OHSAS Awareness and Wellbeing Day (Colchester Campus) - Feedback

Thank you to those of you who came along to the special event we held for staff on 30 November. The purpose was to raise staff awareness of the services OHSAS provides. Over 100 staff from the Colchester campus attended our event and the feedback has been very positive. The winner of the prize draw was Gillian Gravatt, from the library. She won a £50 gift voucher kindly donated by Waitrose Supermarket.

At the event, staff had the opportunity to discuss their health and safety and occupational health issues with OHSAS advisers. There were information stands focusing on stress, manual handling and computer workstation safety. Susan Hawkins, the Occupational Health Adviser gave advice to staff on work related health concerns. Many took advantage of the health assessments, which were provided with the assistance of the Human Performance Unit. A live fire demonstration was also held on Square 5.

A popular activity was the “hand wash challenge” a visual demonstration of how well we really wash our hands. Staff also enjoyed the Poi spinning and juggling sessions provided by the University’s Juggling and Spinning Society.

There was lots of information available for those who wanted to improve their health and fitness. Staff who wanted to improve their health and fitness were able to find out about cycling from Richard Monk, from Colchester Cycling Champions, or lunchtime guided campus walks from Sara Stock. If you are interested in the lunchtime walks and didn’t get your name on Sara’s list on the day, email sstock or telephone extn 4853.

There was a lot of interest in the following activities: which are all available at campus:

• Rosemary Conley Slimming Sessions: These take place on Thursday lunchtimes. There are 2 sessions 12:00 – 1:00 and 1:00 – 2:00. For further details email: ohstaff or telephone extn: 2399

• Shiatsu: Available on Fridays

• Reflexology: Available on Wednesdays. To book....

• Poi spinning and juggling run by the University’s Juggling and Spinning Society. Find out more at www.essexstudent.com/society/jugglingandspinning.

(NB: Shiatsu and Reflexology are provided by external practitioners at the University’s Occupational Health Clinic   (Room 3.109 - level 3 Social Sciences building) of the Colchester campus).

The OHSAS team are grateful to all staff who helped us and the volunteers who freely gave their time on the day. Also to Waitrose Supermarket who kindly donated lots of free fruit and the draw prize.

Below is the event gallery.

Newsletter - Wellbeing News (First Issue)

Health and safety is very much part of all our lives however, it has a reputation for being a bit boring. We want to get the health and safety message across to you in a relevant and easy to digest way and the result is this newsletter which we have called the Wellbeing News. We hope you will enjoy it.

Computer Safety and DSE Facilitator training

Do you suffer from aches and pains after working on the computer for a long time? This is a very common problem, but the good news is that it can be avoided. On our website you can find out about the common causes of aches and pains when using computers and how to prevent them. Also find out more about DSE assessment and why it’s important, and the new DSE Facilitator role and training. Find out more by following the link to the DSE Safety

Swine Flu

The University has now introduced a central reporting system for staff who have been diagnosed as having Swine Flu. This is to help us ensure that we are able to maintain services if absence levels become high. Also, risk assessment forms are now available for employees who work in close proximity to people diagnosed with swine flu. Find out more information on Swine flu: the advice for employees.

Working well Survey

Working Well is a confidential staff opinion survey which gives you the opportunity to tell us what it is like working for the University of Essex. We want you to tell us what you think is Working Well and where we need to improve. It will also identify issues that may be causing you stress. Find out more information on the Working Well survey and Work-related stress.

Stress Awareness Events 2011

To mark National Stress Awareness Day on 2 November the University held a week of events at the Southend and Colchester Campuses to raise awareness of stress at work and how to manage the symptoms. This included incentives to encourage you to take time for a lunch break, anti-stress freebies for participants in events and entry to our free prize draw.

Southend Campus started the week on Monday 31 October with mini health checks provided by the Occupational Health Service and a relaxation room with gentle music and soft seats in the gateway Building Chaplaincy. On Thursday 3 November staff were prepared to giggle and have fun at a light-hearted Laughter Yoga session that combined laughter exercises with yoga. The week at Southend ended on Friday with Sam Haylock taking staff for a lunchtime walk and ice cream.

