First Year Induction

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First Year Induction Health and Safety September
2008
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Health and Safety
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Health and Safety
The University of Southampton requires all of
its employees, students, and other persons,
wherever University activities are taking place,
to work safely and with due consideration for
others, and provides training and supervision as
necessary to enable them to do so
University of Southampton Statement of Health and
Safety Policy Nov 07
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Fire drills and fires
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Fire drills and fires
If you discover a fire..

• Raise the alarm immediately by breaking the glass
  of the nearest call point
• Call points are located at all main exits,
  stairways and communal areas

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Fire drills and fires
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Fire drills and fires
If you hear the fire alarm

• Leave the building by the quickest route
• Do not stop to gather belongings or turn
  computers off
• Do not use the lift unless you have a special
  arrangement due to a mobility impairment
• Go immediately to the fire muster point in the
  far right hand corner of the car park
• Do not re-enter the building until instructed to
  do so

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Fire drills and fires
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Fire drills and fires
Remember the fire alarm is tested every Friday
morning at 9.30am this is not a fire drill
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Accidents and Incidents
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Accidents and Incidents
If someone needs first-aid

• In the event of illness or injury, contact a
  first-aider
• The first-aider will decide on the best course of
  action
• Contact details of first-aiders can be found on
  green and white signs at safety information
  points
• Safety information points are located at all main
  exits, stairways and communal areas

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Accidents and Incidents
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Accidents and Incidents
Reporting health and safety issues

• Be vigilant, know the causes of accidents,
  anticipate hazards and guard against them
• If you see something that is unsafe, take
  immediate action
• Report any issues to your course coordinator,
  lecturer or other member of University staff
• Contact details of Health Safety trained staff
  can be found at www.hip.humanities.soton.ac.uk

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Your study environment
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Your study environment
Safe use of display screen equipment

• Using computers for long periods can cause health
  problems
• These are preventable through correct working
  practices
• Keep your work space clean and tidy
• Make sure you take frequent breaks
• Tips for safe use of display screen equipment can
  be found at www.hip.humanities.soton.ac.uk

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Your study environment
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Health and Safety
Risk Assessment

• The School of Humanities is a low risk
  environment
• Written guidance and training sessions will be
  available for activities that are regarded as
  higher risk
• You are entitled to refuse to participate in a
  task if you feel you may be at risk
• If there are any medical factors which may
  increase your levels of risk, alert your course
  co-ordinator
• Students who have a mobility impairment should
  discuss evacuation arrangements with the School
  Safety Officer

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Health and Safety
Donts at Avenue Campus

• Do not use, adjust or interfere with equipment or
  machinery unless authorised to do so
• Do not obstruct fire exits, routes, doors or
  interfere with fire extinguishers or safety
  notices
• Do not drink alcohol unless it is at an organised
  function
• Do not smoke in the buildings there are
  ashtrays provided outside for your use
• Do not plug laptops into the mains in the Café as
  the wires are a trip hazard
• Do not enter an unauthorised area

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Health and Safety
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Health and Safety
Where to find Health Safety information

• University policy www.hr.soton.ac.uk/safety
• School of Humanities policy www.hip.humanities.s
  oton.ac.uk
• It can also be found in your course handbooks

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Health and Safety Display Screen Equipment
Tips for Safe Use
Workstation Tips

• Raise or lower your seat until your forearms are
  horizontal with your shoulders relaxed. Make sure
  your wrists are straight when your hands are on
  the keyboard.
• Sit right back in your chair. Form a relaxed
  curve in your lower back (dont slouch) and
  adjust your back rest to provide support in this
  position.
• Remove any obstacle under your desk that prevents
  you sitting in front of the keyboard and screen
• Adjust your screen angle to suit your sitting
  position and minimise reflections from ceiling
  lights
• Adjust brightness control to suit the changing
  external lighting level as it changes throughout
  the day
• Vary your posture and take frequent breaks from
  your display screen. Mix DSE and other types of
  work

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Health and Safety Display Screen Equipment
Tips for Safe Use
Mouse Tips

• Keep the mouse within immediate reach
• Move your arm not just your wrist to move the
  mouse
• Rest your arm on the desk between movements
• Keep your fingers relaxed dont grip the mouse
• Use a mouse mat to increase friction on the desk
  top
• Keep the mouseball clean

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Health and Safety Display Screen Equipment
Tips for Safe Use
Laptop Tips

• Laptop computers are designed for portability,
  but carrying them and their accessories can still
  be a problem. They may also be a target for
  thieves.
• Their small size can make it very difficult to
  adopt comfortable and healthy postures when using
  laptops, so they should not be used for prolonged
  periods. Back, neck and shoulder pain can easily
  be the result.
• Always use a full-size PC and properly designed
  workstation whenever you can, or link your laptop
  to a full-size screen and keyboard.
• Use a standard height upright chair and work
  surface, if possible
• Sit dierctly in front of the laptop, and sit
  right back in the chair so that the back rest can
  support you. A pillow or cushion may help if the
  chair cannot be adjusted
• Small lightweight stands can be used to raise
  laptops screen to a more comfortable viewing
  height. A separate keyboard must then be used as
  the keys will be at too steep an angle for
  comfort.

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Health and Safety Display Screen Equipment
Tips for Safe Use
Laptop Tips continued..

• Try to position the screen at right angles to
  windows and as far from them as possible. Angle
  the screen so that it is roughly perpendicular to
  your line of sight. These help avoid reflections
  and glare
• Try to keep any reference documents close to the
  keyboard/screen to avoid leaning to read
• Keep shoulders relaxed and forearms/wrists
  horizontal when keying, to minimise discomfort
• Keep your fingers relaxed and your hand flat when
  using the tracker device. If using a mouse, keep
  it close and move it with arm rather than wrist
  movements
• It is important to take frequent breaks from the
  screen and also to change your posture regularly