Health and Safety Policy

Statement of Intent

1. Northeastern University London (the University) is committed to its duties to protect the health, safety and welfare of all employees and others (as far as is reasonably practicable) who come into contact with the University. The University acknowledges its legal responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1990, and will use this Policy to outline the University’s health and safety objective and how the University will fulfil that objective.

Objective

2. The principal objectives of this Policy are to reduce the risk to people and property to enable the University to operate effectively; to manage the University’s work in such a way as to allow staff, students, contractors, visitors and others who might be affected by its undertakings to carry out their activities without detriment to their health and safety whilst embedding health and safety as a core value in everything we do; to ensure that the University has governance arrangements in place that enable it to demonstrate compliance with health and safety and fire safety legislation; and to facilitate the development of a health and safety management framework.
3. The University will seek to accomplish these objectives by:
   1. Using preventative measures to stop accidents, incidents or near misses involving our staff and students resulting in cases of occupational ill health;
   2. Providing a safe working environment;
   3. Providing safe plant and equipment;
   4. Providing clear information and training for staff or students to conduct tasks or responsibilities;
   5. Managing risks to all staff, students and visitors;
   6. Ensuring the health and safety of all employees and others so far as is reasonably practicable;
   7. Complying with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974;
   8. Providing sufficient resources to enhance the health and safety of all employees and others;
   9. Consulting with employees on matters involving their health and safety;
   10. Demonstrating senior leadership commitment to health and safety and promoting positive health and safety practices throughout the organisation;
   11. Having sufficient policies and procedures in place for business continuity and emergencies.

Organisation and Responsibilities

4. The Northeastern London Board of Governors has overall responsibility for health and safety at the University and delegates this duty to the CEO. The Board receives annual health and safety reports from the Senior Management Team and Health and Safety Committee minutes at the end of each academic year and is informed of major health and safety concerns or incidents.
5. The CEO is responsible for ensuring this Policy is implemented across the organisation and that the University meets its legal obligations. The CEO is responsible for conducting final reviews on all health and safety documentation and establishing targets across the organisation.
6. Directors, Senior Managers and Heads are responsible for ensuring this Policy is implemented across the teams for which they are responsible. All Directors, Senior Managers, and Heads are expected to promote a positive health and safety culture for the departments they are responsible for and ensure as far as reasonably practicable that risks and hazards to themselves or their staff are managed correctly by following good practice and reporting any concerns to the competent person(s).
7. Line Managers are responsible for proactively conducting health and safety inspections at activities and in areas where their staff are working. Line Managers are responsible for ensuring that any health and safety concerns, hazards or risks are reported appropriately.
8. Employees have a legal duty for reporting health and safety concerns to Line Managers or Facilities. All employees are responsible for maintaining the health and safety of themselves and others in line with their legal responsibilities outlined in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
9. Safety Representatives are responsible for representing employees’ and students’ views at the bi-annual Health and Safety Committee.
10. Facilities are responsible for the operational aspects of health and safety across the University and ensuring legal compliance on a day-to-day basis.
11. Facilities are responsible for advising staff and students on health and safety arrangements and risk management.
12. Fire Wardens are responsible for ensuring that the University complies with fire safety on our premises and for evacuating the building in the event of a fire or emergency.
13. First aiders are responsible for ensuring that the University has adequate first aid provisions and for administering first aid in the event of an emergency.

Arrangements

Risk Assessments

14. The Head of Facilities has responsibility for ensuring the general workplace risk assessment for the University has been undertaken and for risk assessing any daily activities which may not be covered by the general workplace risk assessment.
15. The Head of Facilities is responsible for ensuring the Fire risk assessment and Legionella Risk Assessments are completed by a competent provider.
16. The Head of Facilities is responsible for ensuring that any higher risk activities which may involve tools or COSHH have been suitably risk assessed before the activity can proceed.
17. Contractors are responsible for submitting Risk Assessments and Method Statements for any works conducted on University property.
18. Event risk assessments are to be conducted by the Event Organiser and approved by Facilities.

Legislative Requirements

19. Facilities are responsible for ensuring legislative requirements relating to health and safety and the building are met or exceeded.
20. Facilities are responsible for reporting any relevant incidents under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).

