MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
BSc (Hons) Computer Forensics and Security/ Computer Games Technology/Computer Science/
Computing/Games Design and Development/Media Technology/Multimedia and Web
Computing/Software Engineering/Web and Mobile Application Development
Industrial Placement
Contents
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
General Introduction (Fees, NUS card etc)
Problems
Supervision
Employer's Rules and Regulations
Assessment
Final Year & Completion of Placement
Diary of Tasks
Health & Safety
Appendices
9.1
H&S Check Lists
9.2
Personal Objectives / Competences
9.3
Personal Assessment Proforma
9.4
Technical Objectives
9.5
Technical Assessment Proforma
9.6
Log Book Layout
Industrial Placement Tutor:
Tel No:
e-mail:
0161-247-1494
s.murphy@mmu.ac.uk
Industrial Placement Administration:
Tel No
Fax No
e-mail
0161 247 1502
0161 247 5961
m.mcgarvey@mmu.ac.uk
Industrial Placement Website:
http://www.sci-eng.mmu.ac.uk/placements/
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 1
1. General Introduction
The Industrial Placement year is entered after completion of the second year and
precedes entry into the fourth and final year of the course.
The placement does NOT count towards the degree classification. A separate
University certificate will be awarded.
The start and duration of the placement are negotiated between you and the
organisation. However the placement should not commence before the end of the
summer term and must be a minimum of 36 weeks.
The purpose of the placement year is to give you experience of IT systems
environments in business or industry. This should complement the academic
content of your course and so enrich your education. It will also help in the
development of your personal skills as well as giving you valuable work experience
that should assist in gaining permanent employment after graduation.
To provide a clearer definition of the learning potential of individual placements a
list of Personal and Technical Objectives have been defined (see appendices). The
Personal Objectives are non-subject specific; the Technical Objectives are specific
to Computing (these are not exhaustive and are rather traditional – but are useful
for guidance). The assessment of the placement is done with reference to these
objectives.
Fees and Student Status
Fees still have to be paid to the University.
If Student Finance pays your tuition fees, it is very important that you fill in the
application online stating that you are doing a paid placement. Make sure you
keep your award letter in a safe place as it maybe required by the University as
proof of payment of fees.
Most students will be able to enrol online – details will be emailed to your student
account.
http://www.fin.mmu.ac.uk
You still have student status and can, if you wish, apply for a student loan. To
enquire ring the Loans Office in the University 0161-247 1039
You can get a Student Union (NUS) card by contacting the: 3rd Floor Student’s
Union:
99 Oxford Road (next to KRO2)
Manchester M1 7EL
Tel no: 0161-247 6533 or email: s.u.advice@mmu.ac.uk
You need to ask for a registration form, explaining that you cannot call in
personally because you are completing a year's placement. You will need to send a
photocopy of both sides of your library card back with the completed registration
form.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 2
2. Problems
Some students find the transition from student to employee difficult. It is not
unusual for a placement student to feel overwhelmed/ bored/ confused/ unhappy
during the first month or two. Students who experience such feelings find the
situation almost always improves.
Problems of one kind or other kind may occur during your placement. They may
arise directly out of your work, from your personal life or sometimes as a result of
personal interactions with people at your place of work. The nature of the
particular problem will determine the course of action you should take. If you have
difficulties with the work then you should discuss them with your Industrial
Supervisor who will, in most cases be able to resolve them fairly easily or at least
suggest some other member of staff who can. It is most important however, that
you approach your supervisor at suitable times for help. He or she may be a little
impatient if you seek help without first trying to solve the problem yourself on the
other hand it is equally important that you don't leave it too long before asking for
assistance or advice.
If however, you have a problem that cannot be resolved this way then you should
contact the Industrial Placement tutor at university. Often an e-mail or phone call
will suffice; however if this does not remedy the situation then an early visit to the
place of work will be arranged.
Under no circumstances should you take any action that may be detrimental to
your placement before discussing it with the Industrial Placement Tutor. For
example, no student should terminate his/her employment before completing 36
weeks as this would be tantamount to leaving the course. If you are unable to
contact the Industrial Placement Tutor contact the Course Tutor or the Placement
Administrator.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 3
3. Supervision
Most students will have one Industrial Supervisor, an employee of the organisation
to whom they are directly responsible for the whole placement. If you are engaged
in a number of projects during your placement you may experience a number of
supervisors. It is important to realise that your supervisor(s) will be asked to report
on your progress during and towards the end of the placement.
Each student will also be visited at least twice during the placement by an
academic tutor from the university.
The purpose of this visit is to ascertain that the following aspects of the placement
are satisfactory:
i)
ii)
iii)
the work undertaken is at a suitable level
the student is coping with the work and is carrying it out to the employer's
satisfaction
the completion of the logbook
The academic tutor will usually contact you or your Industrial Supervisor by
telephone, e-mail or letter to arrange the visits. The first visit will take place
before Christmas the second visit approximately three months later.
During these visits the tutor will talk to you and your Industrial Supervisor
separately, and probably, together. There may be extra visits arranged if problems
occur during the placement. All visits will contribute to the general monitoring of
progress, but in addition the first visit will focus on - profile of the employer and profile of the computing functions, first two points in the placement report).
The second visit will focus on tasks undertaken and links to academic studies (last
two points in the placement report).
In addition to the above, the visiting tutor will discuss final year options, your
proposed final year project and the form of the placement report (see page 7).
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 4
4. Employers' Rules and Regulations
During the period of placement you will be subject to the same conditions imposed
on any temporary employee working with your particular organisation. This means
that you will pay income tax, National Insurance and will be expected to conform
to the rules and regulations regarding time-keeping, sickness regulations
confidentiality etc. Punctuality and attendance are particularly important, they
are usually monitored and the company can take action if these are not
acceptable.
In most medium to large organisations these rules will be given to you either prior
to, or directly after starting work. In many cases you will have to sign a document
in the form of a contract promising to adhere to these rules while working for the
