Safety policy responsibilities

Structure and Responsibilities

1. The Head of Department is responsible for ensuring the health, safety and welfare at work of staff, students and visitors of the Laboratory following the terms of the University Safety Policy Notice. The Annual Report includes an assessment of the year's performance.
    
2. Certain consultative, advisory and supervisory duties are delegated to other members of staff, including the Departmental Safety Officer, Fire Safety Manager, Departmental Laser Officer and Departmental Health and Safety Committee. The membership and minutes of the meetings of the committee are displayed on our Departmental Website.
    
3. Every person having any de facto managerial or supervisory responsibilities within the Department has the responsibility. This includes the supervision of students.
   1. to identify any hazards associated with the activities for which they are responsible
   2. to generate written Risk Assessments, warn those who may be affected
   3. to take steps to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that health and safety are not endangered.
       
4. Every person, including students, working within the Department has a responsibility to care for the health and safety of themselves and others, and to cooperate with others in the Department to this end. No person shall intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health and safety. No person shall use any equipment without the necessary training or authority. Items provided for personal protection, e.g. clothing or goggles, must be used.

All persons should make themselves familiar with this document, the University Safety Policy Notice, and the University's Policy Statement on the presence of children on University premises. They should also be familiar with the University Safety Handbook and with the Emergency and Evacuation Procedures, which are posted at various points around the Department.

First Aid

First Aid boxes are placed around the Laboratory, as are lists of qualified First Aiders.

Accident Reporting

All accidents or near misses must be reported via AssesNet to the Departmental Safety Officer.

Chronic Medical Conditions

Any person may, on a purely voluntary basis, inform the Safety Officer or a member of the Safety Committee of any medical information relevant to First Aid. Every reasonable effort will be made to maintain appropriate confidentiality.

All members of staff should complete a Workplace Assessment. Anyone having problems completing the online training and RA should contact the Safety Officer.

Any Occupational Health concerns should normally be raised initially with the Departmental Safety officer, a member of the Departmental Safety Committee or the Head of Department in the first instance, before being referred to the University's Occupational Health Department for advice and guidance. This ensures that the Department has an overall view of problems and can take the necessary steps to address them.

Lone working

No lone working is permitted with hazardous equipment. In particular, all unshielded high-voltage equipment is to be regarded as hazardous and is not to be used alone outside normal office hours. If there is any doubt about whether or not a piece of equipment is hazardous, the Departmental Safety Officer must be consulted.

Children

Following the University's policy, children under 16 should only be admitted to the Department under supervision by a responsible adult (care or parent). They must always be accompanied while being on-site and should not enter kitchens, workshops or other rooms that hold potential hazards. 

External Contractors

External contractors, including staff of the University Estate Management, must be apprised of any special hazards or safety procedures to be followed in the Department by the member of Building Services staff. All such contractors must also be supervised and therefore, have to report to BS or reception upon arrival. 

External working

Departmental staff should follow University and departmental safety policy when working outside the Department, but also make themselves aware of and follow any other procedures relevant to the place in which they are working.

General

Anybody who has any doubt or uncertainty about any safety matter should consult the Departmental Safety Officer as soon as possible.

Professor A Beresford
Head of Department
(last reviewed: 2025-11-19 by DSO)