Health and safety
This page is for School-specific H&S information and policies. See the 'A to Z of health and safety' for University level policies and procedures
Anyone working in the School must have had a safety induction organised by the School.
The University’s Mission Statement for Health and Safety states:
‘It is the policy of the University of Sussex that all activities carried out on University premises or undertaken by University personnel (or their agents) will be managed in such a manner so as to avoid, reduce or control all foreseeable risks to health and safety to any person to a tolerable level.’
The School endorses this aim and further aims to ensure that all staff receive sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision in order:
- To comply with relevant safety legislation
- To comply with the University Health and Safety Policy and associated policy and guidance
- To respond to emergency situations
- to work competently and safely
- To report accidents, near misses, unsafe conditions and dangerous occurrences and to assist in their remediation and investigation.
- To take responsibility for their own health and safety and not to put the health and safety of others at risk
In an emergency dial Ext 3333 from an internal phone or 01273 873333 from a mobile.
It is important that this number is used and NOT 999 as the Security Team will meet emergency services at the entrance to the campus and guide them directly to the relevant location. Otherwise, emergency vehicles can get lost on campus and this may delay their response.
Blue emergency telephones are also provided at various locations on campus. They are directly linked to the University's 24-hour Security Service.
First Aid
The Security Office is responsible for contacting the University’s first aiders and should be contacted immediately as above.
- Health & Safety Committee
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In order to achieve the aims set out above, the Head of School, who is responsible for safety in the School, has established a Health & Safety Committee with the following membership:
Name
Area
Prof Ian Wakeman (Chair)
Head of School
Prof Romeo Glovnea
Head of Department - Engineering & Design
Prof Ian Mackie
Head of Department - Informatics
Alastair Hardwick
University Health & Safety Advisor
Graham Brooks
Thermo-fluid Mechanics Research Centre
Julian Dunne
Engineering – Mechanical
David Tucker
Technical Services manager
TBC
Radiation Officer Liam Kileen
Engineering & Informatics workshop manager Vasudevan Kanjirakkad
Engineering – Mechanical, TFMRC
Andy Philippides
Informatics – Robotics labs
Alan Mayers
HSE Rep for Unite Union
Prof Martin Rose
Engineering – Mechanical, TFMRC
Lucy Uffindell-Saunderson
John Clifford West building
Chris Sothcott
Informatics – Chichester I teaching labs
TBC
H&S Coordinator - Admin support
Dr Patrick Holroyd
Informatics – Media labs
Dr Martin White
Informatics – Interactive Systems
Lily King
School Administrator
- Training
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See University health & safety web pages for all mandatory training and other resources
Health and Safety training courses are run from the Health and Safety office on a number of topics which are listed on your Staff Development pages on Sussex Direct. Safety training for research areas is identified by the head of the relevant research group and supporting technical staff.
- Science Schools health & safety handbook
- Accidents & first aid
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ALL accidents or incident, including near misses MUST BE REPORTED no matter how minor (some so-called minor accidents can cause later complications): via the incident reporting link: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/hso/incident-reporting
As well as the appropriate first aid and fire fighting equipment situated in labs, a number of first aid boxes are distributed around our buildings. Please ensure that you are aware of their location - a list of these is available from the Premises Assistant responsible for each building.
See School first aid pages for further information
- Fire precautions
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If the fire bell sounds, leave what you are doing and exit the building by the quickest, safest route. Do NOT stop to collect your belongings. Do not congregate by the building entrance but move to the nearest Assembly point; these are identified by a green sign with the tick. Do not re-enter the building until told by the person in charge that it is safe to do so. If you have any students or members of the public with you, take them outside and direct them to the assembly point as well.
There are floor wardens appointed for each area within the building. Floor wardens are responsible for ensuring safe and speedy evacuation whenever the fire alarm sounds, and then reporting to the Fire Marshal , usually a Premises Assistant, at the control point.
Alarm tests take place weekly when the alarm will sound for a few seconds only. Any longer and the alarm is genuine!
See School Fire safety pages for further information
All staff should familiarise themselves with the University Fire Safety Policy: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/hso/firesafety
- PEEPs
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A PEEP is a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan. It is a bespoke 'escape plan' for individuals who may not be able to reach an ultimate place of safety unaided or within a satisfactory period of time in the event of any emergency e.g. the disabled, the elderly, pregnant, very young, those temporarily injured. Forms are available online at http://www.sussex.ac.uk/hso/documents/hs-f020-peep-form.docx
- Display screen equipment (DSE)
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It is a requirement of those using DSE to be assessed to prevent poor posture with the possibility of resulting aches and pains. The School has its own trained DSE assessors and one will make an appointment with you at a convenient time as soon as possible after the start of your employment with us. These assessments usually take about 20 minutes.
- Manual handling
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Whether you are moving furniture or lifting boxes of photocopy paper, or any other kind of lifting, you are undertaking a manual handling activity. In order to avoid any ill health effects from manual handling please follow the guidance http://www.sussex.ac.uk/hso/wellbeing/swmh
- Risk assessments (including for running labs)
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It is the responsibility of the Module Convenor or staff member running the lab to undertake a risk assessment of the intended activitiies.
HS F001 General risk assessment template (excel) [XLSX 290.77KB]
HS F001 General risk assessment template (word) [DOCX 121.24KB]
HS G034 Risk Assessment Guidance (version 1.0) [DOCX 447.33KB]
Please email your completed form to the Technical Services Manager: David Tucker D.J.Tucker@sussex.ac.uk
- New and expectant mothers
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Contact your line manager or the H&S advisor who will advise and carry out a personal risk assessment.
- Out of hours and lone working
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All activities considered appropriate to be undertaken outside normal working hours (9.00am -5.30pm) must be subjected to a risk assessment, and allocated to either high low or medium risk categories and the appropriate control measures rules for each category followed. For further details see the University policy on lone working:
- Smoking
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In line with University policy, smoking is prohibited in all areas of the School, including offices and within two metres of any part of the building. Read the policy