SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & INFORMATICS

HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT POLICY

General
The Universitys mission statement for Health and Safety states
The health and safety of staff, students and visitors is of paramount importance to the
University.
The objective of our Health & Safety Policy is to enable the University to operate
effectively and allow its staff, students and visitors to undertake their activities without
detriment to their helath, safety and wellbeing.
Application of good practice in health and safety is recognised as being a key component
in achieving high quality teaching and research.
It is also acknowledged that failings in health and safety could not only have a harmful
impact on the Universitys ability to conduct its business but also harm our reputation as
well.
That is why we have set out in the Universitys Health & Safety Policy our commitment to
good practice, responsibilities for health & safety, and the standards that we, the
Executive and Council, are determined shall be met.
Good health and safety practice will only be achieved if staff, students and their visitors
give their full support to the actions outlined within the policy.
Legislation and Regulations
The main regulations governing our procedures are: The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974;
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. The Workplace (Health,
Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 concern the working environment and include welfare
provisions. There are three sets of regulations relating to specific tasks: Manual Handling
Operations Regulations 1992; Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations
1992; and Inspection, Monitoring and Auditing of Health and Safety Management 1994.
There are further regulations, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992,
which deal with equipment. These regulations are incorporated in the University Local Rules
issued by the University Health, Safety and Environment Office. Copies are held in the
Health, Safety and Environment Office.

The School of Engineering & Informatics endorses these aims 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 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
Prof Diane Mynors (Chair)
Simon Davies
Peter Henderson
Dr Chris Long
Paul Maccourt
Prof Robert Prance
Dr Andy Philippides
Tim Redmond
Chris Sothcott
Margarita Steinberg
Dr Phil Watten
Dr Martin White
Marc Williams

Area
Head of School
Thermofluids Mechanical Research Centre
Engineering Workshops/labs
Engineering Mechanical
University Health & Safety Advisor
Engineering Electrical/Electronic
Informatics
John Clifford West building
Informatics teaching labs
Admin support
Informatics Media labs
Informatics
School Administrator

Paul Maccourt is our prime contact with the University Safety Office
(p.m.maccourt@sussex.ac.uk x3303)

Training
Health and Safety training courses are run from the Health and Safety office on a number of
topics which are listed in the 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.
Health and Safety documents online
School Health and Safety website, which includes
Science Schools Safety Handbook
Details of fire wardens
First aid information
University risk assessment links
Accident reporting procedures
University Fire Safety Policy
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/ei/internal/general/healthsafety
Further information can be found at the University Health, Safety and Wellbeing web pages:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/hso/healthandsafety

HEALTH, SAFETY AND EMERGENCIES

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 Universitys first aiders and should be
contacted immediately as above.

Accidents
ALL accidents or incident, including near misses MUST BE REPORTED to the School
Safety Advisor or one of the people listed below no matter how minor (some so-called minor
accidents can cause later complications):
Peter Henderson x8451
Robert Prance x2577
Marc Williams x8361
John Carroll x8029
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.

Fire precautions
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!
All staff should familiarise themselves with the University Fire Safety Policy:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/hso/healthandsafety/fire

PEEPs
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/healthandsafety/disability

Display Screen Equipment (DSE)

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
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/healthandsafety/manualhandling

Risk assessments
All work activities should be risk assessed (http://www.sussex.ac.uk/hso/hsoaz/formsaz)
and should comply with current legislation to protect workers and the environment. The
control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) regulations have specific controls for
Chemical and Biological Hazards. Risk assessment forms can be found via the School and
University website.
Training is available through the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Office for those staff who
need to undertake risk assessments.

New and expectant mothers

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

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:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/hso/healthandsafety/policies

Smoking
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. This policy can be found at
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/hso/healthandsafety/smoking