Health and Safety

This Health and Safety section provides a summary of the major Health and Safety issues of which all staff and students should be aware; for further details see the School Health and Safety Policy Document. The full School Health and Safety Policy Document is available at: http://staffnet.cs.manchester.ac.uk/acso/healthpolicies.php.

Fire, Emergencies and First Aid

Fire Safety Arrangements and Requirements

All staff and students are expected to respond promptly to all fire alarm activations (except the weekly tests at specified times). Staff who are responsible for groups of students or visitors at the time of an alarm are expected to stop teaching or speaking, and to lead the whole group in the evacuation procedure.

Fire Detection

Kilburn and IT Buildings are fitted with automatic detectors supplemented by break glass points located throughout each building. These activate the buildings audible alarm in the event of fire or smoke. The automatic detectors allow early detection of any developing fire.

If you discover a fire and the building alarm is not sounding, activate the nearest break glass point on your escape route and evacuate the building immediately. Make your way to the building assembly point and await further instruction. If possible you should inform security of the event and supply them with as much information as possible in order for them to evaluate the risk and to take appropriate action.

Fire Alarm

The audible alarm for Kilburn building is a two stage system:

Stage 1
An intermittent alarm -– be prepared to evacuate the building.
Stage 2
A continuous alarm – evacuate the building immediately.

The audible alarm for IT building is a single system. Upon hearing the fire alarm it is necessary to evacuate the building.

In the event of the alarm being activated Security will attend in the first instance.

Fire Evacuation Procedure

On hearing the fire alarm all occupants should evacuate the building immediately by their nearest available exit.

  • Do not use lifts.
  • Do not return to offices to collect belongings.
  • Go to Building Assembly Point.

Fire action notices are located throughout all buildings on campus summarising the specific local fire safety arrangements. Local fire notices also indicate the nearest fire assembly point. Evacuation Marshals are located throughout the building (identified by hi-visibility vests in an alarm situation) and are instructed to provide assistance and direction in the event of the fire alarm being raised.

Danger

DO NOT RE-ENTER THE BUILDING UNTIL THE EMERGENCY SERVICES OR SECURITY HAVE ADVISED YOU THAT IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.

Means of Escape

Means of escape are signed throughout the building. Green running man signs indicate the nearest emergency exit. You should familiarise yourself with the nearest means of escape within your local working area, as well as alternative routes should your main means of escape become inaccessible.

Fire Alarm Test

The fire alarm is tested weekly at the following times, and should last for no longer than 20 seconds:

  • IT Building - Thursday at 2:00pm.
  • Kilburn Building - Wednesday at 1.45pm.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are provided extensively through out all University buildings and should only be used by personnel specifically trained in their correct operation.

Automatic door closers

Throughout the Kilburn and IT buildings many of the fire doors are allowed to remain open during the day by means of an automatic fire detection door closing system. These units are designed to release the door following a continuous constant sound of 65 decibels and above, for a period of 20 seconds or more.

Emergencies

In the event of any emergency, medical or otherwise, please contact the emergency services by calling 9999 internal or 999 external line. The University Security Office must also be informed once the emergency services have been alerted by calling 69966 internal or 0161 306 9966 external line. The School Health and Safety Advisor must be notified of any emergency by calling 56118 internal or 0161 275 6118 external line.

University Security telephone number can be found on the reverse side of your University staff/student card.

The School Health and Safety Advisor must be notified of any emergency by calling 56118 internal number 0161 275 6118 if dialled externally (07917558862 mobile number).

First Aid

The School has a number of trained first aiders in the Kilburn and IT buildings able to provide basic first aid as required. Details of current first aiders are available on first aid notices located next to each fire notice and can be found near to every exit point of the building, on notice boards throughout the buildings and via the following link: http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=11029. If local first aiders are not available or assistance is required outside normal working hours, Security can be contacted to provide first aid by calling 69966 internal or 0161 306 9966 external line.

Emergency Evacuation Marshals

The University requires that all Schools appoint suitable numbers of emergency evacuation marshals to assist in the evacuation of all occupants from the buildings should an emergency situation arise. The criteria used for identifying the number of evacuation marshals required is one marshal per floor per protected stair case. In the school of Computer Science a Marshal is also required to be posted on the link bridge between the Kilburn and IT buildings to ensure no one enters one building from the other during an emergency situation.

Accidents and Incidents

All accidents, dangerous occurrences and near misses must be reported in the first instance to the School Safety Advisor and documented as necessary using the correct form. Accident and incident forms are available via the following link: http://www.healthandsafety.manchester.ac.uk/topic_a-z/

Reporting of accidents and incidents are necessary for the following reasons:

  • To comply with legal requirements depending upon the nature of the accident or incident.
  • To investigate the accident / incident and take steps to prevent recurrence.
  • To keep records in case of possible future litigation.
  • To allow collation of accident statistics.