organisation and in some cases, relating to secrecy or confidentiality, even after
you have left.
In smaller companies the aforementioned conditions may be a little vague. If there
are any areas that require further definition talk to your Industrial Supervisor.
In addition to these formalised agreements, there will be other aspects to which
you will be expected to conform. These may include your appearance in terms of
hair length for men and standard of dress; this is often important in an
environment where you will come into contact with customers of the organisation.
We would also like to stress working diligently and to a high standard and showing
due care, modesty and respect in relations with other staff. This is in your own
interests - you may want to return to the company after graduation or want to use
your Industrial Supervisor as a referee for later job applications. Also we wish to
maintain these links and have future students take up these established
placements.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 5
5. Assessment
As all placements are individual and the setting of objective criteria would be
difficult to monitor, assessments are NOT formally marked.
The assessment of the individual placements will be by formative feedback,
providing the individual student with both useful feedback from their industrial
supervisor and academic feedback.
Assessment of the placement is made on the basis of four main areas:
1)
2)
3)
4)
1)
log book
your work performance
the final placement report
placement presentation
The Log Book
The log book has been designed to help you monitor your technical and personal
development during your placement. It will also provide you with all the
information you will need to write your final placement report. You are required to
make weekly entries which should be word processed, if at all possible.
The entries will record both descriptively and analytically the experiences gained
during the placement. You are encouraged to reflect on your activities and to draw
conclusions. A recommended layout for log book entries is included in the
appendices. Ensure that each entry is clearly dated both with the actual date and
the week number of the placement. It is essential that the learning objectives of
the placement be used as the yardsticks against which the analysis takes place.
The Academic Tutor will wish to see the log book during his/her visits. The log
book will be checked for completeness and will be used as the basis for discussion
of the student's performance. The Industrial Supervisor may also wish to inspect
the log book entries.
The log book is to be handed in to the Industrial Placement Administrator
(Marie McGarvey) with the final Project report at the end of May so that they
can be graded for the Board of Examiners in June.
2)
Performance
Performance will be measured by direct comparison to the set objectives.
At the beginning of the placement the student and the Industrial Supervisor need
to look at the list of Technical Objectives and define which are relevant to the
actual placement.
This list is not exhaustive, nor is it likely that any one
placement will provide opportunities to achieve all the listed objectives. It is
recommended that about six technical objectives are defined.
Definition of objectives will give clear goals and guidance and will facilitate
assessment by the Industrial Supervisor and self-assessment by the student.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 6
Before each scheduled Academic Tutor visit (approx. Christmas & Easter) both the
student and the Industrial Supervisor should assess the students’ performance on
both sets of objectives (both Technical and Personal). Forms are provided for this
process (see appendices). A discussion should then take place to identify any great
incompatibility between the two assessments. This process will provide the student
with useful feedback on their performance.
These assessment forms should also be available for the visiting Academic Tutor's
visits.
The Industrial Supervisor will provide the university with an assessment of the
student's performance towards the end of the placement.
3)
Final Placement Report
The final Placement report of approximately 3,000 words should be submitted to
the Industrial Placement Administrator (Marie McGarvey) at the end of May. This
report should be word-processed and will summarise and reflect on the placement
experience.
The report should include:
i.
a general description of the employing company, to cover such areas as
size, markets, objectives, history, organisation etc
ii.
a discussion of IT-related functions and activities in the company,
including the way the computing activity is organised, hardware and
software used, career paths, management structure etc
iii.
a detailed description and analysis of the
placement
iv.
links between academic studies (past and future) to the placement
tasks
undertaken
whilst on
On the basis of the visiting Academic Tutors' and the Industrial Tutor's reports
together with the Log Book and the final Placement Report, the Industrial
Placement Tutor will recommend an overall grade for the placement to the Board
of Examiners.
4)
Placement Presentation
On return to university, usually in induction week, students give brief presentations
about their placement experience to students preparing for their industrial
placement.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 7
6. Final Year & Completion of Placement
About Easter time you will automatically receive details of Final Year Module
Choices and Final Year Projects selection process. These will be emailed to you by
the Level 5 Tutor Paul Marsden, whilst on placement. Both of these items will
require your reply by a certain date. Ensure that you adhere to these dates, failure
may mean a restricted choice.
It is very useful before finishing your placement, to update your CV to include
the details of your experience. Ask your supervisor's comments on your CV and
ask their permission to use their name as a referee.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 8
7. Diary of Tasks
Listed below are the important events and the week number of the placement
period by which the tasks should be completed:
Week
Number (approx)
1.
Complete ‘Personal Details whilst on placement’
1
Also complete the supervisor details including your supervisor e-mail
address
2.
Complete the ‘Health & Safety Form’
2
3.
With supervisor, define your Technical Objectives
2
4.
Complete Personal and Technical Objective Assessment before 1st academic visit and
redefine Technical Objectives for next period
5.
Complete Personal and Technical Objective Assessment before 2nd academic visit and
redefine Technical Objectives for next period
6.
Complete –
the option choices and Project Selection Details Easter (approx.)
7.
Complete and send to university the Placement
End of May
Log Book and Placement Report
(These documents must NOT be transmitted electronically)
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
36
Issue June 2012
Page 9
8. Guidance Notes for Students on Placements (Health & Safety)
Action to be taken in an emergency
Because of the wide variety of work that is carried out and the possible complex
layout of the various buildings, it is not possible to produce a set of valid and
detailed emergency instructions to cover every situation that may arise. For this
reason, each employer has its own emergency instructions relating to particular
buildings. There should be in every building a notice setting out the procedure to
be adopted in case of fire.
This instruction should be studied and committed to memory.
There are certain points that apply to all emergency situations;

