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- H&S policies and guidance
- Children, young people and vulnerable adults on campus
- Control of substances hazardous to health (CoSHH)
- Dogs in university buildings
- Display Screen Equipment (DSE)
- Driving vehicles on university business
- Fieldwork
- Fire safety
- First aid
- General risk assessment
- Health and safety policy and management
- Manual handling
- Meningitis
- Portable appliance testing (PAT)
- Radiation safety
- Smoking policy
- Forms, signs and templates
- How to...
- Health and safety training
- Health & Safety Committee
- H&S policies and guidance
D Children & Young People on Campus as Members of the Public
1. Legal Framework
- The University permits members of the public (including children and young people) to enter its campuses and use its open private grounds for recreational purposes or for access to services provided for their use (eg Sports Facilities). In return it would expect them to behave responsibly and not cause criminal damage to its grounds, equipment or property or injury to its staff or students. When members of the public are on campus the University owes them a Common Law Duty of Care (and other legal duties described later in Section F 4.1), even if they are uninvited. This duty increases if the member of public is very young, very old or is in some other way vulnerable.
- If an accident happens to a member of public on campus they may consider legal remedy for an alleged breach of the Common Law duty of care through the civil courts. The University has Public Liability Insurance and its Insurer will deal with and, if necessary, defend such a claim. For the claim to be successful, the University would have to be shown to be negligent in some way and that this negligence led to the injury.
2. Accident Prevention Checklist
The best form of defence against possible litigation is proactive accident prevention. You will find the following checklist helpful :
Dangers to Unsupervised Children
| Hazard | Outcome | Control Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Consruction works (and excavations) | Falls from height, slips, trips, falls, entrapment, cuts, contusions and fractures, arson and exposure to chemicals | Secure fencing, good signage, security patrols, lighting, safe storage of materials and chemicals, CCTV |
| Traffic | Injury, severe injury or death | Observance of speed limits, defensive driving, speed ramps |
| Slopes, steps, walls (when used for skateboarding, stunt cycling or jumping) | Injury, severe injury or death | Security patrols, calls to security, CCTV |
| Roofs and high structures (eg trees) | Falls from height | Building security, vigilance, restrict roof access, CCTV |
| Electricity | Burns, electrocution, death | Restrict unauthorised access |
| Fire | Burns, smoke inhalation, death | Good campus house-keeping, security of waste containers |
| Water | Drowning, hypothermia | Life saving devices (ponds), controlled entry and security (swimming pools) |
3. Action to take: Misbehaviour of Children and Young People on Campus
If you are concerned about the behaviour of unsupervised children and young people on campus (in the grounds or in buildings), immediately:
- contact Estate Patrol on 3999 or the Security Services for your campus.
If you are concerned that there may be or has been an incident involving criminal damage or bodily harm:
- contact the Police on 999 (or 112) and then Estate Patrol on 3999 or the Security Services for your campus.
