Health and Safety
The Library ensures that it does all that is reasonably practicable to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work for all.
The way this key issue is organised, managed and monitored in the Library is outlined in the Library Health and Safety Policy.
Key contacts and resources
- Your line manager
- Ciaran Pook (Library Spaces Co-ordinator)
- University Safety Services website
Your responsibility for Health and Safety
All staff must be positively engaged and involved in health and safety.
Know – your health and safety objectives and purpose and how to report an issue
Think – about your personal involvement when delivering them
Feel – fully involved in and enthusiastic about health and safety
Do – things that knowingly contribute towards our health and safety goals
Risk assessments
A wide variety of activities are undertaken across the Library from managing tours and delivering teaching, to moving stock and conserving special collection items. Teams work in a number of different spaces and use a large amount of equipment including powered machinery, IT equipment and mobile platforms. Because of this we actively use, review and monitor risk assessments in all Library divisions that cover all aspects of our activities, spaces and equipment.
What to do: Accidents, ill health and incidents
All accidents, incidents, ill health, near misses and other such 'events' must be recorded, reported and investigated if needed.
Library staff should follow this procedure when submitting an Accident, incident, ill health notification form.
- Use only a digital version of the Accident, incident, ill health notification form (a scanned PDF or Word document) – any paper copies can be shredded once scanned
- Send the completed digital form via email to Safety Services (safetyservices@manchester.ac.uk) and Cc Ciaran Pook (ciaran.pook@manchester.ac.uk) – please do not send paper copies
What to do: Emergency evacuation
Every library site is different and so the emergency evacuation plan for each site is specific. It is important for staff to read the evacuation plan for the library sites they work in.
Evacuation plans for each library site are available on the Library All Staff channel (SharePoint / Microsoft Teams)
Staff are encouraged to become familiar with the library sites they work in to understand different entrances, exits, escape routes and emergency procedures.
Fire marshall and evacuation training is provided by Staff Learning and Development. The Library also provides additional evacuation marshal training for certain library sites, which staff will be invited to attend throughout the year.
What to do: First aid
- The University’s First Aid policy and its arrangements can be found on StaffNet
- First aid contacts Search by location to identify Library first aiders
- All ill health and accidents that required first aid should be reported via the Accident, incident, ill health notification form
- Defribrillator locations
What to do: Workstation self assessment
Whether you are a new member of Library staff or have changed roles/workspace location, you are required to carry out a Display Screen Equipment (DSE) workstation assessment.
Please contact the Library DSE assessor Ciaran Pook for an assessment form.
If any issues or areas of concern are identified:
- The Library DSE assessor will acknowledge receipt of the assessment and the potential issues noted, offering advice on ensuring effective setting up and use of your workstation
- You may be asked to try incorporating different approaches to posture, rest breaks etc into your work before requesting purchase of specialist equipment (such as wrist and back supports)
- If you feel specialist equipment is urgently required, please raise this with your line manager - you may need to arrange an appointment with Occupational Health to ensure suitable equipment is provided
Staff can follow the University's guide to setting up your workstation.
Posturite’s workstation exercises may help with any physical discomfort you experience when using DSE workstations (please note that links to information on a commercial site does not imply the University endorses either the company or products).
Make sure that you take regular breaks from looking at a display screen. Rest your eyes by looking away from the screen and focusing on distant objects. Make sure any glare on the screen is reduced and use the screen settings to ensure the brightness, colour etc. allow you to use the screen comfortably.
What to do: Hybrid working
All staff must take reasonable care of themselves and others who may be affected by their chosen way of working and their work environment and to comply with relevant health and safety policies and advice. Any member of staff who notices any potential or actual health and safety hazard, or any other incident, must report it to their Line Manager who will ensure that it is dealt with or referred as appropriate, whether they are working in a library premises, across the University or elsewhere.
A Library home workstation setup guide is available to download as a PDF.
What to do: Working alone at Main Library
If you lone work outside normal hours, please follow this procedure.
- Contact the Reception desk (53716)
- Ask a member of Reception team to sign you in the book provided
- Upon leaving, sign out completing all the relevant sections. You must undertake this personally before you exit the turnstiles. 4. In the event of a fire alarm or other emergency, you MUST go to the Reception desk and make your presence known to staff.
The signing in/out book is located on top of the Fire Evacuation box at the Reception desk.
This procedure is in place as we have a duty of care for our staff but also so you can be accounted for by University Security, in the event of an emergency. Failure to follow this guidance could result in placing others in danger.