Safety Network Newsletter

Issue 11 of the Safety Network Newsletter was introduced by Brian Jenkins. This was the second time Brian had been guest editor, but the first in his new role leading the Occupational Health & Safety team on an interim basis after Les Wright retired as Director of Occupational Health and Safety.

Network members were informed of a new biannual release of University safety policy statements, beginning in November 2024, along with a new Health & Safety Briefing Pack for heads of department.

Other important highlights included a revised approach to fire scenario training and the continued learning around safety incidents. Updates were also provided on the latest meetings of the Safety Executive Group, Divisional Safety Partnership and Safety Network Steering Group.

Read issue 11 of the Safety Network Newsletter

Issue 10 of the Safety Network Newsletter was opened by Andy Bryson, Divisional Safety Officer for GLAM (Gardens, Libraries and Museums). Here, he discussed his role on the Consultative Committee for Health & Safety (CCHS), Safety Network Steering Group and Divisional Safety Partnership.

The newsletter had been restructured following the summer break with new content categories including People and Learning, News and Events and Management updates. Regarding H&S systems, readers received updates on Odyssey, Oxford’s new Radiation Management System, the Hot Work Permit, and how support for IRIS, Cohort and other systems is changing.

Also included was the Michaelmas Term 2024 training programme, spaces available on the NEBOSH Diploma Course and a Business Continuity roundtable. It was announced that both the Vice-Chancellor, Irene Tracey, and the Registrar, Gill Aitken, will address delegates in person at next year’s Safety Network Conference, while new EveryDaySafe-branded poster templates were launched.

Two Safety Notices were publicised, as well as details of a faulty smoke sensor at the Medical Sciences Teaching Centre, while new regular features included Meet the Network and Health and Safety vacancies.

Read issue 10 of the Safety Network Newsletter

Issue 9 of the Safety Network Newsletter was opened by Dr Markos Koumaditis, HR Director and Chair of the Consultative Committee for Health & Safety, who detailed some of the key H&S ongoing priorities at the University.

The issue introduced the Safety Risk Management Report, which enables a better understanding of the most pertinent University-level safety risks, and informed the Network of a consultation process into the proposed changes to Part 2 of the Health & Safety Policy (UPS 2/11).

Two Safety Notices were issued, regarding changes to sharps bin bases and an electron microscope incident, while details of a Health & Safety Management masterclass delivered as part of the Confident Manager Series were provided.

Also included were an update on the self-assurance pilot, a call for input on a range of EveryDaySafe-branded poster templates and the launch of the Safety Network Conference 2025 - with a date of Thursday 20 March 2025 confirmed.

Read issue 9 of the Safety Network Newsletter

Issue 8 of the Safety Network Newsletter was introduced by Dr Chris Williams, University Safety Officer, who detailed key principles that have remained relevant throughout her career in health and safety. Chris was delighted to announce the release of Health & Safety Basics – an interactive eLearning course tailored to our University and suitable for all staff and students.

Two safety notices were issued with regards to emergency lighting central batteries and a new formulation of Chemgene HLD4L / HLD4H, while registered radiation workers who wear personal dosimetry were instructed to discuss travel plans and collect a yellow transit dosemeter from the Safety Office radiation team.

There was success for the Occupational Health Service team who were recognised at the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards and Professor Paul Chaisty, Head of Department at the Oxford School of Global & Area Studies, commented on his department's improvements in safety standards and culture. Elsewhere, there were updates on the Safety Executive Group's May meeting, the University's Incident Reporting & Investigation System report for Q1 2024 and how health and safety has been integrated into University-wide People and Organisational Development programmes.

Read issue 8 of the Safety Network Newsletter

Issue 7 of the Safety Network Newsletter was introduced by Professor Martin Maiden, Co-chair of the University's Safety Executive Group (SEG), who provided his key learnings and takeaways from the previous week's Safety Network Conference. Video messages from the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, both of which were shown during the Conference, were also included.

The issue detailed three training frameworks approved by the SEG, an update to the Travel and Fieldwork Risk Assessment and the launch of a DSO mentoring scheme. Readers were invited to join the Business Continuity and Compliance and Risk networks, as well as provide input to a number of EveryDaySafe workstreams.

