Health and Safety
Induction for Students
Alastair Merrill, Health and Safety Advisor
September 2012
1
Aim and objectives
AIM:
• To explain the arrangements for health and
safety at the University of West London
OBJECTIVES:
• Understand your responsibilities and the
University’s responsibilities to you
• Understand arrangements for fire safety
• Understand arrangements for first aid
• Understand arrangements for accident reporting
• Where to get help
Duties and responsibilities
The University’s duties and
responsibilities
The University of West London recognises and
accepts its duties under Health and Safety law to
ensure the health, safety and welfare of its
students, staff and visitors.
The University seeks to protect and promote the
health, safety and welfare of all students by:
• Providing a safe environment to learn and work
• Identifying significant hazards and implementing
appropriate procedures to eliminate or reduce
the risk of harm (risk assessments and safe
systems of work)
• Providing appropriate information, instruction,
training and supervision
• Implementing procedures for dealing with
emergencies (e.g. fire, first aid)
What the University provides for you
To promote and support your health:
• Access to a GP service
• Trained first aiders
• Occupational Health service for students undertaking
clinical work
To promote and support your safety:
• Competent staff
• University Safety Advisors
To promote and support your welfare:
• Student Services
• Confidential counselling service
Students’ duties and responsibilities
• Exercise personal responsibility for your safety
and that of others
• Adhere to the University’s Health and Safety
rules and procedures
• Familiarise yourself with any notices concerned
with procedures or Codes of Practice that relate
specifically to your programme of study
• Co-operate with all teaching and support staff
including instructions given by the Emergency
Team during building evacuations.
• Wear suitable clothing (including protective
equipment) as directed / needed for your course
• Bring to the attention of staff any defects that
arise with any equipment being issued or used
• Never bring onto the premises substances that
are hazardous to health unless you have
permission
• Not to misuse safety equipment
• Violent or abusive behaviour towards
other students and staff is not tolerated
Failure to adhere to these duties and
instructions may result in disciplinary action.
Fire doors
Children on University premises
• Parents are discouraged from bringing children to
the University
• Parents or guardians must sign in children at
Reception upon arrival
• Parents or guardians will be asked to remove
children if they are deemed to be excessively noisy
or they disrupt other students’ learning and study
• Children are prohibited from hazardous areas such
as laboratories, kitchens and workshops
• In exceptional circumstances, and with prior
agreement, a lecturer may at their discretion allow
students to bring children to meetings and classes.
Additional comments
• If you have a health condition or disability that
may affect or be affected by your studies, please
request a referral to the School’s Occupational
Health service or discuss this with Student
Services
• If you become pregnant, you must notify your
tutor or programme leader so that steps can be
taken to ensure that the health of you and your
baby, and your studies, are not adversely
affected
• You must adhere to all instructions regarding
clinical placements.
Fire safety
On discovering a fire:
• Raise alarm
• Do not try to put out fire unless trained to do so
• Leave by the nearest exit
• Report to the assembly point
• Do not re-enter building
On hearing the alarm:
• Leave by the nearest exit
• Report to the assembly point
• If it safe to do so, switch off equipment
• If it is safe to do so, close doors and windows
On hearing the alarm:
• Don’t panic
• Don’t stop to collect personal belongings
• Do not use lifts
• Don’t lock doors
• Do not re-enter building until told to do so
Fire alarm testing
Once a week, the fire alarm is tested.
How do I know if it is a test?
When testing the alarms, the bells will not sound
for more than 30 seconds at a time.
If the bells sound continuously for more than 30
seconds, you should evacuate the building.
If in doubt, get out!
Fire action
notice and call
point (right)
Fire escape route
signage (below)
Fire extinguishers
Water (H2O) fire extinguishers have a red label and a
flexible hose.
•Point the hose at the base of the fire when
discharging the extinguisher
•They can be used on fires involving furniture,
fabrics, wood, curtains, blinds and paper.
•They must not be used on fires involving
electrical equipment or near to electrical
supplies.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishers have a black
label and a rigid horn.
•Point the horn at the base of the fire, but do not
hold the horn when discharging the extinguisher.
•They can be used on fires involving electrical
equipment or near to electrical supplies.
Fire extinguishers
Remember: if you haven’t been trained to
use a fire extinguisher, only use one if you
have to, for example, to clear a safe route
out of an area.
All extinguishers have basic instructions for
use on them.
Most University buildings have more than
one way out of the building (look for the
green signs). Therefore you should not need
to use an extinguisher to fight your way out
if there is smoke or fire as there is likely
to be an alternative safe route.
‘Locked’ fire doors
Some fire exit doors are locked to prevent them being used for day to
day access, but they should be used when the fire alarms sound or in
an emergency. These have a tube that needs to be broken before
you can open them. Use the hammer provided to break the tube.
