Websites/Further information Health Protection Agency – www.hpa.org.uk Health and Safety Executive – www.hse.gov.uk Health and Safety Unit – www.mmu.ac.uk/human/resources/health Institution of Occupational Safety and Health – www.iosh.co.uk National Radiological Protection Board – www.nrpb.org Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents – www.rospa.com Trades Union Congress – www.tuc.org.uk/h_s/index.cfm
A web version of the policy is available at www.mmu.ac.uk/human resources/health/policy Contact your local safety representative (details available from your local staff representative)
Manchester Metropolitan University Health and Safety Unit Tel 0161 247 3317 Fax 0161 247 6862 Email
[email protected] Visit www.mmu.ac.uk/humanresources/health/policy
MMU Health and Safety Policy
What’s in the policy?
Introduction
Introduction
01
Our Commitment/Your Commitment
02
Strategic Leadership
05
Management of Health and Safety
05
Organising for Health and Safety
08
Consulting and Communicating on Health and Safety
11
Planning and Performance
14
Auditing and Reviewing
16
Websites/Further Information
Back page
This policy identifies the key elements of our health and safety management system and details the commitment the University has for maintaining and improving the health, safety and welfare of our staff, students and others who may be affected by our activities. Our staff and students are our key resource and it is essential that risks to their health and safety are properly controlled through an effective health and safety management system and commitment at all levels within the university. The University recognises the important role strong strategic leadership and effective management control plays in establishing a positive safety culture and preventing incidents, work related ill-health and accidents. We are committed to improving health and safety performance and this policy will provide the framework for this goal to be achieved. The University values the important contribution that staff and union appointed safety representatives make in improving health and safety. A partnership approach to managing health and safety is crucial to the University meeting its objectives for maintaining and improving health and safety performance. Suggestions for improvement on any health and safety related issue are always welcomed and should be addressed through your manager or safety representative.
First published: 2004 Revised: 2009 Next formal review: 2012 Policy is kept under constant review by the University Health and Safety Committee
This text is available on request in large print or alternative format. Contact the Health and Safety Unit.
Vice-Chancellor
Chairman of the Board of Governors
01
Our Commitment Your Commitment
Our Commitment We are committed to high standards in health, safety and welfare for all staff, students and others who may be affected by our activities. We accept that reducing risks in the workplace reduces costs and that good health and safety is good business. This policy sits alongside and supports other University policies and procedures. The University recognises that the implementation of an effective health and safety policy contributes to the performance of the University and is committed to: • setting a clear direction for the University to follow • taking initiatives in establishing good practice • supporting staff needs and development • recognising that health, safety and welfare is an important line management responsibility • recognising that the prevention of accidents, incidents or work-related ill health requires effective management and leadership • believing that the development of a positive health and safety culture is necessary to achieve adequate control of risks • minimising human and financial losses which arise from avoidable unplanned events • supporting continuous improvement in health, safety and welfare • having a systematic approach to the identification and control of risks • supporting the health and well-being of our staff and students • meeting our responsibilities to people and the environment by the way we fulfil the spirit and the letter of the law • having in place systems that will allow the University to maintain, monitor and improve health and safety performance • maintaining effective means for communication and consultation on health and safety matters • committing to a collaborative approach which recognises the important contribution that staff and their representatives can make to improve health and safety • providing appropriate welfare support and positive health promotion • providing access to competent advice on health, safety and welfare
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• identifying the management of health and safety arrangements in a Health and Safety Manual
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• providing any information, instruction, training or supervision necessary to meet this commitment • providing sufficient resources to meet these commitments • providing and maintaining safe conditions, equipment and systems of work • having in place plans for dealing with emergencies and their effects
Your Commitment The University expects staff, students, contractors and visitors to cooperate on health, safety and welfare matters, take care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. In particular by: • not undertaking any actions which constitutes a danger to yourself or others • cooperating with the University and supporting its policies and procedures on health and safety • bringing to the attention of your manager/supervisor any situations or practices that may lead to injuries or work-related ill-health
Strategic Leadership Management of Health and Safety
• using equipment in a safe and responsible way • maintaining good housekeeping in areas in which you are working • reporting all near misses, incidents and accidents • undertaking such health and safety training relevant to your work activities
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05
Strategic Leadership This section deals with the responsibilities of formal groups who provide direction and oversight and agree the objectives on health and safety.
