Important Please note that the Safety Passport should only be used as an introduction to the Health and Safety processes and procedures that are currently

Important

Please note that the Safety Passport should only beused as an introduction to the Health and Safety processes and procedures that are currently in place within the Robert Gordon University.

Staff and Students must also complete all relevantlaboratory induction programmes within eachSchool.

R.G.U. Buildings

3/1R.G.U. Buildings

Site Map

The Robert Gordon University campus is split over severalsites across Aberdeen

R.G.U. Buildings

3/2R.G.U. Buildings

Faculty of Science and Technology

Schoolhill Site

School of Engineering

St. Andrew Street Site

School of Applied SciencesSchool of Computing and Maths

R.G.U. Buildings

3/3R.G.U. Buildings

University Sites

Faculty of Management, Garthdee Faculty of Design, Garthdee

Faculty of Health and Social Care, Kepplestone

Faculty of Health and Social Care, Hilton

Faculty of Health and Social Care, Woolmanhill

R.G.U. Buildings

3/4R.G.U. Buildings

As you have seen there is a wide variation in the style of buildings used by the University.

This in it’s self causes problems for health and safety.

If you have to attend classes or laboratory sessions at different sites it is imperative that you familiarise yourselfwith the building layout.

When you attend classes, in whichever building, you will be given instructions as to the evacuation route from that particular area in the event of a fire or someother emergency.

Throughout the University signaage is standard

R.G.U. Buildings

3/5R.G.U. Buildings

You must show your Student ID pass before beingallowed entry to any R.G.U. building.

Welfare Facilities

Copyright © The School of Applied Sciences The Robert Gordon University

3/6Welfare Facilities

Welfare Facilities

The University has a duty to provide adequatewelfare facilities for Staff and Students.

Welfare facilities includes:

• Rest areas

• Canteen facilities

• Staff Common Rooms

• Student Common Rooms

• Designated smoking areas

• Toilets and washing facilities



Welfare Facilities

The variation in site buildings again has a bearingin what is provided for Staff and Students on theR.G.U. campus.

The newer buildings have custom built and up to datewelfare facilities whereas the older buildings tendto have rest rooms etc. converted from rooms whichoriginally had a totally different usage.

Again it is important that you make yourself awareof the whereabouts of such facilities within a building

The University has a duty to ensure these facilitiesare kept clean and well maintained.

Where washing facilities are provided hot and coldwater must be available.



Welfare Facilities

Faculty of Management,Garthdee Site

Student Canteen

St. Andrew StreetStudent Common Room



Welfare Facilities



Student Lockers

Student Study Areas

Open Access Computer Rooms

Noticeboards

All of these can be thought of as“Welfare Facilities” and as such shouldbe properly maintained and looked after.

Good Housekeeping

3/11Good Housekeeping


Good Housekeeping

The University has a duty to consider thehealth and safety of the workplace environment.

People must have enough space to work - overcrowdingcan lead to high stress levels.

Housekeeping

• All premises should be kept tidy.• Equipment should be put away after use• Waste, such as packaging, must not be left lying around.• All emergency exits must be kept clear.



Good Housekeeping

Floors and Corridors

Floors and gangways must be kept in good repair.Uneven or damaged floor covering is a tripping hazard.Corridors must be kept free of obstructions and must bewell lit.

Stairways

Stairways must be well maintained and fitted with handrails.

Work areas

Staff and students must endeavour to keep their work areastidy and manageable. Research areas in particular need to be kept up to the required standard and not give the appearancea “Heath-Robinson” working environment.



Each School within each Faculty, each centraladministration facility, each Customer Servicesunit, each Student Support Unit must be seen tobe doing as much as is reasonably practicable to ensure that a safe and healthy working environment

is provided for both Staff and Students.

This is seen not only as providing adequate heating,lighting and ventilation but also adequate space, which is

free from clutter, to work in.

Access to work areas, as well as defined evacuation routes,must also be free of obstruction.

Good Housekeeping

Summary



Signage

3/15Signage

What is a safety sign?

- a sign providing information or instructionabout safety or heath in the workplace

The University is obliged to ensure the proper use of signageunder the:

Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regs. 1966

Signage

3/16Signage

The University has a duty to select and make proper use ofand maintain safety signs.

Information given:

PROHIBITION - a sign prohibiting behaviour likely to increase or cause danger.

WARNING - a sign warning of a hazard or danger.

MANDATORY - a sign prescribing specific behaviour.

EMERGENCY ESCAPE - a sign giving information on/ FIRST AID emergency exits, first-aid and welfare facilities.

Others include:

• Illuminated signs• Acoustic Signals• Verbal Communication• Hand Signals• Fire Safety Signs.

Each of these covered by specific regs. and protocols

3/17Signage

Signage

Signage

3/18Signage

In the regulations certain colours have specific meanings:

Red

Yellow or Amber

Blue

Green

Prohibition

Danger alarm

Warning

Mandatory

Emergency escape

First -aid

Dangerous behaviour; stop; shut-down

Emergency cut-out devices, evacuate

Be careful; take precautions; examine

Specific behaviour or action

Doors; exits; escape routes.

