Health,
Safety and Environment Committee
SAF10-M2
Minutes of the Health,
Safety and Environment Committee held on
9 June 2010
|
Dr Jo Aldridge |
Mr J Blackwell |
Mr M Brown (ab) |
|
Mr A Burgess |
Mr H Chambers (ab) |
Mr M Clarson |
|
Prof P Conway (ab) |
Dr S Dann |
Prof N A Halliwell |
|
Mr R Harrison |
Dr R Haskins (ab) |
Mr A Hodgson |
|
Dr S Horner ab |
Mrs W Jones |
Mr A Kowalski |
|
Dr J Mackenzie(ab) |
Mrs C Moore |
Mr F Narty ab |
|
Mr T Neale |
Prof R Parkin |
Prof S Pearce (ab) |
|
Mrs L Sands |
Dr S Shirreffs (ab) |
Mr Julian Sulley |
|
Mr W Spinks |
Mr M Stringfellow |
Mr J Thomas |
|
Prof P Warwick Mr H Weaver |
Ms L Young (ab) |
Mr Rob Pearson |
In Attendance: Dr B Vale
By Invitation: Ms J Hasbury,
Ms E Roberts
10/16. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were
received from Shirley Horner, Susan
Shirreffs,
Malcolm Brown, Lorraine Young
10/17 Minutes
(SAF10–M1
attached)
The
Minutes of the meeting held on 17 February 2010 were confirmed.
10/18 Matters
Arising from Previous Meetings not Mentioned Elsewhere
on the Agenda
.1 Further
to Minute 10/9 of the previous meeting it was noted that
changes to the Code of Practice on Laser Safety had been
agreed by
the Chair, the HSEM and the Laser Safety Adviser.
.2 Further
to Minute 10/13, it was noted that a list of statutory
returns was reported annually to Audit Committee. These returns
were essentially of a financial and statistical
nature. It was felt
however, that in terms of risk management, it would be
useful to add
the list of HSE returns to the submission to Audit
Committee.
Action: HSEM
10/19 Environmental Protection Policy and Eco
Campus
1.
It was noted that the University
had achieved bronze standard in the Eco campus awards scheme
2.
The Committee received a
presentation and a progress report on sustainability from Jo Hasbury, University Sustainability Officer. The University
had adopted environmental management and sustainability as an objective in its
Strategic Plan to 2020. There were a number of drivers behind this objective,
including the monitoring of targets by HEFCE, legislative requirements, and economic,
moral and reputational imperatives. The University had put in place a
governance structure to deliver its objectives and there were a range of groups
on campus to co-ordinate delivery against University targets. One way in which progress could be measured
was against the achievement of an award available to the FE/HE sector, the Eco
–campus award. This was a phased, modular scheme, with standards ranging from
bronze to platinum levels.
The
University had recently reached bronze standard, and was the first amongst a current
cohort of 17 Universities to do so. Three UK institutions had already achieved
platinum standard. The next level of the
award would require implementation of policy, and the commitment of resources
in terms of training and monitoring.
The
Committee noted the progress being made towards the University’s strategic
objective by gaining the bronze award, establishing a governance structure,
developing a biodiversity action plan, monitoring waste management compliance,
producing a register of 36 items of legislation in this area. It was reported
that a recent review of waste management had identified some compliance issues
in this area with respect to training and revealed opportunities to reduce the
cost of collecting waste. It was also
noted that the structure supporting sustainability accountability was a complex
one with many staff reporting to the Chief Operating Officer.
It
was confirmed that achievement of the bronze award had been on the basis of an
electronic submission, but future awards would be subject to external auditing.
Clarification
was requested as to the responsibility of the HSE Committee for the area of the
environment.
The Committee discussed whether the expertise
for dealing with environmental issues existed within the Committee. It was accepted that the Committee had
largely focussed on health and safety issues to date, but that its
responsibility for the environment could now come to the fore. It was acknowledged that environmental issues
fitted under the broader umbrella of sustainability. There was a great deal of
expertise and activity in this area across campus and it was an important part
of University strategy.