you should commit to memory the standing orders for emergency action.
You will have no time to read them in an emergency.

remember you are expected to act in the spirit of the instructions. There is
no substitute for common sense

the most important consideration at all times is human safety.

remember: if you become a casualty someone must rescue you, possibly at
personal risk to themselves

you should act quietly and methodically. You should not rush or attempt to
pass others when leaving the scene of an emergency

the senior person present should assume control of the situation , ensuring
safe evacuation from the premises of all persons present and be prepared
to warn the Emergency Services of known specific hazards.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 10
If you have to telephone for assistance in an emergency, the following information
must always be given:

who you are

where you are; i.e. the location and telephone extension from which you
are telephoning

the nature of the emergency and what services are required

the exact location where assistance is required.
You should ensure that the message has been correctly received by asking for it
to be repeated back to you.
It is essential that the location is clearly defined. Local terminology should not be
used because for instance, ‘the research site’ means very little to the Emergency
Services.
It is important to give the correct name for the building and the street where it is
located. If the postcode is known that should also be provided.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 11
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASWA)
The Act is based upon the concept of a general duty of care for most people
associated with work activities. The specific aims are to

secure the health, safety and welfare of people at work.

protect persons other than persons at work against risks to health or safety
arising out of or in connection with the activities of persons at work.

