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

Contractors and Visitors

Contractors

Information for contractors and visitors

The laboratories in the Division of Science contain a variety of chemical, biological and physical hazards such as biohazardous materials (including blood – that may cause infection) and chemicals (including materials that can cause cancers). The University has a legal obligation to ensure that no employee, contractor, visitor or other person has access to the laboratory areas unless they have received adequate health and safety instruction.

Access

Contractors and sub-contractors working on behalf of the Facilities and Estates Department.  A University of Bedfordshire Permit to Work from the Facilities and Estates Department is not sufficient in itself to allow unaccompanied access to the Division of Science laboratories.  A written safe system of work must be in place and agreed by the Head of Science, the Facilities and Estates Department, contractors and sub-contractors before any such work is undertaken.

Visitors, contractors and sub-contractors working on behalf of the Division of Science.  Visitors, contractors and sub-contractors must not enter the laboratory area unless they are accompanied by a member of laboratory staff and/or they have permission in writing from the Head of Science.

Emergency exits

Preferred emergency exits are as follows:

  • The staircase at the Park Street end of the building leads down to the ground floor and exits on to Park Street.
  • The staircase at the intersection of blocks B and C leads down to the ground floor where there are emergency exit doors into the intersection of the car park and reception areas.

Alternative emergency exits are as follows:

  • The entrance to E block leads to a corridor at the end of which is a staircase to the ground floor with an emergency exit into St Ann's Lane.
  • The entrance to B block leads to a corridor across the building to block A - from where there are at least two emergency exits signposted.

Normal operational procedures

It is a legal requirement of the Health and Safety at Work Act that laboratory staff work in a manner that will not endanger themselves or others. Similarly, there is a legal onus on contractors and other visitors to ensure that they work in a safe manner and do not endanger others. To this end, all contractors and other visitors, must comply with the following procedures:

  • normal working hours are 09.00-17.00; outside of these hours, there must not be any unaccompanied work in laboratory areas unless specific permission is given in writing
  • all contractors and other visitors must report to a member of laboratory staff before entering the laboratory area and again before they leave the building
  • all health, safety and security signs must be heeded and written instructions adhered to
  • verbal instructions (from laboratory or other University staff) relating to health, safety or security must be adhered to
  • food and drink must not be consumed in any laboratory area
  • chewing gum is not allowed in any laboratory area
  • application of make up, lip salve or similar products is not allowed in any laboratory area
  • fire doors must not be wedged open
  • contractors, sub-contractors and other visitors must not touch laboratory equipment or materials unless they are competent to do so and it is part of a programme of work agreed with laboratory staff
  • after working in the laboratories, hands must be washed before leaving the laboratory area

Fire emergency

In the event of a fire, the emergency bell will be sounded. If the bell persists for more than a few seconds then all work must be stopped immediately and the building evacuated by means of the nearest fire exit.

During normal ‘office’ hours. All persons must gather at the assembly point (outside the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, CETL) to ensure that they are properly accounted for and to receive further instructions from the Controlling Officer or other member of staff. In no circumstance must the building be re-entered until permission to do so has been received from the Controlling Officer.

Outside normal ‘office’ hours. Personnel should summon the fire brigade; wait in a place of safety for arrival of the fire brigade; and render all necessary assistance to the fire officer in command.

First-Aid

During normal ‘office’ hours. Report all accidents requiring first-aid to a member of laboratory staff.
Outside of normal ‘office’ hours. Contractors and sub-contractors are responsible for making their own first-aid arrangements.

Refresher training

Contractors, sub-contractors and visitors that visit the laboratory on an intermittent  basis or over an extended period of time will be required to undertake appropriate refresher training to ensure that they remain competent to access the laboratory area.

Bedfordshire University

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