The University has a responsibility to ensure the health and safety of all staff, students and visitors. It is a legal requirement that the University should provide a safe working environment and ensure that all safe working practices are followed. Equally, everyone connected to the University has the responisibility to comply and ensure they take care of themselves and others.
The University fully accepts it's responsibilities to strive for and to achieve excellence in all operations, including health and safety.
All students are responsible for the health and safety of themselves and others who may be affected by their actions. Students are required to comply with the University Health and Safety Policy. Individual schools may have their own health and safety procedures relevant to particular activities, equipment or protective clothing, which students will be made aware of at induction and /or during the course of their studies where it is applicable.
The University has a crisis management plan which can be inspected upon request.
The following list is a general guide for all students.
Fire Evacuation Procedure
The purpose of the procedures is to ensure safe evacuation of the University's premises in the event of a fire or other emergency.
Emergency Alarms
The emergency evacuation alarm is a siren. In the event of the sounding of the alarm all persons should evacuate the buildings following the procedures set out below.
Action to be taken by Students
1 As directed by staff, when the alarm sounds close windows and switch off all machines, gas valves, equipment and electrical appliances (other than LSS computer installations).
2 Leave the building by the nearest designated emergency exit in accordance with the instructions given by staff, closing doors as directed.
3 Assist disabled students as required. In the event that any disabled student is unable to be evacuated, you should assist the member of staff to ensure the Controller is aware of the location of the disabled student, and any other relevant information which may assist in the evacuation of that student.
4 Do not re-enter unless advised by a member of staff known to you.
5 On no account use lifts.
6 Do not take holdalls, briefcases or any other bulky items which would impede evacuation. Do not go searching for personal belongings.
7 On evacuation report to the designated assembly point irrespective of the exit by which the building was evacuated. Do not congregate in any area which is not an assembly point and do not leave the assembly point unless authorised by a recognised member of staff. Please note, there are no internal assembly points.
8 If you are concerned that another student has not been able to evacuate the building please advise a member of staff of that person's last known location.
First Aid
Only a suitably qualified person should give first aid treatment. If you require first aid treatment, please ask either your academic supervisor or a technician who will arrange for first aid treatment to be administered. Alternatively, ring the following emergency numbers: Tel. 01204 903700 (ext 3700) or main Reception Tel. 01204 900600.
Accident Reporting
Always report all accidents, no matter how minor, and make sure an accident report form is filled in. You should report all accidents to your academic supervisor as soon as possible. This will include if you have an accident when not on the University's premises but you are undertaking an activity sanctioned by the University e.g. field trips.
If the accident takes place on the University premises - other than your normal place of study - you should ensure you report it to a suitable member of the University's staff i.e. site supervisors, library supervisor etc. You can contact the site supervisors by ringing one of the emergency contact numbers given for first aid treatment (above). Always ensure that you inform your academic supervisor as soon as possible.
Smoke Free Policy
It is the policy of the University that all our workplaces are smoke free, and all students and employees have a right to work and study in a smoke free environment. Smoking is prohibited in all public buildings and around their entrances and open windows. This ensures that smoke does not enter a building from outside and that people entering or exiting the premises are not exposed to second-hand smoke. Should someone become exposed to second-hand smoke in this way, they have the right to request that the smoker moves and the smoker is expected to respect that request.
The policy came into effect on Sunday 1 July 2007 and covers all parts of University buildings including the building occupied by the Student Union (such as offices, teaching rooms, corridors, loading bays) and any vehicles used on University business. Smoking in these areas is a criminal offence.
It is appreciated that the Halls of Residences are homes to students and therefore students are permitted to smoke although strictly only in the bedrooms designated for smokers. Any student occupying a designated smoking bedroom should have consideration for others by keeping his/her door closed. All other bedrooms and all communal areas within the halls of residence(s) are smoke free.
The policy has been developed to protect all employees, students and visitors from exposure to second-hand smoke and to assist compliance with the Health Act 2006.The University does not encourage smoking particularly amongst its staff and students, and those who do, smoke at their own risk.
A copy of the University Smoke Free Policy can be found at
www.bolton.ac.uk/studentservices |www.bolton.ac.uk/AboutUs/Resources/SmokeFreePolicy.pdf |and further information is available from www.smokefreeengland.co.uk |
Behaviour
Students are expected to behave in a responsible manner when on University premises or during University activities off campus. Students should stay out of areas of the University where they are not authorised to be, such as rooftops, staff only areas, construction and building sites, boiler, switchgear and lift motor rooms and any associated controls.
Security
An around the clock security service is available at the University. Whilst security is provided on a sub-contracted basis it is the responsibility of the Estates Department. The Security Control Room (based at Eagle) can be accessed by internal phone system (3700).
Security Control Room for routine matters 01204 903700 or dial 3700 (courtesy Phone)
Emergencies ONLY dial 666 (Courtesy Phone) or 01204 903666
Contacting Security
If you are worried about someone who is acting suspiciously, or see someone committing an illegal act or criminal offence then do not hesitate to contact the 24hour Security Control room on one of the telephone numbers shown.
Safe Use of Computers
General guidance on the safe usage of computers will be given to you as appropriate at the induction stage and you should at all times follow this guidance.
1 Do not use computers for more than 90 minutes at a time without a 15 minute complete break from the screen.
2 You should preferably plan your work to enable you to have shorter sessions such as 30 minutes followed by 5 minutes of change or 60 minutes followed by 10 minutes of change.
3
You should plan your work so that you do not use the computer for longer than 3 hours a day. Be sensible about the amount of time spent on the computer outside of normal timetable hours.
4 If the evacuation alarm sounds you should immediately stop what you are doing and evacuate as requested by a responsible member of staff.
Manual Handling
In general you will not be asked to move equipment or furniture. However there may be times when it may be necessary to help in such lifting operations or you may need, if going on field trips etc, to take such equipment with you which will require some lifting. In such cases you should follow the following advice;
1 Do not carry greater weights than can be carried comfortably.
2 Reduce the load size where practical.
3 Use any lifting aids available.
4 Ensure eyesight is not restricted.
5 Obtain help where appropriate.
6 Store materials where appropriate so that necessity for lifting is reduced.
7 Where possible reduce the need for moving a load by placing it as near as possible to the work area without causing an obstruction of the area.
Hall of Residence
A code of practice for students living in the halls of residence is necessary to take into account the health, safety and welfare of everybody who uses the premise. The following guide is specific to Orlando Village and The Hollins Halls of Residence.
Health and Safety Guide for Students in Halls of Residence (PDF)|
Halls of Residence Student Conduct Statement|
Safety Matters for International Students
For many of our international students it will be your first time living and studying away from home, we understand that you may be concerned about safety or have questions, for example about personal and home safety or using public transport.
The British Council have a safety guide specifically for international students, it covers different subjects, such as Safety at home, Personal Safety, registering with the police and many more.
Please visit www.educationuk.org/downloads/safety_1st.pdf| to view the safety guide, it is in PDF format and can be printed out.