control the keeping and use of explosive or highly flammable or otherwise
dangerous substances, and generally prevent the unlawful acquisition,
possession and use of such substances.

control the emission into the atmosphere of noxious or offensive
substances.
Main provisions of HASWA
There have been a number of regulations, etc., since HASWA but fundamentally
they only amplify the basic concepts contained within HASWA. Those provisions
applicable to people place various duties upon employers, employees and others,
In brief these are:
General duties of employers
Employers are required as far as reasonably practicable, to :

ensure the health and safety and welfare of employees

provide safe plant and systems of work

ensure safe use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances

provide information, instruction, training and supervision

maintain a safe place of work and safe means of access and egress
General duties of employers to employees
The effect to make criminally enforceable the common law duty to take reasonable
care for the safety of employees. This includes the requirement, as far as
reasonably practicable, to ensure:

employees know the risks

employees know the precautions

the precautions are available

employees know the precautions available
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 12
General duties of employers to persons other than employees
Employers have a general duty to protect anyone affected by the undertaking, e.g.
the general public. Regulations

require information to be given to persons affected, e.g. living near the
plant

prescribe situations regarding emission of fumes, smoke ,etc.

place duties on persons in control of premises in relation to harmful
emissions into the atmosphere.
Duties towards the customer
Duties of those who design, manufacture, import or supply and install articles or
substances are to;

ensure that they are safe and without risk to health

carry out tests, examination and research (or have it done on their behalf.

provide adequate information regarding proper use, maintenance , etc.

install or erect plant and equipment safely.
The duties can be relieved by a written undertaking from the supplier that he/she
will take the steps to ensure that the article or substance will be safe in use or
while being cleaned, maintained, etc.
Duties of employees
No levy on employees is permitted for the provision of statutory protective
equipment. Employees must

take reasonable care for themselves and others

co-operate with the employer and safety appliances

not recklessly and wilfully interfere with safety appliance
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 13
Written safety policies
Companies must prepare and revise, when necessary, a written statement of their
general policy towards health and safety at work setting out:

the organisation - i.e. who is responsible

the arrangements - i.e. what is to be done
Safety representatives and committees
Trade Unions may, in accordance with Regulations, appoint safety representatives
and ask for a safety committee.
This is a duty on an n employee to enter into consultation with the representatives,
whose function and rights are prescribed by regulations.
Disclosure of Information
Inspectors may tell safety representatives what they ask firm to do
Powers of inspectors
Inspectors have wide powers of:

entry

inspection

interview of persons

collection of information

photographing and recording

taking samples

seizing dangerous substances or plant

taking written statements
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 14
Enforcement

Improvement Notice
This requires an organisation to take remedial action within a specified period.
Failure to comply incurs up to a £20,000 fine (or unlimited on indictment)

Prohibition Notice
Activities giving rise to imminent danger must cease on the date stated - which
may be immediate. Failure to comply incurs a £20,000 fine or, on indictment, an
unlimited fine and up to two years imprisonment.

Codes of practice
These are admissible as evidence in determining practicable, reasonably
practicable and practicable means.

Other offences
These can incur a £20,000 fine on summary conviction or, on indictment, an
unlimited fine and up to two years imprisonment

Appeals
Employers may appeal to an Industrial Tribunal within 21 days against Improvement
and Prohibition Notices, Improvement Notices are suspended until the appeal is
heard, but not Prohibition Notices.
Prosecution is the ultimate deterrent. Prosecutions can be taken out against
corporate bodies or individuals but in all cases the onus of proof lies with the
accused i.e. an organisation or individual is deemed to be guilty and must prove
they exercised all due diligence or took reasonable precautions to prevent the
incident happening.
General Safety
Introduction
The prevention of accidents in laboratories, stores, workshops and all other places
of work is a duty of every individual using or entering them. Ensuring the safety of
others is as important as the avoidance of personal injury.
Everyone should make it his or her first task to become familiar with any special
instructions issued for dealing with emergencies specific to the place in which he
or she is working.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 15
General Safety rules
Eating, drinking, smoking and the application of make-up in laboratories or when
handling or working with chemicals is prohibited. Smoking may also be prohibited
in other areas as well.
You should familiarise yourself with:

the layout of the building

the allocation of fire -fighting appliances and how they work

ways to get out of the building in an emergency, which may be different to
the way you came in

