Deans of Colleges / Heads of Departments

Isn't Health and Safety Services responsible for health and safety?

Put simply, NO. Health and Safety Services is not responsible for health and safety as it does not have managerial control of your College / Department. 

The law makes is clear that individuals and organisations have collective and personal responsibility for health and safety and the University's Health and Safety Policy reiterates this by identifying responsibilities throughout the Institution. As the adage goes, "those who create the risk - own the risk" ie the College / Department that creates potential risks or dangers must manage and control those.

Health and Safety Services provides advice and support to the University and its Colleges, Schools and Departments which is independent of any budgetary or political pressure.  This is essential for impartial health and safety advice to be given and is crucial to the success of the University's health and safety management system.

The primary purpose of the department is to support, to help and to seek to ensure we all work towards safeguarding the health, safety and welfare of our staff and students.