Health and safety information for contractors and visitors
We are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our staff, students and visitors. However brief your visit to our campus might be, we want to ensure your time with us is a safe one.
Any contractor work on our campus ensures the health, safety and welfare of employees, students, visitors and the public. We aim to ensure nobody is adversely affected by maintenance and contractor activities.
We have a duty of care to ensure all contractors on-site are sufficiently protected. We make sure they are aware of their duties and abide by their own risk assessments and method statements.
Our core business is teaching, so we make it essential that lectures, seminars and exams are not disturbed by contractor works. If work could become a nuisance to others, contractors are asked to report back to Estates Services immediately for further guidance.
This page will provide you with information to know what to do if you need help or assistance in an emergency.
Health and safety is everyone's responsibility
For further information, please contact our SHE Department:
Fire safety
First aid
A first aider can be summoned by dialling one of the following numbers:
333 – University emergency number
01772 896333 – from a mobile phone
2068 – to contact security
Contractors should ensure they have the appropriate first aid arrangements in place prior to any works commencing at UCLan. This would include access to a qualified first aider and to the appropriate first aid equipment. In instances where this isn’t possible, the host should be informed prior to works beginning and other suitable arrangements made which may include shared first aid arrangements with the university.
Accidents, incidents & near misses
All incidents must be reported even if you do not sustain a personal injury or it is a near miss incident.
Contractors working at UCLan may have their own reporting procedures as set out by their employer but they should still inform us of any accident, incident or near miss using the above methods.
Please take care when moving around campus. Ensure you stick to the speed limits, park sensibly and be mindful of pedestrians and cyclists.
Parking at the university is limited. Parking permits can be obtained from Estates Services.
Contractors are encouraged to minimise the number of vehicles they bring to site and use alternative transport methods if possible. Parking on pavements causing an obstruction is strictly forbidden. Inappropriate parking on-site will not be tolerated and security will take action if the system is abused.
Contractors and visitors can use university welfare facilities, providing they are used respectfully. Campus refectories and food outlets are clean wear zones. All muddy and soiled clothing must be removed, and contractors must be considerate to other users.
Any abuse of the university buildings, staff or students will not be tolerated.
Before any work commences, the following documentation must be present and approved by the university:
- Liability Insurances
- Risk Assessment & Method Statement
- Additional Training Documents where necessary (eg working at heights)
- Additional Licences where necessary (eg IPAF or ECS)
- Evidence that the UCLan Contractor Induction has been completed
Contractors must report to their host on arrival. This is to confirm that the contractor and any relevant documentation is in place, so work can commence.
Contractors must wear workwear showing their company logo and their UCLan visitor's lanyard whilst working on site.
It is the contractor’s duty to ensure their work areas are suitably barriered off and signposted. The scope of this will be outlined with the host before work commences.
All keys must be returned before you leave campus, even if you are on-site for multiple days. Contractors issued with keys must ensure unauthorised people do not access the area. Contractors will be expected to follow relevant methods or safe systems of work. You should advise Estates Services if your work is likely to disturb any hidden services.
Contractors and their employees must familiarise themselves with actions to be taken in the event of a fire including how to raise the alarm, location of the nearest alarm break glass, means of escape from their work area and the location of the fire fighting equipment and the fire assembly point.
Out-of-hours work can only take place with prior authorisation by the UCLan host. Campus security must be informed to aid with access. At this point, all relevant permits will be completed and, if required, contractors will be shown their area of work.
All contractors are expected to report any defective plant, unsafe practices or unsafe methods of work to Estates Services.
When working with tools on-site, ensure you are only using that which you have been trained to use safely. Utilise all guards and safety devices fitted to equipment provided for you where necessary.
UCLan is an open campus. There may be occasions where members of staff and students will be in close proximity to you:
- Do not leave tools laying around your work area and clear away prior to taking any breaks.
- If working with power tools, where applicable, low voltage or battery operated tools should always be prioritised over higher voltage tools.
- Wired power tools should not create trip hazards.
- Ensure the appropriate barriers are in place when necessary.
Remember, to adhere to The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, work tools must be:
- suitable for the intended use
- regularly inspected and maintained
- operated only by those authorised and trained
- accompanied by suitable safety measures
- use of any large mobile plant such as forklift trucks or scissor lifts must be fully communicated to Estates prior to work commencement. This would include a detailed risk assessment and method statement
If your work involves higher-risk activities such as working at height, electrical work, hot work, etc., you may be required to obtain a permit to work from Estates Services. To ensure permits are issued appropriately, discuss the health and safety aspects of your work with your contact person within Estates Services: 01772 892888.
