Skip to main content

Model (S)

The SS work manual comprises 4 Volumes and Appendices

Please choose from the links below to enter the different sections (sub documents).  If you are not sure what you are looking for browse through all sections or consult the FAQ tab over.

Users are also encouraged to utilise the new Dept Risk Assessment reconciliation/estimator workbook tool ( Excel spread sheet) given in the second section tab below. 

The School/Dept Safety Statement must be based on an adequate Risk assessment(s) of the tasks/all work activities. (Vol 3). An adequate RA must be in place before the work/task commences. ( This is an operational line management responsibility & legal SHWW Act requirement)

Please choose from the links below to enter the different sections (sub documents).  If you are not sure what you are looking for browse through the index or volume links given below.

Users are also encouraged to make use of the new Dept Risk Assessment reconciliation/estimator workbook tool ( Excel spread sheet) given in the first section tab below.

Note: The content of a departments Safety Statement (SS) should match the extent of risks identified in dept work activities using the new RA reconciliation/estimator tool.

The SS work manual comprises 4 Volumes and Appendices:

Volume 1: University Safety Management System (Applied Scientific & Services)

Volume 2: Requirements for the Control of Hazards and Risks (Applied Scientific & Services)

Volume 3: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (Applied Scientific & Services)

Volume 4: Safety Action Plans

Appendices: (Applied Scientific & Services)

Preface to Model (S)

This is the third issue of the Safety Statement manual that was produced to:

  • Meet new Health & Safety legislative changes
  • Take account of restructuring and management re-organisation within the University
  • Make minor revisions or corrections to some sections including date proofing
  • Add new sections or include extra detail to other sections
  • Be available in e-format on the University intranet

Apart from template revisions and seelcted revised RA forms as now contained within the attached, there is no universal need for Colleges/Schools/ Departments to change everything they have created in relation to their existing risk assessments or other records, since most of this issue is identical to the first manual.

Where actions are required in individual Sections, these are indicated in Section 2.4 and should be reviewed, if applicable.  Revised reporting relationships of schools/departments must be reflected in the safety statements as must the overall H&S responsibilities of the senior functional managers for the outturn of the constituent schools/departments within his/her function area.

As stated previously in the first issue, the purpose of this manual is to comply with current Health & Safety legislation and to provide a template, aid or guide for the Colleges/Functional areas of the University and their constituent Schools/Departments/Centres to produce or customise their own Department’s Safety Statement, to a professional standard.

Its objective is to give general guidance aimed at the prevention of accidents and occupational ill health in the workplace and to ensure compliance with the requirements of current Health & Safety legislation. The Work Manual is not intended as a legal interpretation of this legislation .

The Manual establishes the structure/format and typical contents, which Colleges/functional areas with Schools/Departments with disciplines referenced in the model title, should adopt. It consists of 4 constituent Volumes, which in turn are divided into numerous Sections. These may be adopted in full or altered to suit the individual School/department. The Manual also has an Appendix that contains miscellaneous information relevant to the content of the Manual.  

It must be emphasised that whilst the scope and content of this Manual is reasonably comprehensive, it does not purport to be an exhaustive or comprehensive safety manual, which covers every aspect of the activities of the University and its Colleges/ functional areas.  Each constituent school/department within the respective functional areas of the University, must initially identify and continually update the unique hazards encountered in their sphere of activity.  Hazards thus identified and not covered by this manual must be included for by the College/Functional areas within the safety statements of the constituent areas in question. This should be catered for by revising and/or devising new sections.

Colleges/Functional areas and their constituent Schools/Departments should adapt the contents of the manual, in particular ‘Arrangements and Controls’ in Volume 2, to the circumstances in their own department.  Schools/Departments may alter, amend any section to simplify and take account of its circumstances/work practices, providing it does not diminish:

  1. It ’s legal obligations or responsibilities and
  2. Best safety practice requirements, Codes of Practice or guidelines established or recognised by EU/National Standards, the Health & Safety Executive, the Health & Safety Authority or guidelines produced by Expert Advisory Committee’s at National level in the University Sector or University Health and Safety Office. 

Departments must alter /reset the template dates and revision numbers to reflect their own document generation and revision history.

