Health and Safety Guidance for Managers

The day-to-day decisions you make can have a direct impact on health and safety. You need to show your commitment to health and safety by:

• meeting your health and safety responsibilities outlined below
• noting that certain posts also have additional responsibilities
• actively considering health and safety when planning new projects or activities
• challenging unsafe behaviour

The University has Health and Safety policies and procedures which ensure all staff, students and visitors enter a safe environment when working, studying or visiting Oxford Brookes University.  You should ensure that you are familiar with these and refer to them as appropriate when undertaking any activity covered by them.

• You must carry out risk assessments for activities under your control.  Risk Assessment training is available in the Health and Safety area of the Staff Learning Portal.
• Think about health and safety when doing something new even if its only a one off like a team away day.  You may need to complete a Risk Assessment or comply with other relevant procedures.  For certain higher risk activities you may need a permit to work.
• Think about health and safety when you purchase new work equipment and substances, for example Portable Electrical Equipment testing, COSHH or other procedures may apply.
• Think about how your work could impact on others and co-ordinate with other managers and employers to ensure the safety of their staff, your staff, students and visitors.
• Keep a check on things.  Regularly check your work environment for hazards and that staff are working safely.
• If there are health and safety issues outside your control report it to someone with the authority to take action - your manager, senior manager or the Health and Safety team.

You must make sure they know how to carry out their work safely, by providing adequate information, instruction, training and supervision.

• You need to ensure that employees are aware of the Health and Safety policies and procedures that have a direct relevance to their work or conditions. 
• All staff are required to complete the University's Health and Safety Induction and regular refresher training.  This is provided via the Staff Learning Portal.  You have a responsibility to ensure that this has been completed.  You can do this via the reporting option in the Staff Learning Portal.  There is guidance on how to use this functionality. 
• Where applicable, such as for roles that require individuals to comply with additional Health and Safety policies and procedures or those with specific Health and Safety responsibilities, you should also ensure an appropriate local Health and Safety induction to ensure they understand the policies and procedures that apply to them and any relevant responsibilities. 
• Other Health and Safety training is available via the Health and Safety area of the Staff Learning Portal.   You should ensure that staff are appropriately trained for the role they carry out.  If in doubt you should contact the Health and Safety team: healthandsafety@brookes.ac.uk

The University has established Occupational Health and Safety Governance arrangements.  Health and Safety Committees at University and Faculty/Services level are the primary means of achieving consultation with staff.   

• You should be aware of the University arrangements and you should consult and, where possible, involve individuals and teams in local decisions that may affect their health and safety
• Provide opportunities to discuss any health and safety issues or concerns, for example by including a regular agenda item at team meetings and discussing at individual 1:1 meetings