- About postgraduate study
- Part-time study
- Courses
- Order a Prospectus
- Faculties & Departments
- UK students
- EU students
- International Students
- How to apply for your course
- Handy Hints
- Open Events
- Student Recruitment
- Money Matters
- About Us
27 Feb 2006 10:40:34
University of Luton joins forces with the experts to improve health and safety
The health and safety of staff and students at the University of Luton is to be further improved, following discussions with experts at the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
Staff at the HSE visited the University in January and, this week, produced a report identifying a number of areas for both praise and further improvement.
University Vice Chancellor Professor Les Ebdon said: “We welcome the visit and very useful discussions with experts at the Health & Safety Executive. We were particularly pleased with the praise given to a number of areas and will take action based on the sound advice in others.”
The report states, for example, that the provision of a professional Occupational Health service on site is “a positive benefit for staff”. It also states: “We are pleased that there is a health and safety committee in place at the University with representatives from management and staff represented… These committees are valuable tools to help improve health and safety performance and we would encourage everyone involved to be proactive.”
The report goes on to state: “We were impressed with the COSHH [Control of Substances Hazardous to Health] assessment programme implemented at the research centre. [It] is one of the more comprehensive methods that we have seen to ensure all chemical risks are being covered.” And the report praises the University for controlling the risks of slips and trips, and for its staff training in the area of manual handling.
The HSE also recommended three areas for improvement, specifically:
The report concludes: “As with any large organisation this inspection discovered areas of both weakness and strength within the systems at the University. We are of the opinion that you have been making progress in improving health and safety management. We hope that the actions that we have asked you to take continue to help this process of improvement.”
Professor Ebdon said: “The advice from the HSE was most useful and we will be acting on it. We are committed to ensuring that the University is a healthy and safe place for staff and students alike.”
And he added: “I would like to join the HSE in thanking colleagues for their co-operation during the visit, in particular, our recently-appointed health and safety advisor, who will help us to monitor continually, audit and improve this area.”
Latest news» 2006» Feb» Reducing risks, protecting people
