Workplace Safety Adviser - Keele University
Workplace Safety Adviser - Keele University
Workplace Safety Adviser - Keele University
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<strong>Keele</strong> <strong>University</strong> Department of Occupational Health and <strong>Safety</strong><br />
<strong>Workplace</strong> <strong>Safety</strong> <strong>Adviser</strong> (WSA)<br />
25 th July 2008<br />
The <strong>Workplace</strong> <strong>Safety</strong> <strong>Adviser</strong> (WSA) is a member of staff concerned with<br />
day-to-day health and safety matters within their work area. In academic<br />
Schools the WSA should normally be a member of the academic staff,<br />
however, at the discretion of the Head of School suitably trained technicians<br />
can be appointed as WSAs.<br />
The WSA's main function is to advise the Head of School/Department on all<br />
matters relating to health and safety affecting that School/Department. Other<br />
important responsibilities include disseminating safety information within a<br />
School/Department, advising other members of their staff on hazardous<br />
procedures and investigating accidents and dangerous occurrences. The<br />
WSA will also have a duty to carry out any duties agreed with the Head of<br />
School/Department.<br />
Good performance in these duties will be recognised in staff appraisal and<br />
staff development activities.<br />
The rôle of the WSA includes:<br />
i. being fully familiar with the <strong>University</strong>'s health and safety policy and<br />
their area's health and safety policy<br />
ii. providing advice to members of the School/Department on matters of<br />
occupational health and safety and in particular advising the Head of<br />
School/Department on the formation and revision of their health and<br />
safety policy and procedures.<br />
iii. acting with the delegated authority of the Head of School/Department<br />
in matters of urgency<br />
iv. referring promptly to the Head of School/Department or the <strong>University</strong><br />
Health and <strong>Safety</strong> <strong>Adviser</strong> any health and safety problems which<br />
cannot be resolved locally on a timescale commensurate with the risk<br />
v. liaising with the <strong>University</strong> Health and <strong>Safety</strong> <strong>Adviser</strong> and other central<br />
advisers on health and safety matters<br />
vi. attending (ex-officio) meetings of their Health and <strong>Safety</strong> Committee<br />
vii. conducting and coordinating systematic health and safety inspections<br />
and accident investigations (with safety representatives of the<br />
recognised trade unions having employees working in the<br />
School/Department), to identify unsafe or unhealthy conditions or work<br />
practices and monitoring that prevention action is recommended and<br />
pursued.<br />
viii. ensuring that reportable accidents, dangerous occurrences and<br />
diseases are reported to the Department of Occupational Health and<br />
<strong>Safety</strong> and that an investigation report is written and submitted to<br />
Heads of Department/Schools and the Department of Occupational<br />
Health and <strong>Safety</strong>.<br />
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<strong>Keele</strong> <strong>University</strong> Department of Occupational Health and <strong>Safety</strong><br />
ix. disseminating health and safety information and reporting to<br />
appropriate members of the School/Department’s staff and students<br />
x. ensuring that new members of the School//Department receive<br />
adequate induction with respect to health and safety matters<br />
xi. identifying members of the School/Department for appropriate<br />
• health and safety training events;<br />
• occupational health and safety medical surveillance and<br />
• liaising with other internal or external health and safety<br />
specialists<br />
xii. monitoring in their area that<br />
• a high standard of housekeeping is maintained;<br />
• adequate precautions are taken regarding any special existing<br />
or new hazard;<br />
• adequate precautions are taken regarding any changes to be<br />
made;<br />
• plant equipment and processes are being maintained as<br />
required by any relevant statutory provisions;<br />
• staff and students are suitably informed, instructed and trained;<br />
• adequate health and safety records are maintained where<br />
appropriate i.e. as required by relevant statutory provisions or by<br />
the <strong>University</strong> or by their School/Department’s health and safety<br />
policy;<br />
• safe working practices and procedures together with any<br />
necessary risk assessments for project work (especially for<br />
postgraduate students) are complied with;<br />
• personal protective equipment needs are assessed and that<br />
sufficient suitable personal equipment is available and used;<br />
• systems are set up and maintained to check that health and<br />
safety facilities such as first aid boxes, fire fighting equipment<br />
etc are provided and maintained in a readily useable condition<br />
and<br />
• other aspects that legislation or<br />
<strong>University</strong>/School/Department/area policy may dictate are<br />
catered for.<br />
xiii. advising the Head of School/Department on recruiting first aiders and<br />
for the responsibility of maintaining first aid boxes, being a member of<br />
the fire drill evacuation team and assisting the Head of<br />
School/Department in arranging fire drills<br />
xiv. reviewing periodically health and safety procedures within the<br />
department/area<br />
xv. such other health and safety duties as may be assigned by the Head of<br />
School/Department.<br />
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