School Health & Safety Officer at The University of Sheffield

Overview

As School Health & Safety Officer you will provide a professional, enthusiastic, high quality and comprehensive health and safety risk management to the School of Biosciences.

A key part of your role will be promoting the positive health and safety behaviours needed to deliver a high-performing health and safety environment to meet the requirements of professional competence, legislation and University policy. You will be responsible for ensuring that all staff, students and visitors have access to appropriate health and safety training, and will ensure that breaches of legislation and/or University policy are reported, challenged and resolved. Your actions will contribute to a positive safety culture, in which incidents are reported openly and used as learning opportunities to improve working practice.

This role will require the ability to analyse and design practical solutions to health and safety issues, and an ability to deal with difficult situations and influence behaviours with a high level of tact and diplomacy.

Applicants must have a good honours degree or significant experience in H&S position along with recognised NEBOSH Safety qualification. Strong leadership and influencing skills with the ability to persuade and influence a wide range of people to achieve changes in behaviour and excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to adapt approach and level of advice for the recipient are also essential. Experience of working in a scientific environment is an important requirement for the role, and experience of a higher education environment would be beneficial, due to the breadth of teaching and research activity in the School

Main duties and responsibilities

• Act with the delegated authority of the Head of School on Health and Safety matters (both routine and urgent), bringing health and safety matters to the Head of School’s attention as appropriate, in order to ensure appropriate action is taken.
• Be fully familiar with the University’s Health and Safety Policy and work with the Head of School, School Technical Manager, School Manager and other senior leaders to develop, implement and annually review the School Safety Policy in line with University guidance and with reference to best practice behaviour.
• Review the School’s activities in relation to all University Health and Safety policies and advise on and oversee their implementation suggesting improvements where appropriate.
• Make frequent and regular visits to facilities across the School, in order to monitor compliance with University health and safety policies (including the safe operation of equipment, the maintenance of health and safety records, general housekeeping and the use of personal protective equipment), and assist staff in implementing these policies.
• Arrange and carry out regular health and safety inspections of School spaces, recording findings and ensuring appropriate action is taken as necessary, reporting the significant finding to the departmental H&S Committee to monitor School activity and ensure that adequate precautions are taken in relation to any new activities.
• Lead the Department’s preparation for Health and Safety audits carried out by the central Health and Safety team, ensuring all reports are made by the due date.
• Investigate accidents and incidents ensuring that all necessary reports are made to the University Safety Services and recommended actions are carried out.
• Working with relevant colleagues within the School, coordinate and deliver training on safety related topics, ensuring that appropriate health and safety training/induction of staff and visitors is provided and that suitable records are maintained.
• Maintain and disseminate health and safety information and reports as appropriate to staff.
• Monitor arrangements for fire prevention and first aid to ensure adequate cover.
• Organise and attend the School Health and Safety Committee assisting in setting the agenda and following up on actions.
• Advise on School arrangements for the generation, approval and review of risk assessments and SOPs. Monitor to ensure that the documents are suitable & sufficient. Provide support for employee induction and training and work with the Head of School to ensure that suitable monitoring and enforcement of safety requirements takes place.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post