Job Profile (To be attached to the relevant Grade Profile document)
Core job informationJob Title / Health and Safety Adviser (Medicine and Dentistry)
Dept./School/Inst. / Health and Safety Directorate / Section/Centre/Unit / Health and Safety Section
Career Family / Professional / Grade / 4
Working hours per week / 35 / Appointment period / Permanent
Reports to (job title) / Faculty H&S Manager (SMD) and Biological Safety Adviser (QMUL)
S / Current location / Mile End
Job purpose (Why does the job exist? What is it there to achieve or deliver?)
This role will report to the Faculty H&S Manager (School of Medicine and Dentistry) and Biological Safety Adviser (QMUL) providing assistance in ensuring that QMUL complies with the Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974 and associated regulations.
The purpose of this role is to provide the support to Manager in the provision of a comprehensive health and safety advisory service on all H&S topics across the Faculty, and to assist the Manager with the provision of advice to QMUL on biological hazards & genetically modified organisms.
The scope of this role will cover the buildings and work/research activities in the Faculty (School) of Medicine and Dentistry, and where required, in other laboratory based QMUL Faculties.
In addition, the role will support the management of clinical, chemical and radioactive waste at QMUL, help deliver health and safety training to QMUL staff and post-graduate students, and external delegates. The post holder will assist with monitoring activities such H&S audits, inspections and incident investigations.
The post holder will function as the local Safety Coordinator for the Directorate, and lead on Green / Sustainability issues that require H&S input at QMUL.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience (work experience, qualifications, specialist training, key skills, disposition)
Requirements / Essential/Desirable
Qualifications / Degree, HND, NVQ4 qualified in relevant science subject/s
Will have obtained or be working towards NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent health and safety qualification / E
E
Experience / Experience of working in a laboratory environment
Experience of handling hazardous substances and/or hazardous waste
Experience of planning and progressing work activities within general guidelines, using initiative and judgement with recourse to seniors as needed
Significant practical experience in similar, related role.
Experience of advising on science-related health and safety risk management
Experience of developing and delivering health and safety training / E
E
E
D
D
D
Knowledge, skills & abilities / Ability to analyse data and prepare reports, good writing skills
Able to communicate information effectively and deliver presentations to staff and students
Excellent organisational skills, methodical approach and attention to detail.
Good team player.
Able to analyse and advise on problems connected with biological hazards & genetically modified organisms, and health and safety generally
Able to advise on risk assessments in laboratory environments
Understanding of current Health and Safety Legislation, Regulations and Codes of Practice. / E
E
E
E
D
D
D
Attitude & disposition / Positive outlook able to communicate and influence
Flexible approach to work tasks to get the job done
To be able to appropriately embrace the level of security, sensitivity, and confidentiality required that apply to some activities / E
E
E
Other circumstances / Ability to travel to other QMUL campuses as required.
Ability to adequately manually handle containers containing laboratory hazardous waste
Ability to wear and use personal protective equipment necessary for hazardous waste disposal activities / E
E
E
Freedom to Act & Decision Making (depth of control, supervision received, use of judgement & initiative, analytical ability)
Main Duties and Responsibilities of the Role
1. To be a primary point of contact and response in the Health and Safety Directorate for general H&S enquiries for the Faculty (School) of Medicine and Dentistry.
2. Provide health and safety advice and guidance to Faculty staff and postgraduate students; and where relevant expertise/knowledge allows, on specialist topics – e.g. biological hazards and genetically modified organisms, referring to H&S Manager / seniors as needed.
3. Assist with the assessment of health and safety risks and identification of reasonably practicable control measures for the Faculty
4. Develop and deliver health & safety training and briefings for the Faculty; assist with Faculty health & safety inductions
5. Assist with Faculty general health & safety and topic audits, peer review, topic and local inspections; provide H&S guidance and advice on the findings and prepare written reports.
6. Assist with the development and maintenance of records, databases for specialist topics, and for general H&S records, databases for the Faculty
7. Act as the Health & Safety Directorate Safety Coordinator.
8. Ensure / assist with the preparation and updating of risk assessments, inspection reports and annual reports for the Health Safety Directorate’s own activities.
9. Lead on green / sustainability issues around QMUL that require H&S input, and lead on green / sustainability issues for the Health & Safety Directorate.
10. Support the management of laboratory related hazardous waste management in QMUL, with lead operation for clinical waste including associated maintenance of databases, records, permits, storage facilities, protective equipment and liaison with waste contractor
11. Review and update QMUL and Faculty H&S policies, guidance and procedures in liaison/under guidance from the H&S Manager.
12. Assist in the provision of health and safety training and briefings to QMUL staff and post graduate students, and external delegates
13. Follow up and investigate health and safety accidents and incidents in the Faculty (School) of Medicine and Dentistry.
14. Other tasks and activities as required by the line manager and Director of Health & Safety.
Working Environment (knowledge of special working practices, breadth of management skill required, customer impact, responsibility, efficiency)
QMUL’s activities are very diverse leading to a complex role for the H&S advisory staff including this post in the provision of H&S advice to support staff, researchers and post graduate students in the Faculty (School) of Medicine & Dentistry. The role requires communicating the essentials of safety practice in connection with the wide range of risks to health and safety existing in the Faculty / QMUL to all grades of staff ranging from senior managers to ancillary staff.
The role includes the management of hazardous waste disposals at QMUL, with specific lead on clinical waste. Effective liaison with waste contractor/s, and delivery of an efficient service to QMUL departments is a key customer impact activity.
The effectiveness of the Safety Coordinator and Green / Sustainability role attached to this post impacts the health & safety of the Directorate’s own activities, and more widely at QMUL, the effective combined management of environment and health & safety requirements
Freedom to Act & Decision Making (depth of control, supervision received, use of judgement & initiative, analytical ability)
Prioritise own workload to ensure deadlines are met.
Utilise information and problem-solving skills to implement solutions.
Develop on suitable course of action including the preparation of reports where appropriate to support decision making in area where advice is provided
Know when to seek guidance from management or colleagues
Use forward planning and goal-setting to achieve targets.
Exercise judgement when identifying and evaluating new processes and procedures.
Lead on projects assigned by line manager.
Communication & Networking (liaison with others, type and level of communications)
Arrange and lead, when required, meetings as identified by line manager.
Attend QMUL Health and Safety related and external meetings to represent Health and Safety if required
Attend Departmental/Section Meetings to provide advice on local Health and Safety
Meet with and provide guidance to relevant QMUL Safety Co-ordinators.
Liaise with wide range of QML staff and stakeholders
Finance/Resource Management (budgeting, forecasting)
None
People Management (supervisory responsibility, human relations skills)
No line management responsibilities but will be expected to use negotiation and persuasion skills to positively influence safety behaviour at QMUL.
This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up. Such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.
Organisation Chart
See attached
Confirmation Section
Job profile content agreed by:
Post holder signature / Print nameExt No: / Date:
Line Manager signature / Print name
Ext No: / Date:
Head of Directorate signature / Print name
Ext No: / Date:
Comments:
JD_H&SAdviser_SMD_18 April 2015 DRAFT
Structure of QMUL Health and Safety Directorate