Health, Safety and Environmental Committee

Health, Safety and Environment Committee

SAF06-M3

Minutes of the Ninety Fifth meeting of the Health, Safety and Environmental Committee held on 15 November 2006 at 2.00pm

	Mr J Blackwell (Chair)
Professor J V Beaverstock	Mrs K Bedwell (ab)	Dr E D Brown
Mr M C Brown	Dr S Christie (ab)	Mr M Clarson
Dr S E Dann	Mr A R Eyre	Mr T Fleming
Mr C Gamble (ab)	Dr R A Haskins	Mr R A Hill
Mrs W Jones	Mr D Jordan	Mr A Kawalski
Mrs W E Llewellyn (ab)	Ms J Marsden	Mrs C Moore
Mr T M Neale	Mr H M Pearson	Mrs L Sands
Mr M Stringfellow	Professor R C Thomson	Mr J M Town (ab)
Dr C Woodruff

In attendance: Dr B Vale, Committee Secretary.

Apologies for absence were received from: Professor J Beaverstock, Mrs K Bedwell, Dr S Christie, Mr R Harrison, Mrs W Llewellyn, Mr J Town.

06/34 Business of the Agenda

Item 12 was unstarred. It was reported that draft documents were available for agenda items 5 and 6 but they were not yet ready for consideration. It was agreed that they should be the subject of a Special meeting scheduled for 14 December 2006.

06/35 Minutes

(SAF06–M2 attached)

The Minutes of the Ninety-fourth meeting held on 21 June 2006 were confirmed.

06/36 Matters Arising from Previous Meetings

4.1 Fumes from Jet Nozzle Rig (Aeronautical Engineering)

It was reported that this had become part of a larger more complex project based at Holywell Park. Significant costs were involved and tenders had been received for the project, which it was hoped would be completed by Easter 2007.

4.2 University Policy on Stress

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The Committee received an update from the Occupational Health Adviser on what had been achieved in this area. It was noted that considerable progress had been made and members thanked Wendy Jones for what had been accomplished.

4.3 First Aid

It was noted that Council had approved the Committee’s recommendations concerning payments to First Aiders and that the recommendation concerning payments to Security staff would be considered at the next meeting of Human Resources Working Group.

4.3 Food Allergy Policy and the Code of Practice for the Purchase and Use of Drug Precurser Chemicals in the University

It was noted that Council had approved the Food Allergy Policy and the Code of Practice for the Purchase and Use of Drug Precurser Chemicals in the University

06/37. Terms of Reference and Membership of the Committee

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This item was deferred to a future meeting of the Committee.

06/38. University Health , Safety and Environment Policy

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This item was deferred to a future meeting of the Committee

06/39. Report from the Health, Safety and Environment Manager

The HSEM reported:

.1) That implementation of the system to control the access of contractors onto the campus had been deferred because of failures with the barriers at the main University entrance and concerns about tailbacks onto Epinal Way. It was agreed that some system must be introduced and it was suggested that a permit be issued to contractors by the responsible person when an order was placed. This permit would direct the contractor to the appropriate University entrance thereby encouraging greater use of the Holywell Park entrance and reducing traffic on campus.

.2) That from November to February it was planned to use a Health and Safety auditing tool on a sample of academic and support service departments, the results of which would be reported to the Committee

.3) KPMG had been asked by Audit Committee to undertake a top level audit of HSE practice in the University and this was imminent.

.4) Health and Safety training for HoDs and HoSS was mandatory and attendance was being monitored . Members felt that some consideration should be given to making the training more widely available within very large Departments.

06/40 Policy on Controlling Noise at Work: Policy on the Control of Hand Arm Vibration at Work

The Committee considered and recommended to Council the following policy proposals from the Occupational Health Adviser:

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.1) University Health and Safety Policy on Controlling Noise at Work

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.2) University Health and Safety Policy on the Control of Hand Arm Vibration at Work

It was agreed that the policy documents were excellent and Wendy Jones was thanked for her contribution.