Elsewhere, the University's 2023 incident data had been published, Bodleian Libraries Enterprises showcased improvements in fire safety, training and welfare, and a reminder was issued to support the Be Fire Aware campaign.

Read issue 7 of the Safety Network Newsletter

Issue 6 of the Safety Network Newsletter was introduced by Nichola Selby, EveryDaySafe Programme Manager, who posed a number of questions we should all be asking ourselves to surface and validate assumptions we make and to think about intent and outcomes.

Readers were directed to the safety training on offer for Hilary Term 2024, while there were details of new reporting available for compliance-related training. The newsletter celebrated an exemplary fire risk assessment by the Examination Schools, a gas cylinder safe practice guide produced by Christina Foldbjerg Holdway, Chemical Safety Advisor at the Department of Materials, and the re-establishment of face-to-face health surveillance.

There was also information on new electrical substation access rules, a safety contacts project and an HR Work-Related Stress Working Group. Resources for the EveryDaySafe Be Fire Aware campaign were distributed, the Safety Network Conference introduced and enhancements to IRIS navigation explained. Read the newsletter below to find further information on all these stories, plus much more.

Read issue 6 of the Safety Network Newsletter

Issue 5 of the Safety Network Newsletter was a packed edition featuring several key updates to the University's Health & Safety systems.

Guest edited by Neil Unsworth, Head of Risk & Resilience, the newsletter's introduction served as a reminder of the importance of near-miss reporting, providing key practical tips for readers to take away. Neil also spoke about the launch of the Compliance & Risk Network (CRN) as well as detailing good examples of University staff adopting strong Business Continuity plans.

Elsewhere, Network members were directed to the revised University Health and Safety Association (USHA) H&S Management Standard, while also being updated on the outcome of a recent Health & Safety Executive (HSE) inspection. A new process whereby anyone in the Network can suggest a safety improvement idea was introduced, three current workstreams were outlined and resources from the latest EveryDaySafe campaign, Look, Learn, Act: know your safety signs, were made available.

Other topics included the top five Unsafe Acts of 2023, a new Assistant University Fire Officer and the need for improved health and safety on film sets.

Read issue 5 of the Safety Network Newsletter

Issue 4 of the Safety Network Newsletter was introduced by Sharon Naylor, Head of Occupational Health Service, who provided an update on reviews of many of Occupational Health's internal processes.

Other items included a visit of safety officers from Hong Kong, a new process for departmental minor works and the trialling of automated safety documents.

The Safety Office also welcomed a new Safety Training Lead, while ‘safety alert’ communications had been introduced by both Estates and Engineering Sciences.

Read issue 4 of the Safety Network Newsletter

Issue 3 of the Safety Network Newsletter covered a variety of health and safety topics spanning numerous focuses of the University. 

This included a project to investigate fire stopping, a new IT system to manage radiation related information and the SEG process known as the 6-step tracker. Meanwhile, the Department of Engineering Science's recognition at an international conference was noted, and the next EveryDaySafe campaign, in the form of Safety Action of the Month, was introduced.

You can find the full list of contents, along with helpful navigation links, in the newsletter below:

Read issue 3 of the Safety Network Newsletter

Issue 2 of the Safety Network Newsletter delved into the subject of action-oriented safety, which was a key recommendation from the Health and Safety Review. 

This followed on from the Safety Executive Group approving a guidance note (SEG GN04) that set out actions to be taken by all staff, by managers/supervisors, and by health and safety officers providing safety advice, training and support.

Alongside this checklist of actions, which can be accessed via the newsletter, this issue also provided updates on Health Assured, a new employee assistance programme for University staff, a Safe Sustainable Science poster, the Ashmolean setting the standard in EveryDaySafe communications, and the EveryDaySafe Quiz prize draw winner.

Read issue 2 of the Safety Network Newsletter

Among other topics, stories featured in the first issue of the Safety Network Newsletter included updates on:

• EveryDaySafe consultation programme
• new appointments in the Occupational Health & Safety Office
• revised Fire Risk Assessment template
• successful outcome to Hand-arm Vibration Management Policy at University Parks
• EveryDaySafe values campaign

Read issue 1 of the Safety Network Newsletter