Departmental safety advisory committees

All departments must provide a forum for the discussion of health and safety matters. The University expects all major science, clinical and arts departments, as well as major museums and libraries, to set up a functioning departmental safety advisory committee. The forum must provide for input from all levels of employee and student representatives.

There is a legal duty for heads of departments to consult with both the recognised trades union safety representatives and with non-trades union representatives on local matters. Departmental safety advisory committees fulfil this need. However, their deliberations do not remove the day-to-day responsibility for health and safety from the head of department. Guidance on the role and function of departmental safety advisory committees is provided.