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Basic Health & Safety

Domestic arrangements
Outline of training session
Presented by
Vincent Theobald
University Safety Office
1 Park Terrace
Tel. 6274

Safety
Office

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Health and Safety
Health and safety is
intended to bring about
condition free from risk of
injury or threat to our
health and well-being.
This objective is not a
natural state of affairs.

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We Believe

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Workplace accidents, illness and incidents

are preventable
provided that

Health and Safety

is Managed

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Clapham Junction Accident

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A concern for safety which is sincerely held and

repeatedly expressed but, nevertheless, is not
carried through into action, is as much protection
from danger as no concern at all.

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What could happen?
Near-miss

Major injury

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Minor injury

Death

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Kinds of Accidents

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Why report accidents?

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Accidents should be reported because:

The law requires some specific types of accidents to
be reported to the Enforcing Authorities.
The University Safety Policy requires all accidents
and near misses to be reported to the USO.
It enables investigations so as to prevent further
accidents.
Reports enable the University to identify trends.
Report accidents on-line at www.safety.ncl.ac.uk

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How big is the Accident Problem?

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HSE shows accidents cost:

APAU studies
37% of annualised profit.
8.5% of tender price.
5% of running costs.
Bear in mind that these were large and well organised
companies that already had a high standard of loss
control and lower than average accident rates.

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General duties on the employer

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The HSWA places the following general duties on

the employer, which apply to staff ,students, visitors
and contractors:
provide safe place of work
provide safe plant and equipment
provide safe systems of work

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General duties on employees

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The HSWA places the following general duties on

staff, students, visitors and contractors:
to take reasonable care
to co-operate with the employer
not to interfere with safety arrangements

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Reasonably practicable
Risk should be set against
the effort required to
remove it.
It is not reasonably
practicable if the cost of
removal of risk is
disproportionately high
It is reasonably practicable
if a risk can be removed at
minimal cost and effort

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Herald of Free Enterprise
The failure on
the part of
management
to give proper
and clear
direction was
a contributory
cause of the
disaster.

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Responsible People for University

The VC.
The PVC for Safety.
The Provost / Registrar.
The Head of School / Service.
(The School Safety Officer).
The Lab/Area Manager.
The Lecturer.
Individual researchers, Staff, Students.

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Safety Management

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This begins with Policy

and uses tools such as Local Rules
and Risk Assessment to establish control of the
hazards and risks of work.
It is a specific legal duty to manage safety so that
all risks are suitably and sufficiently controlled.

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Safety Policy

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Legal requirement under S2(3) of HSWA.

University Policy published in a book and on web.
Schools need their Policies.
Labs/buildings may need additional
policy/arrangements to provide more detail.
Arrangements will need to include Local Rules.
Some local rules are needed by law - e.g. rules for
Ionising Radiation.

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Policy

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The University Safety Policy MUST be followed

See the USO website for the up to date policy
www.safety.ncl.ac.uk
Each School has a Safety Policy, providing more
details as to how issues are dealt with in the School
Some labs also have Policies and Local Rules with
additional details.

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Identifying the main hazards

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Examples which affect

safety and/or health:

Biological hazards
Chemicals
Fire
Radiation
Waste
Electricity
Noise and Vibration

Lifting and carrying

Repetitive movements

This is the first step in

Risk Assessment

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Biohazards
Bio-COSHH
Classification of organisms
Control of Pathogens
(inc. inoculations)
Control of spread of organisms
Control of GM work

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Chemicals

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COSHH Control of Substances Hazardous to

Health.
This applies to all chemicals and substances
(including cultures) used in labs and elsewhere.
There are specific additional measures for very
high risk chemicals and substances in particular
Cyanides
Pathogens
Asthmagens
This is dealt with in more detail in the
Risk Assessment Training provided by the USO.

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Fire
All Fire Alarms must be
treated as genuine
Evacuate immediately
Close doors and windows as
you leave
Go to the assembly point

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Actions to take to prevent Fire
Keep smoke doors closed
Do not obstruct escape
corridors
Store fire risk materials
correctly
Control wastes.

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Radiation

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Very heavily controlled by the HSE and the Environment

Agency. Specific laws relating to the use, storage and
disposal of radioactive materials.

Use is restricted to controlled areas.

Only authorised persons permitted to use radiation.
All use must be recorded, and all wastes controlled.
Very specific Local Rules are in force.
Good technique main protection against
contamination.

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Waste

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Many accidents are caused by incorrect disposal of

wastes.
Wastes must be segregated by law.
University has strict rules.
Errors put others at risk.

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Getting help
Assistance within the School.
Project Supervisor
School Safety Officer
Biological Safety Supervisor
Radiation Protection Supervisor
The Safety Office website www.safety.ncl.ac.uk
or you can call the Safety Office on 6274

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Legal duties
COMMON LAW
duty of one individual to another - Duty of
Care
STATUTE LAW
Criminal Law
duty between individual and the state

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The costs of failure

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Health and safety law is Criminal Law

Failure to manage health and safety can result in:
prosecution,
fines and imprisonment
compensation claims
loss of output or service
replacement costs
loss of reputation

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Cases of note

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Mr RE Hill Asbestos
UCL London - Sharps box
Birmingham University - Lab Safety Regulations
January 2006
A University fined 70,000 following an accident

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Any Questions

Safety
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If you have any questions on general Health and

Safety issues please go to your School Safety
Officer.
If you have questions about this presentation please
come to the front and ask them before I go.
If you want to attend any of the University Safety
Office training courses please book using the form
on the USO website at www.safety.ncl.ac.uk

Courses available include

Accident and Investigation - Basic Fire Training Basic Health & Safety - Biological Safety Chemical Safety Training - Cryogenics Safety Training Disposable Gloves - Emergencies - EVAC Chairs Gas Safety Laboratory - Gas Cylinder Safety - GM Safety Safety Awareness - Health & Safety Law Health & Safety Management - Portable Appliance Testing Radiation Worker Safety Training - Risk Assessment Safety Signs and their interpretation

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