Health and Safety

The Health and Safety Office offers general advice, guidance and support to all University staff, students and visitors.

Anyone with a health and safety problem connected with their work should discuss it with their immediate line manager in the first instance.

Advice will also be available from your Faculty/Service Health and Safety Co-ordinator. Where matters cannot be resolved locally, or you need further advice, please contact the University Health and Safety Office. You can also email hsofficer@stmarys.ac.uk, phone the office or call in for a chat.

The Health and Safety Officer is available to give advice which is both independent and impartial.

The Health and Safety Officer's functions include:

• Developing health and safety policies, procedures and management arrangements to assist the University in meeting its statutory obligations;
• Facilitating health and safety training and inductions;
• Carrying out health and safety inspections;
• Reporting to the University Health and Safety Committee, Senior Management Board and other committees as required;
• Recording, analysing and investigating any more serious incidents, providing advice on remedial actions, and analysis of incident statistics in order to advise on preventative intervention strategies;
• Liaising with external regulatory bodies for example the Health and Safety Executive (HSE);
• Advising on relevant legislation and providing advice on matters of general health and safety.
• Complete annual Fire Risk Assessments - Action and follow up. Review the fire risk assessment if there are any material, incident or procedural changes to a building or its systems.
• Provide staff, student, contractor or visitor fire training and advice when needed and liaise with internal and external contacts.
• Undertake audits and inspections and report findings into the Health and Safety Sub Committee.
• Undertake evacuation drills and record findings and communicate these back to the occupants.
• Investigate fire / fire alarm incidents and provide advice and best practices.
• Work on projects fire safety from design to handover.
• Make sure fire safety equipment is properly tested and serviced.
• Develop policies, strategies and procedures.