Health and Safety

Important information

Heads of Academic Departments (HoDs) and Department Managers (DMs) are responsible for the adoption of the University Policy within their area of control. To achieve this they will ensure that they take the lead in driving the health and safety programme within their area of responsibility. 

You can find the University of Sheffield Health and Safety Policy here: Health & Safety Policy Statement

Departments no longer have individual H&S policies and instead have local arrangements in place. You can find the PHI document here: 

Health and Safety Local Arrangements – PHI


Incidents

An 'incident' is a situation or event that has the potential to cause disruption to the University.

This covers a range of events from a power outage to outbreaks of infectious disease, disruptions in the supply chain,  to a cyber attack, and it does not have to occur on campus. 

Incidents have different impacts which will determine the response; the University currently categorises incidents as minor or major.

Current incidents status can be found on the central webpages: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/incidents


Who to call in an emergency

In case of any emergency when on campus, please contact the University Emergency Control Centre by telephoning 4444 from an internal phone (or 0114 222 4444 from a mobile). 

For non-emergencies, Security Services can be contacted on 222 4085.


Department H&S roles


Responsibilities

You can find a full document on Roles and responsibilities of health and safety here: https://students.sheffield.ac.uk/health-safety/policies#R


All Employees All University staff are required by law, and this policy, to: 

● At all times comply with the requirements of the University’s Health & Safety and Fire Safety policies and procedures. 

● Have a statutory duty to safeguard their own and others’ health and safety. 

● Report all accidents, incidents, diseases, and dangerous occurrences whether persons are injured or not. 

● Know what to do in the event of an emergency (including fire and first aid). 

● Bring opportunities for improvement of health and safety within the University to the attention of their Line Manager or other senior manager, or to the relevant Health and Safety Committee. 

● Wear and make full use of all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and use appropriate safety equipment/ devices where a risk assessment determines it is required to do so. 

● Report immediately to their Line Manager or another University manager, as appropriate or convenient, any perceived health and safety hazards and seek advice and guidance on any matters of which they have doubts or concerns. 

● Have regard to the fact that breaches of health and safety rules will be dealt with through the University disciplinary procedures and that acts or omissions which place themselves/others at risk of serious injury will be considered as gross misconduct within the terms of that procedure.


Academic Members of Staff 

● Will ensure that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are undertaken for the areas and activities for which they are responsible and will ensure that suitable control measures are identified and implemented. 

● Will ensure that employees and students under their direction: o Are adequately inducted, trained and fully aware of any hazards in their work areas. o Are adequately always supervised, particularly where inexperienced workers or students are concerned, whilst working under their direction. o Are adequately supervised when carrying out potentially hazardous activities as part of their course, including fieldwork and placements. 


Line Managers 

● Must manage the risks to their staff, students and others who may be affected by the University’s undertaking. 

● Have a general duty to manage the health, safety, and welfare of their direct reports. They have a duty to ensure that those direct reports who have line management responsibility for others are effectively managing the health, safety, and welfare of those direct reports. 

● Are responsible for ensuring the clear communication of relevant health and safety information throughout the management chain. 

● Must ensure that their staff are sufficiently competent and are sufficiently well supervised to ensure their health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. 

● Where necessary, must ensure cooperation between individuals and others to ensure the effective provision of health and safety for the areas and activities under their control. 

● Must ensure that the specialist health and safety responsibilities of their staff are emphasised, and that adequate support is provided to those staff who have specialist health and safety responsibilities. 

● Encourage a positive reporting culture (including near misses and positive observations). 



Raising Concerns

Any accidents or incidents on campus should be reported to the Department's Health and Safety Officer within 24 hours.

Any Health and Safety issues should be brought to the attention of Rebecca as soon as possible: r.oconor@sheffield.ac.uk Ext: 20508



Accidents, Incidents and Near-Misses

The University encourages staff and students to report all accidents, incidents and near misses, no matter how trivial. These must be reported via the University's Online Accident Reporting System.  A near miss can be defined as an event not causing harm, but has the potential to cause injury or ill health. Yu can find the University Accident Reporting Policy here: Accident and incident investigation policy

https://students.sheffield.ac.uk/health-safety/accident-reporting



First Aiders

There are First Aid Boxes in B01 (the departmental office), B21 (big kitchen/common room on ground floor), C07 (little kitchen on the first floor), C32 (graduate computer room) and D07 (attic).  

Ruth is the trained First Aider for the department; Ext: 20571

However if she is not on campus, we can call upon Sarah Barnes in CAR in 40 Victoria Street as back up (building over the road); Ext: 25598, or contact security who will dispatch someone in the area (Ext: 4444)

A full list of TUoS first aiders can be found here: https://hs.shef.ac.uk/reporting/first_aiders

All University first aiders must record the event via the AIR system.



Useful Links

Building Information

Electronic Equipment

Fire Alarm

Risk Assessments

Useful Forms and Links