Please stay vigilant while working on-site and ensure all risks are controlled so far as is reasonably practicable. Any concerns or issues must be reported to your host immediately.
- Working at heights
- Confined space
- Hot work
- Isolations
- Excavation and breaking in
- Asbestos
Before any work begins, the host will check the asbestos register and advise accordingly. Asbestos surveys are available from Estates Services which will show locations of asbestos across campus.
Any questionable material uncovered when working should be treated as asbestos and work must cease. The site supervisor and project officer should be made aware of this immediately.
Contractors must not disturb any material that is known or thought to contain asbestos.
Contractors are responsible for the delivery and storage of materials to their work area. These must not be delivered to university stores or reception areas.
Any environmentally hazardous materials need to be delivered, stored, used and disposed of in a controlled manner.
Such materials must be transported and stored in appropriately sized bunds/drip trays.
Hazardous material must not be left unattended or insecure.
Contractors are also responsible for the disposal of their waste. University bins/skips must not be used.
When wet chemicals are used, the process to control chemical spillages must be outlined within the risk assessment and method statement.
UCLan operates a total ban on vaping and smoking throughout the University’s buildings and prohibited areas as indicated directly outside of buildings.
Contractors must ensure their work area is kept as tidy as possible throughout the duration of the works and that it is cleaned up and left in a safe condition on completion.
It is important to remember, contractors are representing UCLan as well as their own company. It is our expectation that contractors, behave courteously, respectfully and adhere to the university’s key values.
On completion of work, contractors must report to their host to sign off all relevant documents.
Any Permits to Work must be signed off by the host and responsible person before the job/site can be handed over. In handing over the work area, you are confirming that the area has been left safe and tidy in accordance with agreed procedures.
Familiarise yourself with our campus map.
Safety signage
Whilst you are on campus it is important that you are aware of the different types of safety signs.
Examples of some of the most important ones may be found below:
Safeguarding guidance for visitors or contractors
The university is committed to supporting students, apprentices, colleagues and visitors and recognises the importance of health and wellbeing in relation to their academic and university experience. Our aim is to create an environment in which all members of the university community, including those under the age of 18 and adults at risk, are safe from harm and all forms of prejudice, harassment, discrimination, and bullying. We recognise that we are all responsible for providing a safe physical and online environment and culture in which everyone can thrive and embed this approach into our daily practice, training, policies, and procedures.
What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding is about protecting children, young people (under 18) and adults at risk from harm, and ensuring they are provided with safe and effective care. In the context of UCLan, this usually means providing a safe environment for individuals to study, visit and participate in activities; we also have a responsibility to act when we become aware that a child, young person or an adult at risk, is at risk outside the university.
Everyone using our facilities or engaged in UCLan facilitated activities has an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Everyone has a responsibility to report a safeguarding concern. This includes but is not limited to staff, students, apprentices, visitors, volunteers, agency staff and contractors, and to any activity organised and/or delivered by our representatives, regardless of where it takes place. External groups and organisations running activities on our campuses are required to do so in accordance with approved risk assessments and associated safeguarding policies.
Advice for visitors and contractors
- Familiarise yourself with, and follow our Safeguarding Policy here.
- Report any safeguarding concerns to our safeguarding leads.
- Be aware of signs of abuse, harm, bullying and harassment, and share concerns appropriately.
- Only use work contact details.
- Treat all staff, students, colleagues and other visitors, volunteers or contractors with respect and dignity.
SHE Department 01772 892067
Security 01772 892068
Emergencies 333
(Internal) Emergencies 01772 896333
Switchboard 0 (Internal)
Switchboard 01772 201201
Estates Helpdesk 01772 892888
Any emergency where you require the police, an ambulance or Security, please dial 333 from any internal telephone or 01772 896333 from a mobile and state the nature of the emergency so that the University may respond appropriately. In an emergency where there is immediate risk, please contact 999.
All other safeguarding concerns
For safeguarding queries, support or advice, you can email wellbeing@uclan.ac.uk or contact 01772 893020 and ask to speak to one of the Principal Safeguarding Leads. Any member of the UCLan community can report a concern using Report and Support.
All staff, students and visitors can also report any concerns using the University Report + Support service. This site allows visitors and contractors to report a concern anonymously or by providing contact details so that support can be offered. The site also contains lots of useful information on various wellbeing and safeguarding-related matters.
Outside of normal working hours, please contact Security on 01772 892068