Websites/Further information

Health Protection Agency www.hpa.org.uk

Health and Safety Executive www.hse.gov.uk
Health and Safety Unit www.mmu.ac.uk/human/resources/health
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health www.iosh.co.uk
National Radiological Protection Board www.nrpb.org
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents www.rospa.com
Trades Union Congress www.tuc.org.uk/h_s/index.cfm

A web version of the policy is available at

www.mmu.ac.uk/human resources/health/policy
Contact your local safety representative
(details available from your local staff representative)

Manchester Metropolitan University

Health and Safety Unit
Tel 0161 247 3317
Fax 0161 247 6862
Email safety@mmu.ac.uk
Visit www.mmu.ac.uk/humanresources/health/policy

MMU Health and

Safety Policy

Whats in the
policy?

Introduction

Introduction

01

Our Commitment/Your Commitment

02

Strategic Leadership

05

Management of Health and Safety

05

Organising for Health and Safety

08

Consulting and Communicating on Health and Safety

11

Planning and Performance

14

Auditing and Reviewing

16

Websites/Further Information

Back page

This policy identifies the key elements of our health and safety
management system and details the commitment the University
has for maintaining and improving the health, safety and welfare
of our staff, students and others who may be affected by our
activities.
Our staff and students are our key resource and it is essential that
risks to their health and safety are properly controlled through an
effective health and safety management system and commitment
at all levels within the university.
The University recognises the important role strong strategic
leadership and effective management control plays in establishing
a positive safety culture and preventing incidents, work related
ill-health and accidents. We are committed to improving health
and safety performance and this policy will provide the framework
for this goal to be achieved. The University values the important
contribution that staff and union appointed safety representatives
make in improving health and safety. A partnership approach to
managing health and safety is crucial to the University meeting
its objectives for maintaining and improving health and safety
performance.
Suggestions for improvement on any health and safety related
issue are always welcomed and should be addressed through
your manager or safety representative.

First published: 2004

Revised: 2009
Next formal review: 2012
Policy is kept under constant review by the University Health and Safety Committee

This text is available on request in large print or

alternative format. Contact the Health and Safety Unit.

Vice-Chancellor

Chairman of the Board of Governors

01

Our
Commitment
Your
Commitment

Our Commitment
We are committed to high standards in health, safety and welfare
for all staff, students and others who may be affected by our
activities. We accept that reducing risks in the workplace reduces
costs and that good health and safety is good business.
This policy sits alongside and supports other University policies
and procedures.
The University recognises that the implementation of an effective health
and safety policy contributes to the performance of the University and is
committed to:
setting a clear direction for the University to follow
taking initiatives in establishing good practice
supporting staff needs and development
recognising that health, safety and welfare is an important line management
responsibility
recognising that the prevention of accidents, incidents or work-related ill
health requires effective management and leadership
believing that the development of a positive health and safety culture is
necessary to achieve adequate control of risks
minimising human and financial losses which arise from avoidable unplanned
events
supporting continuous improvement in health, safety and welfare
having a systematic approach to the identification and control of risks
supporting the health and well-being of our staff and students
meeting our responsibilities to people and the environment by the way we fulfil
the spirit and the letter of the law
having in place systems that will allow the University to maintain, monitor and
improve health and safety performance
maintaining effective means for communication and consultation on health and
safety matters
committing to a collaborative approach which recognises the important contribution
that staff and their representatives can make to improve health and safety
providing appropriate welfare support and positive health promotion
providing access to competent advice on health, safety and welfare

02

identifying the management of health and safety arrangements in a Health and

Safety Manual

03

 providing any information, instruction, training or supervision necessary to

meet this commitment
providing sufficient resources to meet these commitments
providing and maintaining safe conditions, equipment and systems of work
having in place plans for dealing with emergencies and their effects

Your Commitment
The University expects staff, students, contractors and visitors to
cooperate on health, safety and welfare matters, take care of their
own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by
their actions.
In particular by:
not undertaking any actions which constitutes a danger to yourself or others
cooperating with the University and supporting its policies and procedures on
health and safety
bringing to the attention of your manager/supervisor any situations or practices
that may lead to injuries or work-related ill-health

Strategic
Leadership
Management of
Health and
Safety

using equipment in a safe and responsible way

maintaining good housekeeping in areas in which you are working
reporting all near misses, incidents and accidents
undertaking such health and safety training relevant to your work activities

04

05

Strategic Leadership
This section deals with the responsibilities of formal groups who
provide direction and oversight and agree the objectives on health
and safety.

