Your health, safety and wellbeing
Information for new joiners
The law requires the University to protect you from work-related harm. You also have a legal responsibility to look after your own safety and health, and that of others affected by your work.
For a quick guide to the University’s policy, take a look at the Employee Guide to the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy. (PDF)
We have Health, Safety and Wellbeing policies which vary according to the area you work in:
- University employees
- UECS (University of Essex Campus Services) Ltd
- Wivenhoe House Hotel Ltd (coming soon)
Each one of these sets out the health and safety responsibilities we all have, with guidance on staying safe and healthy and protecting others from harm.
Health and safety courses
Our Health and Safety Essentials course will tell you more about health and safety at the University and includes information on common hazards in the workplace and what you can do to protect yourself. We recommend that all staff do this course, unless your department trains you on these areas in other ways.
If you use a computer at work you also need to complete the online Computer Safety course.
To enrol go to https://moodle.essex.ac.uk/stafftraining . You will need an enrolment key word which you can obtain from your DSE Facilitator or Department Administrator. Alternatively you can email safety (add '@essex.ac.uk').
You should also attend our mandatory basic fire safety course by:
- going on the staff induction day, or
- attending one of the regular ‘Learn or Burn’ courses, or
- taking the online Basic Fire Safety course.
Useful advice
We produce a number of leaflets which you may find useful:
- Under pressure – advice on stress at work (opens PDF)
- Computer safety (opens PDF)
- Is your back safe? (advice on preventing back pain – opens PDF)
- A Step Too Far (advice on the use and checking of stepladders - opens PDF)
We also recommend going through the induction checklist with your manager or HSLO.
