Around the Workplace

The use of Display Screen Equipment (DSE) forms a part of many people's daily work.

DSE are devices or equipment that have alphanumerical or graphic display screens such as your computer or laptop. Some workers may experience fatigue, eye strain, upper limb problems and backache from overuse or improper use of DSE. These problems can also be experienced from poorly designed workstations or work environments. The causes may not always be obvious and can be due to a combination of factors.

Tips

• Where possible, arrange your desk and screen to avoid glare or bright reflections
• Make sure there is enough space to accommodate all of your documents and equipment
• Make sure there is space under the desk to move your legs
• A space in from of the keyboard can help you rest your hands and wrists when not typing
• Place the mouse within easy reach, sit close to the desk to avoid working with the mouse arm stretched
• Take short, frequent breaks, - stretch and change position, look into the distance from time to time or better still, take a short break away from your desk

Guidance

• DSE Assessment Guidance
• DSE Home Working Guidance
• Guidance on Ergonomics in the Laboratory

Workstation Assessors

• Full Workstation Assessor Guidance

In May 2011, the Universities and Colleges Employees Association published new guidance on health and safety in Fieldwork. A copy of the guidance can be found here: UCEA Guidance on Health and Safety in Fieldwork .

The University does not permit children/young persons to be brought onto University premises unless they are supervised by a parent or guardian at all times. The University recognises there are times when staff and students bring children onto the premises for very short duration visits for example, to collect/drop off work; access facilities such as libraries or attend an open access event.  Children should never be taken into high risk areas such as laboratories, workshops or construciton sites without prior approval and a specific risk assessment.

• Guidance on Visits and Visiting

Guidance for University Students

• Placements with other organisations for students at the University
• Guidance from UCEA

Guidance for School Pupils

• placements at the University for school pupils

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is equipment that protects the user against health or safety risks at work including items such as safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, and high-visibility clothing. It also includes respiratory protective equipment (RPE).

Further information

• Guidance on laboratory gloves and latex allergy
• Guidance on the Use of Resporatory Protective Equipment
• Health and Safety Executive's PPE

Glove manufacturer's websites

• Ansel has an online chemical application and glove recommendation guide which indicates the recommended glove material for protection from various chemicals.
• Best Manufacturing Company has an on-line catalogue plus a Chemical Resistance Guide as a free download:- where you select the chemical and it recommends a glove - the program also supplies information on chemical toxicity.

A confined space is a place which is substantially enclosed (though not always entirely), and where serious injury can occur from hazardous substances or conditions within the space or nearby (e.g. lack of oxygen).

A number of people are killed or seriously injured in the UK each year in confined spaces. These occur across a wide range of industries, from those involving complex plant through simple storage vessels. Those killed include not only people working in the confined spaces but those who try to rescue them without proper training or equipment.

A number of confined spaces have been identified at the University. They are under the control of Estates Section and strict precautions are required before anyone is allowed to enter them. They include the underground ducts - a network of tunnels which carry heating pipes and other building services around our campuses.

Schools could create confined spaces when they fabricate items of equipment.Strict procedures will then be required to control access. A range of guidance on confined spaces has been produced by the Health and Safety Executive.

First Aid is provided by trained members of staff. Lists of qualified First Aiders should be on display within Schools/Support Services.

If you are interested in becoming a first aider, please read the expected duties of a first aider . Any request for first aid training will be considered on a risk based approach.

First Aid Boxes

What should a first-aid box in the workplace contain?

As a guide, where work activities involve low hazards, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends a minimum stock of first-aid items:

Please note: this is only a suggested contents list.

What size of first-aid box is required?

The size of the first aid kit required is a combination of the level of risk and the number of employees in the workplace. British Standard Compliant (BS 8599-1) standard suggests:

Low risk environments include offices and teaching rooms.
High risk environments include laboratories, workshops or any area where special control measures are necessary to minimise risk.

Please note: this information is for guidance only: you should carry out a risk assessment for each workplace.

There are defibrillators available on both our Old Aberdeen and Foresterhill campuses and on the Hillhead Campus.

