Who Are We?

Michael SmithHeidi Alderton

Health & Safety Service

15 Hours per Week at SOAS

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

• To ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare

at work of all employees.

Duties of Employers

Balance the cost of remedy against the severity of the risk

Duties of Employees

• Responsible for their own safety,

• Responsible for the safety of others who may be affected by their work,

• Co-operate with their employer in matters relating to health & safety.

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

Do you know what to do in the event of a fire?

• Sound the alarm by breaking the nearest Break Glass point located in all stair wells

• Notify Reception (ext 555) from the nearest telephone (or on your way out as you evacuate)

Do you know what to do if the evacuation alarm sounds?

• Close all windows and doors in your area• Make sure everyone in your area is aware of the alarm• Leave the building by the nearest available exit• Try to identify your escape routes BEFORE you need

to use them!• DO NOT go back for your coat or your belongings• Assemble at your designated assembly point NOT

IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING where you might obstruct the exit for others evacuating and the emergency services entering.

Why do we do fire drills?

• They are practices for a real fire

• They are an essential means of testing and checking the fire escape systems (and a legal requirement).

Fire Extinguishers

Fire Extinguishers

• Don’t use them, unless you are confident with what you are doing

• Only use the extinguisher after you have sounded the alarm

• Try one extinguisher and then leave

Do you know where your nearest first aider is? Or how to contact one

in an emergency?

• Look on the health and safety web page, safety notice boards and departmental notice boards for an up to date list of all qualified first aiders at SOAS.

• Call reception on 555, tell them where you are and that you need a first aider. Reception will call the first aider closest to you and send them to you.

• If you need to call an ambulance, don’t forget to tell Reception/Security (555) !

Automatic external defibrillators (AED)

• SOAS has an AED at the reception desk of all buildings plus the Library.

• A list of qualified AED users is available on the health and safety webpage.

• What do you do if you need an AED?• Call a first aider either directly or by using 555.

Reporting accidents or near misses

• What needs to be reported?• All accidents/incidents, however minor should be

reported to the Health and Safety Advisor directly after the occurrence using the incident report form available on the health and safety web page

• Near misses should also be reported as this allows us to monitor potential accidents/incidents which may prevent personal injury or harm occurring at some future point.

Computers themselves are not harmful - the problem is how you use them…..

LAPTOP COMPUTERS

• Guidelines for a laptop workstation are generally the same as for PC’s

• If being used for long periods of time then a docking station must be used – to allow the use of either a separate screen or more commonly raises the screen and has a separate keyboard and mouse.

• If you use a computer, you are probably entitled to a free eye test. See the Health and Safety web site on the Intranet for details.

If using a computer causes you pain you need to do something about it!

See the Health and Safety web site on the Intranet for details

Check the electrical wiring,and DO NOT USE if it looks damaged…...

Take care when lifting and carrying - keep your back straight & bend at the

knees.

If it’s too heavy, ask for help!

If you feel stressed or bullyed at work, don’t suffer in silence – tell someone

Make sure that your work is adequately organised

Assess the risk of your job before you start and make sure the

assessment is valid

Make sure that you know what to do in an emergency before it

happens

Make sure that you use the equipment

provided for the job!

Remember, Risk Assessment is not just a paper exercise!

Make sure that you have the resources

to actually do what you plan to do!

Safety

• Safety advice and assistance is available at all times in an emergency via the Estates Office and Security;

• The Health & Safety Office can be contacted by email at any time – healthandsafety@soas.ac.uk

• Full details of the School’s Health & Safety arrangements can be found on the intranet: http://www.soas.ac.uk/healthandsafety