The terms of reference of the Committee would
be reviewed in the autumn and further consideration would be given to the
membership of the Committee to ensure appropriate representation for
environmental issues.
Action: HSEM and Director of FM
10/20 Annual Health and Safety Plan 09/10
An update on the
implementation of the Annual Health and Safety Plan for 09/10 was received from
the HSEM. It was reported that considerable progress had been made in the areas
of training and auditing.
Good progress had been
made against all targets in respect of fire safety, except with respect to 3D
CAD drawings of buildings, where a further training requirement had been
identified. Training in risk
assessments, fire extinguisher use, manual handling and face fit testing for
respirators had all been implemented
10/21 University Fire Officer’s Report
The University Fire
Officer reported that following an incident in AAE a review of procedures in
that Department had been undertaken with respect to use of the wind tunnel and
fire alarm systems. Following a fire incident in S Building increased numbers
of fire marshals had also been recruited in the building.
The Fire Officer had
undertaken a review of the fire safety policy and had made some amendments to
it with respect to
the role of the fire marshals and the schedule of fire evacuation drills. It was intended to develop with the Library
e-learning packages with respect to training in fire safety.
10/22 Policy on Pathogens (Excluding Blood-borne
Viruses)
The Committee considered
and approved amendments to the policy on Pathogens, which added more detail in
respect of research activity.
10/23 Student Placements Policy
The Committee considered
and approved amendments to a policy on student placements. The Committee noted
that an earlier version of the policy had been modelled on advice from UCEA.
Feedback from placement tutors suggested that there were many elements of good
practice LU which were already in place.
The revisions to the policy required students to obtain information from
their prospective placement employers to inform the risk assessment process.
10/24 Manual Handling Policy
The
Committee considered and approved an update to the Manual
Handling Policy. It was noted that the amendments to the
policy
reflected some
changed guidance to departments and amendments
to the documentation
and were not of a fundamental
nature.
It was requested that where amended policies were recirculated
to
departments, it would be helpful if the changes could be
identified.
10/25 Health and Safety Executive Inspection -
Centre for Biological
Engineering
The Committee
were pleased to note the excellent the outcome of
a recent HSE inspection of the Centre for Biological
Engineering,
where standards were found to have been extremely high.
10/26 Report on Occupational Ill Health 2005 - 2009
The
Committee received a report from the
Occupational Health
Advisor. It was noted that there had been an apparent
increase in
reported
psychological problems, but it was not clear if this was part of
a trend. The statistics in relation to RSI were very
reassuring and
reflected the
considerable importance the University attached to
addressing this
issue.
10/27 University
Risk Assessment Audit
The Committee received a
report from the Health, Safety and Environment Manager. It was noted that
standards for risk management were extremely high in those Departments where
risks were high, the Wolfson
School represented an example of this.
Similarly in those Departments where risks were low, there remained
further work to be done.
The HSEM indicated that
KPIs for risk assessment would be brought forward to a future meeting
Action:
HSEM
10/28 University
Risk Register
The Committee considered
the University Risk Register in relation to Health, Safety and Environment matters. The Committee noted that the risk level
attached to environmental matters had been reduced, since there was increased
management in this area. It was noted
that, although the Committee was asked to review the risk register on an annual
basis, there was an active
and ongoing process of risk review within the University, managed
by a sub group of the Executive
Leadership Team.
10/29 Accident Statistics
The Committee received an analysis of accident
statistics for the period 1 January – 1 March 2010. It was noted that comparative data was
received annually by the Committee.
10/30 Annual
Report from Ethical Advisory Committee
The Committee received the annual report from the Ethical Advisory Committee
10/31 Retiring
Members
The chair thanked all retiring members for their service to the
Committee and particularly Linda Sands and Peter Warwick who
were retiring from the University
10/32 Schedule
of Meetings for Next session
To be confirmed
Author: Brigette Vale
Date: June 2010
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