Volume 1: College/ School/Dept. responsibilities, University Safety Management System & policies (S)

This Volume contains Sections 1 - 17 of the school/department safety statement and should be read in conjunction with Volume Nos. 2,3 & 4.  This Volume sets out the proactive safety management system (S.M.S), which is intended to secure the safety, health & welfare of staff and students whilst ensuring compliance with current and developing health and safety legislation within a College/ Functional areas and its constituent School/Department/Centres. 

It details the safety responsibilities for all management personnel therein, together with the arrangements for safety monitoring, safety consultation, training, first aid and up-keep of the safety statement .

Volume 2: Control of Hazards and Risks (Model S)

This Volume contains Section 18 of the departmental safety statement, this section sets out requirements for the Control of Hazards and Risks (C.H.R.) within the College/functional areas and relevant School/Department. 

This should be read in conjunction with Volume No. 3, the Departmental Hazard identification and Risk Assessment (H.R.A.).

It summarises the individual hazards and risks that may be found within the College/ Functional area and those associated with the activities of the relevant school/department/centre. It also indicates the requirements to eliminate or control the hazards and risks .

Volume 3: Hazard identification and Risk Assessment (Model S)  

This Volume contains Section 19 of the school/department safety statement, this deals with Departmental Hazard identification and Risk Assessment (H.R.A.). This should be read in conjunction with Volume No. 2.

It outlines terminology and risk assessment methodology used to control and monitor hazards for the entire department's activities, rooms, equipment, processes, work undertaken and substances/agents used.

Specimen checklists are also provided in relation to specific regulations/ specific headings to enable hazards/ safety issues to be identified. Once identified, risk levels may require to be assessed and appropriate arrangements and controls identified. This information together with a programme of implementation will form the basis for the Safety Action Plan (D.S.A.P.) of the School/department in Volume No.4. and that of the relevant College/Functional area.

Volume 4: School / Departmental Safety Action Plan (Model S)

This Volume contains Section 20 of the department safety statement, details a prioritised phased programme of actions, for the School/Departmental and the College/ Functional area in the overall sense by way of  a Safety Action Plan (S.A.P.). This is necessary to implement the arrangements and controls necessary to reduce hazards/risks identified in Volume No. 3. It should also be read in conjunction of Document 2, under the relevant sections.

 Appendices

Volume 1 (S): University Safety Management System (2021/2022)

 

1.0 Circulation  
2.0 Foreword-Review-and-Amendment-Procedures-Jan-2022  
3.0 University-Safety-Policy-Revised-2021  
4.0 College-Function-School-Department-Safety-Organisation-and-Responsibilities 2021  
5.0 Responsibilities-of-University-College-Officers-Designated-Officials Dec 2021

 

 

6.0 Resources 2014 6.1 University Responsibility
6.2 College/School/Department/Unit/Centre Responsibility
7.0 Training-Jan-2022 7.1 Legal Requirements
7.2 Department responsibility for training
7.2.1 Undergraduate and Post Graduate Safety Training
7.2.2 Employee/ Post Doc Safety Training
7.3 Specific Training
7.4 Completion of Training records
7.5 Responsibility for training
8.0Safety-Consultation-and-Safety-Reps 2024 8.1 Legal Requirements
8.2 Safety Representatives
8.3 Safety consultation at department level
8.3.1 General
8.3.2 School/Departmental Safety Officer and Department Safety Action Team
8.3.3 Safety queries and concerns 
9.0 First-Aid-Health-and-Welfare 2020 9.1 General
9.2 Provisions of First Aid Boxes/Kits at Department level
9.3 Location and Number of First Aid Boxes within the Department
9.4 names and Location of Department First Aiders
9.5 Names and Telephone Numbers of Emergency Services
9.6 Emergency First Aid Procedure
9.7 Training
9.8 Medications
9.9 Supervision
9.10 Welfare - Drinking Water
9.11 Smoking Proscription
10.0 Accident-and-Dangerous-Occurrence-Reporting May 2021 10.1 General
10.2 UCC internal reporting system 
11.0 Safety-Auditing-Occupational-Health-and-Hygiene Jan 2022 11.1 Audits and Inspections
Occupational Health and Surveillance
11.2.1 Legal Requirements
11.2.2 Department/Unit/Centre health surveillance
11.2.3 Pre-employment health screening
11.2.4 Occupational Hygiene (air analysis monitoring and personal dosimetry 
12.0 Postgraduate-and-Undergraduate-Students 2014 12.1 General
12.2 Graduate Students
12.3 Undergraduates
12.4 Student Projects
12.5 Responsibilities of Supervisors for Student Projects
12.6 Project Risk Assessment and Levels of Supervision
13.0 Persons-with-Special-Needs 2020  13.1.1 Pregnant employees, employees who have recently given birth or who are breastfeeding
13.1.2 Individuals who suffer from medical conditions
13.1.3 Individuals who have visual, aural or mobility impairments
13.1.4 Young persons/persons of an advanced age
13.2 Arrangements for Persons with Special Needs
14.0 Members-of-the-public-Visitors-Contractors-Shared-Workplaces 2020 14.1 Members of the Public and Visitors
14.2 Contractors
14.3 Employers Sharing the same Workplace
14.4 Typical Health & Safety Requirements for Inclusion in Contracts with Third Parties 
15.0 Atypical-Working-Times 2014 15.1 Introduction
15.2 Night work and Shift Work Employees
15.3 Late and Off-Peak Working 
16.0 Permit-to-Work-Systems-and-Safe-Operating-Procedures 2014 16.1 Permit to Work Systems
16.2 Safe Operating Procedures
16.3 Specimen Permit to Work form 2014 UCC permit to work general e-template 2014
17.0 17.0 Student Placements in the workplace 2014 17.1 Introduction
17.2 Legislation
17.3 Placement Approval/Appraisal
17.4 Review and Feedback

