UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
Minutes of the meeting of the Safety Committee held on 26 May 2006
Present:
Professor P Scott (Chair), Ms H Hutchings, Mr A Taylor, Dr S AlKhalifa, Mr R Buckle, Mr J Burrows, Mr A Cooling, Mrs A Walters, Mrs
A Boutall, Mr D Wilson, Mr M Smith, Mr A James, Mr J Dempsey, Mr D
Welchman, Mr D Wright, Mr Z Hirani, Mr D Beaton, Mr F Buxton, Mr F
Aitken, Ms. Karen Kelleher, Ms L McCarthy, Professor D Hodgson, Mr
C Fountain, Mr E Birch, Miss J Gardner, Ms H Hutchings, Ms A
Packwood
Apologies:
Mr G Day, Ms S Russell, Mr M Joy, Mr P Mills, Mr R Farr, Mr P Hand
In
Attendance: Dr D Veale, University Safety Officer
Mrs C Beament, Assistant University Safety Officer
Mr A Kay, Senior Occupational Health Advisor
Mrs J Watkin, Occupational Health Advisor
Ms J Strong, Secretary to the University Safety Committee
31/05-06
Minutes
RESOLVED:
(a) That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2006 be
approved.
(b) That a copy of the minutes be placed on the restricted access area
of the Safety Office website.
32/05-06
Matters Arising on the Minutes
(a)
Smoking in the University (minute USC 17/05-06 refers)
REPORTED: (by the University Safety Officer)
That the revisions to SITU Part 2 – Smoking Policy (USC 28/05-06) be
approved.
(b)
Recognition & Reward of Departmental Safety Officers (minute
USC 18/05-06 refers)
REPORTED: (by the Secretary to the Committee)
That a draft policy for the Reward and Recognition of Departmental
Safety Officers has been provided to the Personnel Operations Director
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with a view to implementation of this policy by the start of the 2006/07
academic year.
NOTED:
That Departmental Safety Officers are unhappy about the length of
time this policy has taken to be written and implemented.
Implementation of the Reward and Recognition of Departmental safety
Officers by the start of 2006/07 academic year will make this policy two
years in its design and implementation.
(c)
Occupational Health Strategy (minute USC 25/05-06 refers)
RECEIVED:
An oral report on progress, from the Senior Occupational Health
Adviser, on the progress of development of the University’s
Occupational Health Strategy.
REPORTED:
That the Occupational Health Service was reviewing the proposed
Occupational Health Strategy for the next three years, in the light of
comments from the Director of Personnel Services and the University
Safety Officer.
RESOLVED:
That the Senior Occupational Health Adviser continue to review and
revise as necessary the Occupational Health Strategy and report back
to the University Safety Committee at its next meeting.
(d)
Accident Statistics (minute USC 26/05-06 refers)
CONSIDERED:
A report from the University Safety Officer on the benchmarking
exercise carried out to compare the University of Warwick’s accident
statistics against those of other Universities (Paper USC 29/05-06).
REPORTED:
(i)
(ii)
That the University’s RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries
Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations)
reportable accident statistics were in line with average
statistics for other Universities
That the total number of accidents reported at the
University was higher than those at comparator
Universities.
JS/USC.Minutes/26/05/06
RESOLVED:
That it was the view of the Committee that work to improve accident
reporting within the University had been successful as reflected in the
higher than average number of total accidents reported.
33/05-06
Report from the University Safety Officer
RECEIVED:
A report from the University Safety Officer on the Safety departments
current projects (Paper USC 30/05-06).
REPORTED:
(a)
Occupational Health
That new equipment had been purchased by the Occupational
Health Service in order to extend its range of services, including
an audiometry booth and physiotherapy plinth.
(b)
Fire Risk Assessments
That more fire risk assessments had been reviewed and that
future assessments would be carried out by Mr. E Birch,
University Fire and Safety Officer.
(c)
Visits to Departments by University Safety Officers
That in Area 5, Physics Level 4, recommendations had been
made that the consumption of food and beverages in several
areas where chemicals are handled must not be permitted.
34/05-06
Report from the Director of Estates Services
RECIEVED:
A report from the Building Surveyor, Estates Services (Paper USC
31/05-06) noting:
(a)
International Manufacturing Centre Footpath
That modification to the handrails and fixing had widened the
footpath by 400 - 450mm.
