Policy and Guidance Updates - Health and Safety Directorate

There have been some updates to HSD policies and guidance, which updates:

A retraction of the Drones Policy which has been replaced with the Use of Drones Guidance document
A new policy and guidance document for student placements
A new health surveillance policy
Updates to the chemical and laser safety webpages
New guidance on working safely at home
New guidance on the use and storage of lithium-ion batteries in Queen Mary buildings
Hazardous Waste Contract

Read about these updates and how they might affect you below.

Updates to the Drones Policy

The previous Queen Mary Drones Policy was replaced with the Use of Drones Guidance document. The new guidance incorporates the amendments and updates to the UK Air Navigation Order (ANO) and subsequent guidance issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which moved the focus from the type of work the drone would be used for (i.e. commercial or non-commercial) to the competency of the pilot and risk level of each flight. The guidance also outlines the requirements for the different types of flight categories. A model risk assessment which can be used and adapted to cover the activities the drone will be used for was also produced and made available on the HSD intranet.

See more here.

Student Placements Health and Safety Policy

Through a series of audits and conversations, it was noted that some Schools, Institutes and Directorates have a gap in their health and safety management system when it comes to assessing risks associated with student placement activities. A policy document and supporting tools has been developed to support areas in implementing a risk assessment process for placement activities. Documentation available includes:

Student Placements Health and Safety Policy and Guidance
Student Placement Risk Assessment Form
Risk Profiling Student Placements and Suggested Actions (to be used alongside the risk assessment form to determine risk level and potential controls)
Placement Agreement Form
Health and Safety Crib sheet for Placement Officers

See more here.

Health Surveillance Policy

Health Surveillance is a scheme of repeated health checks which are used to identify ill-health caused by work. Queen Mary staff who are exposed to specific hazards when undertaking work or research activities may be required to undergo Health surveillance. This may be carried out prior to the employee starting (as a baseline recording), continuing during their employment (‘recall’) and upon leaving (to confirm health status). Some health and safety legislation, such as COSHH and other topic regulations, requires health surveillance to be carried out in certain situations to enable the early detection of work-related ill-health or conditions. In addition, health monitoring may also be suitable where the effects from an activity or exposure at work are suspected of causing ill health effects, but the association has yet to be fully established.

A stand-alone policy and guidance document to enable a robust health surveillance program for staff or PGR students undertaking a work / study activity was recently drafted by HSD and after approval at HSAG, issued to Queen Mary, and can be accessed at Health Surveillance and Monitoring

Handling of certain hazardous substances such as respiratory (e.g. laboratory animal allergens), skin sensitisers (e.g. chemicals such as isocyanates, glutaraldehyde, acid anhydrides or latex molecules) , harmful molecules (e.g. carcinogens or metal working fluids) or harmful biological agents (e.g. samples containing blood borne viruses) may require health surveillance, if the preventative measures identified from a work activity risk assessment are not completely able to prevent exposure, or if harm could be caused by a very low level of exposure.

Physical hazards such as noise and vibration may also require health surveillance for staff where prescribed exposure levels may be breached even with other preventative measures in place.

Staff undertaking night shift work (a minimum of 3 hours) should complete a health questionnaire and where health concerns are identified, ensure there is referral to Occupational Health. Staff driving Queen Mary vehicles are also required to have a fitness assessment.

The Health Surveillance and monitoring program for Queen Mary is led by OH Works Ltd who are the appointed Occupational Health service provider for Queen Mary. OH Works Ltd contact details are available here.

A protocol for those working with laboratory animal allergens can be accessed here.

Specific health surveillance protocols for those working with pathogens and biological hazards can be accessed here.

Future updates to laser and chemical safety guidance

We have recently updated the Laser Safety webpage which outlines the roles and responsibilities of the University Laser Safety Officer, School Laser Safety Officers, Heads of Schools, Line Managers / PIs and Laser Users. A number of resources including the Artificial Optical Radiation Policy, risk assessment forms and label templates are available for use and download. A laser safety module will be added to QMPlus in the next academic year to aid with local training of Laser Users.

For further advice and guidance on laser safety, please visit our topic page or contact a member of our team.

Our chemical safety webpages are currently under construction. Once our review is complete, information will be available on Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 (COSHH) and other relevant legislation, the risk assessment process and best practice.

For further advice on chemical safety in the meantime, please contact a member of our team.

Working Safely at Home

In response to the new hybrid working model, we have put together some guidance which aims to support you to work safely and effectively, whilst home working. This guidance complements the QMUL Hybrid Working Policy and Procedure whilst focussing on Display Screen Equipment (DSE), wellbeing and the working environment.