Volume 2 (S): Controls of Hazards and Risks

Requirements for the Control of Hazards & Risks

Note: all docs have individual rev #'s ( most current document in each case).

The list below is not exhaustive. Schools/Depts should add to the list below based on their Dept RA reconciliaiton. (With an summation of the appropriate risk controls listed and the persons responsible operationally for managing said risks) 

  Year Controls for Normal Work Hazards    Year Controls for Special Work Hazards 
18.1  2020 Offices  18.12 2006 Fieldwork
18.2  2022 Fire-and-other-emergencies-Jan-2022-(Offices-and-Non-Offices)  18.13 2006 Noise-at-Work
18.3 2020 Visual-Display-Screen-Equipment-(VDSE)  18.16 2006 Asbestos
18.4 2020 Manual-Handling   18.21 2006 Laboratories-(General)
18.5 2006 Slips-Trips-and-Falls  18.22  2007 Compressed-Gas-Cylinders
18.6 2006 Violence-at-Work  18.23 2006 Compressed-Air
18.7  2006 Machinery-and-Equipment-(Offices-and-Non-Offices)   18.24 2006 Laboratory-Glass-Apparatus
18.8 2006 Movement-of-Vehicles  18.25 2006 Use-of-Rubber-and-Plastic-Tubing-in-Laboratories
18.9 2006 Lecture-Theatres-Seminars-and-Meeting-Rooms  18.26 2006 Overnight-Experiments-and-Unattended-Operations
18.10  2006 Electrical-Safety 18.27 2006 Non-Ionising-Radiation
18.11 2007 Falls-from-Height 18.28 2006 Burns
 18.14 2020 Occupational-Stress  18.29 2006

Food-Halls-Food-Preparation-areas-and-Canteens

 18.15 2006 Working-Alone 18.30 2006 Personal-Protective-Equipment
 18.17  2006 Bullying-and-Intimidation-in-the-Workplace 18.31 2006 Chemicals
 18.45 2006 Working-Outdoors 18.32 2024 Portable-Electrical-Equipment
 18.47  2021 Covid-19 & Occupational Health & Safety   18.33  2006 Engineering-and-Scientific-Workshops
 18.48  2022  Outdoor Work (Sun UV Safety)  18.34 2006 Cryogenic-Technology
      18.35 2006 Biological-Safety-Cabinets
      18.36 2006 Biological-and-Biomedical-Laboratories
      18.37 2006 Fume-Cupboards
      18.38 2006 Refrigerators
      18.39 2006 Vacuum-Equipment-and-Systems
      18.40 2006 Syringes-Sharps-Surgical-Blades-etc
      18.41 2006 Centrifuges
      18.42 2005 Autoclaves-Pressure-vessels-Systems-and-Plant
      18.43 2006 Ionising-Radiation
      18.44 2006 Working-in-Confined-Spaces
      18.46 2015 Vibration-at-Work

Volume 3a (S): Hazard Id. & Risk Assessment - General S.O.P.

