Health and Safety Information for Students (OBUHSN-12)

Introduction

This Health and Safety Notice should be read and understood by all relevant employees of Oxford Brookes University. It should also be read and understood by all members of the student body.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in general, and the University's Statement of Health & Safety Policy (OBUHSN-01) specifically provide the management structure and framework indicating the health and safety responsibilities for all students. The intention of this document is to provide all the health and safety information and advice required by students during the course of their studies. Where appropriate, reference will be made to other associated Health and Safety notices.

Students must always comply with relevant statutory requirements and codes of practice and are responsible for following safe working practices and local procedures for the area in which they are studying. Students should take a personal interest in promoting health and safety of themselves and others at work.

All students must familiarise themselves with and abide by University Health and Safety Policy (OBUHSN-01) and the Health and Safety Policy of any Faculty/Directorate of the University where they work or study. If a student believes that they have identified a deficiency in a policy or procedure they should raise their concern with Faculty/Directorate Staff, Student representatives or the Students’ Union.

Health and Safety enquiries

+44 (0) 1865 603060

healthandsafety@brookes.ac.uk

Emergency procedures

On hearing a fire alarm ringing continuously, everybody must evacuate the building(s) using the shortest safe route of escape.

Under normal circumstances this should take no longer than 2.5 minutes. No one should enter a building or area in which the alarm is sounding until such time as the alarms are silenced and until a member of Campus Services, the Fire Brigade or other senior member of staff indicates that it is safe to do so. Failure to evacuate during a fire alarm is a disciplinary offence for staff and students. Read the fire and evacuation policy (OBUHSN-09).

On discovering a fire, sound the alarm by breaking the glass on the nearest call point and evacuate the building(s) as above.

All students must familiarise themselves with the procedures for calling the emergency services to all areas of the University.

On the Headington Campus, call the emergency services (Police, Ambulance, or Fire) from internal University telephones by dialling 9-999. Callers should state clearly which emergency service is required, where the service is required and a telephone number on which the emergency service operator can contact the caller.

After calling the emergency services, please dial 01865 60 3060 to alert the main security control room.

First aid procedures

All students must familiarise themselves with the location of qualified first aiders. Students must know what action to take on discovering a first aid incident (OBUHSN-10). Qualified first aiders work within every Faculty/Directorate. The number of first aiders and their location will depend on the risks within their place of work. To identify your nearest first aider

click on “first aiders” in the electronic internal telephone directory
Dial 01865 60 3060 and security will find the name of your nearest first aider.

Accident/incident reporting

Students must know The University procedures for reporting accidents, incidents or any kind of dangerous occurrence (OBUHSN-11).

As soon as any necessary immediate action has been taken, using the Oxford Brookes University Accident Report form the accident/incident must be reported by a member of staff present at the scene, or the individual involved in the accident/incident. Copies of the form are available from Faculty/Directorate offices and also from the Health and Safety web pages.

The completed form must be forwarded to the University Safety Team within 3 days of the event.

Student conduct

Students must conduct themselves responsibly and safely while carrying out any university related activity. They must ensure that their actions or omissions do not endanger the health and safety of themselves, staff, other students, visitors or the general public.

Students shall not intentionally or recklessly interfere with, or misuse, anything provided by the University in the interests of Health, Safety or Welfare. Such damage or interference constitutes a criminal offence and at least will result in disciplinary action.

Students must not use any apparatus or equipment until they have received instruction from a properly qualified and responsible member of staff as to how to use it safely. Students must report any apparently or potentially dangerous situation, apparatus, equipment or building immediately to the lecturer/supervisor in charge. In the event of the appropriate lecturer/supervisor not being immediately available, students must take any reasonable steps to minimise the hazard and report the incident to Estates and Campus Services, Hall Manager or the Safety Team as appropriate.

Student projects

A risk assessment of any student project must be carried out prior to its commencement to identify the potential hazards, level of supervision required and the implications of the project to the buildings and grounds of the University. Where necessary, supervision must be carried out by the lecturer or their authorised nominee. This nominee can be a suitably qualified member of academic or technical staff. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that the project is properly risk assessed and managed (OBUHSN-36)

for compliance with existing Faculty/Directorate procedures;
or general risks to health and safety under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974, or other associated legislation;
or compliance with any University Safety Notices, Codes of Practice or Guidance Notes
alterations to the project must be reassessed and recorded
if, after a risk assessment, it is decided that the risks are minimal this fact still needs to be recorded.

Any necessary precautions identified by the risk assessment must be agreed between the supervisor and student(s). In all but the most elementary circumstances they must be recorded in writing. The supervisor must carry out regular checks of the project to identify whether the student(s) are following the agreed procedures.

Students must seek and follow advice, where appropriate, from the University Safety Team, Senior Occupational Health Advisor and/or, Faculty or Specialist Health and Safety Advisors.

Alcohol and drugs policy

This document forms part of the Academic and Student Affairs Directorate student policies and outlines the University’s procedures regarding student use and misuse of alcohol and drugs including the support and help available and the disciplinary procedures that will be taken if misuse occurs. The policy must be read by all students. Copies of the document are available from Student Services or are available online at Academic policies A-Z.