disaster.”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Policy

The University Safety Policy MUST be followed

See the USO website for the up to date policy
www.safety.ncl.ac.uk
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.
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Identifying the main hazards

Examples which affect

safety and/or health:

 Biological hazards  Lifting and carrying

 Chemicals  Repetitive movements
 Fire
 Radiation
 Waste
This is the first step in
 Electricity
 Noise and Vibration Risk Assessment
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Biohazards

• Bio-COSHH

• Classification of organisms
• Control of Pathogens
(inc. inoculations)
• Control of spread of organisms
• Control of GM work
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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
Cyanides Pathogens Asthmagens
• This is dealt with in more detail in the
Risk Assessment Training provided by the USO.
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Fire

• All Fire Alarms must be

treated as genuine

• Evacuate immediately
• Close doors and windows as
you leave
• Go to the assembly point
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Actions to take to prevent Fire

• Keep smoke doors closed

• Do not obstruct escape
corridors
• Store fire risk materials
correctly
• Control wastes.
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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.
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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.
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Getting help

Assistance within the School.

• Project Supervisor
• School Safety Officer
• Biological Safety Supervisor
• Radiation Protection Supervisor

The Safety Office website www.safety.ncl.ac.uk

or you can call the Safety Office on 6274
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Legal duties

COMMON LAW
• duty of one individual to another - “Duty of
Care”

STATUTE LAW
• Criminal Law
• duty between individual and the state
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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
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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
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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 www.safety.ncl.ac.uk
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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