the allocation of telephones, and

first aid arrangements
Remember: it may be too late to find out very much when an emergency actually
happens.
If you have any queries on safety matter: consult your supervisor or safety
representative.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 16
Specific topics
FIRE
General information
Applying routine precautions, some of which are set out later, can prevent most
fires. When a fire occurs the principal hazard to people is the smoke that is
generated and most deaths at fires are due to asphyxiation by smoke. Double doors
in corridors and doors leading from kitchens, for example, are designed to retain
the smoke to allow the remaining corridors to be used for evacuating the building.
The walls of corridors have a specified fire resistance so that the fire can be
contained in a small section of the building.
Means of Escape
Ensure that rooms, passages, corridors and stairways are not obstructed and that
corridor fire doors are kept closed. If a room contains an emergency exit, make
sure that it is unobstructed so that it is immediately available for use in an
emergency.
Fire extinguishers
Do not attempt to use an extinguisher unless you have received appropriate
instruction and training and if it is safe to do so.
Discretion is essential in deciding the lengths to which first-aid fire-fighting is
pursued. Portable fire-fighting equipment is not designed to cope with extensive
fires and it is important that first aid fire-fighting should cease and the location
should be evacuated as soon as the effects of fire threaten the means of escape,
the building structure, or otherwise indicate that it is out of control.
Although further action might reduce material losses no such saving can compare in
importance with human safety,.
Before attempting to fight a fire: always ensure the alarm has been raised and you
are able to leave the area if the fire escalates out of control.
Ensure you know: the correct fire extinguisher to use and have received instruction
in its use. For example, in a laboratory situation, use of the wrong choice of
extinguisher can turn a minor incident into a major disaster.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 17
Use carbon dioxide extinguishers with care: they can reduce the oxygen content of
the atmosphere in a confined space to dangerously low level.
There are many kinds of fire fighting equipment in the workplace: It is the duty of
everyone to know where they are located, and for what types of fire each one is
intended. Whenever fire-fighting equipment has been used an immediate report
should be made to the supervisor so that the equipment may be recharged or
replaced.
Use of fire extinguishers

Carbon Dioxide (usually black in colour) extinguishers are the type most
generally used for electrical fire or in laboratories, and have several
advantages in dealing with small fires. No mess is made and there is little
danger of apparatus nearby being knocked over or damaged. They can be
used where live electrical circuits are involved.
However, they have little cooling effect and until the extinguished material
has cooled below the ignition temperature care must be taken to ensure
that the fire does not re-ignite.

Water (usually red) extinguishers discharging water under pressure from a
carbon dioxide cartridge are recommended for use on fires involving paper,
wood, etc. They must not be used on fire where there are live electrical
circuits. They may be used for solvents miscible with water. It should be
noted that the strong jet of water can itself cause damage.

AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam - usually cream) multi purpose
extinguishers are suitable for most types of fires (materials, etc.) and are
ideal for dealing with the majority of fires involving flammable liquids. The
aqueous film prevents re-ignition of the fire with limited cooling properties.
Foam extinguishers may be used on immiscible liquids that are lighter than
water, e.g. petrol and most oils. They must not be used where live
electrical circuits are involved.

Hose reels are usually sited in corridors or in large rooms, for use where
extinguishers discharging water may be inadequate for risk involved. They
are intended to be used on fires involving wood structures, paper, fabrics,
etc. The hoses are usually of 22mm diameter and from 25-40 metres in
length. Where a control valve is fitted, it is important to ensure that it is
fully open before the hose is run out. Hoses fitted with automatic valves
operate when between 1 to 3 metres of hose has been run off the wheel.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 18
Fire/smoke stop doors
Fire/smoke stop doors may be installed throughout buildings so as to prevent
smoke and hot toxic gases circulating along routes to safety. These doors must not
be wedged or propped open. They must be kept closed at all times after access
and egress has been affected.
Fire instructions
These appear in the Emergency Procedures for the organisation and possibly in the
internal telephone directory. They should be displayed on notices in all buildings.
Fire detection systems
Fire detectors give an early warning of a fire, particularly if the fire starts in an
unoccupied area. There are generally two types of detector used.

Heat detectors contain either a bimetallic or thermistor device and operate
when a rapid increase in temperature occurs. They are fitted in some
kitchens, laboratories and corridors. Other heat detectors operate when a
fixed temperature, normally 60-70 degrees centigrade, is exceeded and
they are used when a rapid rise in temperature can be anticipated in
normal operation, e.g. oven rooms and kitchens.