The Directorate The Directorate are the most senior management groups within the University and are in a position to consider and implement policies and procedures concerning health, safety and welfare. The Directorate will: • accept its collective responsibility for providing health and safety leadership
The Board of Governors
• keep abreast of health and safety legislation and its implications for the University
The Board of Governors will:
• implement the health and safety policy commitments within the University
• assure the development and implementation of an appropriate health and safety policy
• implement and maintain an appropriate communication strategy on health and safety within the University
• receive sufficient information, and where necessary training to enable them to actively discharge their corporate responsibility for health and safety
• be informed of any significant health and safety compliance violations and instigate appropriate action
• assure that its actions and decisions reinforce the messages contained within the health and safety policy • have a responsibility to be kept informed and alert to relevant health and safety risk management issues
• be informed of and be alert to relevant health and safety risk management issues • monitor that appropriate consultation takes place in respect of decisions that affect health, safety and welfare of staff and students • consider that health and safety issues are integrated into their planning • receive regular updates on health, safety and welfare matters
• be kept informed about any significant health and safety compliance violations and the outcome of the investigations into their causes • consider the health and safety implications of all its decisions.
• consider and approve health, safety and welfare policies on behalf of the University • consider the health and safety implications of all of its decisions • agree the health and safety priorities for inclusion in the annual health and safety plan
The Estates and Services Advisory Group
• receive and consider reports on health and safety performance
In addition to the Board of Governors responsibilities the Estates and Services Advisory Group will: • advise on the relevance of the present health and safety policy statement to ensure that it reflects the University’s strategic priorities and is periodically reviewed.
Management of Health and Safety
• monitor the implementation of the annual health and safety plan • receive reports on the effectiveness of the health and safety management systems • receive regular health and safety reports at its meetings from the University Health and Safety Committee
The University is committed to the effective management of health and safety and recognises that this is a line management responsibility. • The management of health and safety arrangements, including specific details of individual duties and responsibilities, are documented in the University’s Health and Safety Manual • The management of health and safety arrangements will be reviewed periodically to ensure that they are up to date and relevant
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Organising for Health and Safety
The University organisational framework will identify the responsibilities and relationships which will promote a positive health and safety culture. This section of our policy identifies the senior individuals who are responsible for delivering the policy commitments. Details of their duties and responsibilities are set out in the University’s Health and Safety Manual. Vice-Chancellor chairs the Directorate and is the most senior executive officer and has overall responsibility for ensuring the commitments of the policy are delivered within the University. Deputy Vice-Chancellors are members of the Directorate and will deputise for the Vice-Chancellor during the Vice-Chancellor’s absence. Human Resources Director is a member of the Directorate and is responsible for ensuring that the policy commitments are delivered in practice and acts with the authority of the Vice-Chancellor in matters concerning health, safety and welfare. Chief Operating Officer and Financial Director is a member of the Directorate and is responsible for the allocation of adequate resources to enable the University to meet its health and safety policy commitments. Director of Services is a member of the Directorate and is responsible for delivering the policy commitments for the Services Group. Registrar is a member of the Directorate and is responsible for delivering the policy commitments for Student and Academic Services. Deans/Pro-Vice-Chancellors are members of the Directorate and are responsible for delivering the policy commitments for a designated location.
