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1.1 In accordance with the and the University鈥檚 corporate governance framework, Court has established the Health and Safety Committee (the Committee). The Committee is a sub-committee of the People, Health and Equality Committee, which is a committee of Court. The Committee therefore reports to the People, Health and Equality Committee on matters of health and safety, which in turn provides assurance to Court. These Terms of Reference, approved by the People, Health and Equality Committee, define the Committee鈥檚 purpose, delegated authority, responsibilities and operating arrangements. They should be read in conjunction with other key governance documents available at Court's Key Documents.
1.2 The Committee shall only act within its approved remit, escalating matters that exceed its delegated authority as defined in the Scheme of Delegation and Decision-Making Powers or present material risk to the People, Health and Equality Committee in a timely and transparent manner, in accordance with the University Court Standing Orders and recognised good governance practice.
1.3听Delegation to the Committee does not transfer or diminish Court鈥檚 collective responsibility or accountability for health and safety. Court retains the right to rescind or vary any decision of the Committee, without prejudice to actions already undertaken.
1.4 In the event of any inconsistency between these Terms of Reference and the University鈥檚 corporate governance framework, primacy shall be determined in accordance with the governance hierarchy set out in the University Court Statement of Primary Responsibilities.
2.1听The Committee supports the People, Health and Equality Committee, and through it Court, in discharging responsibilities for health and safety by:
a)听providing assurance on the adequacy and effectiveness of the University鈥檚 health and safety framework;
b)听monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of health and safety policy documents, systems and controls.
2.2听Operational management of health and safety remains the responsibility of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor and the Senior Leadership Team under delegated authority.
3.1听Governance and Assurance
a) keep under review all matters involving the health and safety of staff (including occupational health), students and other persons within the University environment;
b)听provide risk-based assurance on the adequacy, effectiveness and continuous improvement of the University鈥檚 health and safety management framework;
c)听review and recommend the Annual Health and Safety Report prior to submission to the People, Health and Equality Committee and thereafter to Court for approval.
d)听monitor the implementation and adherence to health and safety policy documents including codes of practice, safety rules, and safe and healthy systems of work;
e)听consider reports and recommendations submitted by Local Health and Safety Committees and recognised safety representatives and take or recommend such action as is considered appropriate in the circumstances;
f)听monitor the adequacy and effectiveness of communications, consultation and publicity arrangements relating to health and safety in the workplace;
g)听advise on the preparation, review, implementation and monitoring of local health and safety documentation and to approve such documentation.
3.2听Health and Safety Incident and Action Oversight
a)听consider reports on significant health and safety incidents, near misses, trends and systemic control failures;
b)听monitor progress against agreed health and safety-related action plans arising from incidents, inspections or audits.
3.3听External Regulation and Compliance
a) monitor engagement with relevant regulators and enforcing authorities including the Health and Safety Executive;
b) consider reports and formal correspondence from enforcing authorities and inspectors;
c) give consideration to environmental matters, including waste disposal and management, where these have health and safety implications and instigate and monitor such action as is required under statute or is otherwise necessary to manage associated risk;
3.4听Fire Safety and Specialist Areas
a) Consider regular reports on fire safety and other specialist health and safety areas as required;
b)听monitor progress in implementing agreed actions to maintain or improve safety standards.
3.5听Resources and Training
a) have authority to request such information, assurance and attendance from senior officers and other staff as may be required to fulfil its remit.
b)听monitor the effectiveness of the health and safety content of employees鈥� training and advise the Senior Leadership Team on training requirements in the area of health and safety;
3.6听Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
a)听have due regard equality, diversity and inclusion in undertaking its responsibilities;
b)听review and approve (where delegated), and otherwise seek assurance on, health and safety arrangements鈥攊ncluding policies, risk assessments, incidents and planning鈥攅nsuring they are inclusive, accessible and appropriately address the needs of protected, underrepresented and vulnerable groups, including reasonable adjustments;
c)听seek assurance that equality impact assessments, or equivalent consideration of equality implications, are undertaken where required for health and safety related policies, practices and significant changes;
3.7听Review of Effectiveness
a) undertake an annual review of its own effectiveness, remit and sufficiency of delegated authority, including these Terms of Reference and consider whether any updates are required in light of legislative changes, governance frameworks or recognised good governance practice.
b)
proposed amendments shall be recommended to the People, Health and Equality Committee for approval.
3.8听Other Responsibilities
a) take such other actions as are required or directed by People, Health and Equality Committee and Court in relation to the maintenance of health and safety within the University.
4.1听The Committee shall comprise members drawn from the University community and, where appropriate, external or specialist members, as approved by the People, Health and Equality Committee to ensure appropriate health, safety and risk鈥憆elated expertise.
4.2 The Committee is chaired by the Director of People and Culture, or in their absence, the Director of Finance, Infrastructure and Corporate Services, unless otherwise determined by the People, Health and Equality Committee.
