Health and Safety Update

Transcription

1 Health and Safety Update humanresources/health Autumn Term 2007 Corporate Manslaughter Welcome Act 2007 Welcome to the first addition of the revised health and safety update. The update is circulated each term during the academic year and has been in existence for a number of years. It was decided to freshen up design for the 2007/08 academic year. The update is circulated throughout the university to Senior Staff, Local Site Health and Safety Panels, Trade Unions and Departmental Safety Coordinators. The aim of the update, as always, is to provide relevant information on university health and safety. Introduction The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 received Royal assent on 26 July 2007 and will come into force on 6 April The Act has been ten years in the making and the standoff between the Government and the Lords on whether death in custody Penalties should be included in the Act threatened to delay it even further. The Act will apply to all public and private incorporated bodies, including those incorporated by Royal Charter, partnerships, trade unions and Crown bodies. The Act creates a new offence of Corporate Manslaughter. This offence will be created by a gross breach of a duty of care and where the action of the organisation s senior management played a substantial part in the breach. Such cases will be tried by a jury. A gross breach will occur where there has been a failure to comply with health and safety legislation and where the organisation s conduct falls far below Health and Safety Inspectors Visit On Monday 10th September and Wednesday 12th September the Health and Safety Executive Inspectors visited the university. Inspector Tom Merry and his colleague undertook an audit of the systems that the university have in place with regards to the following subjects: 1 The control of Legionella 2 The management of and control of contractors 3 The control of asbestos 4 The prevention of slips, trips and falls 5 Management of stress 6 Working at heights what can reasonably be expected. The safety culture of an organisation will form a significant part of any investigation e.g. attitude to safety, appropriate and up to date policies and work practices will all be scrutinised. Organisations found guilty of corporate manslaughter could face an unlimited fine. This is the same penalty under the present Health & Safety at Work Act Courts will also have the power to make a publicity order requiring convicted organisations to publicise the fact of their conviction, particulars of the case and the amount of the fine. See page 5 The proposed an agenda that included the inspectors meeting relevant Senior Staff and Trade Union Representatives. The findings of the inspection will be published in our next edition. Inside this issue: Health and Safety E-learning program Accidents and Incidents Reporting Just a reminder that under university policy all accidents and incidents that occur must be reported to the on the appropriate form. The form also contains an investigation section that must be completed by the IP s manager or supervisor following the accident. The accident form can be down loaded from the Health and Safety Unit s web site or copies of the form are held at most building reception. Or contact the Unit on Ex Smoking ban 2 RRO Fire safety 2 Evacuation Chair Training 3 DSE Compliance Audit 3 3 FAQ 4

2 Page 2 Health and Safety Update Health and Safety E-learning Courses The s website offers a range of free, computer based, certificated short course modules available to all university staff. Each course can be completed at the learners own pace and the majority can be completed in a one hour session. The site has recently been updated and we have added three more training modules to the program. These being Health and Safety for Managers which includes H/S Introduction, Risk Management, Accident Prevention etc. The second is Stress Interactive which consists of 7 sections including an introduction, Work related stress, Who is affected, UK Smoking Ban Stress factors, Identify and the control of stress, Case studies and Summary. The third module is the Driving Safely module. This module covers such points as Risk assessments, safe driving, driving attitudes, important safety points and a summary. The module aims are to increase your safety awareness when driving and therefore reduce the risk and consequence of being involved in an accident. Please don t forget the existing modules Computer Safety COSHH Interactive Fire Safety Interactive First Aid Interactive Food Safety Interactive Induction Safety Interactive Manual Handling Interactive Office Safety Interactive Risk Assessment Interactive If you feel that the e-learning program could benefit you and help in any way contact the on X3317 and we will gladly get you started on the program. Once the module is successfully completed a certificate will be issued. A quick guide to the smokefree law On July 1st 2007 the smoke free law was introduced. It is now against the law to smoke in virtually all substantially enclosed public places and workplaces. Public transport and work vehicles used by more than one person must be smoke free at all times. No smoking signs must be displayed in all smoke free premises and vehicles. Managers of smoke free premises and vehicles have a legal responsibility to prevent people from smoking. MMU has revised it s smoking policy to meet the requirements of the new smoke free law. Staff smoking rooms and indoor smoking areas are no longer allowed. If someone wants to smoke they must go out of the building. Wherever possible smokers should refrain from smoking directly outside main entrances, open windows or ventilation intakes to ensure smoke does not enter the building First Aid Training Throughout the university there are a number of staff who are trained in first aid at work. The Health and Safety Unit organises first aid courses for new and existing first aiders within the university. Over the last few months the Unit has observed a decline in the numbers of staff wishing to remain as first aiders. The university has a legal obligation under the First Aid At Work Act to provide qualified first aiders for staff and students. To help us achieve the required level the Health and Safety Unit will be undertaking a recruitment campaign during this term, targeting the areas of the university where the first aiders cover is weak. Training and materials are funded by the Health and Safety Unit. If you would like to become a first aider within your area, contact your Health and Safety Adviser (a list is contained on the back page of this publication)

