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Workplace Health and Safety
Everyone has an important role to play in maintaining a safe and healthy community at York.
Taking a top-down approach to health and safety is vital to creating a safety-conscious culture and keeping workplaces safe for staff, students and visitors. At the University, Workplace Health and Safety Office (WHSO) aims to encourage this culture where everyone is aware of their individual health and safety responsibilities.
The WHSO provides an impartial and independent institutional-wide advisory and assurance service on all aspects of workplace health and safety within the University. Our function:
- to set the policy and standards.
- to provide competent subject-matter advice to the Vice Chancellor’s office and all the stakeholders.
- to provide assurance, by monitoring health and safety performance across the organisation and reporting to the University’s Executive Board members.
- to assess the need for intervention including escalation through management.
The WHSO at the University comprises highly skilled individuals with a wide-ranging area of expertise in the field of health and safety including specialist risks such as biological safety, chemical safety, fire safety, and radiation and laser safety.
On our webpages you’ll find University’s health and safety policy, and information, support and guidance on a range of health and safety topics.
About health and safety at York
The Workplace Health and Safety Office (WHSO) provides staff with the tools to manage risk well. We offer independent, impartial expertise and dedicated support to faculties and professional services.
The Workplace Health and Safety Committee (WHSC) focuses on University-wide workplace health and safety issues and promotes its continuous development and improvement. The committee reports to the University's Executive Board.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charlie Jeffery, talks to staff about health and safety at the University.
News and announcements
Recently, there has been a rise in incidences of cut & puncture injuries to hands which have been caused by handling surgical sharp tools (e.g. scalpel blades & needle syringes) in laboratories.
Latest updates from the Workplace Health and Safety Office
Means of escape are the fire and emergency escape routes in a building. It is a legal requirement under the Fire Safety Order and also University Policy, that they must be available at all times and safe to use.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. They are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
The Workplace Health and Safety Office is a team of impartial health and safety professionals.
The Workplace Health and Safety Committee reports to the University Executive Board.