How to identify hazards and manage and assess risks

After reading 19.1 to 19.7, and appendix IV, commence with using the Dept RA reconciiation tool. Once this has been filtered down to the activities of relevance, then proceed to complete 19.10 in that light. ( for the risks identified). 

The checklists given in the sections 3b below can further inform for the Applied Scientific and Services areas. (Note: Some of these will need inputs from B&E).
 
Alternatively proceed straight to conduct an indept RA , using 3c, for the entire scope of activity and where it is being undertaken. e.g. considering all elements and persons impacted and circumstances for the work incl specic environns at the time and persons involved.
 
Risk assessments must be specific to the task/activity and not generic.
19.1.0 Terminology-and-Checklist 
19.2.0  Risk-Assessment-Methodology
19.4.0 Risk-Assessment-Procedures 
19.5.0 Controlling-Risks
19.6.0 Monitoring-and-Review
19.7.0  Hazard-Identification-and-Risk-Assessment-Flow-Chart
19.10

Basic-Hazard-Spotting-and-Risk-Assessment-Exercise

 

   Dept RA Reconciliation 2016 (77kB)  Guide to FA & Dept RA reconciliation 2016
Appendix IV

Occupational Health Hazards 

 

Volume 3b(S): Scientific/ Services Hazards - Simple RA Checklists

‌‌‌‌‌‌Normal/Universal Work Hazards Special Work Hazards 
19.3.1 General-Workplace-Safety-Checklist-July2020 19.3.11 Construction-Checklist
19.3.2 Work-Equipment-Machinery-Checklist

19.3.12.1 Laboratory-Workplace-and-Environmental-Checklist

Dept Lab RA & Risk Reconciliation Guidelines

19.3.3 Manual-Handling-Checklist-05-03-12

Manual-Handling-Simple/ General MH RA

19.3.12.2 Laboratory-Equipment-and-Apparatus-Checklist

Note: Form 19.3.3.1 is an aide to more indepth MH RA of complex shaped items or complex activities and in areas such as store rooms, equipment room or post rooms.

Form 19.3.3.1 Manual-Handling-Self-Assessment-Checklist for Indepth MH RA

19.3.12.3 Chemical-Storage-Usage-and-Disposal-Checklist

19.3.3.2 Manual-Handling-Simple/ General MH RA

19.3.13 Engineering-and-Scientific-Workshop-Checklist

HSA Interactive Workshop Risk Assessment

19.3.3.3 Manual Handling MAC Tool 2020

19.3.14 Fume-Cupboard-Checklist

19.3.4.1 Stress-Checklist 19.3.15 Compressed-Gasses-Checklist 

19.3.4 VDSE and Assessment Checklist Feb 2022

VDSE Assessment Managers Log Oct 2020

Appendix V VDU Issues & Requirements

19.3.16 High-Pressure-Systems-and-Autoclaves-Checklist
19.3.5 Fire-and-Emergency-Checklist-Jan-2022

Appendix X Guide to Fire Extinguisher Use/Selection 

19.3.17 Chemical-Risk-Assessment-Form 2014

Appendix XVII Student Supervision

Appendix XIX Guidance on the Safety Storage of Chemicals 

COSHH e-Tool for Control of Health Risks from Chemicals

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work Dangerous Substances e-Tool and Q&A

19.3.6 Electrical-Safety-Checklist

19.3.18 Biological Risk Assessment (Select from List)

19.3.7 Personal-Protection-Equipment-May-2022

19.3.20 Risk=Assessment-of-Materials-with-Irreversible-Health-Effects

19.3.8 Meeting-Rooms-Lecture-and-Seminar-Theatre-Checklist  
19.3.9 Movement-of-Workplace-Vehicles-and-Traffic-Checklist  
19.3.10 First-Aid-Checklist  
19.3.19. This form is ommitted. Employees must notify HR of their pregnancy. HR will then issue them direct with an Pregnancy Job Risk Assessment Form. ( Students and Postgraduates should notify their department and Student health)  

19.3.21 Work related travel RA Oct 2023

 

 

19.3.22 Review of Existing OH&S RA & Controls Arising from Covid-19 Checklist (updated July 2021) 

 

19.3.23 Outdoor Work (Sun UV Safety) Checklist (May 2022)

 

Note: Only use those sections or elements therein as are relevant to the Departments activities as and where work is conducted both within and external to UCC.

