Reporter 8/8/03: Health and Safety Executive Committee Annual Report, 2002

Health and Safety Executive Committee Annual Report, 2002

This Report covers the calendar year 2002. Feedback from external agencies suggests that the University is now achieving improvements to safety in many areas, a welcome positive trend.

1. Legislation updates

2002 has seen the introduction of the following legislation relating to health and safety:

• Animal Health Act 2002, Chapter 42 which concerns powers to slaughter animals.

• Anti-Terrorism, Crime, and Security Act 2001, which has significant implications for the security of pathogenic and radioactive materials.

• Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) which introduces the need for risk assessments in connection with the use of dangerous substances and to include in the risk assessment a consideration of the possibility of fire and explosion from the build up of substances, i.e. the need to prevent the formation of an explosive atmosphere.

• The Electricity Safety, Quality, and Continuity Act 2002, which will come into force in 2003.

• The Landfill Regulations 2002. The impact is not yet known but is likely to be significant. Local Authorities have a permit for carrying the University's disposal of waste to landfill; the Environment Agency classifies landfills. The legislation puts into question the disposal of some of the low activity radioactive waste to landfill sites. This will inevitably cause restrictions in routes for disposal with consequent costs.

2. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and other enforcement agency information

Enforcement agency attention has continued at a level quite exceptional for universities; on average the University experiences at least one visit a month from an enforcement agency. This includes HSE, the Environment Agency, the Home Office, the Fire Authority, and DEFRA.

It is pleasing to note that, notwithstanding previous enforcement actions, inspectors from HSE in December were satisfied with the University arrangement for managing work with ionizing radiations.

A series of inspections started in November by officers from the local constabulary acting in a new role in connection with the Anti-Terrorism, Crime, and Security Act.

3. Safety policy

Work continued during 2002 on reviewing existing policy. Newly introduced policy included: 'Management of Work with Ionizing Radiations, Radiations Book 2' and 'Working Safety with Unsealed Radioactive Sources, Radiations Book 3'. The series on Ionizing Radiation has proved particularly helpful to Departments in defining requirements and in providing a more structured approach to common procedures such as risk assessment, registration of new workers, and competence assessment.

The website received active attention with a view to re-launch in May 2003.

New guidance notes on 'Safe Use of Ladders', and on 'Man Made Mineral Fibres (MMMF)' were issued in 2002, and a new version of the University Statement on Health and Safety received progress. Short form leaflets on a variety of topics were published in 2002.

4. Safety strategy

Progress continued as planned in the 'Strategy for Safety Management' document, with generally satisfactory achievement of targets being reported to the Health and Safety Executive Committee as agreed.

This document will be reviewed during 2003 in preparation for an updated version in 2004.

5. Accident and incident summary report

The trend for the rate of HSE - reportable injuries to staff has stayed at a similar level, comparable to the national rate for universities. These are the more serious injuries which include those that result in absence from work of more than three days. For students, however, the reporting rate continues to appear high. This almost certainly reflects the cautious approach taken to student injuries, encouraging them to seek hospital attention, which automatically categorizes the event as reportable to HSE. It is also important to note that the rate of injury per 1,000 students is only a third of that for staff, and represents in actual numbers, 15 students injured in the whole of 2002. For future reports, more appropriate comparisons will be sought, rather than provide a blanket comparison with all universities, many of whose teaching and research emphasis will be substantially different. Accident causation to students is, however, being investigated. A small decrease in total injuring accidents to staff has been seen in 2002. The predominant type of injuring accident at Cambridge arises from 'slips and trips': this is similar to the national trend for universities where in 2002, 33% of all accidents were attributable to that cause.

6. Safety auditing

During 2002, safety auditing based on the ROSPA QSA scheme was piloted in three Departments. In addition, an overall assessment of safety performance University-wide became possible for the first time.

Briefings on the University scheme have been given to a number of audiences in order to prepare Departments for the start of the University programme in May 2003.

Radiation Protection safety auditing has been running successfully now for over a year and has generated much valuable information on performance. This has undoubtedly assisted in improving standards across the University enabling examples of good practices to be identified and adopted University wide, and may have assisted in improving University credibility with the Enforcement Agencies.

7. Safety education and training

2002 saw the start of the implementation of a vastly expanded education programme. During the latter part of 2002, courses given averaged two or three a week. This has meant numbers attending have increased significantly, and the range of subjects presented has grown. Courses are now being run for Departmental Safety Officers and for others with safety significant roles such as Biological Safety Officers. The core training for users of Ionizing Radiations has proved so popular as to be adopted throughout the University as standard.

The courses run for new postgraduates in October were well attended, with actual numbers exceeding those expected. A repeat session was offered for January 2003. Some 1,000 postgraduate students now attend these courses yearly.

On the negative side, there continued to be poor up-take on courses offered on responsibilities in academic supervision, and in progressing the integration of a safety element into existing courses for the academic staff.

Head of Department briefings continued during 2002, and have generally been well received.

Rate/1,000
staff at risk

Rate/1,000
students at risk

Types of accident

All injuring accidents - Staff

8. Health issues

During 2002 the Occupational Health Service saw considerable changes in staff and approach, and it is expected that plans for the service will be available in 2003.

Stress continues to be an issue of concern in some areas of the University, in common with national trends.

9. Fire safety

A report from the University Fire Safety Manager is available from the Director of the Health and Safety Division (tel. 01223 339515, e-mail sac30@cus.cam.ac.uk).

10. The Health and Safety Division

2002 was a year of consolidation of change. Early 2002 saw the addition of one further member of staff concentrating on buildings-related safety. Plans to enhance the provision of radiation protection advice to the Division are in hand. Specialist advisers in Laser Safety, Safety Education, Buildings and Construction, and Chemical Safety have begun to form effective working relationships, prepare policy and guidance, and deliver training, support, and advice.

11. End notes

As in the 2001 Report, the following highlights are cited as indications of divisional profile and success. These are taken from comments made to the Division following educational or professional update sessions:

'… we want the core radiation protection training to be made compulsory, as we have adopted it as such … ' (commenting on the two-hour core induction programme for those using ionizing radiations).

'… gave me confidence to undertake risk assessments …' (commenting on office-based risk assessment course).

' … workstation workout unexpectedly enjoyable' (commenting on the postgraduate safety induction).

Table of Contents

•	Animal Health Act 2002, Chapter 42 which concerns powers to slaughter animals.
•	Anti-Terrorism, Crime, and Security Act 2001, which has significant implications for the security of pathogenic and radioactive materials.
•	Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) which introduces the need for risk assessments in connection with the use of dangerous substances and to include in the risk assessment a consideration of the possibility of fire and explosion from the build up of substances, i.e. the need to prevent the formation of an explosive atmosphere.
•	The Electricity Safety, Quality, and Continuity Act 2002, which will come into force in 2003.
•	The Landfill Regulations 2002. The impact is not yet known but is likely to be significant. Local Authorities have a permit for carrying the University's disposal of waste to landfill; the Environment Agency classifies landfills. The legislation puts into question the disposal of some of the low activity radioactive waste to landfill sites. This will inevitably cause restrictions in routes for disposal with consequent costs.