3 Autumn Term 2007 Page 3 Evacuation Chair Training As you will have noticed there are a large number of evacuation chairs located at strategic points around the campuses. Before a person can use one of these emergency chairs they must have had relevant training. As from the 1st of July 2007 the university has a qualified trainer based at the Manchester campus Jean Humphreys Training and Development manager for the students Union is now a fully qualified evacuation chair trainer. Jean will be undertaking bespoke training within the Students Union Building and depending on the size of the session the time period should be between 2 to 4 hours. For More information and the availability of the courses please contact Jean on the following numbers. Phone jeanhumphrys@mmu.ac.uk Display Screen Equipment Regulation Compliance Audit The has been conducting a DSE compliance audit throughout the university. We are pleased to say that an adequate number of returns have been received from each of the three groups that were surveyed. The percentage of the returns varied a little between the three groups but was around 35%. This is above the usual level of voluntary inhouse questionnaire returns. Analysis of the returns is close to completion and a draft DSE audit report will be completed this term. We will carry a summary of the audit findings in the next edition of the update. Q Where are we based A Currently we are based on the 2nd floor of Loxford Tower Building but due to the demolition of the Tower we are due to be relocated in the not to distant future. Hopefully by the next edition we should be in our new location. Q What do we do A We are the primary advice and guidance source on health and safety for the university. We undertake inspections, management audits and attend formal consultative meetings. Each major site has its own Local Health and Safety Panel and the University has a main Health and Safety Committee all of which are attended by a representative from the unit. A number of policies and university best practice documents originate from the unit and we are also expected to take a lead on legislative interpretation and formal consultation. Q Do you have a web site A The Health and Safety web site is a source of useful information on a wide range of health and safety subjects both inside and outside of the university. The web provides current health and safety updates, health and safety guidance notes and policy documents, health and safety notices, health and safety links to other site regarding health and safety, unto date list of university registered first aiders, department safety co-ordinators, DSE assessors Also we have guidance documents regarding the safe use of DSE equipment. The web site also contains the contact numbers for all the advisers if they are out of the office So its well worth a look. Q Do you have an office at MMU Cheshire A Yes we have an office located within the building at Alsager normally the office is staffed by Vince or Brian who can be contacted on Ext You are welcome to call in anytime at any of the units to discuss health and safety issues.

4 Health and Safety Update Page 4 Frequently Asked Question Q I am a DSE user can I get a free eye test A Staff who work with DSE will be supplied with a self assessment questionnaire which also includes guidance. This must be completed and returned to your DSE assessor (a list can be found on the HSU web site). Upon receipt of the completed questionnaire your DSE assessor will determine if you are a DSE user or not. Your department has a responsibility to pass on DSE users names and contact details to the who will enroll you on the MMU Eye care Scheme. After enrolment DSE users will be contacted by the Health and Safety Unit regarding an appointment for an eye test at either The Vision University of Manchester (Manchester sites) or Boots the Optician (MMU Cheshire). MMU will fund the cost of the eye examination. Where correction of vision is required specifically for DSE use MMU will fund the cost of the lenses plus 20 towards Frames. When spectacles are required for general use and they effectively correct vision for work with DSE the MMU will fund the cost of the eye examination only. If bifocal lenses are required specifically for DSE use, MMU will fund the cost of basic lenses, plus 20 for frames. No payment will be made for any special properties such as reactolight or other special coatings unless the optician states that there is a clinical need for DSE use. Staff are free to purchase coatings or frames etc, above the MMU contribution at their own cots. Remember you must be a registered DSE user to receive your free eye test. University Health and Safety Adviser (Alan Gibb) Ext: 3309 Mobile: a.gibb@mmu.ac.uk Unit Administrator (Marlena Flinn) ext m.flinn@mmu.ac.uk University Radiation Officer (Marina Wain) Asst. Health and Safety Adviser (Samina Zahoor) Asst. Health and Safety Adviser (Christopher Thornley) Asst. Health and Safety Adviser (Vince Bashford) Asst. Health and Safety Adviser (0.5) (Brian Rowe) Ionising and Non-Ionising Radiation Ext: wain@mmu.ac.uk Humanities, Law & Social Science, S&E, Hollings Faculty, Finance Division) Ext: 3314 Mobile: s.zahoor@mmu.ac.uk (Services Group, Business School, HSC&Ed, SAS Division, Secretary s Dept) Ext: 4655 Mobile: c.thornley@mmu.ac.uk (Art & Design, MMU Cheshire, Human Resources, Marketing & Communication Office) Ext: 3368 Mobile: v.bashford@mmu.ac.uk (DSE Compliance, H&S Training) Ext: 5489 Mobile: b.w.rowe@mmu.ac.uk

5 Health and Safety Update Page 5 No Directors, Officers, Managers or other individuals will be prosecuted under the new Act. It is expected that all workplace fatalities from April 2008 will result in a joint corporate manslaughter investigation by the Police and the HSE. Implications for MMU The University has a detailed and documented health and safety management system included in its Health and Safety Policy and Health and Safety Manual. Health and safety responsibilities are set out and approved by the Health and Safety Committee and the Directorate. The Human Resources Director acts as the Health and Safety Director. There is a comprehensive consultation regime from departmental to Board level on health and safety. The University plans for safety and undertakes audits and reviews of its policies and procedures. Resources are made available and known significant hazards are risk assessed and control measures put in place. However the new Act will encourage many organisations to review their health and safety management systems and MMU will follow this route during the Autumn Term The review will be undertaken by the under the supervision of the Human Resources Director acting as the Health and Safety Director A report would then be produced for consideration by the Directorate and the Health and Safety Committee in early January 2008.