Health and Safety Training

21. The Director of Resourcing and Operations is responsible for ensuring that a member of the University has received sufficient health and safety training for the University to ensure compliance with its legal obligations and compliance with this policy.
22. The Head of Facilities is responsible for ensuring that the University has a sufficient number of fire wardens and first aiders trained across the University premises.
23. Facilities will provide new staff and students with a building induction to outline health and safety and evacuation procedures.
24. The Head of Facilities is responsible for ensuring any manual handling or other health and safety training is organised, as and when identified and requested by the Line Manager.
25. Line managers are responsible for providing new staff with specific health and safety information and training relevant to their role. This includes event risk assessments and travel assessments.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

26. Directors, senior managers, heads, or line managers are responsible for identifying any activities conducted by their staff or students, via a risk assessment, which may require PPE.
27. The Head of Facilities is responsible for the procurement of any PPE which is required for internal staff or students to undertake their work or activities.
28. Contractors are responsible for the provision of their own PPE if required to undertake works where it is required.

Control of Contractors or Procured Services

29. Any member of the University who procures services on behalf of the University is responsible for undertaking due diligence in ensuring the provider has suitable and sufficient health and safety documentation and processes in place before proceeding with the service.
30. The organiser of works is responsible for conducting a thorough procurement process to ensure that contractors are competent with the works which they wish to undertake.
31. The organiser of works is responsible for vetting contractors to ensure no risk is posed to any members of the University from any contractor.
32. The organiser of works is responsible for the control of the relevant contractor which attends the University premises to undertake works. The organiser is responsible for explaining first aid and emergency arrangements to contractors before works commence.
33. Contractors are responsible for their own health and safety whilst attending our premises.

Welfare Arrangements

34. The Head of Facilities is responsible for liaising with the building landlord to ensure that welfare facilities which fall outside of the University domain are well maintained and available such as:
    1. Toilets and washbasins
    2. Showers and changing rooms
35. The Head of Facilities is responsible for ensuring that any welfare facilities that fall within the University demise are well maintained and available for use, such as:
    1. Toilets and washbasins
    2. Adequate meal and preparation facilities
    3. The provision of drinking water
    4. Multi faith and first aid rooms
    5. Rest facilities for pregnant workers

Accident and Incident Reports

36. Accidents are an event that results in injury or ill health. Incidents are events which could have resulted in injuries or ill health but did not. An incident may also be referred to as a ’near miss’.  All accidents, incidents or near misses, which take place on University premises, must be reported to a first aider.
37. First aiders will record this information using the online accident book. This is a shared document with access for all First Aiders and is owned by Facilities.
38. All reports are investigated by the Head of Facilities to check the cause of the accident, incident or near miss and identify measures which can prevent the occurrence from happening again.

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

39. The Head of Facilities is responsible for ensuring that the University has suitable and sufficient emergency evacuation procedures, which may be conducted internally or by a competent contractor.
40. The Head of Facilities is responsible for reviewing these procedures to ensure they remain suitable and sufficient as the University changes.
41. The Head of Facilities is responsible for ensuring that adequate arrangements are in place for members or visitors with access needs. These measures include Person Emergency Evacuation Plans and are supported by Student Support and Development in the case of students.
42. The Head of Facilities is responsible for the bi-annual testing of these procedures.

Maintenance and Testing of Equipment

43. The Head of Facilities is responsible for ensuring that all fire and emergency equipment within the University’s responsibility and control is checked, maintained and tested regularly in accordance with legislative requirements. Maintenance and testing are conducted by a competent contractor appointed by Facilities.
44. First aiders and Facilities are responsible for checking first aid kits to ensure they are well supplied, that all items are in date, and all items within are not damaged or contaminated.
45. The Head of Facilities is responsible for ensuring that all electrical equipment has been tested by a competent contractor. Portable appliances are tested annually, and the Fixed Wire Test is conducted every five years.
46. Facilities are responsible for the maintenance of the Automated External Defibrillators (AED). They are available in each campus building. AEDs are provided aboard transportation used or contracted by Northeastern University London travel programmes.

Out of Hours and Lone Working

47. Any work conducted outside of normal working hours is subject to the Lone Working Policy and the Campus Security Policy.
48. Line Managers should make sure their staff are aware of their commitments under the policies and ensure they follow the relevant procedures.

Compliance and Monitoring

49. Health and Safety Committee members are responsible for monitoring and reviewing compliance with health and safety matters, including inspection reports, actions and for ensuring that the procedures are kept up-to-date and managed in line with current legislation and best practice.

Consultation

50. The University has an obligation under the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 to consult with staff regarding health, safety and welfare.
51. The Health and Safety Committee reviews all policies, risk assessments and reports and recommends improvements and actions. It provides an opportunity for members to highlight any health and safety concerns they have. Staff and students are encouraged to report any concerns to the committee members beforehand.

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