Departmental Statement of Safety Organisation

INTRODUCTION

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (Sec. 2(3)) requires employers to draw up and bring to the notice of their employees a statement of safety policy. The University Policy states the health and safety objectives of the University and describes the managerial structure by which they may be implemented.

The University Health and Safety Policy consists of three parts.

The general statement of University policy.
The University's detailed safety arrangements on specific issues. These are known as Policy Statements (formerly known as Guidance Notes) and are issued by the Health and Safety Management Committee.
Departments' detailed statements of safety organisation.

The statement of safety organisation must reflect both the managerial and advisory organisation in the department. (The pro-forma is not necessarily intended to be used verbatim, but it does indicate an example of a health and safety structure suitable for a large department.)

The statement must clearly define the department (or area) to which it applies.
It must clearly define those persons with executive authority to enforce the Health and Safety Policy and those with overall or specific advisory responsibilities to the head of department.
It must describe the trade union safety organisation representing staff in the department.
It should identify any special risks (and associated control measures) in the department.
The statement must be reviewed annually and updated when necessary.
The statement and any changes made to it must be brought to the attention of all employees by the most effective means.
It must be issued, signed and dated by the head of department/institution or chairman of the management committee as appropriate.

A copy of the statement and any revision must be sent to the Director of the University Safety Office and the senior safety representatives of the recognised trades unions operating in the department.