Out of Hours Working

The University has recently (August 2025) implemented new on site out of hours building access protocols, which adjusted opening hours and heating schedules for buildings, and to help the University improve physical security.

The University has established building access control procedures, which specifies normal opening hours and requires suitable justification and approval for out of hours working. Core approval arrangements and criteria are now part of that building access control procedure and not health and safety policy.

If you need to access a building outside its new hours, you must submit an Out-of-Hours Access form. Once submitted, the form, managed by Campus Services, will be sent to your Head of School or Service Director for approval.

Please note, if you have forgotten any personal belongings on site, you do not need to fill out an out-of-hours access request, please phone Security on 01248 382795.

To reflect these operational changes, it has been necessary to amend the health and safety Out of Hours Policy, and a copy of the latest Policy is available here. The Policy sets out general health and safety considerations and arrangements required for safe on-site out of hours working.

Working during time periods outside of the accepted normal working day usually doesn't pose an increase in health and safety risk. However, sometimes, potential risks may be increased due to the limitations of University, College and Service systems to cope with an emergency, due to a lack of control or supervision of work – increasing the chance of something going wrong or personal security issues if working in isolated areas at night. It is these, as with all health and safety risks that need to be considered before allowing a member of staff and / or student to work out of hours.