The Directorate
The Directorate are the most senior management groups within the University
and are in a position to consider and implement policies and
procedures concerning health, safety and welfare.
The Directorate will:
accept its collective responsibility for providing health and safety leadership

The Board of Governors

keep abreast of health and safety legislation and its implications for the University

The Board of Governors will:

implement the health and safety policy commitments within the University

assure the development and implementation of an appropriate health and

safety policy

implement and maintain an appropriate communication strategy on health and

safety within the University

receive sufficient information, and where necessary training to enable them to

actively discharge their corporate responsibility for health and safety

be informed of any significant health and safety compliance violations and instigate
appropriate action

assure that its actions and decisions reinforce the messages contained within the
health and safety policy
have a responsibility to be kept informed and alert to relevant health and safety risk
management issues

be informed of and be alert to relevant health and safety risk management issues
monitor that appropriate consultation takes place in respect of decisions that affect
health, safety and welfare of staff and students
consider that health and safety issues are integrated into their planning
receive regular updates on health, safety and welfare matters

be kept informed about any significant health and safety compliance violations and
the outcome of the investigations into their causes
consider the health and safety implications of all its decisions.

consider and approve health, safety and welfare policies on behalf of the University
consider the health and safety implications of all of its decisions
agree the health and safety priorities for inclusion in the annual health
and safety plan

The Estates and Services Advisory Group

receive and consider reports on health and safety performance

In addition to the Board of Governors responsibilities the Estates and

Services Advisory Group will:
advise on the relevance of the present health and safety policy statement to ensure
that it reflects the Universitys strategic priorities and is periodically reviewed.

Management of Health and Safety

monitor the implementation of the annual health and safety plan

receive reports on the effectiveness of the health and safety management systems
receive regular health and safety reports at its meetings from the University Health
and Safety Committee

The University is committed to the effective management of health

and safety and recognises that this is a line management
responsibility.
The management of health and safety arrangements, including specific
details of individual duties and responsibilities, are documented in the Universitys
Health and Safety Manual
The management of health and safety arrangements will be reviewed periodically to
ensure that they are up to date and relevant

06

07

Organising for
Health and
Safety

The University organisational framework will identify the

responsibilities and relationships which will promote a positive
health and safety culture.
This section of our policy identifies the senior individuals who are responsible for
delivering the policy commitments. Details of their duties and responsibilities are set
out in the Universitys Health and Safety Manual.
Vice-Chancellor
chairs the Directorate and is the most senior executive officer and has overall
responsibility for ensuring the commitments of the policy are delivered within
the University.
Deputy Vice-Chancellors
are members of the Directorate and will deputise for the Vice-Chancellor during the
Vice-Chancellors absence.
Human Resources Director
is a member of the Directorate and is responsible for ensuring that the policy
commitments are delivered in practice and acts with the authority of the
Vice-Chancellor in matters concerning health, safety and welfare.
Chief Operating Officer and Financial Director
is a member of the Directorate and is responsible for the allocation of adequate
resources to enable the University to meet its health and safety policy commitments.
Director of Services
is a member of the Directorate and is responsible for delivering the policy
commitments for the Services Group.
Registrar
is a member of the Directorate and is responsible for delivering the policy
commitments for Student and Academic Services.
Deans/Pro-Vice-Chancellors
are members of the Directorate and are responsible for delivering the policy
commitments for a designated location.

