It is the Policy of Robert Gordon University to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that no employee, student, visitor, contractor or other person is exposed to an unacceptably high level of risk from any of the property, equipment or activities undertaken, for which the University has a legal responsibility for mitigation. Any risks which cannot be mitigated to a tolerable level must be presented to the Staff Governance Committee for review.

In view of this commitment, The Robert Gordon University will:

• Provide an environment where risk is mitigated to an acceptable level for all employees, students, visitors, contractors or others.
• Ensure compliance with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and all other relevant legislation and guidance.
• Undertake suitable and sufficient assessments of all workplace risks, through the application of a suitable risk assessment system
• Record the findings of these assessments
• Provide information on the outcomes of assessments to those involved in the process being assessed
• Provide suitable information and training to enable suitable risk assessments to be developed and implemented.
• Regularly review the risk assessment system, to ensure it is suitable and sufficient

Responsibilities

• Head of School or Support Department

The Head of School or Support Department will ensure, personally or through delegation to a competent person, that suitable and sufficient assessments of risks arising from their activities, processes or other, are performed and the significant findings recorded. The Head of School or Department will also ensure, through appointed competent persons, that the relevant information contained in these assessments is disseminated to the appropriate persons, and that the mitigation/control measures are adequately implemented.

•  Employees, students, visitors, contractors and others

It is the responsibility of employees, students, visitors, contractors and others to participate as requested in the risk assessment process. In addition any recommended control measures must be implemented.

• The Occupational Health and Safety Department

The Robert Gordon University Occupational Health and Safety department will ensure that an adequate risk assessment system is in place. This will contain the risk assessment policy, procedure, example form, advice and training for key people within Schools and Departments on the RGU system. In addition the Occupational Health and Safety Department will source and help to arrange additional risk assessment training where it is required.  

Arrangements for implementation

Assessments will be recorded on The Robert Gordon University Risk Assessment Template or a pre-agreed variation of this form, and in accordance with The Robert Gordon University risk assessment procedure.

The exceptions to this would be where a specialised risk assessment is required, for example using lasers or radiation, COSHH, fire, DSE (workstation). This list is not exhaustive. The School or Department may amend the form to suit a specific technical risk, providing the format is agreed and recorded by the Occupational Health and Safety Department.

Records will be held by the School or Department, in the area to which they apply, and will be accessible for employees or students for information purposes, and for auditing purposes.

Risk Assessment Procedure

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) Assessment Templates

Templates to be used as part of the COSHH Assessment process can be found below. For detailed guidance on the application and methods of COSHH Assessment, please access the COSHH Health and Safety Page

COSHH Assessment Template

COSHH Assessment Bio Hazard Template

Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Assessment Template 

The template DSE Assessment form can be found below. For detailed guidance on the application and method of DSE Assessment, please access the Health and Safety Display Screen Equipment Page

On completion of the DSE Assessment Form, either save it in Word format or print a copy and send to your H&S Co-ordinator, highlighting any adverse findings.

Your H&S Co-ordinator will either resolve the situation or will contact the H&S Department for further advice.

Display Screen Equipment Assessment Form

Expectant and Nursing Mothers Risk Assessment

The following risk assessments are to be carried out by the line manager of the expectant/nursing mother. Advice, if necessary, can be sought from the OHS Department. 

HSE Guidance on managing risks at work to Expectant and Nursing Mothers 

Pregnancy Risk Assessment Template

Nursing Mothers Risk Assessment

Manual Handling Risk Assessment

This Template is provided for assessing risks from Manual Handling activities.

Manual Handling Risk Assessment Template

HSE FAQs on the control of risk from Manual Handling activities

or contact the H&S Department for advice.

Event Safety Risk Assessment

Many Schools and Departments organise events which either are not part of their routine activities or which invite members of the public into University buildings.

Due to the atypical nature of these activities, there is an increased risk of hazards being realised due to, for example, increased people in areas, members of public unfamiliar with hazards or building layout, unusual equipment being installed, etc.

Good planning and management are fundamental to the success of any organised event. In order to ensure that events are conducted safely, an event safety plan should be drawn up which will ensure that the health, safety and welfare of all those attending an event is managed.

During the preparation stages of planning an event, it will be necessary to undertake an event risk assessment, which will ensure that there are adequate health and safety measures in place. It is likely, that these risk and associated controls are actively considered during the planning stage, but it is important that these are documented.

It may also be necessary to consider whether the University Insurance is adequate for the event. It may be necessary to discuss this with the Finance Department.

In the unlikely event that a major incident occurs, quick and prompt actions by responsible persons is likely to severely limit any deterioration in the situation. A major incident could include a serious personal injury, a large number of casualties, fire, collapse of a structure, etc. The development of an emergency plan outlining the actions required when things go wrong should be considered. This plan will outline the roles and responsibilities of specific people in the event of a major incident and the actions that are required by certain people e.g. assisting in building evacuation, assistance of evacuees to assembly points, liaison with the emergency services, etc. It will be important that the emergency plan highlights individuals with key decision making powers.

In addition to the development of an event safety plan and assigning roles and responsibilities for safety to staff involved in the event, it may be necessary that safety information is relayed to visitors. This is most easily done by the provision of signs or the provision of “helpers” who are easily identified.

The documents below outline the information that would be required for an Event Safety Plan.

Event Safety Plan Guidance

Event Safety Plan Template

Student Placement Risk Management

The Student Placement Risk Management Policy, Procedure and Guidance can be found via theHealth and Safety Student Placement Page. Guidance is also provided on accepting Work Experience pupils at the University. Student Placement Questionnaire

Please see the Lone Working and Out of Hours Access Health and Safety Page to view the Policy, Procedure and Flowcharts and to download the associated forms.