Equipment and facilities

Common Signs

3/19Signage

Black pictogram onwhite background Red edging and

diagonal line.

PROHIBTION

Round Shape

3/20Signage

WARNING

Triangular Shape

Black pictogram ona yellow background Black edging

3/21Signage

MANDATORY

Round shape

White pictogram on a blue background

3/22Signage

EMERGENCY ESCAPE / FIRST AID

Rectangular or Square shaped

White pictogram on a green background

3/23Signage

FIRE FIGHTING

Rectangular or Square shaped

White pictogram on a red background

3/24Signage

Hazardous Substances

3/25Signage

Each container of a hazardous substance must have attached to it a label indicating the main hazard associated with the substance.

Staff and Students must be aware of what each means althoughas can be seen some are self-explanatory

Corrosive Explosive Harmful

Flammable Biological Hazard

All are black trianglewith yellow background

Hazardous Substances

3/26Signage

Work Equipment -Controls

3/27Work Equipment - Controls

Work Equipment-Controls

What is defined as work equipment ?

Basically any equipment used when carrying out a workplace activity.

• drilling machines, circular saws, photocopiers

• screwdrivers, knives, scalpels, files.

• lift trucks, hoists, ladders etc ......................

What needs to be done ?

• look at equipment in use and decide what can cause risk.• look at what can be done to prevent risk and see if this is being done.• decide whether more needs to be done.• THEN DO IT

3/28Work Equipment -Controls

Work Equipment - Controls

No guardsDirty work area

CleanNo clutter

Correct guards


Work Equipment - Controls

How does risk arise when using work equipment ?

• using the wrong equipment for a particular task• lack of guards or poorly maintained guards on machinery• lack of safety devices or poorly maintained safety devices on machinery.• having inadequate controls or the wrong types of controls so that equipment cannot be turned off quickly and safely.

Also must ensure that equipment cannot be started accidentally.• failure to provide proper information and training.

When identifying risks :

• be aware of what the piece of equipment actually does.•be aware of who will be using the equipment• be aware of the design and appropriateness of safety guards and devices• be aware of type of power supply - electricity, hydraulics, etc


Work Equipment -Accidents

3/31Work Equipment - Accidents

Work Equipment - Accidents

Dangers:

Some machines have traps where partsof the machine come together. Parts of thethe body such as fingers and limbs can be trapped.

Clothes and hair can be caught andentangled in rotating parts of machinery.

Machines with rotating parts can ejectand throw out particles and cuttings.

Drills, Cutters, saws are designed to cut metals - tend to cut through flesh and bonewith ease when they make contact with any part of the human body.

Harm can be done by theimpact of moving machinery parts.


Work Equipment -Accidents

It is not only large pieces of machinery or specialisedequipment which may cause harm.

Hammers, chisels, screwdrivers, spanners all these typesof hand tools need to be properly maintained.

What should Staff / Students do ?

Before agreeing to carry out a particular work activity amember of Staff or Student must be certain that:

• they know how to operate the equipment to be used.• they are aware of the required safety controls and how to use them.• all guards are in the correct position and that safety devices are working.• the area around the equipment is clean, tidy and free from obstruction.• they are wearing appropriate PPE.


Work Equipment

Summary

The University has a duty to provide and maintain suitableand safe work equipment.

The 5 main dangers from work equipment are:

• Traps• Entanglement

•Contact• Ejection• Impact

Work equipment can be made safer by:

• Design• Positioning• Guarding

Each piece of work equipment should have aStandard Operating Procedure

which must be followed.

3/34Work Equipment

Electricity -Hazards and Risk

3/35Electricity - Hazards and Risk

Electricity - Hazards and Risk

Each year about 1000 accidents at work involvingelectricity are reported to the H.S.E.

Of these around 30 are fatal .

We depend on electricity to carry out almost every workplace task.

Therefore everyone must be aware of the hazardsand risks associated with the use of electricity.



Main hazards

• Contact with live parts causing shocks and burns.

• Faults which could cause fires

• Fire or explosion where electricity could be the source of ignition.

Main risks

• Electric shocks when electricity passes through the body.

• Fires ~ 20% of all workplace fires are started by electrical appliances.



The risk of injury from electricity is strongly linked towhere and how it is used.

The risk being greatest in harsh conditions:

• in wet surroundings• outdoors• in cramped spaces with a lot earthed metalwork.

Some items of equipment involve greater risk than others:

• Extension leads• Electrical socket adaptors• Equipment which is moved around at lot.



Reducing the risk

Ensure that electrical installations are safe:

• Install new electrical systems to a suitable standard (BS 7671)• Existing installations must be properly maintained.• Provide enough socket-outlets

Provide safe and suitable equipment:

Choose electrical equipment that is suitable for it’s working environment. Ensure that equipment is maintained in a safe condition. Provide an accessible and clearly identified power off-on switch in case of an emergency. Ensure damaged cables, sockets and plugs are replaced. Protect lightbulbs from being damaged.

