Health and Safety Committee
Terms of Reference
The Health and Safety Committee is a Committee of Council with reporting responsibilities to Audit and Risk Committee. It shall also provide regular reports to University Executive Board (UEB).
It shall consider, comment on and approve the University health and safety strategy, policies, and management arrangements, and ensure that the University meets all legislative requirements and best practice standards. It shall also seek assurance in relation to health and safety performance and promote a positive health and safety culture. To act as the formal consultative forum for the University in relation to health and safety.
It is important to note that, whilst an important function, the Committee does not merely exist as a consultative forum but is established to ensure that significant actions are identified and implemented in such a way as the University can demonstrate that Health and Safety are being effectively managed as a strategic priority. Attendees at Committee are expected to add value to the process and contribute to the outputs produced as a result of the Committee’s activities.
The Health and Safety Committee, in line with university policy, has the ability to form and disband sub-committees as required.
Main Activities
The Committee shall be responsible for the overseeing of strategic Health & Safety Management, and will have functions including, though not restricted to:
- Consideration of the University Health and Safety Strategy through oversight of plans to ensure adequate resourcing and implementation at all levels of the University.
- Ensuring the Health and Safety Strategic Delivery Plan is actively engaged and embedded in all areas of the University’s undertakings through oversight of a regular series of audits and reviews of safety practice and procedure in the University.
- Oversight of the development of departmental Health and Safety Arrangements and Work Plans to ensure the Health and Safety Strategy is being delivered in line with agreed timelines.
- To monitor and drive the University’s performance in terms of health and safety compliance.
- To monitor the occurrence of health and safety related incidents including near misses, reports of any enquiries into them under the approved procedures and identify any implications for the development of health and safety policies and procedures.
- To receive reports of non-compliance and non-conformity from external agencies, including enforcing authorities
- Monitor the University’s compliance with fire precautions (workplace) regulations across both residential and non-residential estates.
- Reviewing key risks associated with university activities relating to health and safety and reviewing the arrangements in place for managing these risks.
- Considering reports arising from audit and monitoring activities and agreeing any necessary corrective actions.
- Ensuring the Health and Safety sub-committees are structured, resourced and report in a manner consistent with the University Health and Safety Strategy.
- Receive and review reports from sub-committees, ensuring all statutory required reporting is in place, and coordinate provision of relevant safety advice or information on good practice across the University.
- To act as the formal consultative committee of the University in relation to health and safety
- To discuss issues of health and safety policy and practice raised by the trade unions.
- To be kept informed of trends and developments in health and safety and to comment on their adoption and possible implementation.
- Review and approve safety policies and arrangements, where required for submission to the Council, and monitor their implementation.
- Identify matters of concern to staff and students and encourage their support for and engagement with securing appropriate workplace health, safety, and welfare standards.
- To consider and comment on projects and work that have significant health and safety implications.
- To provide regular reports to Audit and Risk Committee and UEB on matters of health and safety, including apprising of any accidents and incidents posing major risks.
Sub-Committees
The following shall be sub-committees of Health and Safety Committee:
- Health and Safety Estate, Infrastructure and Statutory Compliance Committee
- Health and Safety Policy Consultation and Approval Committee
- Radiation Protection Committee
- Biological Safety Sub-Committee
Each sub-committee shall submit regular reports to Health and Safety Committee on delivery against any strategies or key performance indicators as set-out by the Committee within their respective areas. They shall escalate decision-making and concerns around risk to the Committee as appropriate.
The terms of reference of all sub-committees shall be reviewed and approval annually, usually at the first meeting of the academic session, by the Committee.
Measures and Outputs
- Health and Safety Strategic Delivery Plan
- Faculty and Professional Services Departmental Health and Safety Arrangements documents reviewed annually and associate work and improvement plans.
- 6 monthly metric updates from faculties, professional service Departments, estates and infrastructure and statutory compliance
- Reports submitted by Committee members.
- Annual report from each of the faculties
- Annual report from each of the Professional Services Departments
- Occupational Health
- Health and Safety Services
- Annual review of Health and Safety Competence and Training Plan
- Risk Register review and report by exception
- Audit and Monitoring Reports submitted by the Health and Safety Services team.
- Sub-Committee minutes and Annual reports for each of the key risk topics.
Constitution
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Chair
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Deputy Vice-Chancellor
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Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellors
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Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Engineering)
Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Arts)
Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Medicine and Health Sciences)
Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Science)
Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Social Sciences)
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Chief Governance and Risk Officer
Chief Property and Facilities Officer
Estates Operations Director
Deputy Director of Human Resources
External member of University Council
External member of University Council
Director of Health and Safety
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8 Health and Safety Representatives as follows reflecting the spread of workplace hazards
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UCU (2 representatives):
UNITE (3 representatives):
UNISON (3 representatives):
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Secretary
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Governance Manager
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Deputies
Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellors are permitted to nominate either their Faculty Operations Director or Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor to attend meetings on their behalf in exceptional circumstances only and with the agreement of the Chair. Union representatives can send a deputy on their behalf in exceptional circumstances only and from a pool of pre-submitted persons. Deputies shall count towards a quorum and have the same voting rights as a regular member.
Other members cannot nominate a Deputy to attend on their behalf.
Quoracy
A quorum will be half the regular membership, or a valid deputy, plus one.
Organisation
The Chair will determine the frequency of meetings, but it is expected that meetings will be once a quarter.
Reviews of the effectiveness of the Committee should be conducted and considered every three years, or at the direction of the Chair of the Committee or Council.
Legislation
The University recognises its legal duty to consult with staff and trade union representatives. Relevant legislation includes:
- the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974,
- Trade Union Safety Representatives (Safety Representative & Safety Committees Regulations (SRSCR) 1977 and
- Health and Safety [Consultations with Staff] Regulations (HSCER) 1996.
Reporting Requirements
The Committee shall report to Audit and Risk Committee twice per year at six monthly intervals (or as otherwise required) and onward to Council.
(updated 18 May 2026)
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