A Tuesday Taster started the series of events at Colchester. Dr Valerie Gladwell and Dan Brown from Biological Sciences spoke about their latest research. They explored what stress is, described how it can be measured and give the opportunity to discuss methods of reducing stress in the workplace.

On Wednesday 2 November there was an information stand on Square 4, where the Health and Safety Advisory Service and Human Resources gave tips on dealing with stress and provided information on what the University is doing to help you.

The Occupational Health Service held an open clinic offering mini health checks and advice on stress management. This proved to be particularly popular with over 200 people attending. Advice on relaxation and posture was available from Yasuko Milner, a specialist in Shiatsu.

The Staff Common Room Association opened its doors to non-members offering free tea and cake and the opportunity to see the facilities and find out more about membership.

On Thursday 3 November Thomas Yap our Anglican Chaplain invited staff to join him for a cup of tea with a choice of teas from around the world, including a demonstration of a Chinese tea drinking ritual. While the Knit & Natter Group also welcomed staff to join them for a chat and tea. Contact Liz Gordon-Hancock for more information on (01206 87) 3072 or email lizgh

The Occupational Health Service presented an interactive session on Stress and Resilience.

To finish the week Kim Brunning brought the light hearted Laughter Yoga session to Colchester and Sara Stock guided staff on a lunchtime walk around the grounds.

Prize draw
The winners of the prize draw were:

• Winner (£25 book voucher):
• Dr Nicky Slee, Biological Sciences, Colchester
• Runners up:
• Debbie Hall, Psychoanalytical Studies, Colchester
• Christopher Green, Health and Human Sciences, Southend

Stress at Work Awareness Events - 31 October to 4 November 2011

Please see the Stress at Work Awareness document (.docx) for more information.

New Stress Management Policy

The University's new Stress Management Policy was approved by Council on 14 July 2011.
You will find the new Policy on the Work-related Stress webpages.

Fire Safety in the Great Outdoors

NEW: Read our tips on fire safety in the great outdoors including barbeques and camping.

Hazardous Substances: changes to labelling symbols

If you handle, use, store or transport hazardous substances, you may already have seen changes to warning labels on products and also to the information on Safety Data Sheets. Your COSHH assessments and methods of work may require review with any updates communicated to your team. More information at Hazardous Substances: changes to labelling

Driving for Work: New standard

A new health and safety standard covering employees who drive their own vehicle for business has just been published. The Standard has been approved by Helth and Safety Committee.

The site gives guidance on health and safety when employees drive their own vehicle for University related business. It explains what heads of department, managers and employees need to do to manage driving risks. It includes a generic risk assessment and a Driving for Work Checklist to enable managers to check that suitable measures are in place for the safety of employees who drive for work. There are also links to information on safe driving.

Find out more at: Driving for Work

Event Safety

A new website giving guidance on organising events safely has just been published on this site. It includes guidance on managing fire and health and safety risks. You will also find some generic risk assessments to help you. Find out more at: Event Safety.

OHSAS: Structural changes

The Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Service (OHSAS) has become two discreet functions:

• the Occupational Health Service managed by Lara Carmel and
• the Health and Safety Advisory Service (HSAS) managed by Claire Saunders.

There will continue to be strong collaborative and partnership working between the two units but the separation is necessary as part of the planned accreditation of the Occupational Health Service to ensure the provision of a high quality OH service.

Over time this website and our documents will be amended to reflect the new structure. The web-link www.essex.ac.uk/OHSAS will continue to be used for now.

Lunchtime walks

If you are based on the Colchester campus, you are welcome to join one of the regular lunchtime walks, organised by Sara Stock.

The starting point for walks is the round bench in Square 5 at 1:05pm. Walks take place on a two week pattern, Tuesday and Thursday one week and Wednesday and Friday the next. No need to book - just turn up!

Walks are usually led by Sara Stock. On days when she can't be there please gather and walk without her.

Sara is happy to be contacted for more information, email sstock or ring 4853.

The dates are published on the daily events list, which you can subscribe to by visiting https://www2.essex.ac.uk/secure/cs/mailinglists/daily.asp then clicking the 'Join' button. Alternatively contact Sara to find out the date of he next walk.

If you are interested in finding out more about the wildlife on the Colchester campus, have a look at the new Biodiversity site.