Smoke detectors contain an ion-chamber and detect the products of
combustion. They are the most sensitive of the automatic detectors.
Because of their high sensitivity, a single detector can protect larger areas
and these systems are found in most buildings.

All fire detectors are necessarily sensitive devices and can be easily
activated to give a false alarm. Smoke detectors for instance can be
activated by dust, steam or exhaust from petrol or diesel engines. Misuse of
fire-fighting equipment, e.g. hose-reels, fire extinguishers and fire alarms,
may render it inoperable when required in an emergency and could result in
loss of life. Moreover it is a criminal offence that may result in the
imposition of severe penalties by the courts and disciplinary action by the
employer.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 19
Precautions in offices, libraries, etc.
A recent nation-wide survey has revealed that offices are the scene of a substantial
number of serious accidents every year. Most of these are avoidable. There is an
increasing use of machinery in offices, e.g. paper guillotines, duplicators etc.,
which should be operated only according to the makers instructions. Only
maintenance personnel should remove the enclosing panels of machines.
All portable electric appliances should carry a current Portable Appliance Test
Label. Leads should not be allowed to trail in a manner likely to cause persons to
trip over them or to pull over the item. You should not leave appliances in
precarious positions nor use waste paper baskets as ashtrays.
Care must be taken to avoid spillage of water in rooms in which there are electric
power points set in the floors. It is possible in some circumstances for a person
standing on such a wet floor to receive, a possibly fatal, electric shock.
When carrying files, you should not carry so many that your vision is obscured.
Filing cabinet drawers should always be closed as soon as you have found what you
want. The corner of a metal drawer can inflict a very painful injury. Open only the
drawer at a time because more than one may cause a filing cabinet to tip forward.
You must never stand on revolving stools or chairs and should avoid using any chair
or stool where steps are provided. A fall on to the end of a desk or an open drawer
can cause a very serious injury.
You should not leave stacks of boxes, kit bags or files on the floor near doorways
for people to fall over. Polished floors, particularly if waxed or wet, offer a hazard.
You should never run on the polished floors of corridors or common rooms.
Work outside normal hours
Many companies have their own rules with regard to work outside normal hours,
e.g. 0800 to 1800 hrs Mondays to Fridays. Saturdays, Sundays, Bank Holidays and
other official holidays are usually regarded as outside normal hours.
Extreme care should be exercised when working outside these times and then only
with the explicit authority of the management of that organisation. It should be
forbidden to perform operations deemed hazardous by the employer, or his/her
nominee, unless some other person is within calling distance, and only after prior
permission has been given by the Head of the Section or his/her nominee for the
particular work involved.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 20
Electrical hazards
Two of the worst electrical hazards are careless or unskilled workmanship and
faulty or worn out equipment. Neither of these hazards need arise. Electric and
electronic supplies and equipment, including batteries and electrolytic capacitors
can be responsible for personal injury and even death. They can also cause fires
and explosions. Remember, some foreign colour coding of electrical leads differs
from British practice. If in doubt, ask.
Electricity and fire
All portable electrical appliances should have a current PAT certificate. This
involves mechanical and visual check that all socket outlets, switches, flexible
leads and electrical appliances are in good condition. In case of fire involving
electrical equipment, the first action to take must be to switch off the power
supply to that equipment. You should extinguish an electrical fire with carbon
dioxide, never with water or foam.
Use of electric points and equipment
Lead length should be adequate for the particular job for which the equipment is
currently being used. In no circumstances should you interfere with the wiring or
connections of any electric point or appliance. A duly authorised, competent
person will carry out all necessary adjustments or modifications to wiring.
Noise
Noise can cause damage to hearing, reduce efficiency or merely annoy. Damage to
hearing can result from a sudden violent sound producing an effect as dramatic as
the rupture of an eardrum. Continuous exposure to lower noise levels can,
however, produce deafness. In the latter case impairment to hearing may pass
unrecognised for a long period of time due to the insidiousness of the effect. For
advice on noise problems you should consult the organisations Safety Officer.
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Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
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First Aid
It is a legal requirement to report all accidents in the workplace. Medical advice
should always be sought, however serious the injury. Initially, simple first aid
measures may be applied.
Minor Cuts
