Health and Safety

Incident reporting

Find out how to report an accident, incident or near miss.

How to report an incident

If something happens that we should know about, log the incident on Sussex Direct.

Use Sussex Direct to log:

  • Injuries to any member of the University of Sussex received during work activity on or off site
  • Injuries to any person on site (using the web form at the bottom of this page)
  • Near misses: Defined as circumstances or events that did not cause harm but had or have the potential to cause injury or ill health. This includes incidents that are reportable to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as a dangerous occurrence. Additional reading with regards to near miss reporting is available from the HSE.
  • Incidents that have caused serious disruption to university activity, such as road closures, roof leaks or becoming trapped in a lift.

Log in to Sussex Direct

If you need immediate assistance on campus, call security on 01273 (87)3333

Reports logged on this system are accessible to Health and Safety Coordinators and the University Health and Safety team. Medical information from First Aiders should not be added to reports. Data from incident reports are used to spot trends and inform recommendations on potential safety improvements. This system is also sometimes refered to as an Accident book when mentioned in training.

Incidents can also be reported directly to your local Health & Safety Coordinator.

If there is a problem with a building or part of our estate, and works are outstanding, log these first of all with SEF, email:  ServiceCentre@sef.fm.  If there is a significant risk to people, these incidents can also be logged on the Sussex Direct system.

If this incident relates to student behaviour it can also be logged via the student discipline incident reporting tool. Reports appropriate for this tool would include threats, poor driving, violence on or off campus and other inappropriate behaviours.

Incident investigation and follow-up process

Incidents are assigned a category by the Health and Safety team:

  • Level 1 incidents of level 1 can be investigated by School and should be recorded on the Level 1 Incident investigation template. Please provide a completed copy to the Health and Safety team email address.
  • Level 2 incidents are of a more serious nature and formally investigated by either a member of the Health and Safety team and or a Health and Safety Coordinator and should be recorded on the Level 2 incident investigation template. Please provide a completed copy to the Health and Safety team email address.
  • Level 3 incidents are investigated by the Health and Safety team. Level 3 incidents are where either the complexity of the incident or the potential harm requires a more detailed investigation.  Incidents involving behaviours such as bullying, harassment, a hate incident, sexual violence, domestic abuse or discrimination.
Incidents involving behaviours such as bullying, harassment, a hate incident, sexual violence, domestic abuse or discrimination

The University of Sussex is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for every member of its community. If you or someone else has experienced behaviours such as bullying, harassment, a hate incident, sexual violence, domestic abuse or discrimination, you can let us know using this Report and Support tool.

 

Please contact the Health and Safety team if you need assistance.


Visitors, Undergraduate Students, Contractors

If you are a visitor to the University of Sussex, or a student without a Sussex Direct log-in, you can fill in this form to report an incident.

This includes SEF staff who do not have access to Sussex Direct or other University IT.