06/41 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Act

The HSEM reported that with effect from 1 October 2006 sections of the Fire Safety Act had been repealed , including the issue of fire certificates which had now become null and void.

It was a requirement to carry out fire risk assessments including control and evacuation procedures. The Fire Service retained an overview and expected to see the risk assessments. A suite of risk assessments had been produced but they had identified deficiencies which needed to be addressed.

The importance of prioritising the work to be done was emphasised particularly in terms of the budgetary requirements and planning the Premises strategy. It was confirmed that the high priority life risk areas had been, or were being, addressed. The HSEM was in the process of identifying a priority list and justifying projects for Operations Sub Committee. The priority listing in terms of detection and evacuation was already available and Departments had received copies of fire risk assessment reports.

It was noted that not all Departments had appointed Fire Marshals and it was felt that the Committee should be informed of any gaps in provision.

06/42 University Fire Officer’s Report

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The Committee received a report from the University Fire Officer . The Committee noted with concern the incidence of kitchen fires in self catered Halls due to unattended cooking, poor housekeeping and the attendant dangers associated with fire systems bypass and breaching of fire doors. Lack of cleanliness in kitchens , for which students were responsible, especially the build up of fat, was a major hazard. It was not clear , however, what sanctions could operate and who was responsible for imposing them. It was also noted that there was a high incidence of abuse of fire extinguishers and this was considered to be a serious concern.

It was felt that this was a matter of student discipline which needed to be addressed. The Director of Imago Services agreed to convene a meeting of representatives from the Residential and Management Committee and the University Fire Officer to address the concerns raised in the report.

It was noted that there were a number of recommendations made in the report and it was not clear how these would be taken forward. The HSEM agreed to list the recommendations and the necessary actions required and report to the next meeting of the Committee.

The Committee noted that in the summer, due to a shortfall in residential accommodation , the University had housed students temporarily in accommodation which was considered sub standard, from a fire safety viewpoint. It was noted that this was an emergency temporary measure and that this was accommodation which had recently been in use. A number of extra fire safety measures had been put in place in accommodation which would continue to be used and the remaining accommodation not meeting current standards would not be used in future.

It was noted that the trades union, UCU, was taking an active interest in fire safety measures and the fire risk assessment process. All trades unions have a statutory entitlement to view all risk assessments relating to their membership.

The Committee felt that this was an excellent report and extended its thanks to the University Fire Officer.

06/43 Smoking on Campus

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At the request of Estates Liaison Committee the HSEM reported on University policy on smoking on campus , namely that the University would be complying with the incoming legislation. It was felt that the University would need to review its current policy on smoking and that this would be reported back to HSE Committee. It was noted that there was smoking ban at Holywell Park and that outside shelters had been erected for those who wished to smoke. It was felt that this may also be an issue for the Healthy Campus group to consider.

SECTION B – Formal Starred Items

06/44 Membership

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The current terms of reference and membership of the Health, Safety and Environment Committee for 2006/07 were noted . It was noted that Dr Steve Christie had replaced Dr B Sharp .

06/45 Accident Statistics

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An analysis of accidents for the period April-June 2006 and
July-September 2006 was received.

06/46 Asset Risk Improvement Task Group

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The Minutes of the Asset Risk Improvement Task Group meeting held on 24 October 2006 were noted

06/47 Sustainable Development Action Group(SDAG)

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The Minutes of the SDAG meeting of 25 October 2006 were noted

SECTION C – Items for Information

06/48 Any Other Business

The Radiation Protection Officer reported that a proposal had come forward from Human Sciences to purchase X Ray equipment from a HEFCE funding grant. This would use ionising equipment and had serious Health and safety implications. It was felt that this needed careful consideration before proceeding and it was agreed that the HSEM and the Radiation Protection Officer should make further investigations and that no purchase should proceed unless and until all requirements were met.

06/49 Dates of Meetings for 2006-07

Thursday 14 December 2006

Wednesday 21 February 2007, 2pm

Wednesday 13 June 2007, 2pm

Author: Brigette Vale

Date: November 2006