Cuts and grazes are best treated by cleansing under running water and then dried.
A dry dressing or plaster should then be applied.
Severe Bleeding
Bleeding will be stopped by applying direct pressure on a dressing covering the
wound and if possible elevating the part.
Burns and Scalds
The affected parts should be immersed under running cold water for at least 10
minutes and then a dry dressing only applied
Chemical spillage
All chemicals must be washed of the body with copious amounts of water. Some
laboratories have emergency showers and these should be used when available.
Needle Stick injuries
Allow all puncture injuries to bleed freely and then wash under running water using
soap or hand cleanser. The injury should be reported immediately to the Medical
Centre or First Aider.
Eye injuries
All eye injuries must be irrigated thoroughly then treated at the Medical Centre or
local Hospital. You should never attempt to remove foreign objects from the eye.
Always seek medical assistance.
It must also be remembered that any sudden illness, bouts of ill health and
injuries, should be reported to the Medical Centre or First Aider, as soon as
possible.
To ensure your own safety, as far as reasonably practicable, you should employ the
age-old maxim:
IF IN DOUBT ASK
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 22
Appendix 9.1
STUDENT INDUCTION CHECKLIST
Name of student:
Start Date:
Employer:
The following items should be included in your induction into the
organisation, preferably on your first day. Please check off the items below
when they occur and inform your placement organiser of any items not
covered within one week of the start of your placement. This list is not
exhaustive and other topics may be covered, which you may note if you
wish:
TASK
DATE
Introduced to key staff members
Location of toilet facilities
Location of staff room, canteen etc.
Lunch arrangements
Place of work
Dress Code
Workspace
Telephone procedures
Post arrangements
Car Parking
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Manchester Metropolitan University
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HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES:
DATE:
Emergency procedures
Safety policy received or location known
Location of First Aid box
First Aid Arrangements
Fire Procedures
Accident reporting procedure
COSHH regulations/requirements
Display Screen Equipment regulations
Manual Handling
Protective clothing arrangements
Instruction on equipment you will be using
Other Issues
Student signature:
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Date:
Issue June 2012
Page 24
Appendix 9.2 PERSONAL OBJECTIVES / COMPETENCES
Within any placement there should be opportunities for students to gain experience in as many
of the following areas as possible:
A - BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
Demonstrate appropriate breadth and depth of business knowledge from the course.
Acquire quickly and efficiently additional business knowledge required by the tasks
undertaken.
Identify the people and parts of the company involved in/affected by his/her work.
Learn from people with greater business knowledge.
Take account of the wider business implications of his/her actions.
B - PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
B1
Adopt the standard practices of an organisation in terms of-:
dress
hours of work
punctuality
company policies and procedures
C - MOTIVATION
C1
C2
C3
C4
Demonstrate application to tasks, however routine or long-term.
Carry through a task from beginning to end.
Demonstrate self-motivation and enthusiasm.
Complete task in an accurate and thorough manner.
D - COMMUNICATION
D1
D2
D3
D4
Present information/argue a case either orally or in writing in a clear, concise and
accurate manner.
Display tact, discretion or assertiveness to inspire respect and confidence in a colleague,
a user or a customer.
Conduct information gathering interviews in an analytical and perceptive manner.
Participate constructively in meetings.
E - INITIATIVE
E1
E2
E3
Think and act effectively and independently.
Progressively require less supervision.
Contribute creative ideas and proposals to improve task management and the success of
a project.
F - WORKING WITH OTHERS
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
Demonstrate and maintain co-operative and helpful relationships with all employees.
Accept the authority of others and criticisms of work or ideas.
Display some leadership qualities.
Seek help and guidance from colleagues when required.
Offer help and guidance to colleagues when appropriate.
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Manchester Metropolitan University
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G - SELF-ORGANISATION
G1
G2
G3
G4
Plan and prioritise own work.
Ensure that such plans/priorities accord with corporate objectives and the needs of other
employees or customers.
Organise work-load to achieve maximum effectiveness and efficiency of resources.
Consistently meet deadlines.
H - JUDGEMENT
H1
H2
H3
H4
Demonstrate a logical, objective and methodical approach in analysing the key aspects
of a problem.
Make appropriate decisions with assurance and accept responsibility for them.
Recognise when not to make a decision.
Develop a self-critical awareness.
I - ADAPTABILITY
I1
I2
I3
I4
Grasp readily new ideas, concepts and situations.
Change at short notice procedures, technology, responsibilities or assignments.
Develop new skills quickly.
