Occupational Health and Safety

The health and safety of all people working in or visiting the our School is vitally important. This site exists in the interest of distributing and maintaining information that will help us make our workplace as safe as possible. Safety is everyone's concern but what you should be do to keep safe depends on your role in the School. This site is divided into three parts for three overlapping groups of people.

• What to do in an emergency
• Assembly Areas
• First Aid Locations
• What to do if you see a hazard
• Incidents and Accidents
• Keeping the school safe
• Who's who

What to do in an emergency

Fire

Ensure your own safety first, do not expose yourself to danger whilst handling an emergency.

• Help anyone in immediate danger.
• Raise the alarm, inform a staff member if possible.
• Contact emergency services (0) 000 and notify security ext35444 (or 8303 5444).
• If safe, and you are trained, use a fire extinguisher.
• Clear fire area and isolate fire area (close doors and windows)
• Evacuate to safety area assist others to safe area if possible.

Evacuation/Alarm signals

There are two types of alarm signals in the plaza building: Stand-by and Evacuate.

Stand-by - Beep, Beep, .... sound.

• Prepare to leave. Ensure that your work area is ready to be left unattended. Take your wallet and keys.
• Wait for instructions from warden -or- for the alarm signal to change to evacuate.
• After hours - the alarm signal will change automatically after 3 minutes - if the standby signal sounds, check for danger in the immediate vicinity - evacuate if danger is nearby.

Evacuate - Whooop, Whooop .. sound.

If time permits:

• Take your wallet and keys.
• Get your work area ready to be left unattended.

Then

• Leave via the nearest safe route.
• If possible, assist those with impaired mobility to the safest area you can get them to.
• Assemble in a safe area.
• Do not return until instructed by warden or emergency personnel.

Important!!!
The Plaza building is deep. If you ignore an evacuation signal and wait for some sign that it is real emergency then your route to escape could be blocked. All alarm system tests are clearly announced before they are carried out. If a signal is not announced as a test then it is not a test.

Medical Emergency

• Call for help - get others to notify emergency services and fetch a first-aid officer.
• Check for danger in the immediate area and eliminate cause of that danger if safe to do so.
• Administer first aid - if trained - First Aid Kits are in these locations.
• Contact emergency services (0) 000 and security ext35444 (or 8303 5444).
• Remain with patient until help arrives.

Assembly Areas

Hughes Plaza Hughes plaza is the area at the top of the plaza building. You get to it by following the stairs up to level 4 and walking outside. The Hughes Plaza is bordered by the Hughes building to the south, the top two levels of the plaza building to the north and the University Staff club to the east. If possible, go to the Hughes Plaza if you are near the top of the building.
Mathematics Lawns The Mathematics lawns (partly covered by temporary buildings) is situated between the Maths building and Union Hall and in front of the old entrance to the Barr-Smith library. If possible, go to the Mathematics Lawns if you are near the bottom of the building.

First Aid Locations

Locations of first aid kits are listed below. None of the kits contain any pain-killers.

If the room in question is locked ask any staff member or use another kit.

Contact David Hemer if you find any items missing from any of the kits.

What to do if you see a hazard

Look after your own safety first. Do not put your health at risk while dealing with a hazard.

• Tell a member of staff or security ext35990 (8303 5990)
• Do what you can to make the area around the hazard safe until someone arrives.

Incidents and Accidents

All incidents and accidents that affect the safety of anyone in the School need to be reported. If a safety-related incident or a non-lifethreatening accident occurs.

• If a person is injured then ensure that they get help (see the Medical Emergency procedures for serious injury)
• Get someone to inform a member of staff or security ext35990 (8303 5990)
• If safety permits, try to make the area around the cause of the incident/accident safe.

Keeping the school safe

Learn how to get out

When you enter  an area for the first time, think about how you would get out in an emergency. Look at the exit signs. In the Plaza building there are multiple exits. It is a good idea to know of two ways to escape from any place you are.

Offensive/Threatening behaviour

Like all organisations, the School is expected to protect the welfare of people who work in it. Offensive or threatening behaviour is not tolerated.

Offensive Behaviour

If someone is behaving offensively and is not responsive to requests to stop, tell a staff member.

Threatening Behaviour

If someone is behaving in threatening manner, do not attempt to handle the situation yourself.

• Leave the area.
• Tell security ext 35444 (or 8303 5444) or get someone to tell security.
• Tell a staff member.

Harassment

If you are harassed, do not tolerate it, you should:

• Consider discussing the issue with the person involved. If this is inappropriate/difficult or fails to resolve the problem you should:
• Contact the organisation most relevant to your needs. A list of contacts is provided by the equity and diversity section of Human Resources.

Working after-hours

If you have to work in the School after-hours, try to avoid working alone. If you have no choice but to work alone make sure that someone knows where you are and how long you will be there. You should consider informing security ext 35990 (or 8303 5990) of where you will be and when you expect to finish.

Night time safety on-campus

Campus security have a web-page dedicated to safe use of the campus at night.  A safety escort service to areas within a short distance of campus is provided. Emergency phones are provided at various locations around campus.

Safety of your work area

If you find equipment or fittings that are unsafe or encounter unsafe behaviour report it to a staff member.

Ergonomics in laboratories

This link to Human Resources outlines the correct posture and setup for working at a computer. Our workstations are not as adjustable as the environment shown but the guidelines for posture can still be followed. Make sure that you take frequent short breaks to rest your eyes and give your hands and arms a rest (holding any muscle in a contracted position for too long damages it so movement is important).

Cleanliness and Clutter

Consumption of food and drink is banned in Laboratories, Tute Rooms and Lecture Theatres. Keep laboratories clean by disposing of any used printouts or paper correctly. Do not place bags or any other object in a place where someone might trip over them. If some object does clutter up a corridor or work area inform a staff member.

Personal Belongings

Keep your belongings near you at all times. The School is easily accessed by the public and is as prone to theft as any public area.

Who's who