Description
With effect from the 1st jan 2010, the University Health and Safety Office reports to the Corporate Secretary.
The Office is led by the University Safety Officer Mr. John Ring and is assisted by a team of two administrative staff, supported subject to funding, by occasional/ sessional consultants and trainers.
Advisory role & areas of contribution to the corporate mission of UCC
The substantive role of the University Health and Safety Office is advisory and relates to staff occupational H&S, UCC's corporate compliance with current and developing occupational H&S legislation and change management with respect to managing H&S as an integral core management value throughout the University.
In support of the academic function and overall student experience, the University Safety Officer as a senior manager reporting to the Corporate Sectary, contributes significantly to Corporate & Legal Affairs (CLA) and to B&E, co-operates with the constituent sections therein and provides high level health and safety management and fire engineering input w.r.t:
- Regulatory compliance and best practice
- Risk management, loss control and targeted HEA funding submisions.
- Functional area benchmarking (F.A. annual safety reports)
- Strategic planning and development of the Universities estates and infrastructure;
- The planning and delivery of capital projects, minor works and major events
- Property assessments and advice to B&E & CLA on aspects of the UCC risk register.
- Facilities and estates management and best practice models
- Estates and infrastructre enhancements
- Corporate compliance with building regulations and related safety legislation, universal access principles
- Review of arrangements for UCC events with major public safety implications.
- Review of business operation and continuity planning.
Ancillary Areas of Contribution
The Health and Safety Office contributes significantly to the Corporate Secretary and th eOffice of Corporate & Legal Affairs in relation to risk management, loss prevention and control, support of insurers/ risk managers, accident reporting and prevention, minimization of claims, response to claims and optimization of risk profile conditions to facilitate procurement of competitive rates of insurance
The Health and Safety Office also contributes significantly to the activities of the HR department in relation to relevant training programmes, appropriate staff policies in the H&S area, equality and welfare, resolution of staff occupational health issues and the University’s achievement of the Excellence Through People Gold Standard Award.
The H&S office also supports the goals of the UCC bystander AED scheme and H1N1 influenza precautions administered by the Student Health Officer
The Health and Safety Office also provides Campus Companies with cost effective access to centralised core H&S training programmes for staff.
Mission of the Health and Safety Office
The Health and Safety Office through its advisory remit and support function, endeavours to ensure that the Functional Heads of the University and their constituent Colleges/Schools/Departments/Centres/Units comply, as appropriate, with current and developing health and safety legislation. The Office endeavours also, in accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, to promote the proactive prevention of accidents\ill-health of UCC employees and those who may be effected by the work of those employees.
Areas of Activity
- The Health and Safety Office advises the Corporate Secretary and the management of Functional Areas/ Colleges and their constituent Schools/Departments/Centres/Units on:
- Managing and conducting H&S as an integral management function on a functional area, school and departmental basis, per the provisions of the SHWW Act 2005 and University Safety policy
- Implementation/compliance with existing and developing Health & Safety Legislation including implementation and generation by each Fucntional Area, of School/Departmental Safety Statements and all risk assessments required by law.
- Health and Safety Management strategy and Health & Safety issues
- HSA guidelines, National Standards and Codes of Practice.
- Health and Safety Policy, Health and Safety Guidance, Best Practice.
- Overall priorities and direction covering risk reduction measures
- Legislative requirements (minimum standards) and world class H&S practices
- Fire and Safety aspects of proposed reserch work and building modifications, adaptations
The Health and Safety Office:
- Organises input of Occupational Health Physician to support Functional Areas\Departments ( 1/2 day input on a 6 week cycle, excluding summer recess)
- Organises input of Occupational Hygienist to suport Functional Areas\Departmetns ( quarterly visit programme of 3 days p.a.)
- Organises input of Manual Handling Risk Assessment Support Service to Functional Areas\ Departments using the sessional external trainer (1 day every 6-8 weeks, )
- Organises input of Occupational Health Physician, as part of scheduled 0.5 day sessional visits to UCC (during term time on a 6 week cycle), in cases of staff with medical issues alleged/ associated with the use of hazardous substances, manual handling and use of equipment/workstations.
- Organises centralized core Health & Safety training programme for University management and staff on an ongoing basis- subject to finite funding and cost re-coupment from departments/centres where relevant
- Organises access to staff to an on line safety training service, comprising a staff e-learning VDU worstation ergonomics training package (introduced in 2007) and the UCC bespoke staff e-fire safety training package inctoduced in December 2008
- Consults with staff elected Safety Representatives (6 No.) and provides advice to staff on Health and Safety issues\requirements.
- Liases with Regulatory Bodies (Fire, H.S.A.)
- Advises departements on maintenance of database of chemicals at source
- Administration of the Health & Safety Office
- Administration of central Health and Safety Training Programme using external trainers and support of HR staff induction using external trainers.
- Administration of staff VDU Eyesight Screening Programme and referral system
- Administration of Accident/Dangerous Occurrence Reporting system and generation of statistics
Supports the bystander (volunteer) AED initiative introduced into UCC in 2007.
The Health and Safety Office is located in No.5 Carrigside, College Road, Cork.
Email: safety@ucc.ie. Tel. 4902817
