Management of Health & Safety (Guidance for Managers)
Managers play an important role in ensuring that work, teaching, research and other University activities are planned and carried out safely. The HS G105 Guidance on Health and Safety for Managers provides a practical overview of the arrangements managers and supervisors should have in place to meet their health and safety responsibilities, regardless of whether they have formal line management responsibility. The guidance can be used alongside the University's Health, Safety and Wellbeing policy and topic-specific guidance available through the Health, Safety and Wellbeing webpages.
The guidance explains what managers need to consider across key areas including risk assessment, staff induction and training, emergency and fire arrangements, equipment, incident and near-miss reporting, staff wellbeing and occupational health, contractor management, off-campus and overseas activities, and student safety. It also explains the role of Health and Safety Coordinators and the support available from the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Team.
Managers are expected to take a proportionate approach to health and safety by identifying significant hazards, ensuring appropriate controls are implemented, providing staff with the information, training and supervision they need, and reviewing arrangements to make sure they remain effective. The guidance uses the Plan, Do, Check, Act approach to help managers continually review and improve health and safety within their area of responsibility.
Not sure where to start?
Download the guidance and use the Health and Safety Assurance Self-Assessment Checklist to review the arrangements in your area. Your local Health and Safety Coordinator and the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Team can provide further advice and support.
Further Information and Resources
If you are looking to build on your health and safety knowledge and skills, Health and Safety for Managers and Supervisors online training can be accessed via Learn Upon (please note you need to be logged onto Learn Upon for this link to work).
University Health and Safety Association (USHA) provide guidance on the Leadership and management of health and safety in higher education and the Health and Safety Executive have resources for managing health and safety.