Add additonal content to cover activities that are not captured within the above. B&Es inputs may be needed for 19.3.5, 19.3.6 and 19.3.9. 

Repeat travel journeys by an individual or group may be covered by an initial travel RA provided the circumstances remain constant/ unchanged.

A VDSE RA must be conducted for each staff workstation ( to capture different personal circumstances and set ups).

Please adapt the Field work code for indepth treatment & RA of any/ all fieldwork trips conducted by the School/Department. Please also see the section following for Covid-19 virus pandemic checklists. There are community public health related in nature and were generated by the H.S.A. based on the latest Government return-to-work guidance.

Footnote: The UCC Risk Assessment SOP and Risk Assessment topic and activity forms generally apply to wherever work is undertaken. No special Risk Assessment forms are needed for remote working. Such places of work should be assessed using the standard Risk Assessment forms provided commencing with the Basic Hazard Spotting Exercise (19.10), the General Workplace Safety Checklist (19.3.1) and the VDSE Risk Assessment 2020 (19.3.4) in particular.

Revised September 2020

H.S.A. Covid-19 Advice
For up-to-date information on Covid-19, please visit this page

 

Volume 3c (S): Risk Assessment Template

General Risk Assessment Form

Volume 3d (S): Summary of Dept Hazards/Assessed Risks

19.11 Summary-of-Simple-Actions-Arising-from-All-Hazards
19.12 Risk-Assessment-Summary-Sheet

Note: A risk conclusion should be available to coincide with all hazards/risks that were indentified as applying to the departments work activities ( per the Dept Rsk Reconciliation Tool)

Dept RA Reconciliation 2016

Volume 4 (S): Dept Safety Action Plans

21.0 21.0 Record and Status Report Form 
22.0 & 23.0 22 & 23 Record and Status Report Forms- Part I and II

This must be dynamic. It must be reviewed at least annually and revised regularly.

Appendices Model (S)

Appendix I Hani-Rafaat-Risk-Assessment-Nomogram Sample
Appendix II  Recording-Risk-Assessments-(Examples) Sample
Appendix III Quick-Reference-Index-of-Subjects  
Appendix IV  Occupational-Hazards  
Appendix V  Appendix V VDU Issues & Requirements  
Appendix VI  Irish-and-EU-Leglislation  
Appendix VII Student-Supervision  
Appendix VIII  Safety-Responsibilities-to-Students  
Appendix IX  Provision-of-Welfare-Facilities   
Appendix X  Guide-to-Fire-Extinguisher-Use-Selection  
Appendix XI  First-Aid-Procedures  
Appendix XII  Bomb-Alert-Procedures  
Appendix XIII List-of-Health-and-Safety-Publications  

Appendix XVII

(revised 2015)

 Repealed by the following

New CLP regs - indepth classification guidance

New EC CLP Classification and labelling of substances and mixtures

 
Appendix XVIII Guidelines-for-Management-of-Lab-Wastes  
Appendix XIX Guidance-on-the-Safety-Storage-of-Chemicals   
Appendix XX Selection-Guide-for-Respiratory-Protective-Equipment  
Appendix XXI Chemical-Storage-Compatability-Chart  
Appendix XXIII Compressed Gases Publications  
Appendix XXIV A-Safe-Working-Guide-for-Labs  

Appendix XXV

Liq N2 Safety & RA - Univ of QueenslandLiq N2 Safety & RA - Univ of Queensland (412kB)

 

Appendix XXVI

(2014/2015)

HSA form of Notification - SHWW Biological Agents Regs 2013 

SHWW Biological Agents Regs 2013 Code of Practice

UCC guide for HoF - SHWW Biological Regs 2013

 

Appendix XXVII

(2014/15)

HSA Guide - Control of Exposure to Waste Anaesthetic Gasses

 

2013 

B&E SOP 18 Movement of Vehicles incl MEWPS

 

Health & Safety Office

Sláinte agus Sábháilteacht

5 Carrigside, College Road, Cork

Top