Near misses should also be reported to your School Safety Advisor as acting upon near misses will prevent accidents occurring.

Electrical Equipment

Any electrical equipment brought into the school for use in offices, laboratories or workshops must be suitable for the intended purpose, meet UK requirements for safety, and display the CE universal quality standard mark. The School Health and Safety Advisor must be informed if any electrical equipment is brought into the school other than via the normal purchasing system. For the school to comply with health and safety legislation it is essential for all portable appliances, including those built at The University of Manchester, to be checked and tested on a regular basis. The school carries out Portable Appliance Testing in accordance with university guidelines and maintains a database of all such equipment. Checks and tests are carried out at regular intervals. High risk portable appliances (Heaters, power supplies, electric drills, kettles, etc) are checked and tested annually. Lower risk items like computer workstations, which are classed as semi-permanent fixtures, are checked and tested every four (4) years.

All portable appliances, including separate mains cables will be clearly labelled upon completion of the test. A recommended retest date will be indicated on the label.

Please ensure that ALL heaters and high load non-essential appliances within your working area are switched off before you leave the building.

Lone Working and Out of Hours Working

Lone working is defined as working without close or direct supervision, and without contact form others.

To reduce the risks associated with lone working it is the policy of the School of Computer Science not to permit any lone working activity beyond normal office based activities without first completing a risk assessment for the activity.

The requirements of the University guidance on lone working should be followed at all times. Details of these requirements and a definition of lone working are available at:

http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=13891.

Normal opening hours for the Kilburn and IT buildings are 8am to 6pm weekdays, excluding weekends, bank holidays and any other days when the building is closed (for example Christmas closure period). On occasion it may be necessary to use the facilities available in the Kilburn and IT buildings outside normal working hours.

During this time the presence of security or school staff members cannot be guaranteed. It is therefore extremely important that all occupants know what to do should an emergency situation occur within the school such as a fire, or the need for medical attention.

Use of the Kilburn building outside normal working hours will be permitted following successful completion of the out-of-hours induction online training course. Upon successful completion of the out-of-hours induction training, the following access times will be made available for masters students: 6pm –- 11.30pm Monday – Friday, 8am –- 11.30pm Saturday and Sunday.

Outside normal working hours the Kilburn Building is to be used for study and research (office based) purposes only, and access is restricted to the Lower First floor. No social events or gatherings will be permitted unless an appropriate member of staff has been notified and has agreed to the event. Depending upon the details of the event it may be necessary to complete a risk assessment (see out of hours events section below). Please contact the School Safety Advisor, Tony McDonald via email (tony.mcdonald@manchester.ac.uk) for guidance and further information.

Outside normal working hours access into the IT building is gained via the south entrance door only. Swipe access is required and the out-of-hours book must be signed by all users detailing name, work location and times of entry and exit. The swipe card access system for the IT building is only enabled for staff and postgraduate students based in the IT building who have undertaken the necessary local and health and safety inductions.

Any person wishing to remain in the buildings outside normal working hours must sign the appropriate out-of-hours books. The out-of-hours book for the Kilburn Building is located at the porter’s lodge; the-out of-hours book for occupants of the IT building is located in the foyer of the building by the main entrance.

This procedure is necessary should an emergency situation occur. Responding emergency services must be able to account for all personnel on site during an emergency situation such as a fire or bomb scare.

The school reserves the right to spot check anyone on site outside normal working hours to ensure that this procedure is being followed. Anyone found not to have followed the correct procedure may be asked to leave the building, and may be suspended from out-of-hours activities for a period.

Please remember that authorisation to use The Kilburn and IT buildings outside normal working hours is a privilege, and not an automatic right, and that there is no right of appeal for anyone excluded from out-of-hours access to these buildings.

Chemical Safety

Any chemical(s) brought into the School for experimental, practical or general use must be controlled and a risk assessment carried out to ensure that the chemical is used, stored and disposed of safely. University guidance on chemical safety is available at: http://www.healthandsafety.manchester.ac.uk/toolkits/chemicals/ HSE guidance is available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/chemicals/index.htm

School smoking policy

To comply with current Government legislation The University of Manchester promotes a no smoking policy within all buildings, irrespective of their use or location. This policy also applies to e-cigarettes. To safeguard staff, students and visitors from the adverse effects of second hand smoke, and to show unity with other schools, the School of Computer Science has adopted a no smoking exclusion zone within 5 meters of all school entrances and exits of the school buildings. Smoking is also prohibited directly outside open windows where smoke may drift into school premises. Your assistance in keeping the school of Computer Science a safe and healthy place to work and study in is much appreciated.