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(b)
University House/Ring Road – Oval Table
That the height of the willow fences in this area was controlled to
ensure that visibility for pedestrians crossing the road at this
point is maintained.
(c)
Social Studies Refurbishment
That Phase II of the Social Studies Building refurbishment has
commenced and would continue over the summer and that
pedestrian access would be restricted around the courtyard and
periphery of the Social Studies Building for the duration of these
works.
35/05-06
Report from Student & Ancillary Services
RECEIVED:
A report from the University House Facilities Manager on fire drills, the
speed of evacuation from buildings and any faults or failures recorded
during the drills (Paper USC. 32/05-06)
REPORTED: (by the Facilities Manager)
That ambulance attendances, where arrival time at the University
exceeds 20 minutes from the request being made, relates to non
urgent calls made from the University Health Centre and not
emergency calls made by the Switchboard or Gate House
36/05-06
Emergency and Disaster Planning
RECEIVED:
A paper setting out the Union of Student’s Emergency & Disaster and
Business Recovery Plan (Paper USC 33/05-06) together with a
demonstration by the Students Union Health & Safety Manager of the
emergency kit used by the Students Union.
37/05-06
Management of Health and Safety in the University
CONSIDERED:
A proposal from the University Safety Officer recommending changes
to the management of health and safety in the University (Paper USC
34/05-06).
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NOTED:
That the committee had concerns relating to the proposals by the
University Safety Officer recommending changes to the management
of health and safety in the University (Paper USC 34/05-06).
RECOMMENDED:
That discussion of the proposals led to the following recommendations
regarding the management of health and safety in the University being
made by the Committee;
(a) That the title of the University Safety Committee be changed to
the University Health and Safety Committee.
(b) That the University Health and Safety Committee report to the
Senate and the Council via a new committee, to be entitled the
University Health and Safety Executive Committee
(c) That the Chair of the University Health and Safety Committee be
a senior member of academic staff and also a member of the
University Council.
(d) That a lay member of the Council be appointed to serve on the
University Health and Safety Committee
(e) That a review of the composition of the University Health and
Safety Committee and Safety Areas be carried out by a Working
Party set up by the University Safety Committee.
(f) That Departmental Safety Officers not appointed to the
University Health and Safety Committee attend meetings of the
Committee for relevant items
(g) That a Technical Sub Committee of the University Health and
Safety Committee be formed
(h) That the University Health and Safety Committee continue to
meet on a termly basis.
NOTED:
RESOLVED:
That the proposed revisions to the Management of Health and Safety
in the University be approved as proposed in paper USC 34/05-06.
38/05-06
Revision of the University Safety Policy
REPORTED:
(a) That the Senate at its meeting held on 8 March 2006 and the
Council at its meeting held on 15 March 2006 approved the Health
and safety Committee’s recommendations for:
JS/USC.Minutes/26/05/06
(i) An addition to SITU Part 2 – Work at Home
(ii) A revision of SITU Part 12 – Disabled People
(iii) A revision of SITU Part 4 – Ionising Radiation
CONSIDERD:
Draft revisions to SITU Part 1 – Health and Safety Management (Paper
USC 35/05-06).
RESOLVED
That paper USC 35/05-06 be amended further to reflect suggested
changes put forward at the meeting to the recommendations relating to
the management of Health and Safety in the University (minute 37/0506 refers).
39/05-06
Review of Work Related Stress
RECEIVED:
A report from the Assistant University Safety Officer on the proposed
methodology for reviewing work related stress in the University (Paper
USC 36/05-06).
40/05-06
Visits from Enforcing Authorities
RECIEVED:
A report from the University Safety Officer on recent visits to the
University by the Environment Agency, the West Midlands Fire Service
and Coventry City Council Environmental Health Department (Paper
USC 37/05-06).
41/05-06
Improving Employee Involvement
RECEIVED:
A report from the University Safety Officer on a consultative document
from the Health and Safety Commission regarding improvements to
worker involvement in relation to improving health and safety risk
management (Paper USC 38/05-06).
RESOLVED:
That member’ views and comments on the proposals set out in the
Health and Safety Commission’s consultative document be directed to
the University Safety Officer for future discussion by the Committee.
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