08

09

A detailed organisational chart and designation of local responsibilities and

duties are contained in the Universitys Health and Safety Manual. A shortened
chart is presented below:

Vice-Chancellor

Deputy
Vice-Chancellors

Deans/
Pro ViceChancellors

Director of
Services

Human
Resources
Director*

Registrar

Consulting and
Communicating
on Health and
Safety

Chief
Operating
Officer and
Financial
Director

* The Human Resources Director acts on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor in respect of the Health
and Safety Policy.

10

11

Consulting on Health and Safety

Local Site Health and Safety Panels

Effective consultation is essential if the University is to satisfy

its commitment to promote a collaborative approach to health
and safety.

These panels support senior staff in promoting and monitoring health, safety and
welfare of a specific site. They are an essential tool for monitoring and measuring
health and safety performance at local level. Specific terms of reference and
membership details are contained in the health and safety manual.

The University will consult on the introduction and modification of policies

and procedures in respect of health and safety. The consultation will take
place through dedicated task groups and the following formal consultation
process.

They will:
provide a focal point for resolving site issues on health, safety and welfare
consider health and safety issues relevant to their site and decide on appropriate
responses
be representative of the areas based on the sites they cover

University Health and Safety Committee

monitor the effectiveness of local health and safety management systems

This statutory committee has the important role of promoting health, safety and
welfare throughout the University. It has full staff side representation and meets
at least three times a year. The committees terms of reference are contained in
the health and safety manual.

receive accident and near miss reports

The following statements reflect the committees principal obligations:

provide opportunity to formally consult with trade union representatives

receive and consider health and safety reports

provide an annual report to the University Health and Safety Committee

consider and approve policies on health, safety and welfare

consider the implementation of health and safety legislation and recommend
appropriate action
promote good standards of training in health and safety at all levels within
the University
appoint task groups to examine specific health and safety issues
receive health and safety management audit reports
receive reports on near misses, work related ill-health, incident and accidents
reports and recommend appropriate preventative action

Communicating on Health and Safety

The University will endeavour to provide effective communication
channels in respect of health, safety and welfare. The University
accepts that effective communication will combine to form an
on-going briefing which will keep our staff and students up to
date and informed.
Examples of communication include:
publicising the Universitys policy on health and safety widely through a variety
of media
undertaking regular health and safety briefings with staff, students and their
representatives
providing details of management of health and safety arrangements in the Health
and Safety Manual.

12

13

Planning and
Performance

Planning for Health and Safety

Planning is essential to ensure that our health and safety procedures
really work in practice. Planning involves identifying priorities and
setting key objectives.
The University will:
include health and safety considerations in its strategic planning
produce an annual health and safety plan that identifies objectives that are realistic
measurable and achievable
utilise appropriate compliance standards in the plan
ensure that the annual health and safety plan is subject to consultation through the
University Health and Safety Committee
ensure that the annual health and safety plan identifies outcomes and how these
are to be achieved

Measuring our Health and Safety

Performance
Measurement is essential to maintain and improve health and safety
performance.
We will measure our performance by having active and reactive monitoring
(checking before things go wrong and when things go wrong).
This can be achieved by:
having in place good risk control strategies
monitoring compliance with health and safety laws that are relevant to our activities
maintaining accurate records and investigating near misses, work related ill-health,
incidents and accidents and identifying their causes
comparing our performance against similar institutions

14

15

Auditing and
Reviewing

Health and Safety Management audits will be used to check that

our policy, organisation and systems are effective and relevant.
We will use audit and review to improve our ability to manage risk,
especially by:
checking levels of compliance with our health and safety performance indicators
against legislation and good practice
undertaking annual health and safety audits of a site
undertaking single issue compliance audits
analysing near misses, work-related ill-health and injuries for cause and trends
identifying areas where performance can be improved
feeding audit findings into a management action plan with a timetable for
implementation
checking that agreed objectives are achieved within a given time scale
communicating audit outcomes to staff and students
the University Health and Safety Committee reviewing audit reports and
management action plans and monitoring their implementation
the University Health and Safety Committee receiving annual reports from local site
health and safety panels and reviewing performance across the University
the University Health and Safety Committee establishing University-wide themes
for each session to be addressed by local site health and safety panels

16

17