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09
A detailed organisational chart and designation of local responsibilities and duties are contained in the University’s Health and Safety Manual. A shortened chart is presented below:
Vice-Chancellor
Deputy Vice-Chancellors
Deans/ Pro ViceChancellors
Director of Services
Human Resources Director*
Registrar
Consulting and Communicating on Health and Safety
Chief Operating Officer and Financial Director
* The Human Resources Director acts on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor in respect of the Health and Safety Policy.
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11
Consulting on Health and Safety
Local Site Health and Safety Panels
Effective consultation is essential if the University is to satisfy its commitment to promote a collaborative approach to health and safety.
These panels support senior staff in promoting and monitoring health, safety and welfare of a specific site. They are an essential tool for monitoring and measuring health and safety performance at local level. Specific terms of reference and membership details are contained in the health and safety manual.
The University will consult on the introduction and modification of policies and procedures in respect of health and safety. The consultation will take place through dedicated task groups and the following formal consultation process.
They will: • provide a focal point for resolving site issues on health, safety and welfare • consider health and safety issues relevant to their site and decide on appropriate responses • be representative of the areas based on the sites they cover
University Health and Safety Committee
• monitor the effectiveness of local health and safety management systems
This statutory committee has the important role of promoting health, safety and welfare throughout the University. It has full staff side representation and meets at least three times a year. The committee’s terms of reference are contained in the health and safety manual.
• receive accident and ‘near miss’ reports
The following statements reflect the committee’s principal obligations:
• provide opportunity to formally consult with trade union representatives
• receive and consider health and safety reports • provide an annual report to the University Health and Safety Committee
• consider and approve policies on health, safety and welfare • consider the implementation of health and safety legislation and recommend appropriate action • promote good standards of training in health and safety at all levels within the University • appoint task groups to examine specific health and safety issues • receive health and safety management audit reports • receive reports on near misses, work related ill-health, incident and accidents reports and recommend appropriate preventative action
Communicating on Health and Safety The University will endeavour to provide effective communication channels in respect of health, safety and welfare. The University accepts that effective communication will combine to form an on-going briefing which will keep our staff and students up to date and informed. Examples of communication include: • publicising the University’s policy on health and safety widely through a variety of media • undertaking regular health and safety briefings with staff, students and their representatives • providing details of management of health and safety arrangements in the Health and Safety Manual.
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Planning and Performance
Planning for Health and Safety Planning is essential to ensure that our health and safety procedures really work in practice. Planning involves identifying priorities and setting key objectives. The University will: • include health and safety considerations in it’s strategic planning • produce an annual health and safety plan that identifies objectives that are realistic measurable and achievable • utilise appropriate compliance standards in the plan • ensure that the annual health and safety plan is subject to consultation through the University Health and Safety Committee • ensure that the annual health and safety plan identifies outcomes and how these are to be achieved
Measuring our Health and Safety Performance Measurement is essential to maintain and improve health and safety performance. We will measure our performance by having active and reactive monitoring (checking before things go wrong and when things go wrong). This can be achieved by: • having in place good risk control strategies • monitoring compliance with health and safety laws that are relevant to our activities • maintaining accurate records and investigating near misses, work related ill-health, incidents and accidents and identifying their causes • comparing our performance against similar institutions
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Auditing and Reviewing
Health and Safety Management audits will be used to check that our policy, organisation and systems are effective and relevant. We will use audit and review to improve our ability to manage risk, especially by: • checking levels of compliance with our health and safety performance indicators against legislation and good practice • undertaking annual health and safety audits of a site • undertaking single issue compliance audits • analysing near misses, work-related ill-health and injuries for cause and trends • identifying areas where performance can be improved • feeding audit findings into a management action plan with a timetable for implementation • checking that agreed objectives are achieved within a given time scale • communicating audit outcomes to staff and students • the University Health and Safety Committee reviewing audit reports and management action plans and monitoring their implementation • the University Health and Safety Committee receiving annual reports from local site health and safety panels and reviewing performance across the University • the University Health and Safety Committee establishing University-wide themes for each session to be addressed by local site health and safety panels
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