Reduce the voltage:

• Battery operated tools are safest.• If possible use 110 volt supply tools



Provide a safety device:

If equipment is being operated at 230 volts or higher an RCD ( Residual Current Device) can provide additional protection.

RCDs for “people protection” have a rated tripping current(sensitivity) of not more than 30mA.

Carry out preventative maintenance:

The University is required, by law, to ensure that all electricalequipment and installations are adequately maintained.

An appropriate system of visual inspection and testing shouldbe set up.

The frequency of inspections and any necessary testing willdepend on the type of equipment and the environment it isbeing used in.

Records of these actions must be kept and be made availableon request.



Work safely:

The University must ensure that Staff and Students working with electricity are competent to do so.

Supervisory Staff must ensure that:

• Suspect or faulty equipment is taken out of use.• Staff and Students do not attempt equipment repairs or alterations. These must be carried out by suitably qualified Staff or Contractors.• Staff and Students do not work on or near exposed live parts of equipment.



General Guidelines

Sockets and Plugs:Follow the one socket one plug rule - avoid using adaptersif possible.

Ensure, when purchasing plugs and sockets, that they aregood quality. Buying cheap may cause long term, expensiveproblems.

Cables / Flex:These wear with age. Damaged cables or flex must be replaced immediately by a qualified person.

Power:Never plug-in or unplug equipment when the power supply is on.

If switches, plugs or sockets become hot turn of the powerand have them checked.



Electricity and Water:Never touch or handle any piece of electrical equipment if your hands are wet. A perfectly safe piece of equipment maybecome lethal if wet.

Good Practice:Electrical equipment should be regularly checked by a qualifiedperson.Repair and maintenance should only be carried out by aqualified person.


Hazards and Risk associated with fire

3/44Hazards and Risk

associated with fire




Under the Health and Safety Act Staff and Students have a legal duty to look after their own health and safety alongwith that of collegues and vistors.

This means that they should be aware of what is required to stop fires starting and know what to do if they are everinvolved with a fire.

Approx. 50% of fires are caused by faults or misuse of electrical appliances, faults in electrical wiring, careless

smokers and the misuse of tools.




Burns

Smoke

Toxic Fumes

Suffocation

Property Damage

The main dangers associated with fire are:




Burns: Vary in severity Minor - outer layer of skin is injured - heals well Major - layers of skin damaged - leaves scar Deep - seriously damages parts of body under skin leading to fluid loss

Also breathing in of hot fumes can burn iternal tissue

Smoke

Smoke irritates the throat and eyes. Causes panic makinglogical thinking difficult and escape by correct route difficult.

Toxic Fumes

Synthetic materials can, when burning, give off toxic fumeswhich can kill a person, breathing them in, very quickly.




Suffocation

The oxygen level in a burning room is very low leading to suffocation of any inhabitants.

Property Damage

Fire damage weakens the structure of buildings.

Safe EvacuationProcedures

3/49Safe Evacuation Procedures


Safe Evacuation Procedures



The variation in buildings across the Robert Gordon Universitycampus causes problems in trying to ensure Safe Evacuation ofUniversity premises in the event of a fire or any otheremergency.

So it is impertative that Staff, Students, Visitors and ContractedWorkers are made aware of:

Fire Alarm “sound”.

Safest evacuation route.

Muster Points.

Identity of Evacuation Assistants.

All clear “sound”.

The University has an obligation, under law, to ensure that allpersons on it’s premises, at any time, are informed of current





General evacuation of a building.

It is the responsibility of each lecturer / tutor / senior personwithin each room to ensure that the room is evacuated and that all windows and doors to that room are shut.

All personal belongings must be left as nothing must hinderthe evacuation of the room/area.

Singage across the University is standard with regard to emergency evacuation.

Follow the “Green Arrows” and the “Green Running Man”

There must be no running towards the emergency exits,everyone should act in a controlled and well ordred manner.

Once outside of the building the allocated muster points mustbe strictly adhered to - required to carry out “head-count”




Role of Evacuation Assistants:

• A minimum of two Evacuation Assistants should be on duty within a building when wheelchair users and others with mobility difficulties are likely to be present.

• Evacuation Assistants are responsible for helping wheelchair users and those with mobility difficulties to evacuate buildings using an Evac-Chair.

• Evacuation Assistants should be aware of all Fire Exits, where they lead and the nature of the exit area - stairs or ramp.

• Evacuation Assistants will be fully aware of correct evacuation procedures for their own particular building.

Appropriate andcorrect use of Fire Extinguishers

3/53Fire Extinguishers



Foam

Cream label on main Red background

Suitable for use on:

Freely burning materialse.g. Liquid fires



Water

All Red


Freely burning materialse.g. Paper, wood



CO2

Black label on Red background


Freely burning materials Electrical fires



Powder

Blue label on Red background


Freely burning materials Electrical fires

Flammable liquids



At all Fire Extinguisherpoints this label will beclose- by giving detail of:

• Type of extinguisher

• Which type of fire to be used on.

• Warning as to what type of fire not to be used on.

• Warning of specific handling instructions.

Documents

Important Please note that the Safety Passport should only be used as an introduction to the Health and Safety processes and procedures that are currently