These look like this:
PEEPS
• Personal emergency exit plans may
be required for those who need
assistance during a building
evacuation
• Mobility impaired persons move
horizontally to refuge areas (places
of temporary safety). Remember,
do not use the lifts during a
building evacuation. Trained staff
will assist with the evacuation down
the stairs using Evac Chairs
• See Fire Evacuation Procedures
document on the Student Support
section of Blackboard for more
information.
No Smoking
• The University operates a NO SMOKING Policy
in all buildings and vehicles.
• This is a legal requirement.
Site-specific arrangements
for fire safety
St Mary’s Road, Ealing
• Teaching Centre, H Block and Library all evacuate simultaneously
• Separate alarms for other buildings (SU/North Building, NE Building,
Vestry Hall)
• Assembly points: Warwick Road and SU car park
Paragon, Brentford
• Misting system and detectors in every room
• Phased evacuation
• Assembly points: Cost Cutter and Accommodation Courtyard
Fountain House, Reading
• All areas evacuate simultaneously
• Assembly point: between the rear of the Civic Offices and the Police
Station
Remember: wherever you are, if you can hear
the alarm, leave. If in doubt, get out!
First Aid
• To summon medical assistance, dial 3333 on any
University phone, or call Reception and ask for a First
Aider:
– St Mary’s Road Reception x2231 or 2232
(020 8231 2231 / 2232)
– Paragon Reception x4210
(020 8209 4210)
– Fountain House Reception
0118 957 6633
• Out of hours, contact the 24 hour Security Desk: x3333
(020 8231 2921)
• If you call 999 yourself, you must notify either Reception
or Security so that they can direct the paramedics to the
casualty on arrival
Accident reporting
• You must report all accidents, health-incidents,
dangerous occurrences and near misses to the person in
charge at the time
• The University accident / incident form is available from
Reception, Security, and Blackboard
• Accidents whilst on placement must be reported to
the person in charge, and also to the University
• Contact the Safety Office without delay to advise of any
serious accidents or dangerous occurrences:
Safety Office:
E-mail:
telephone x 2745 / 020 8231 2745
health.safety@uwl.ac.uk
Emergency contact
(out of hours, Bank Holidays and weekends):
• Telephone 0844 8222888 (quote reference LBE24)
Where to get help
Don’t be complacent
Fire statistics
In 2008 in the UK:
•
•
•
•
328,000 fires
1,400 fires in the Education sector
496,000 domestic fires
451 deaths, 12,215 injuries
Common causes of domestic fire (2008 statistics*)
•
Cooking appliances: 54%
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4IByZ6dgCw
•
•
•
•
Smoking materials, lighters and matches: 14%
Electrical appliances, equipment and supplies: 14%
Heating appliances and equipment: 6%
Candles: 6%
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnCNW4BBUSA
•
Alcohol or drugs
a factor in 47% of deaths from fire**
* www.communities.gov.uk Fire Statistics, UK 2008
** Arson Control Forum: Learning lessons from real fires: findings from fire investigation
reports. Research Bulletin No.9. Dept for Communities and Local Government. July 2006.
+
=
Don’t cook if you’re under the
influence of alcohol or drugs
+
=
Get a take-away instead!
Consequences of fire: video
Humberside Fire and Rescue demo
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkh4F-fvvi0
Bradford stadium fire 1985 – do not show video:
• 4 minutes for fire to engulf entire stand
• 56 dead, 265 injured
• See YouTube
(search for Bradford Fire)
• Be warned: television footage
is shocking and distressing. Do
not view if you are likely to be
upset by graphic images.
0.30
3.00
34
1.15
3.17
2.15
3.20
The front room fire
Fire – is it a real threat?
Mean probability of RFD fire per year
0
0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008
0.01
0.012 0.014 0.016
Education
Boroad Industry Category
Transport, storage & communication
Hotels & restaurants
Others
Health & social work
Public admin & social security
Other community & social service
Accidental
Deliberate
Wholesale/retail trade repair, etc
Manufacturing
Financial intermediation
Construction
Real estate renting business activities
Probability of Workplace Fire by industry Type for London
REMEMBER: although fire is a significant risk, there have been no fire-related fatalities
in the University sector in the last 5 years (excluding privately rented accommodation)
City University – May 2001
36
City University
– May 2001
Glasgow University – October 2001
University of Southampton –
October 2005
Northumbria University– April 2007
University of Westminster – June 2007
University of Westminster – June 2007
University of Westminster – June 2007
Delft University – May 2008
London Met –
June 2008
University of Bristol – January 2009
University of Worcester – January 2011
Fire Doors
48
Shanghai inferno, November 2010
49
Any questions?
Contact the Safety Office by:
E-mail:
health.safety@uwl.ac.uk
Telephone: 020 8231 2745
More information available at West London Online (BlackBoard)