Undertake more than one task or play more than one role at the same time.
J – ATTENTION TO DETAIL
J1
J2
J3
J4
J5
Works within limits of authority, seeking guidance when unsure.
Keeps an eye on the detail, checking own work for mistakes
Completes all aspects of a task
Establishes realistic deadlines and then sticks to them
Keeps up-to-date on current internal and external procedures and regulations
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
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Appendix 9.3 Personal Assessment Proforma
STUDENT NAME (Block Capitals)
excellent…………………….scale………………………poor
Objective
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
not
tested
Business
Knowledge
Professional
Conduct
Motivation
Communication
Initiative
Working with
others
Self
Organisation
Judgement
Adaptability
Attention to
detail
General Comments:
Student’s Signature:
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Supervisor’s signature:
Date:
Issue June 2012
Page 27
Appendix 9.4 TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES
This is a list of possible objectives. It is NOT intended to be a comprehensive list as in certain
placements there may be opportunities for developing other skills that have not been included
here.
A - ANALYSIS OF REQUIREMENTS AND LOGICAL DESIGN
A1
A2
A3
A3
Interview users to establish requirements
Search through existing records etc to understand existing systems
Critically analyse requirements
Define requirements
B - PHYSICAL DESIGN AND SPECIFICATION
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
Design screens
Design reports and forms
Design a coding system
Design security procedures
Design and prototype user friendly dialogues
Specify a complete system
C - DEVELOPMENT
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
C6
C7
C8
C9
Understand a specification
Design a program using an appropriate methodology
Code in an appropriate procedural language, using appropriate tools
Develop software using a 4GL
Test a program
Document a program
Amend a complex program
Convert a number of programs
Check other people's programs for quality
D - USING PACKAGES
D1
Become expert in the use of a package(s) so that systems can be written or amended.
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Manchester Metropolitan University
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E -USER LIAISON
E1
E2
E3
E4
E5
E6
E7
E8
Provide advice to users in the use of software packages
Man help desk
Give technical presentations to users
Write and edit guides
Install and configure systems locally for users
Provide demonstration facilities (hardware and software)
Represent department at user meetings
Generate 'ad hoc' reports from the company database
F - TRAINING
F1
F2
F3
Develop training material
Develop user guides
Deliver training courses
G - IMPLEMENTATION
G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
G6
Set up and convert files
Conduct changeover routines
Test system with transactions
Set up test databases
Carry out user acceptance trials
Hand over systems to users
H - EVALUATION
H1
H2
H3
H4
Conduct hardware/software evaluation
Conduct feasibility study into the use of a particular system
Carry out a post-implementation review of a system
Analyse product/system failures as input to quality control
I - PROBLEM SOLVING
I1
I2
I3
I4
I5
I6
Use knowledge in the analytical solution of industrial problems
Solve technical problems associated with the installation of new hardware/software
Solve technical problems concerned with the operation or maintenance of some
complicated piece of software
Suggest the introduction of analytical techniques to improve the efficiency of the
company
Suggest improvements or updates to existing analytical techniques
Review the applicability of the company's technical/analytical techniques in view of
modern aids available.
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 29
Appendix 9.5 Technical Assessment Proforma
STUDENT NAME (Block Capitals)
excellent…………………….scale………………………poor
Objective
1
2
3
Student’s Signature:
School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology
Manchester Metropolitan University
4
5
6
7
Supervisor’s signature:
Date:
Issue June 2012
Page 30
8
Appendix 9.6 Log Book – Periodic Record and Analysis
Name:
Company:
Date:
Week Number:
Section A – Achievements during this period
What work have you done this period? (Identify projects and tasks)
What technical skills were needed? (Relate to technical learning objectives)
What personal/social skills were needed? (Relate to personal learning objectives)
What new knowledge was needed?
How did you acquire the new knowledge and skills needed?
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Manchester Metropolitan University
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Have the targets that you identified last period been met?
If not, why not?
What problems have you encountered this period?
How did you overcome them?
What are the main lessons you have learnt during this period?
Section B – Plans for next Period
What are your planned activities/targets for next period?
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Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
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Section C – Could your placement be improved?
If yes, how?
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Manchester Metropolitan University
Issue June 2012
Page 33