H&S Round Up September 2025

Reporting period 21st Jan 2025 to 20th May 2025

• H&S Governance

In Workplace Health and Safety Committee pages, WHSO published the approved Health, Safety and Wellbeing Governance Framework. H&S Business Partners will work with relevant areas to implement the framework in proportion with the level of risk in the area.

• Overseas Travel

The new procedure for managing severe risk overseas travel was approved.

• Mandatory Training

The mandatory training target is 90% completion. 

Fire Safety training is still at levels that are unacceptable at 82%.

DSE training is at 91%.

• Fire Update

The Fire team continue to focus resources on

• reviewing and updating UoY fire-safety policy, roles and responsibilities and training programme

• managing and monitoring fire arrangements.

• completing fire risk assessments for priority and high-risk areas.
  

• organising and delivering Fire Wardens and Fire Sweepers training.

The new PEEPs process was launched in 2024, there are many active PEEPs and the process is undergoing a 12 month review.

• H&S Internal Audit

WHSO will be carrying out a series of internal audits in two phases. Phase 1 of these audits will focus primarily on University Estates and will assess management of fire safety, statutory compliance, and assurance.

• Wellbeing

The HR Leadership Team have agreed to reallocate some H&S and HR team resources to work together on Wellbeing/Occupational Health priorities. These include:

• develop UoY Occupational Health & Wellbeing Strategy
• develop UoY Work-Related Stress Risk Management Strategy in line with new HE sector guidance (to be published by USHA / UCEA) 
• review & Revise UoY health surveillance process 
• develop UoY Mental health first aider proposal based on the previous / current arrangements and any proposals from the past
• further development of KPIs for staff wellbeing including management of Quality Control process

For further information please see the H&S Round Up - May 2025.

1. During the reporting period, the WHSO continued to make positive developments including website updates, improvements in the WHSO training programme and increased hands-on support and advice.  

2. Other major developments are progressing as planned. These include: the launch of multiple H&S training courses on the LMS; review and update of the university’s fire drills process; implementation of the approved governance framework; review of the health and safety management procedures, and the launch of the H&S audit programme (starting with Estates in summer / autumn of 2025, followed by the faculties in 2026). 

3. The WHSO supported an unplanned Royal Society Audit. This audit was to ensure that a safe working environment is provided for individuals associated with a research project, dealing with any health and safety hazards reported, and any training provided on health and safety. Following the audit, the auditor has requested further documentation from the WHSO. These will be collected and submitted as per the request.

4. The WHSO is organising UoY Senior Leadership Safety Training sessions led by Human Applications Ltd. This highly engaging, interactive course will allow UoY senior leaders to explore several areas of concern, provide an understanding of how to better fulfil their health and safety governance and assurance roles, and discharge their workplace health and safety accountabilities more effectively, in line with the UoY Workplace Health and Safety Policy Statement and Arrangements.

5. The UoY HR Leadership Team have agreed to reallocate some H&S and HR team resources to work together on the below listed priorities: 

• Procurement of new Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

• Develop UoY Occupational Health & Wellbeing Strategy.

• Develop UoY Work-related Stress Risk Management Strategy in line with the new HE sectors guidance (to be published by USHA / UCEA).

• Review & Revise UoY health surveillance process.

• Develop UoY Mental health first aider proposal based on the previous / current arrangements and previous proposals.

• Further development of KPIs for staff wellbeing including management of Quality Control process.