Contact Us

By telephone
During office hours
(Monday-Friday 08:30-17:00)
+44 (0)1234 400 400

Outside office hours
(Campus Watch)
+44 (0)1582 74 39 89

By email
admission@beds.ac.uk (admissions)
international@beds.ac.uk (international)
sid@beds.ac.uk (student support)
help@beds.ac.uk (registration)

By post
University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
UK, LU1 3JU

1 Health, Safety and Welfare Policy Statement of Intent

This Statement of Intent confirms the University's commitment to the health, safety and welfare of staff, students, visitors and contractors whilst they are at the University, or carrying out its business elsewhere. The associated policy applies to every aspect of the University's business, including all educational, research, commercial, residential accommodation, recreational and management activities.

While all individual employees and students have a direct legal obligation to take care of themselves and those around them, and cooperate with the employer, the Vice Chancellor has ultimate operational responsibility for health, safety and welfare within the University.

The Vice Chancellor, supported by the University's Vice Chancellor’s Management Group (VCMG), is responsible for approving policy, strategy, objectives, allocation of resources, and reviewing progress and performance against the strategy. Operational responsibility for health and safety is delegated by the Vice Chancellor to the University Secretary, who is further supported by the Health and Safety Committee.

Health, safety and welfare are integral to the operation of the University and require effective management and the creation of a positive health and safety culture. Accordingly, with regard to health, safety and welfare the University is committed to ensuring that:

  • Health and safety standards are defined;
  • continuous improvements are made against these standards;
  • appropriate and sufficient resources are made available to achieve these improvements;
  • management and staff have competent advice and guidance available;
  • staff, students, visitors and contractors are provided with the necessary information, instruction, supervision and training to operate with minimal risk to themselves or others, and are aware of their responsibilities;
  • considerations of health, safety and welfare are integrated into all planning, projects and working practices within the University and in its dealings with suppliers and contractors; and
  • there is effective communication and co-operation between management, staff, students, and their representatives.

Members of the Corporate Management Team are accountable for translating the policy and standards into operational strategies, targets, plans and procedures within their own spheres of responsibility. Heads of Department, local Managers and staff with supervisory and / or project Manager roles are responsible for implementing these plans and procedures in line with the University’s policies.

This Policy Statement of Intent is supported by standards, manuals, statements of safety organisations and procedures both central and for particular local functions, which describe how the policy is implemented across the organisation.

This Statement and associated policy will be reviewed on a periodic basis to ensure its appropriateness to current legislation and organisational requirements.

Les Ebdon signature

Professor Les Ebdon CBE

Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive

July 2011 

Bedfordshire University

About us» Freedom of Information» Health Safety and Welfare Policy» Part 1» 1 Policy Statement of Intent

Top