4.3 All members of the Committee, including non-Court and co-opted members, shall comply with the Code of Conduct for Members of the University Court and shall declare and manage conflicts of interest in accordance with the University Court Standing Orders.
4.4 The expectation is that every area of the university is represented at each meeting. Representation should normally be the relevant member of the Senior Leadership Team鈥�, but substitutes are accepted.
4.5听惭别尘产别谤蝉丑颈辫:
Appointed:
a)听Staff member of Court (excluding those where there is a clear conflict of interest)
Ex Officio:
a)听Director of People and Culture (Chair)
b)听Director of Finance, Infrastructure and Corporate Services (Vice-Chair)
c)听Director of Student and Academic Services
d)听Deputy Principal and University Secretary
e)听Vice-Principals (excluding the Vice-Principal (International Education)) 鈥�
f)听Chief Estates Officer
g)听Health and Safety Manager
h)听Occupational Health Adviser
i)听Chief Executive of the Students鈥� Association
j)听Technical Team Leader
k)听Student Support Manager
l)听Chair of Local Health and Safety Committees
Nominated:
a)听UCU representative: 1
b)听UNITE representatives: 1
4.6 In Attendance:
a) UNITE representatives: 1
b)听Health and Safety representatives and other relevant staff roles including:
Radiation Protection Supervisor
Biological Safety Officer
Hazardous Substances Adviser
c) Principal and Vice-Chancellor and the Vice-Principal (International Education) (when invited to attend by the Committee).
4.7 Non-members may be invited to attend meetings at the discretion of the Chair to contribute expertise to specific agenda items.
4.8 The Secretary to the Health and Safety Committee shall be the Head of Governance and Deputy Secretary or their nominee.
4.9听The Governance and Policy Officer shall act as Clerk to the Health and Safety Committee and shall be responsible for minute鈥憈aking.
5.1听The Committee shall conduct its business in accordance with the University Court Standing Orders, which apply to Committees with any necessary modifications and subject to any Committee鈥憇pecific provisions approved by Court or the People, Health and Equality Committee.
5.2听Meetings shall be held at least four times per academic year or more frequently as required.
6.1听A majority of members (50% plus 1) must be present.
6.2 An individual holding more than one role shall count once towards the quorum.
7.1听The Committee reports directly to the People, Health and Equality Committee through the submission of its minutes (these can include unapproved minutes agreed with the Committee Chair) to the next available meeting of the People, Health and Equality Committee.
7.2 The Committee will also report to the People, Health and Equality Committee through a paper relating to any substantive matters for consideration.
Approved by People, Health and Equality Committee, 19 May 2026
Thomas Sloan - Staff Member of Court
Ex-Officio
Eilidh Fraser 鈥� Director of People and Culture (Chair)
Andrew Menzies 鈥� Director of Finance, Infrastructure and Corporate Services (Vice-Chair)
James Nicholson 鈥� Director of Student and Academic Services
Caroline Summers 鈥� Deputy Principal and University Secretary
Professor James Bown - Vice-Principal (Faculty of Design, Informatics and Business)
Professor Andrea Cameron 鈥� Vice-Principal (Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences)
Claire MacEachen 鈥� Vice-Principal (Global Engagement)
Professor Luke Millard 鈥� Vice-Principal (Learning and Teaching) and Chair of Local Health and Safety Committee (AbLE Academy, Graduate School, and International Recruitment & Partnerships Office)
Professor Nia White 鈥� Vice-Principal (Research and Innovation)
Cullen Warnock 鈥� Chief Estates Officer
Brian Spink 鈥� Health and Safety Manager
Julie Goad 鈥� Occupational Health Adviser
Elley Petrie 鈥� Chief Executive of the Students鈥� Association
Hazel Petrie 鈥� Advisory Service Manager
Angus Jackson 鈥� Chair of Local Health and Safety Committee (Faculty of Social and Applied Science) and Technical Team Leader (FSAS)
Gordon Cringle 鈥� Chair of Local Health and Safety Committee (Strategy, Governance and External Relations)
Professor Annelize McKay - Chair of Local Health and Safety Committee (Faculty of Design, Informatics and Business)
Jim Huntingford 鈥� Chair of Local Health and Safety Committee (Student and Academic Services)
Dr Donncha Marron 鈥� UCU representative
Tom O'Brien 鈥� UNITE representative
Dr Alison Duffy - UNITE representative
Colin Rae 鈥� UNITE representative
Charles Heron 鈥� UNITE representative
Angus Jackson 鈥� Hazardous Substances Adviser (FSAS) and Radiation Protection Supervisor
Secretary to the Health and Safety Sub-Committee
Dr Dianne Peden - Head of Governance and Deputy Secretary
Clerk to the Health and Safety Sub-Committee
Vanessa Kind 鈥� Governance and Policy Officer
If you would like a copy of the Committee Terms of Reference and Composition in another format, please email governance@abertay.ac.uk
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