Placement – 3rd April 2019 Continued

I forgot to mention in the previous post the possibility to include in the student handbook and simplified overview of basic health and safety, what to do in the event of a fire, or even what differentiates safety signs from prohibitive, guidance, mandatory and advisory etc.

I explained to my supervisor that students can acquire a student handbook which gives advice on managing money, staying safe and things to do as a student, yet there was limited information on health and safety.  My supervisor stated he has not read so is not fully aware of its contents in this student handbook readily available to students.  I told him I had two and so will give him my spare copy.

I strongly feel this method of information giving could be a valuable platform to feature the basic health and safety guidelines of importance to the students.  From a brainstorming perspective, it could be as little as a floor plan that included the fire assemble points to a more detailed plan of what to do in the event of a fire.  When talking to peers there is a confusion as to whether to take personal belongings or not.  This could be highlighted in a page that, unless personal belongings are not upon your person, take them with you.  There seems to be a lack of understanding that in a working environment personal effects are in a locker room and not on the person.  In this instance leaving the building without retrieving personal possessions is a must.  However, within a teaching environment i.e a classroom or lecture hall where personal possessions are on the student, it is advisable for the student to take with them their possessions.  Thus reducing security risks, or in the event of fire evacuation slip, trip and fall risks to other peers.

Note to self take spare student handbook to next meeting.

Placement – Third Visit (3rd April 2019)

Today’s visit was of particular interest as I was taken on a walkabout of the campus (North, West and South of the building).  During this time I was asked to identify any areas of concern or where improvements could be taken.  As I have never had to be knowledgable about fire refuge points in buildings this was of personal interest.   When asked about what I would do in certain situations regarding in the scenario of the building is on fire and my peer was wheelchair bound would I stay with them or leave them?  The evacuation chair would I used it? What signage was missing?  It was apparent from the tour the “on the spot” rectification of potential hazards is exactly from what I would have expected.  A slip hazard sign left on the stair was removed upon instantly seeing it, to a less hazardous place near the building entrance.  I commended the lack of trip, slip and fall hazards throughout that are clearly kept to a minimal.  As the majority of workplace accidents are caused by slipping or tripping on something I fully believe that Marjon is one of the safest places I’ve seen.

That said, there are places that could be improved, though this is from a critical perspective when I am looking to nitpick.

With hindsight looking back whilst drafting signage guidance I am surprised at the reliance on photoluminescent signage over luminaries.  There seems to be an abundance of such signs, which when used alongside emergency lighting are sufficient to comply with regulations, but from personal experience of luminaries and emergency lighting testing, I cannot help feeling more confident in luminaries running with and on emergency lighting.  The picture below shows the deterioration in photoluminescent signage (on the right) compared to the luminaire (on the left).

the bottom three show time elapse after 10, 30 and 60 minutes of power failure.

I may bring this to attention in my next meeting.  However, this is just a matter of opinion of which is the better practice.  I fully understand the importance that budgeting and funding have on the ability to provide top-notch systems.   It may well be that as long as the minimum is being achieved there are other areas whos needs that need addressing first.

 

Placement – Day Two (Friday 29th March 2019)

After the initial first day of the placement, several hours were spent on reading various UCOP and the general statement on health and safety available from

https://www.marjon.ac.uk/media/old-2015-website-images/governance-documents/Marjon-Health–Safety-Policy-Sep-2018.pdf

it became apparent that as comprehensive as the health and safety policy was there was little corresponding documentation on the use of safety signage subsequent supporting guidance.  In fact in the general policy of health and safety, signage was covered in 2 and a half sentences.  Although mindful signage could be explored in greater detail within individual UCOP’s, I was of the belief that in its own right safety signs and signage should and could have its own guidance.  Why do I think this is simply because signs and signage convey the importance of the identified risks performed in risk assessments from “behind the scenes” to the general public. In basic terms, if there are requirements needed to be undertaken or behaviours that need controlling then this should be documented within its own separate document without referring to various other UCOP’s.

This opinion was expressed during my second day of placement.  I stressed the importance that correct health and safety signage could in its own right deserve separate guidance and perhaps it’s own policy and procedure.  It was agreed that I could create a draft document that could be used to convey such importance.

Between day two and day three, several hours were used to conduct background literature reading on health and safety signage.  Although wishing to complete a full draft of guidance on the use of signage, there was a lot of literature to read and so only the beginning of a draft was commenced.

 

Placement – 25th March 2019 – DAY ONE

So today was the “first” official day whereby I was tasked to do things.

I have been given a copy of the Health and Safety general policy, and various University Code of Practices have been uploaded to my shared drive.  What I have been asked to do is to verify that the necessary UCOP coincide with the VC Health and Safety policy.  If there is insufficient “gold threading” between the policies and UCOP then to highlight this and draft up a new copy so policies and practices are connected.

Whilst reading over the policies, procedures and UCOP, try to simplify whether by flow charts and diagrams or minimising the amount of irrelevant text in the documents.  Basically to make the policies more reader-friendly, while maintaining the important dialogue that is needed.

As I am able to access and read this material off campus, a good proportion of my placement hours will not necessarily take place alongside my supervisor.  I am meeting up again on 29th March to evidence the work I have done and again, 1st April and 5th April

Paperwork and Introductions

Initial contact with the placement supervisor happened on the same day the placement was confirmed 14th March.

Several informal meets happened over the following 10 days, this was mainly to ascertain what exactly my aims were with regards to experience and how Tony could accommodate them.

Tony had been awaiting advice from HR as he has never had a work placement before and so was somewhat unsure to the process for what to do.

The pre-induction meeting commenced on 21st March, with my first formal day of being set tasks to do 25th March (details of included tasks in an additional post).

As a result of the late start, it has not been possible to have the formative and summative assessments completed as part of this assessment.  Though I am sure for a matter of clarification they can be included as part of the next assessment criteria for the overall module

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