General health and safety

These pages provide information about general health and safety procedures within the department:

• Information dissemination
  Explains how information on safety is distributed round the department and where you can find information on emergency procedures.
• Health and safety committee
  All rules and regulations concerning safety within the department are governed by this committee.
• Alarms
  These pages give information about how the alarms work and are maintained in the department
• Exam alarm procedures
  This page is to inform invigilators and students what to do in the event of an emergency during an exam
• Panic buttons
  Explains the difference between the exit buttons and panic buttons installed throughout the building.
• Food safety (includes the use of the department's barbecue)
• Electrical testing of equipment in the department
  This includes personal electrical equipment brought in by students and staff
• Manual handling
  • Definition
    The transporting or supporting of a load through lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying, or holding a set item by hand or bodily force
  • When training is needed:
    • If your role requires you to perform manual handling on a sporadic or constant basis where items are equal to or exceed the weight of 12.5 kg (this is equal to one box of printer paper, containing five stacks of paper).
    • If your role includes the handling of lighter weights, which require the following:
      • The load is difficult to grasp or balance.
      • The load causes you to twist, reach, or bend excessively.
      • The load is carried over uneven ground or up/down a set of stairs.
      • The load cannot be held close to the body.
      • The load requires more than one person to be moved.
      • Task is performed for a long duration (more than 2 hours).

Updated Dec 2025 - Diana Gauvrit (DSO)