Office of Health and Safety

Mission

To be an authoritative and competent advisory service enabling and supporting practical approaches to risk management, fostering a culture of health and safety leadership and followership across the university's community.

Roles within the university

• To promote and assist with health and safety risk management across the university.
• To advise the Vice-Chancellor and University Council on the implementation of the University’s health and safety policy document.
• Provide a specialist advisory service on health and safety risk management as it relates to the university's activities, facilities etc.

Areas of activity

• Develop and maintain the university's health and safety policy document and guidance, supporting information etc. to support the policy's delivery.
• Develop, deliver and assist in sourcing health and safety training and awareness
• Maintain incident records, monitoring trends, reporting statistics, reviewing local follow up investigations and carrying out independent investigations where warranted.
• Advise on health and safety risk management as it relates to the design and use of buildings, equipment etc.
• Carry out audits of health and safety risk management arrangements within individual academic schools and support services.
• Liaison with key external organisations (e.g. Health and Safety Executive, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, West Yorkshire Police; Kirklees Council)

Location

SB7/04, Schwann Building

Occupational health

The University's Occupational Health (OH) department is a separate function to the Office of Health and Safety, and resides within the Human Resources (HR) Group.

Areas of the university's health and safety policy document OH takes central lead on are: -

• Mental health and wellbeing of staff;
• Display screen equipment;
• Work-related stress; and
• Health Surveillance

Further information is available from the HR website.