Occupational , Safety, Health & Environment Unit (OSHEU)

1. Occupational, Safety, Health & Environment Unit (OSHEU) Health, Safety and Environmental Awareness

2. Emergency Contact Telephone 999 or 3333

3. What is Health and Safety? Health and safety is concerned about the risks people face at work – that includes people who may be harmed by the way work is done (hazard). It is also concerned with the way work affects the environment.

4. Basis for Health & Safety • Common Sense • No one wants an accident at work • Legal Requirement • “Duty of Care” • Health & Safety at Work Act, 1974

5. The University’s Duty of Care The University must provide: • Healthy and safe working environment • Healthy and safe systems of work • Safe plant, machinery and equipment • Safe handling, storing & transporting goods • Safe access and egress • Adequate instruction and training • Adequate supervision

6. Your Duty of Care You must :- • take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and of others who may be affected by what you do or don’t do at work, • co-operate with university in meeting its statutory safety requirements

7. Risk Assessment • You may be required to complete a risk assessment regarding the hazards in your work place. • Ensure that it is communicated and understood by interested parties. • Appropriate forms and guidance are available on the OSHEU section of the University website.

8. There are many potential hazards at work

9. First Aid Arrangements • Ensure you know what arrangements are in place for First Aid in your Department • Know where Occupational Health Service is located

10. What is Violence? ‘Any incident in which a person working in the healthcare sector is verbally abused, threatened or assaulted by a patient or member of the public in circumstances relating to his or her employment’ Based on HSE’s definition of work related violence

11. Manual Handling • Manual handling injuries, particularly to nurses, are the main type of injury in health care work and also the biggest source of claims. • 40% of all ill health conditions caused by work were musculo skeletal • In the NHS the risk of a musculo skeletal condition was found to be 2.5 times higher

12. Incident Reporting • The University needs to know about all work related accidents, diseases, untoward occurrences and student incidents. • Advice can then be provided on preventative action to reduce injury, ill health, clinical incidents and accidental loss, much of which is uninsurable.

13. Lone Worker • Guidance for Lone Research students / Field researchers • Risk Assessment • Control measures • Contact and supervision • Emergencies • Incident reporting

14. Your Responsibilities • Please return any outstanding health questionnaires to Occupational Health (OH) • Familiarise yourself with the areas where you will be working – means of escape etc. • Your School / Directorate is responsible for undertaking your health and safety induction • Follow all policies, procedures and instructions • Ensure appropriate risk assessments are in place • Report accidents, incidents or near misses • Please report any health concerns to OH

15. How to contact OSHEU