Old Aberdeen

• Taylor Building (Block C Entrance)

The defibrillator is located in a secure box on the ground floor opposite the Food Story outlet. There is a key held within a break glass box for accessing the defibrillator.

• Student Union Building

The defibrillator is located behind the bar on the ground floor. Ask bar staff for the defibrillator if required.

• Elphinstone Hall

The defibrillator is located inside the main door between Elphinstone Hall and the Linklater Rooms. There is a key held within a break glass box for accessing the defibrillator.

• Cruickshank Building

The defibrillator is located in a secure box on the ground floor just through the second set of doors at the main entrance to the Cruickshank Building. There is a key held within a break glass box for accessing the defibrillator.

• Zoology Building

The defibrillator is located in a secure box on the wall outside the Porter's Office in the main reception area. There is a key held within a break glass box for accessing the defibrillator.

• Fraser Noble Building

The defibrillator is located in a secure box on the wall adjacent to the Porter's Office in the main entrance to the building. There is a key held within a break glass box for accessing the defibrillator.

• University Office

The defibrillator is located in a secure box near the Reception desk at the Visitor's entrance to the building. There is a key held within a break glass box for ease of access.

• Sir Duncan Rice Library

The defibrillator is located at the Reception desk in the main atrium of the Library.

• MacRobert Building

The defibrillator is located on the wall behind the Reception desk on the ground floor. There is a key on the right hand side of the box for accessing the defibrillator.

• Bedford Road Yard

The defibrillator is located within the Bothy/Canteen area in the Bedford Road Maintenance Yard.

Foresterhill

• Medical Research Facility

The defibrillator is located in the receptionist's office.

• IMS Building

The defibrillator is located on the rear wall of the reception in the main atrium near the entrance door. There is a key to the left of the box for accessing the defibrillator.

• Health Sciences Building

The defibrillator is located under the counter at the Reception desk. There is a key present for accessing the defibrillator.

• Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health

The defibrillator is located behind the Reception desk in the main entrance to the building.

• Polwarth Building

The defibrillator is located at the Porter's desk at the main reception of the building.

• Suttie Building

There are two defibrillators in the Suttie. One at the reception and one in the first aid room. Please contact the reception if a defibrillator is required.

• Liberty Building

The defibrillator is located in the reception lobby of the building.

Hillhead

• Hillhead Central Building

The defibrillator is located behind reception. Call reception or ask reception staff for the defibrillator if required.

In addition to these, there are defibrillators available in the following locations:

• One in the Aberdeen Sports Village (adult and paediatric), Old Aberdeen
• One in the King's Pavilion, Old Aberdeen
• Two in the Dental School, Foresterhill

These are not University controlled but are available in the event of an emergency. For the most effective response, defibrillators should be used in conjunction with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

We have a three tier approach to operating the defibrillators.

1. In the first instance, we have first aiders who have received additional training in the use of the defibrillators.Whilst defibrillators are simple to use, and provide instructions to the operator at all times, having received additional training, these trained first aiders are able to provide a swifter response than those who have not received training. They also receive more frequent CPR refresher training, than untrained first aiders (annually as opposed to once every three years).
   
2. If a trained first aider is not available, an untrained first aider could operate the defibrillator.
   
3. If no first aiders were available, an untrained member of the public could then use the defibrillator.

It should be noted that we would not prevent an untrained person from having a go. The defibrillators monitor a person's heart rate, and you cannot shock a person who does not need to be shocked.

If a person is faced with someone suspected of suffering a cardiac arrest, the following steps should be taken:

1. Assess the person; open their airway.
2. Send someone to call 999 for an ambulance immediately, and send someone else to fetch the nearest defibrillator.
3. Start CPR. Once the defibrillator arrives, follow the instructions given to you by the defibrillator. It will need one person to maintain CPR, and one person to operate the defibrillator.
4. Send someone to the front entrance of the building to meet the ambulance.

Defibrillator Training

For First Aiders interested in renewing their defibrillator training, please contact Health, Safety and Wellbeing .